Mac Compatible Huddle Cameras
There's a couple of key players in the videoconferencing huddle space scene. Most notable is Logitech with a diverse range of conference products. But there's also Apple friendly huddling camera peripherals available from Huddly, Aver Media, Owl Labs, HuddleCam, Logitech and others.
1080p Camera + Microphone Array + Speaker
Most Skype, Zoom, Hangouts, etc. huddle webcams are highly compatible with MacOS, but there are instances where specific hardware features may be limited to Windows or Android support, or have other quirks, limitations, or gotchas.
With Bluetooth Audio and HDMI Video Display Support
Mac Huddle Room Microphones
Most but not all teleconferencing huddle cams will have high quality built-in microphones. Many include two or more in a microphone array that uses DSP - Digital Signal Processing in it's hardware to pinpoint the currently active speaker and perform ambient noise reduction and echo cancellation. Depending on the size of your huddle group, support for additional table-top conferencing mics might be needed. For large Mac huddle room setups we recommend digital USB conference microphones, some of which support plugging in additional analog extension mics using a 1/8" 3.5mm connector. Some huddling cameras have built-in speakers to perform full-duplex speakerphone functions.
Camera + Speaker + Microphone
Mac Huddle Room CPU Requirements
The Macintosh computer you choose to use affects many aspects of your Skype, Zoom, Hangout or other huddle conferencing experience. HD 720p and especially 1080p and 4K Ultra HD conferencing requires fast CPU speeds. Manufacturer's typically recommend 2.1GHz or faster Intel CPU's - something that older, lower-end Mac mini or Apple MacBook Air computers may lack. 4K mode REQUIRES connection to a faster USB 3.0 or 3.1 port. Temper your expectations if you're using underpowered Mac systems. Although modern Macs have Turbo-Mode to temporarily ramp up CPU clock speeds, running hot and more fan noise indicate a CPU that's being overtaxed.
Huddle Room Voice and Video Conferencing
Mac Huddle Room Monitors
Any decent huddle space will likely have a large LCD television or computer display for multi-person conference viewing. Depending on the Macintosh desktop or MacBook laptop you're using, you may need a Thunderbolt or USB-C video adapter and long HDMI cable to drive it. For small groups, a high-end iMac or iMac Pro's display might be a workable solution - although only using a built-in iSight camera and microphone may be far from ideal.Huddle Room Network Connectivity
Depending on your Skype, Hangouts or Zoom huddling environment, there can be a lot of variables in the network access your huddle space has. Hard-wired direct ethernet connections are the most optimal. Wireless can be quite workable, but available bandwidth might vary if many devices around your home office or company are competing for it.The caliber of internet service you have matters too. For small biz or home offices you might want to opt for higher-tier bandwidth internet packages. If using wireless, you may need high-end dual-band routers to assure plenty of available bandwidth for high-definition video and voice conferences.