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Jamboard

Jamboard was a collaborative digital tool developed by , designed to facilitate real-time brainstorming and content creation within the ecosystem. It allowed users to create and edit interactive "jams"—virtual whiteboards featuring sticky notes, drawings, text, images, shapes, and integrated elements from , Docs, Sheets, and Slides—accessible via web, mobile apps, and a dedicated 55-inch hardware device. Announced in October 2016 and made generally available in May 2017 as part of the then-G Suite productivity suite, Jamboard emphasized cloud-based sharing and integration with tools like for enhanced team collaboration in meetings and educational settings. The hardware version, priced under $6,000 USD and manufactured in partnership with , featured advanced touch response, handwriting and shape recognition, an HD camera, speakers, and connectivity to support dynamic, in-person or remote interactions. Over its lifespan, Jamboard evolved to include features like version history for tracking changes and real-time editing across devices, making it popular for creative organization and presentation in professional and academic environments. However, Google announced the tool's discontinuation in 2023, with the application entering view-only mode on , 2024, and reaching full end-of-life on December 31, 2024, after which all jams were automatically exported to PDFs and subsequently deleted. Users were directed to alternatives such as FigJam, Lucidspark, and for continued collaborative needs. Despite its sunset, Jamboard's emphasis on seamless integration and accessibility left a notable impact on digital collaboration tools, influencing subsequent innovations in Google's Workspace offerings.

History

Announcement and Launch

Jamboard was developed as an integral component of 's G Suite ecosystem—rebranded from Google Apps for Work on September 29, 2016—to enhance collaborative productivity tools for teams and organizations. The product combined hardware and software to facilitate interactive digital , aligning with 's emphasis on cloud-based within its enterprise suite. On October 25, 2016, Google officially announced Jamboard through its G Suite blog, positioning it as a seamless hardware-software solution for real-time idea sharing and brainstorming. Marketed primarily toward education and business sectors, the device was designed to support dynamic group interactions, such as pulling in content from Google apps and enabling simultaneous contributions from multiple users. Jamboard became available for purchase on May 23, 2017, with an initial retail price of $4,999 for the hardware unit, which included two styluses, an , and a wall mount. A G Suite subscription was required to operate the device, with education users needing the G Suite for Education Fundamentals edition to access core features like cloud storage integration with . Early promotions targeted institutional buyers, emphasizing its utility for fostering innovative, in-person and remote collaboration sessions.

Updates and Expansion

Following its launch, Jamboard received several software updates to enhance usability and accessibility. In 2018, Google introduced web-based editing capabilities, allowing users to create and sketch directly in browsers on laptops and desktops, which expanded collaborative drawing beyond touch-enabled devices. Additionally, updates to the mobile apps that year added drawing tools on mobile devices and the ability to claim jams, improving functionality for adding notes, images, and content from , making the tool more versatile for on-the-go use. The platform's expansion included the release of dedicated mobile applications for and in May 2017, which enabled users to access and contribute to Jamboard sessions from smartphones and tablets without relying on the physical hardware. These apps further evolved through 2018 with refinements to performance and interface, broadening Jamboard's reach within Google's ecosystem for remote and hybrid workflows. In August 2020, Jamboard added support for text boxes and shapes, enhancing options. Later that year, in September, Jamboard integrated more deeply with , allowing participants to launch sessions directly within video calls for annotations and collaborative drawing. This enhancement supported interactive elements like sketching and sticky notes during meetings, facilitating better engagement in virtual environments. In March 2021, version history became available for Jamboard on the web, enabling users to track changes, create named versions, and restore previous edits, similar to other apps. Jamboard experienced significant growth in user adoption during the from 2020 to 2021, particularly in and , where it served as a key tool for virtual collaboration amid school closures and shifts. Educators reported increased use in sectors like and general instruction to maintain interactive , aligning with broader edtech surges during the period.

