Smart displays are struggling to gain a foothold in a saturated market.Even old smartphones and tablets best smart display Run for their money.from Facebook Portal video conferencing display and amazon echo show 15 Samsung’s desktop-sized series smart monitor, companies are trying to find a purpose to stick to. Our next move is Lenovo’s 27-inch ThinkView Plus. I’m trying to find a niche in smart displays for business purposes, with a limited focus on Microsoft Teams.
Launched today at the Information Systems Europe conference in Barcelona, ThinkView Plus consists of two parts: a video conferencing display and a USB-C monitor.
On the monitor side, there are decent connectivity options, including 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort input and output, 2 USB-A ports, and 1 USB-C (version not specified). However, its 1920 x 1080 resolution and pixel density of just 81.6 pixels per inch doesn’t give you the type of image quality you’d expect from the price tag alone. Lenovo has not specified the ThinkView Plus panel type or other related specifications.
The real cost comes from the display’s octa-core Qualcomm QCS8250 SoC.This will provide ThinkView Plus Wi-Fi 6 support and will allow you to run Teams, including calendar, chat and file access, on an unspecified version of Android. sands A computer (display predecessor used Android Open Source Project 8.1).
There is also an integrated 4K infrared and RGB camera that utilizes the SoC to perform AI-based functions such as automatic framing and automatic image quality adjustment.
There are also four microphones and a pair of 5 W speakers. This is interesting for long term use, but is said to be removable and upgradeable. The display comes with Microsoft’s passive stylus and whiteboard app.
Lenovo believes the display will be used for “hot desks, phone booths, executive desks, and home office use cases,” the company’s announcement said. However, the monitor’s low resolution makes it unusable in many offices.
In monitor mode, users can share their screens between the system and smart monitors, Lenovo says, to “show content and the presenter at the same time.”
Try to make your smart display feel like a smart investment
Lenovo’s ThinkView Plus is the follow-up to 2020’s ThinkSmart View, the currently available 8-inch, 1289×800 IPS screen. $350It is the first so-called Microsoft Teams displayMicrosoft describes it as an all-in-one dedicated to Teams, with “unique features like the ability to see important activities and notifications without context switching using an always-on, at-a-glance display. increase. [users’] Your primary work device, hands-free Cortana, the ability to leave a note, video, or audio on your lock screen.
Desktop monitor sized, the new ThinkView Plus should be more flexible than its predecessor. But Lenovo hasn’t fully figured out the conundrum of his smart displays.
By focusing on Teams and leaving out other popular alternatives like Zoom, ThinkView Plus feels pretty limited at first.
Also, ThinkView Plus has no clear need advantage over existing products. You could easily make a call in the office phone booth, and maybe even see it at the hot desk.But in both cases, a laptop with a decent webcam, or a powerful USB webcam You can get similar effects for less money.
It’s similar to Samsung’s line of consumer smart monitors, which offer streaming TV services and remote controls. Just like the plethora of smart TVs that many people already own, with larger sizes and more advanced display technology such as OLED. Not so with Lenovo’s ThinkView Plus for business.
Lenovo’s ThinkView Plus also has to compete with other displays with integrated webcams. Dell Digital High End Series U3223QZ4K resolution, 4K camera and, as we learned during testing, quality IPS Black panel.
International Data Corporation and Predict With smart home shipments projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8% from 2022 to 2026, we’re seeing companies experimenting with how smart displays can become ‘things’. prize. Can’t monetize smart speakersThe Facebook portal has already completed the transition from consumer to enterprise. When the ThinkView Plus hits “select markets” in mid-2023, we’ll see if smart displays can help you find its place in the office.
