I started writing Take Control of Zoom in spring 2020 at a time when hundreds of millions of people suddenly found themselves requiring videoconferencing, and Zoom offered the best free or cheap deal that wasn’t tied up with corporate subscriptions. The book evolved as Zoom did: the company improving its security, enhanced privacy, and added much asked-for features—and some that nobody ever would have considered.

Last week, we released the third edition of Take Control of Zoom, now overhauled for changes large and small:

• Hybrid work: With the return of many people part-time and full-time to offices, I’ve reworked the book with a new section on hybrid work and updated it throughout to deal with situations in which you might be in the same space as other people working—some of them even on the same Zoom call with you!
• Livestreaming: I added an entire chapter on livestreaming.  Zoom offers an incredibly easy way to livestream—produce a real-time live video stream—through services like YouTube Live, Twitch, and Facebook Live. Livestreaming was popularized by videogame players, but it’s useful for businesses, social purposes, and education. I’ve used it for live events connected to podcasts and for live presentations and Q&As about subjects like printing history and cable standards.
• Whiteboard: Zoom wants to compete with Canva and other collaborative whiteboard environments, so it developed an entirely new feature: Zoom Whiteboard. Its whiteboard can be used independent of Zoom session or opened inside one. There’s a new chapter devoted to it.
• Apple audio and video updates: Apple offers a variety of mic and camera controls depending on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple display you own. The book now thoroughly addresses old modes and new, and how they work within Zoom.
• Hundreds of other changes: You can read more about what I’ve changed in this What’s New section.

Go to the Take Control of Zoom page and you can read the table of contents, download an excerpt, and buy a copy. If you own any previous email, check your inbox for a low-cost upgrade offer. (If you didn’t get that email, get in touch with Take Control Books.)