Since my library launched a new Web site for this semester, I decided to use Demofuse to create a quick online tour of the new site. Take a look and see what you think. It seemed to work well for showing where key links had moved on our home page (although to reduce the external calls we set it up on a duplicate of our home page so that the Demofuse JavaScript would not need to be loaded every time that the home page loaded.)
I have been fairly pleased with the results of my second Demofuse tour. According to Demofuse, the tour has been viewed (or at least started) well over 400 times in the last month. Compared to the very sparse turn out we had for in-person new site tours, the online approach succeeded far better.
We will probably take this down soon, but I wonder if I will be using any more Demofuse tours. I am concerned that the Demofuse site still has a footer with a 2007 date, their toll free number now advertises a an adult phone number, and their blog link is dead. I’ve sent email to them to see if they plan to maintain and develop the site.
So you may consider using it for a short term project, if you do it soon. Or you might try a similar site I just came across called Amberjack. I have yet to try using it, but the example on their site is similar to Demofuse, although it seems a bit slower and less elegant.
And here is another free, Windows-based screencast recorder with audio and free hosting: FreeScreencast.com. The software download is Screencast Recorder beta 10. This is a Windows program that requires Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 and the Windows Media Encoder. The hosted screencasts include linking URLs and embed code, but at this point, it does not include comment or rating functions.
I’ve not yet tried out the software, but you can see some of the hosted screencasts (68 at present) to see the end result.
Webinaria appears to be another free program for creating screencasts. I have not tested it yet, but according to its site it runs on Windows 98/2000/XP/Me/2003/NT/Vista, is freeware, and “contains NO SPYWARE or ADWARE.” It also claims that it “will not slow down your computer.” It has Flash output, can include audio, and has combined the software with its own hosting. The hosted screencasts follow the typical sharing model of YouTube and many other 2.0 sites. A few recent library examples include a Basic Search Demo and Another Simple Search Demo from the Rockingham Community College Library. Based on these examples, it looks like the Webinaria hosted videos have fairly poor video resolution (like most other shared video sites) and that they are supported by Google ads. The hosting also includes linking URL, embed code, and viewer comment and rating options. If you’d like to try Webinaria, it is available as a 2.5MB download.
I came across an announcement of a free Mac screencasting software package called Screenium. It is currently available for free in its Preview Version (and looks like it will cost $20 later). I don’t have a Mac, so I cannot easily test it. I’ll have to say my one complaint about most Mac screencasting software is that it only gives QuickTime as an output option, and not Flash. Unless you know your audience primarily uses Macs, I prefer to use Flash output for the greatest accessibility.
My complaint with Screenium (untried), is that their Web site does not even include an example screencast that could be produced by their product. Show me a demo! (And it would be nice if they said what output options are available as well.)
For Screenium, other Mac screencasting software, and some interesting commentary on screencasting in general, see the post at tuaw, especially in the comments. And if anyone creates a Screenium screencast, let me know so I can link to an example.
Until January 7, Techsmith is offering a free version of Camtasia Studio 3.1.3 (the latest version is up to version 5.0). The download site says it is an “exclusive offering for PC Plus Magazine readers from the United Kingdom” but another site that links to the deal says that they “have confirmation from Techsmith stating we have now extended the offer to everyone.” This older version apparently will not with Vista, and it also will not have all the improvements found in versions 4 and 5, but my memory of using it was that it was still relatively easy to use and could produce good screencasts. If you had been planning on buying the latest version of Camtasia Studio, install this free download and you should be eligible for the upgrade price.
In addition, if you have been looking for a more robust screen snapshot program, Techsmith is also offering an older version of SnagIt 7.2.5 (current is 8.2) for free. For both of these offers, you first need to download the software and then register for the free key. Remember, these offers expire January 7, 2008!
I’m pleased to see that Genie Tyburski is now adding screencast to her wonderfully informative Virtual Chase site on legal information. She is using Camtasia Studio 5 and discusses the software and hardware being used. I expect more will be forthcoming, but for now, here is a list of what she has available.