Hardware

Design and Specifications

The Jamboard hardware is a 55-inch touchscreen display with 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) resolution (3840 × 2160 pixels), featuring a 60 Hz video refresh rate and a 120 Hz touch scan rate for responsive interaction. It supports up to 16 simultaneous touch points and uses anti-glare glass for visibility in various lighting conditions. The device is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor and includes a built-in wide-angle 1080p HD camera operating at 60 frames per second for video conferencing integration. Audio is provided by a pair of integrated 10-watt speakers. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi (802.11ac), Bluetooth, two HDMI 2.0 ports, USB-C, USB 3.0 ports, Ethernet, and a single-cable power and data setup. The hardware, manufactured by BenQ, weighs approximately 42 kg (93 lbs) without stand and measures 1,303 × 712 × 61 mm. It comes with two passive styluses, an eraser, wall mount, and optional rolling stand, priced at around $4,999 USD upon launch in 2017.

Operating System

The Jamboard hardware operates on a custom, locked-down version of 6.0 , configured in kiosk mode to restrict access to standard operating system functions and focus exclusively on interactions. This setup ensures a seamless, dedicated environment for collaborative drawing and note-taking, with no capability for installing additional apps or browsing beyond the core Jamboard interface. Google manages all automatic updates for the device, delivering security patches and minor user interface enhancements without requiring user intervention or downtime. These over-the-air updates maintain system stability and compliance with standards throughout the device's lifecycle. Upon powering on, the Jamboard boots directly into the proprietary Jamboard application, bypassing any general Android desktop or login screens. During runtime, the OS facilitates real-time cloud synchronization of "jam" files to , enabling instant access and sharing across devices. The operating system integrates closely with the for intuitive input handling, mapping capacitive touch inputs to simulate pressure variations for varied line thicknesses in drawings. Additionally, it supports , such as palm swipes or finger motions for erasing content, enhancing the natural feel of whiteboarding without dedicated hardware erasers.

Online Service

Core Features

Jamboard's online service centers on a digital whiteboard interface featuring a that users can extend by adding multiple —up to 20 per jam—offering substantial space for drawing, sketching, and organizing content. This setup supports freeform annotation with a selection of pen tools, including options for multiple colors, adjustable line thicknesses, and highlighters to emphasize key elements. Users can switch between these tools seamlessly from the to create diagrams, notes, or illustrations directly on the . The service includes versatile insertion tools for enhancing the canvas, such as predefined shapes and lines for structured visuals, resizable text boxes for typed content, and colorful for quick idea capture. Additionally, users can import images from their device or the web, as well as embed files from , including documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, to integrate existing content without leaving the app. These elements can be dragged, resized, or layered to build dynamic boards. Eraser functionality allows precise removal of drawings or annotations, with options for customizable brush sizes to target specific areas or clear broader sections efficiently. For presentations, a laser pointer tool provides a temporary highlighting effect that fades quickly, enabling users to draw attention to particular parts of the canvas without permanent marks. File management in Jamboard revolves around creating individual "jams," which represent saved sessions that automatically sync and store in the user's for easy access and retrieval. Users can export completed jams or specific frames to PDF for printable reports or to image formats like for sharing in other applications, ensuring flexibility in output. syncing tied to the keeps content up to date across devices during solo use.

