Note to the Reader: The Google Jamboard, as described in this article, has reached its end of life as of 2024. While this post is a great resource for understanding the concept of digital whiteboarding, we recommend reading our updated guide on what to do next.
What to Do Now That Jamboard is End of Life
The most important next step for any Jamboard user is to understand the wind-down process and find an alternative solution.
Your Next Steps: We've created a dedicated guide with 3 things to do with your Jamboard now that it's end of life. This is the most important resource for you right now.
Hardware Alternatives: For replacing the physical Jamboard device in your meeting rooms, you might be interested in our article about how Cobry meets Avocor & Google to provide modern Google Meet hardware.
The Jamboard is a cloud-based digital whiteboard solution which aims to unify collaborative thinking through the provision of powerful and engaging tools and robust integrations. It is positioned as both an app and a physical device which can be used as standalone products or in conjunction with one another.
The Jamboard hardware is a 55” 4K touchscreen which comes with two stylus’ and an eraser - neither of which require batteries or complicated set up. Meanwhile, the Jamboard app is included within the Google Workspace offering, available both in desktop and mobile format.
Since entering the market in 2017, the Jamboard has continued to push the boundaries of whiteboarding. Its features spark creativity, enhance team brainstorming and enable real-time collaboration from anywhere.
Now, let's take a look at those features and capabilities that make it so great.
Google Workspace Integration
You can begin a Jam instance directly from the Activities tab in Google Meet or project a physical Jamboard into a call. This allows you to add a visual element to meetings and enhance team creativity. Additionally Jam instances can be saved to your Google Drive and shared with collaborators meaning you will never lose your work. This also means that Jams retain their interactivity and allow you to edit and revisit them as you choose.
Remote Collaboration using the Jamboard
An entire team can join the same Jam instance from multiple devices in multiple locations, enabling real-time collaboration no matter where your colleagues are. Therefore, whether your team works in-office, remotely or in a hybrid model, they will always have creativity and productivity-provoking tools at their fingertips.
Improved Creativity
There are multiple creative tools available on the Jamboard which will enable you to better express yourself and visualise your work. These include a stylus pen with which you can draw or write, being able to add images from Google Drive or Google Search and a variety of coloured post-it notes amongst many others.
Annotation
The Jamboard enables users to annotate documents online by uploading files from Google Drive and subsequently using the toolbar to take notes, add text, highlight the doc and more. This is a really powerful way to collaborate both with colleagues and clients as you can annotate the same file together in real-time and save a copy of your edits.
Jamboard Assistive Drawing Tools
Assistive drawing is an amazing feature which is available on the Jamboard hardware and mobile versions of the app. It allows you to write or draw shapes and images freehand which will be digitally transformed by Google’s AI. This allows work on the Jamboard to become more easily understood and accessible.
Finally, the Jamboard has proven itself as a powerful tool in both educational and business settings by enabling its users to collaborate and engage in creative new ways. If you'd like to find out more about the Jamboard please get in touch.
Find Your New Hardware Solution
If you used the physical Jamboard device in your meeting rooms, you're likely looking for a replacement. Google's hardware ecosystem has evolved, and there are excellent modern alternatives.
Google Meet Hardware: Learn how Cobry meets Avocor & Google to provide cutting-edge video conferencing and digital whiteboarding hardware designed for today's meeting rooms.
The Broader Ecosystem: For a high-level overview of the latest devices for business, check out our guide to Google Hardware: The Cobry Cafetiere.
Master Collaboration in the Post-Jamboard Era
The goal of Jamboard was to make collaboration visual and seamless. You can continue to do this and more with Google's current tools.
Level Up Your Meetings: Digital whiteboarding is now integrated into Google Meet video conferencing. Mastering Meet is the key to replacing Jamboard's software features.
Improve Engagement: To make your sessions even more effective than they were on Jamboard, learn our 8 top tips to enhance video calls.
Embrace the Hybrid Model: These new tools are purpose-built for the modern workplace. See how they fit into a hybrid model with Google Workspace.
Embrace Technological Change
The end of one product is the beginning of another. This is a positive cycle of innovation.
The Art of Change: Managing the transition to new tools is a skill. We recommend reading our change management blog for tips on ensuring smooth adoption.
A Familiar Story: This isn't the first time a major technology has reached its end of life. See how the Windows 7 end of life was an opportunity for businesses to modernize, just like this one.
