Read more: 13 Zoom tips and hidden tricks I take a few books and gently angle the case edge so the whole thing tilts down a bit, but I'm careful not to let the iPad fall, of course. Apple's expensive Smart Keyboard case has only two angles, and they're angled upward, so Zooming can look like it's aimed at the ceiling or the underside of your chin. There are plenty of cases that double as stands, which is your obvious first step.īut the thing about cases: their angles are usually limited. The iPad on its own is a large, flat slab that you could hold in your hands, but I'd rather prop up. But propping it up so I could show the whole family in frame was a challenge of placement and elevation. OK, this is a chat for Passover on Houseparty, not Zoom. It generally is, but there are some issues, too. That bigger display, that better-than-your-laptop front-facing camera, its ease of use. (Tips for making even a mediocre laptop webcam look better are here.) Laptops are great for propping up and being hands-free, and the camera's perfectly positioned - but laptops are bulky, and the cameras are often terrible.
Phones are easy to use and have great front-facing cameras, but are small and hard to share. We're using phones, laptops, iPads, Chromebooks, whatever's around. Zoom, Houseparty, FaceTime, Hangout, Skype - I'm signing up for all these services to keep up with business, family, friends.