iMind is the service for video conferencing, the selling point of which is its maximum simplicity. There is no need to install apps or create accounts for hours: all it takes is an Internet connection and a browser. The basic service of iMind is free, and paid tiers are priced quite reasonably.
Video Conferencing Platform Features
iMind seems to have everything you might expect from a basic video conferencing service, and iMind reviews confirm it. The room supports:
- audio and video participance;
- a chat where you can send messages to everyone or to certain users;
- a screen share feature.
You can also record your conferences (the service warns that you should inform all the participants about it).
In the free version, it supports up to ten conference rooms each of which can host up to 100 users at the same time, and the conference may be up to 40 hours long. Surprisingly, paid tiers offer no improvements in sheer numbers, but they still have something to offer. The $7/mo Pro tier adds multiple personal and group rooms plus custom branding, a $10/mo Business also adds a custom subdomain and unlimited record storage, and the Enterprise (custom price) offers also various cloud-based services.
Registering is easy; you can use your Google, Apple, or Microsoft account, and also create one using your email. It’s even easier when you’re invited for a call or two: you don’t have to register at all if you have one of these. Third-party cloud services (like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud) can be connected for saving the recordings. You can also connect WebDAV services for scheduling your meetings. Basically, that’s it.
Desktop Performance
Regardless of the browser you use, it performs well on both Mac and Windows. There is (surprisingly) a desktop app, but it doesn’t make much sense, as its functionality is fully available in the web version. On a FullHD display, there is enough space to enter the chat, see the list of the attendees, or start and stop the recording. All the buttons are intuitive, and the basicness of the service rather does it well if you don’t want it as sophisticated as Zoom or Slack.
While the conference is active, a movable floating window is on the screen above your current application. It has no functional buttons; all it can do is open the active conference tab. Simplicity is the word.
The virtual background feature obviously isn’t the priority here, though it is present. The feature that performs very well is noise cancellation. You hear the other participants well even if they are somewhere noisy. Echo and other side effects haven’t been noticed.
Mobile Performance
Unlike other services, iMind offers no mobile app at all. On both iPhone and Android, you need to use your browser. The experience is principally the same as it is on desktop platforms. The difference is that you need to swipe left or right to go to the chat, the attendee list, or your own video. There are nearly no features that are present in the desktop version but not in the mobile one.
On iPhone, the service performs best with Safari and an Apple account or an email-based one. The same is on iPad on which the video part of it performs even better (though not significantly). On Android, it works fine both in Chrome and other browsers.
So, When Is iMind Worth Using?
iMind is a promising service, and its simplicity is the most appealing quality. If your demands are the most basic, this free service will satisfy them without even bothering with standalone apps.
Man in Plaid Shirt Using Laptop · Free Stock Photo (pexels.com)