With the shift to office environments and the departure from a remote work culture, there is a huge demand for technology to enhance collaboration, whether in the form of hardware or software. This need stems from changes in the collaboration landscape due to the influx of technology during the pandemic. To address this requirement, Indian start-up Bird AI has introduced BirdHub Pro, an excellent solution that can be compared to a highly advanced smart board.
BirdHub Pro acts as a real-time collaboration platform, streamlining your meeting experience by integrating all the tools you need in one click. Bird AI offers a range of collaboration devices powered by the Bird platform that can be used in a variety of environments such as huddles, small and medium meeting rooms, work desks, executive cabins and even home offices. After using the BirdHub Pro for a week, here are my thoughts on it:
Box contents
- BirdHub Pro Main Unit with Mounting Clamp
- SuperCapacitive electronic stylus with charging cable
- Wireless AirMouse/Keyboard
- HDMI cable
- Type C USB cable
- power cable and adapter
- Quick start guide
design
BirdHub Pro is a user-friendly device designed to connect seamlessly to large displays. Building materials mainly include plastic and metal, with great attention to detail. The hub core houses all critical circuitry such as the motherboard, system-on-chip (SoC), digital signal processor (DSP), image signal processor (ISP), ROM, storage, and more. Additionally, the core has a built-in wide-angle camera for video calling.
To facilitate mounting on top of the display, BirdHub Pro has two elongated arms flanking the core. Another arm extends vertically from the hub and carries a secondary camera responsible for tracking the position of the stylus on the display. The hub he is equipped with only two cables. One is for power and the other is a USB cable used to connect the hub to an external laptop or PC.
performance
BirdHub Pro is touted as a one-stop solution for all your productivity needs, and that’s true for most. Transform any screen into a dynamic hub for seamless collaboration. With real-time interactivity and an impressive suite of features, this product redefines the meeting experience. Inside the Bird Hub is a powerful hexa-core ARM processor with an AI Neural Processing Unit (NPU). The unit is equipped with his 6GB RAM to ensure smooth operation and the SoC allows for advanced features such as intelligent image processing and seamless multitasking.
Setting up the BirdHub Pro is easy and straightforward. Simply place the hub on a large enough display and connect it. The hub can work in his two modes, standalone mode or USB mode. The unit runs a forked version of Android with Bird AI’s proprietary software, including an encrypted cloud workspace suite for enterprise customers.
Moving on to the performance side of our review, one of the standout features of this hub is its 4K UHD camera with auto-framing. This ensures that all participants are captured in frame regardless of their position in the room. Along with this, a far-field multi-mic array with noise-cancelling ensures crystal-clear voice, eliminating distractions and ensuring optimal communication.
Compatibility is key, and this hub does not disappoint. Seamless integration with popular video conferencing applications makes it a versatile choice for any organization. Additionally, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) mode support allows users to connect to any laptop using her single USB-C cable for hassle-free connectivity.
One of the most impressive features of this collaboration hub is the built-in collaboration whiteboard. Accessible from anywhere, this digital whiteboard makes it easy for your team to brainstorm and generate ideas. Whether you’re in the room or participating virtually, this whiteboard facilitates real-time collaboration and increases productivity. BirdHub Pro’s onboard camera tracks your stylus with pinpoint accuracy. I am very impressed with this.
In terms of audio and video quality, BirdHub Pro holds its own. The built-in ultra-wide Full HD camera captures the entire meeting room with a 120-degree field of view (FoV), ensuring all participants are in-frame regardless of their position. Plus, compatibility with leading collaboration software enables both in-room and virtual collaboration with superior audio and video quality. The software built into the hub has the option of placing groups of people in separate videos, allowing each user to fully participate in meetings and video calls.
verdict
BirdHub Pro revolutionizes meetings, turning any screen into a dynamic collaboration hub. Equipped with an impressive 4K UHD camera and far-field microphone array, the hub delivers crystal-clear visuals and audio. Compatibility with popular VC apps and BYOD mode ensures seamless connectivity, which is even better. A built-in collaborative whiteboard encourages real-time brainstorming from anywhere. With wireless content sharing options and superior audiovisual quality, the Hub revolutionizes productive and engaging meetings.
