Ultimately my problem was a combination of user error and Apple related items, so I just wanted to come back and update my thread and give GoToMeeting a little credit
If I turn off this feature in the Mac battery settings, the "problem" no longer occurs - just a little awkward to see a computer plugged in to the wall and draining down (only got to about 90% and then back up). After a recent Mac system update, it seems this feature was automatically enabled (so from the user perspective, my battery just started draining mysteriously - still only happens during GoToMeeting - maybe other high CPU programs if I used them too.). The way this feature behaves (my original message) is just like my old Mac used to act when my battery was failing completely (perhaps Apple developed this feature to not overuse/kill their batteries). While the GoToMeeting application may be using excessive processing power and battery when unplugged from the wall, my problems were actually not real issues - but a new feature from Apple that cycles down the battery and then charges it up for "Battery Health Management". Then I was able to place that in my email signature, so that my correspondents have an easy way to jump into a meeting room with me.Important update on my side of the issue: I filled in simple forms to create my profile page with a distinct vanity URL, GoToMeet.Me/henrytcasey. I was also able to test out GoToMeet.Me, their new product for personal GoToMeeting rooms.
If someone I was working with wanted to share their content, I could pass the presenter baton to them, and if someone had an idea for a change they wanted to make, I was able to give them remote access to my mouse and keyboard. While I was impressed with the A/V quality, GoToMeeting lets me share my screen with the attendees. In one of my tests, I had an hour long conference on GoToMeeting that went by without any snags or drops in quality. Over the years, having sat through stuttering Google Hangouts meetings and Skype calls that repeatedly freeze and lose image quality, I have to credit GoToMeeting for making a very strong case for a paid solution. Up to six computers, including my own as the presenter, are allowed to stream from their webcams simultaneously. After starting a meeting with a single click, GoToMeeting gave me a simple invitation to send out. Starting a meeting and sending out invitations was a quick and easy process thanks to integration with Outlook and Google Calendar.
Of all the options, the PC is the best for presenting, thanks to the white-board presentation app Sightboard, as well as an ever-expanding set of Labs features.
While the market for this solution is based around PCs in the enterprise, I was able to present and attend meetings from both my Macbook Pro and my iOS devices.Īlso, it's available on Android including any Android smartwatches that support Android Wear.
It didn't matter which web browser I used, GoToMeeting was built around Flash, and now supports HTML5. Reviewing GoToMeeting, I was able to test the platform on a wide range of devices, a standard in the industry designed to leave no team member with an excuse for missing out. 12 month plan - $12 per month ($144 total cost) (opens in new tab).LogMeIn GoToMeeting subscription options: Functional across a diverse array of devices, GoToMeeting is a solution very much worth considering. With an in-app text chat room, screen sharing, and their always evolving labs features, Citrix, which acquired this platform in 2003, is continuing to adapt video conferencing to today's technology. Of course, GoToMeeting allows for the call audio to go through its client, thanks to VoIP integration.Ĭisco may have name recognition, but Citrix competes through feature parity and being better on your bottom line. Attendees who don't need to make accounts or sign up are sent a link to join a meeting, which happens through either a web browser, the GoToMeeting client, or by calling in to a toll-free number. Those price-structured packages are not only per month, but per organizer - the account that manages and schedules events. For interactive training for teams Citrix offers GoToTraining, which prices at $119/month (about £76/AU$143) billed annually for up to 25 attendees, and $279/month (about £178/AU$334) billed annually for up to 200 attendees.