Logitech announces $999 one-cable solution for virtual meetings

Posted:
in General Discussion edited August 2020
Logitech aims to make video conferencing easier with the Swytch, a compact one-cable USB-A and USB-C laptop link that offers universal compatibility for virtual meetings.

Logitech announces Swytch, a one-cable solution for virtual meetings


With coronavirus cases on the rise, many businesses are opting to continue hosting video conferences rather than in-person meetings. While this solution is a great way to reduce unnecessary exposure to COVID-19, there are still plenty of bumps to be ironed out.

Logitech hopes to make the process a little less chaotic with the Swytch. The Swytch is a single cable solution for both USB-A and USB-C laptops, and it allows presenters to use internal company software with any video conferencing platform.





When a company uses a unified communications and collaboration platform, it can be difficult to share content with more mainstream video conferencing solutions. With Swytch, users can share video, audio, and screen mirroring via their UCC platform to services like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Simply plug in Swytch to your laptop and begin sharing straight to your meeting. The dongle allows them to take over the conference system within the room and host any meeting with any meeting software

Swytch consolidates HDMI and USB into one cable with DisplayLink technology, instead of alt-modes from USB-C. The use of DisplayLink will allow users to project their screen from a laptop onto the rooms display at up to 4K, minimizing the need for adapters and splitters.

It's compatible with any laptop that uses USB 3.0 or higher with either USB-A and USB-C ports, and includes DisplayLink drivers. Swytch provides 60W of charging when plugged into a USB-C laptop, preventing battery drain during long meetings.

Swytch works with Logitech Sync, too, allowing IT to monitor and manage Swytch along with other Logitech Synch devices, such as Logitech MeetUp, Rally, and Tap.

Logitech Swytch can be ordered now, and will ship later in August for $999.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 13
    $999 for a cable and a hub?!!! I might be missing something here...
    Beatstylersdadrazorpitjeffharriswatto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 13
    BeatsBeats Posts: 3,073member
    Cheap!!!

    /s
  • Reply 3 of 13
    tylersdadtylersdad Posts: 310member
    $999 for a cable and a hub?!!! I might be missing something here...
    I'm thinking the same thing. Either I'm missing the point or Logitech is missing a decimal point. 
    razorpitsvanstromjeffharriswatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 13
    BeatsBeats Posts: 3,073member
    tylersdad said:
    $999 for a cable and a hub?!!! I might be missing something here...
    I'm thinking the same thing. Either I'm missing the point or Logitech is missing a decimal point. 

    Likely a typo.

    $9.99

    Or I'm missing something.
    razorpit
  • Reply 5 of 13
    tylersdadtylersdad Posts: 310member
    Beats said:
    tylersdad said:
    $999 for a cable and a hub?!!! I might be missing something here...
    I'm thinking the same thing. Either I'm missing the point or Logitech is missing a decimal point. 

    Likely a typo.

    $9.99

    Or I'm missing something.
    It's listed as $999 on Logitech's site. Crazy. 
  • Reply 6 of 13
    BeatsBeats Posts: 3,073member
    tylersdad said:
    Beats said:
    tylersdad said:
    $999 for a cable and a hub?!!! I might be missing something here...
    I'm thinking the same thing. Either I'm missing the point or Logitech is missing a decimal point. 

    Likely a typo.

    $9.99

    Or I'm missing something.
    It's listed as $999 on Logitech's site. Crazy. 

    They've lost their damn minds or we're missing something.
    tylersdad
  • Reply 7 of 13
    anomeanome Posts: 1,544member
    Beats said:
    tylersdad said:
    Beats said:
    tylersdad said:
    $999 for a cable and a hub?!!! I might be missing something here...
    I'm thinking the same thing. Either I'm missing the point or Logitech is missing a decimal point. 

    Likely a typo.

    $9.99

    Or I'm missing something.
    It's listed as $999 on Logitech's site. Crazy. 

    They've lost their damn minds or we're missing something.
    I suspect it's just a bit more complicated than a multi-headed cable. The box probably has some new bespoke bits in it driving the price up. No doubt, the price will come down with time, but for now it's going to be priced for industry only. And early adopters in industry at that.
    scottwhartonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 8 of 13
    Anome is right. It's not just a cable but a full A/V switching system with a box, DisplayLink with the ability to share a screen up to 4k/60. Alternative cobbled together solutions can cost more than $2k. This is not for home but for an office and installed by an IT person
    muthuk_vanalingamwatto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 13
    fastasleepfastasleep Posts: 6,450member
    All this speculation as to whether it's a $1K dongle or not when you could just click through to the website and see that it's quite a bit more than that. This is an installation for a conference room.
    muthuk_vanalingamwatto_cobra
  • Reply 10 of 13
    mdriftmeyermdriftmeyer Posts: 7,503member

    You can see how miss priced the entire collection of Video Conferencing products are but hey far be it from me to tell them they're going to tank in that market.

    And yes this is a custom dongle to interface with the rest of their vast assortment of overpriced videoconferencing products.



    watto_cobra
  • Reply 11 of 13
    anomeanome Posts: 1,544member
    All this speculation as to whether it's a $1K dongle or not when you could just click through to the website and see that it's quite a bit more than that. This is an installation for a conference room.
    And those things are pricy. We had one that cost on the order of A$100K, and it never worked properly. The lifetime of the whole thing, it was plagued by problems that were fixed with minor patches (mechanical and software), and workarounds until it was replaced by something much more advanced that cost half as much.

    Now we have a few dozen of them, all running with sophisticated telephony gear, and many of them with an iPad just to use as the control panel. Still, a $1K device to add on to that wouldn't be out of the question. Presumably it would partially replace some other components.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 12 of 13
    Reminds me of that old Apple commercial where the presenter is trying to connect their PC laptop to a projector and someone in the audience calls out "Get a Mac!"
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 13 of 13
    fastasleepfastasleep Posts: 6,450member
    anome said:
    All this speculation as to whether it's a $1K dongle or not when you could just click through to the website and see that it's quite a bit more than that. This is an installation for a conference room.
    And those things are pricy. We had one that cost on the order of A$100K, and it never worked properly. The lifetime of the whole thing, it was plagued by problems that were fixed with minor patches (mechanical and software), and workarounds until it was replaced by something much more advanced that cost half as much.

    Now we have a few dozen of them, all running with sophisticated telephony gear, and many of them with an iPad just to use as the control panel. Still, a $1K device to add on to that wouldn't be out of the question. Presumably it would partially replace some other components.
    I'm not saying it's a good product, but that it's more than some people are imagining it is. I'd tell my client to get an Apple TV.
    watto_cobra
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