Have you ever had a software issue where you wish you could easily take a picture of your screen to show customer service exactly what the problem is? Or have you ever tried to help a friend or relative try to figure out how to master iTunes or Outlook over the phone? Imagine being able to create a quick video and instantly upload it online… free.
Techsmith, the company that makes two of my favorite software tools, Camtasia & Snagit offer a free tool that combines the best of both in Jing. Camtasia is excellent for creating screen capture videos for training and customer service. Snagit does the same thing for images. Both allow you to annotate with arrows, text, etc. But getting the finished output online fast is a challenge for those of us that have them.Ā And if you don’t, Camtasia doesn’t come cheap.
Enter Jing. Jing stays active on your computer with an unobtrusive little yellow semi-circle at the top of your screen. When you want to snag an image or create a video, all it takes is a couple of clicks to a finished file which is uploaded to their site, Screencast.com, and available for sharing. You get a link that can be shared on Twitter, Facebook, via Email, etc. If you choose, you can also save it to your computer. You also have the option of editing with either Camtasia or Snagit if you happen to own them.
Some of the possible uses include:
- Quick video to help a friend (or client) learn how to use software.
- Snag an image for Facebook, Twitter or your blog.
- Screen capture for customer service when experiencing a software issue.
- Provide feedback to Web Designer or Graphic Artist.
- Create a short Powerpoint video presentation.
- Provide feedback on a client’s website.
Jing’s free version is fully functional but it does include Jing next to your images and videos and you can only upload to Screencast.com (also free).Ā They offer a pro version for just $14.95 per year that includes the ability to upload videos directly to YouTube or Facebook with a single click. It also offers better video quality and the ability to create webcam videos, too. And there are no logos displayed with the Pro version.
Get the free version or find out more about the Pro version by clicking here.
How do you think Jing could help you? Please leave a comment below. (Note to those reading this post after seeing it on Facebook. If you have a comment, please leave it here on the blog in addition to or rather than leaving it on Facebook. That way, more people will see your comments. )
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