Google enhances Chromebox for meetings with remote-control camera, better screensharing

Google has upgraded its Chrome OS-based videoconferencing system, Chromebox for meetings, with an improved camera, better microphone and speaker, and enhancements to screensharing and dual screen displays.

The company first launched Chromebox for meetings in February 2014. It is based on Google’s Chromebox, a Chrome OS-based mini computer — sort of like a Chromebook without a screen or keyboard, or like a Mac Mini running Google’s operating system.

The new version has a pan-tilt-zoom camera, which means you can point it at different people in the room; two microphones and two speakers; and enhanced support for dual screens.

It also offers a full-screen mode for screensharing, enabling you to share presentations with the people you’re conferencing with.

And Google has added management controls to the admin panel, enabling people to see which devices are online and offline, and delegate management.

The new package will sell for $1,999, which includes the Chromebox, microphones, camera, and the first year of management and support fees — but not the screens. The previous version of Chromebook for meetings cost $999.