This is a must-have for anyone who needs to do quick and easy screen captures or wants to create short (5 minutes or less) screencasts with audio. The best part is that the basic package is free. Upgrades are very inexpensive as well.
Once this application is installed, a cute little sun icon stays at the top of your screen with menu choices: capture, history and settings. Clicking on the icon with the cross hairs, you can capture an area of your screen and either create a screenshot or start a recording.
Screenshots are easy to capture allowing you to capture a window, pane or region on your screen. Once you create a screenshot, you have the ability to emphasize an area or explain something about the screenshot by marking it with a text box, arrow, arrow, highlight of rectangle. You can save the file or you can share it instantly allowing you to upload it to Screencast.com. Flickr, Twitter or Facebook.
Screencasts are easy. Select a window or region and you can record everything in the area selected. Point to things with your mouse, flip through a Powerpoint or a Prezi presentation, click around a website or application and Jing captures it.
If your computer has a microphone, you can record your commentary at the same time. You can save the video or immediately share on Screencast.com, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.There are two versions of Jing. A Free version which allows you to create SWF video, 5-minutes of screen recording, Mark up tools for images and a free Screencast.com account. Jing Pro (which is what we use) is $14.95 per year and also includes Webcam recirding, Instant Sharing to YouTube and creation of MPEG-4 videos.
This program is easy to use for novice and computer pros. We strongly recommend Jing. http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html Jing is a product from the Techsmith Corporation.
About TechSmith Corporation
Founded in 1987, TechSmith Corporation provides practical business and academic software tools and services. TechSmith’s solutions enable users to capture, record and enhance digital content so they can share information and knowledge in compelling multimedia formats, and allow others to observe, analyze and learn from their experiences. TechSmith products are used by 99 percent of the Fortune 500. Visit www.TechSmith.com for more information.