Sketchcast.com offers an interesting permutation on screencasting. Instead of screen actions, sketchcasting can record audio while sketching, with very simple tools. I can not yet see any application for this technology with the kind of teaching that I do (and my significant lack of sketching ability), but it is an intriguing Web-based approach. To summarize some of its features:
Web based software
Do not need to download anything
Free accounts
Sketch a line using a mouse (no control over width of line)
Can choose colors
Has an eraser
Can add text (only one font)
Can add audio commentary
Hosted as sketchcast.com
Can be embedded or linked (see menu)
Now if it could just be combined with the ability to paste some screenshots, I could see it as another option for creating quick, free screencasts. Most of the sketchcasts were not too inspiring, but the demo embedded below gives some ideas and a rationale for the product.
So I tried the free Jing Project software from Techsmith and posted an example a few weeks ago. Jing is free to download, available for Mac and Windows computers, and (if you register to share your Jing screencasts) comes with a free account on Screencast.com. I was impressed to see that the free account did not expire in 60 days (as it would if you just went to Screencast.com and registered for a free account) but did not expire until 2015). The free account comes with 200MB of storage and 1GB of bandwidth, which seemed generous enough.
Alas, it is not so. Despite a recent change intended to help reduce bandwidth consumption, I am now over. After 339 views of my 3MB screencast (for 2 minutes and 39 seconds, which seems about right for that length of a screencast), I hit the 1GB limit. So what happens when you hit that limit? I received several email messages ahead of time warning of the approaching cap with offers to upgrade my bandwidth, for a fee ($21.95 for 100GB, which would be more than enough but too pricey for my needs). If you choose not to pay, the screencast is just no longer available until the next month’s cycle starts. See the big blank spot in the post (assuming you look before Oct. 29) for how it displays when it has been embedded.
I do not blame Techsmith for needing to fund the service, but this should be a caution for anyone hoping to use Jing as a completely free screencast option. If your screencast is large and/or even moderately well viewed, you are likely to need pay the price for the appropriate level of hosting. Do remember that Jing is in beta and Techsmith may well change the terms or provide other alternatives. At this point, if you want to use Jing, another option is to plan on hosting the screencast on your own Web site.
Techsmith has launched a new version of Camtasia Studio. Officially released on Tuesday, I have not had a chance to try it out yet, but is is already building some buzz. At least I’ve been reading about it. If you’d like to see what’s new, try any of the following:
I’ll be curious to see how well the embedding option works, and if it will be easier to add screencasts to my blog posts if I host the screencasts myself. Stay tuned.
Earlier this year, Techsmith (makers of Camtasia Studio) released the free (although beta) Jing Project. This screencasting software works on Macs as well as Windows and comes with hosting at Screencast.com. Jing has few of the fancy features (or even much editing capability) when compared to Camtasia, Captivate, or even the free Wink. But it is relatively easy to use, free, and it works on a Mac.
One complaint I’ve had with Jing is that once I install it, by default it stays loaded all the time. You see a small half yellow circle at the top of the screen and an icon in the system tray. You can change those settings, but assuming that anyone trying the software always wants to have Jing loaded seems a bit presumptuous. And it is annoying that you have to guess what the icons mean (no text is displayed). It is fun how it moves and grows as you mouse over it, but text would make it easier!
I’d be meaning to spend more time with Jing, so I’ve finally created a quick screencast comparing the same search at various search engines. While I miss the editing controls in Camtasia and the variety of publishing options, Jing does have one strength missing from Camtasia, Captivate, and Wink. With the hosting at screencast.com, it makes it easy to embed a screencast in a blog post. Just share the screencast from Jing (which uploads it to screencast.com) and then log in to your account at screencast.com and click “share” (again with the word-less icon) to get the URL, link code, embed code, and an option to send email invitations to view it. Continue Reading »
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