Revamp Your Video Calls with Boom: The App That Makes Communication Fun and Engaging
Video calls have become an integral part of our lives, allowing us to connect with colleagues, friends, and family across the globe. However, conveying important details about our location, time, and weather during these calls can often be a hassle. Thankfully, there’s a solution that makes this information easier to share: Boom.
Boom is a Mac app developed by former Shopify employees Robleh Jama and Krishna Satya. This bootstrapped company has created a product that enhances video calls on popular platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. With Boom, users can customize their video call appearances, adding personalized themes that display their name, designation, location, time, and even the weather.
The app goes beyond just aesthetics. It also allows users to react during calls by incorporating on-screen effects, stickers, and GIFs. Additionally, Boom offers various controls for tweaking appearance settings such as brightness, contrast, saturation, and more. Users can choose from different presets to achieve the desired look.
One standout feature of Boom is the ability to design an off-camera screen that displays a customized design instead of a blank screen. This feature adds a touch of creativity and professionalism to your video calls.
Boom isn’t stopping there. The company is continuously improving its product and has recently introduced a new feature to track meeting times. This addition helps users keep track of the duration of their meetings, ensuring efficient time management.
The inspiration for Boom came during the founders’ remote work days at Shopify. They realized that despite having top-notch hardware for video calls, the software options available were lacking in terms of customization and engagement. This frustration led to the creation of Boom, an app designed to make video calls more enjoyable and interactive across different platforms.
Having tested the product for over a year, Boom officially launched in April. Initially, it was a paid-only product, but the company has recently shifted to a freemium model. Users can now access the virtual camera, themes, and reactions for free. However, advanced camera controls, premium themes, custom branding, and screen share features like presenter overlay and cursor highlights magnifier are available through a premium subscription priced at $7 per month, $70 per year, or a lifetime license for $199.
Boom has exciting plans for the future. In the next release cycle, the company aims to introduce features like an agenda tracker, dynamic polls, and quizzes. These additions will further enhance the productivity and engagement of video calls, making them more than just a means of communication.
What sets Boom apart is its commitment to remaining an independent company, without relying on venture capital funding. The founders believe in the organic growth and profitability of their product for the long term. Their goal is to create a tool that is so valuable and useful that it becomes the go-to app for video calls, ensuring the company’s success for 10+ years.
In conclusion, Boom offers a refreshing and innovative solution to enhance your video calls. Whether you’re using Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams, this Mac app allows you to customize your appearance, react during calls, and even design off-camera screens. With its freemium pricing model and plans for future feature additions, Boom is a must-have tool for anyone looking to make their video calls more engaging and enjoyable. Say goodbye to boring video calls and embrace the excitement that Boom brings to your virtual meetings.