Collaboration and Integration

Jamboard's online service facilitated multi-user , allowing up to 50 participants to collaborate simultaneously on a shared digital canvas. This feature included presence indicators, such as user avatars, to show who was actively editing, and a follow mode that enabled participants to track another user's cursor and actions for enhanced group coordination. Changes made by any collaborator appeared instantly across all connected devices, supporting dynamic brainstorming and idea development without version conflicts. Sharing capabilities in Jamboard were integrated with , enabling users to distribute jams via shareable links or direct email invitations. Permission controls allowed owners to specify access levels, such as view-only or edit rights, which were enforced through Google accounts to ensure secure collaboration. These options made it straightforward for teams to invite specific individuals or grant broader access, with all interactions logged in to maintain . The service integrated seamlessly with Google Meet, permitting users to launch or join a jam directly from a video call for live annotation and sketching during meetings. This Jamboard panel within Meet allowed participants to draw, add notes, and collaborate visually without leaving the call interface, enhancing remote discussions. Additionally, jams could be linked or inserted as buttons in Google Sites or Slides for easy access within presentations or websites, though direct embedding was not supported. Integration with Google Calendar enabled scheduling of collaborative sessions by attaching jam links to events, facilitating timed group work. Jamboard was accessible via web browsers and dedicated mobile apps for and , ensuring cross-device compatibility. Offline editing was available in the mobile apps, where users could modify open jams without connectivity; changes synced automatically upon reconnection. This functionality supported flexible workflows, particularly for users in varied environments.

Shutdown and Legacy

Announcement and Timeline

Google announced the shutdown of Jamboard on September 28, 2023, through its official Google Workspace Updates blog, stating that the service would wind down in late 2024 to allow focus on core collaboration tools like Docs, Sheets, and Slides while enhancing integrations with partner whiteboarding solutions such as FigJam, Lucidspark, and Miro. The discontinuation timeline included several key phases: Jamboard maintained full functionality, including integration with Google Meet on web and mobile platforms, until September 1, 2024, after which it was removed from Google Meet; device licenses ended on September 30, 2024, marking the automatic update expiration for hardware; new jam creation ceased on October 1, 2024, transitioning the app to view-only mode across web, iOS, Android, and Meet devices until December 31, 2024; and the service fully ended on December 31, 2024, with plans to convert all remaining jam files to PDFs in Q1 2025 and subsequently delete the originals, though completion status remains unconfirmed as of late 2025. This decision stemmed from Jamboard's overlap with evolving capabilities and a strategic toward third-party ecosystems for advanced , as the service's features had become redundant amid broader platform advancements. Jams, previously stored and shared via , faced immediate restrictions post-October 1, 2024, with users prompted to export content to PDF for preservation before permanent deletion. After the cloud service termination, Jamboard hardware entered an unlicensed mode, allowing offline use without cloud saving or access, though no further software updates were provided.

Migration and Impact

Google provided users with multiple official methods to migrate their Jamboard data ahead of the service's end. Individual jams could be exported as PDF or files directly from , with PNG exports capturing a single frame only. For bulk exports, users could utilize to download all Jamboard files stored in Drive alongside other data. Additionally, Google planned to automatically convert any remaining accessible jams to PDF format in the first quarter of 2025, after which the original files would be permanently deleted; however, some users reported in early 2025 that the process had not occurred, and corrupted files might result in blank PDFs. Google Workspace administrators received guidance on data retention and migration paths, including options to transfer content to compatible tools within the ecosystem or partner applications. The company recommended third-party alternatives such as FigJam (by ), Lucidspark, and , providing direct migration support and integrations for Workspace users to ease the transition. These tools were highlighted for their compatibility with , allowing seamless import of exported Jamboard content. As of 2025, the Jamboard online service has been fully terminated since December 31, 2024, with no access to the app or cloud-based jams across web, iOS, Android, or Google Meet platforms. The 55-inch Jamboard hardware devices reached end-of-life on October 1, 2024, losing support for automatic updates, Google Meet integration, and cloud saving; however, they remain usable offline as standalone touch screens functioning as a simple digital whiteboard for drawing and note-taking, and as an extended display via HDMI, without cloud services or file import capabilities. Jamboard's discontinuation has had a notable impact on collaborative workflows, particularly in , where it popularized infinite-canvas integrated with tools. The shutdown accelerated the sector's migration to alternative cloud-based platforms like and FigJam, reinforcing the shift toward versatile, multi-vendor digital collaboration solutions while highlighting the risks of reliance on single-provider services. Its features influenced subsequent enhancements in products, such as expanded annotation and drawing tools in and Drawings, which now serve as partial in-house replacements for basic needs.

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