The Screenr Blog

New Zendesk integration puts Screenr Business one click away

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:11:00 -0400

With the new integration of Screenr Business into Zendesk, it just got easier for your customers to show support reps exactly the issue their having. If you’re on the Zendesk Plus+ or Enterprise plans, your reps and customers now have native, seamless access to one-click screencasting—there’s no need to add a Business Screenr widget to your Zendesk site.

“Now that Screenr Business is integrated into Zendesk, our end users can add screencasts to support tickets with just a click,” raves TJ Baker, director of operations at Joomlashack. “As a result, we can better understand our end users’ problems—and resolve them much faster.”

Using the Feedback tab in Zendesk, your customers can quickly add a screencast to show you what’s wrong when they create a ticket. Then, reps can include screencasts in their ticket responses to demonstrate how to fix the problem. Arnaud de Theux, head of wholesale support at Mondial Telecom notes, “We often need to teach our customers how to use a specific feature to resolve a ticket. With Zendesk screencasting, we can now record a screencast with just a few clicks—and it’s automatically attached to the ticket. As a result, we can very clearly show our customers how something’s done—greatly reducing the amount of back and forth.”

You can visit Zendesk for more info on this great new feature.

Of course, you can still embed the Screenr Business widget on your support site if you’re not on the Plus+ or Enterprise plan.

Rounds adds Screenr recording

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:12:01 -0400

Yesterday Rounds announced the ability to screencast utilizing Screenr Business for its popular Facebook Application. Now Rounds allows it’s 1,000,000+ users to screencast their video chats all from the comfort of the Rounds application.

What is Rounds?

Rounds is an interactive video chat application that is integrated with Facebook. It allows Facebook users to host video chats with their friends and networks. Check out this video for more info on Rounds:

Where does Screenr fit in?

Rounds integrated a Screenr Business recorder directly in their application, allowing users to do one-click screencasting of their video chats, desktops, or anything on their system. Now rounds users can use the Screenr Business recorder in a variety of creative ways, from holding and recording a chapter meeting at sister fraternities, to conducting live video chat shows with the platform’s random rounds feature.

Check here for step-by-step instructions on recording directly from Rounds.

How can I integrate Screenr Business in my app?

Interested in integrating the Screenr recorder directly in your application or website? Check out Screenr Business and sign up for a Free Trial.

More screencast embedding options

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:08:00 -0400

A couple of weeks ago, we released our new universal player feature that allows your screencasts to play back on nearly any device when embedded on your site or blog. Thanks for your great feedback on this feature. We are loving it too!

Today we’ve updated our embed code to add two more new features:

1) You can now choose the embed code you want. Use our new universal player that works on computers, iPads, iPhones and Android devices. Or, choose our old Flash-based embed code if your site doesn’t support embedding iframes.

2) We also added the ability to easily set the size of the Screenr embed so you no longer have to manually calculate dimensions or edit the embed code.

Check out the screencast below for the details:

5 major new Screenr features and why they make Screenr even awesomer

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:52:00 -0400

What started as a side-project for Articulate has turned into a hugely popular service. More than a million people have enjoyed Screenr so far and today we launch five major new features that will open Screenr to an even wider audience. Check ‘em out:

Sign in with Facebook, Google, LinkedIn and more

Before today, you signed into Screenr with your Twitter account. That was great, but some users needed to sign in with other accounts. So now, you can sign into Screenr with a wide choice of accounts including: Twitter, Facebook, Google, Yahoo, LinkedIn or Windows Live accounts. Just remember, once you choose an account to sign in with, you’ll need to sign in with the same account in the future. (So if you were already a Screenr user before today’s update, you’ll want to continue signing in with Twitter.)

Better screencast commenting

Previously, comments on Screenr were tied to your Twitter account and forced you to tweet your comments. Users told us they often wanted to make comments without tweeting them. Now, Screenr has bulit-in commenting so your comments stay just on Screenr. And don’t worry, there’s also a separate Tweet button if you still want to tweet your comments.

Improved mobile playback with iOS and Android support

We’ve had screencast playback on iOS devices like iPhones and iPads for a long time, and now we’ve added playback on Android-based devices too. With improved mobile support, now it’s even easier to watch screencasts on the go.

Smart screencast embedding with our universal player

We’ve got this cool new universal player that’s perfect for embedding. When you embed a screencast on your site or blog, the universal player intelligently plays the right kind of video for the device viewing it. For example, if someone views your site from a phone, the universal player will serve up a phone-optimized video. If they view your site from a desktop, the universal player plays a desktop-optimized video. Just use our new embed code and you’re all set.

Several user interface and workflow refinements

Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference. So we’ve also improved several user interface items that make for a slicker and smoother experience. For example, now you can edit the title of one of your screencasts just by clicking the title. You can also edit your profile and avatar right on Screenr and don’t have to go to Twitter to do so. And finally, we’ve made it easier to browse long lists of screencasts with a cool feature called infinite scroll. Infinitely scroll lets you browse a long list of screencasts with no clicking, just scrolling. Give it a whirl on the public stream right now.

So that wraps up the new features in this Screenr release. We’ve loved using this version during testing and hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Can’t wait to see what you do on the new Screenr.

How @mattbrailsford is using the Screenr oEmbed

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:06:39 -0500

Our friend @mattbrailsford is a developer and a fan of Umbraco the Open Source CMS and Screenr. He is such a big fan of Screenr that he added support in his Umbraco Universal Media Picker for Screenr.

What is Umbraco

Umbraco is a Content Management System built on Microsoft platforms, kinda like Wordpress for Windows Servers. If you want to find out more about it, check out the Umbraco website at http://umbraco.org.

What is the Universal Media Picker

It is a package installed to Umbraco that allows users to easily embed content from a variety of different providers like Scribd, Facebook, and of course Screenr.

How he did it

Getting the users screencasts
Matt uses the RSS feed for the specified user to get a list of their recent screencasts:
http://screenr.com/User/mattbrailsford/rss

Getting the embed code automatically
Once Matt get’s the list of the screencasts for the user, he uses the Screenr oEmbed API to get the embed code fore each screencast. Find out more about Screenr’s oEmbed here.

Using all this information, Matt is able to present users a list of their Screenr screencasts so that they can quickly and easily embed them in their Umbraco sites without copying any embed code. All a user needs to do is select select their Screenr screencast in the Universal Media Picker and it gets automatically posted to their site.

The Umbraco Universal Media Picker

How to install the Umbraco Universal Media Picker

1. Download the Universal Media Picker here.
2. Watch Matt’s screencast that shows you how you can install the media picker:

View this screencast on Screenr

Got a cool use of the Screenr API

Cool, we would love to see it. Let us know about it by giving us a shout on Twitter to @Screenr.

Screenr now supports oEmbed

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:49:00 -0500

Screenr just made it even easier for 3rd party sites and apps to include Screenr screencasts. Today we officially announce Screenr oEmbed support!

What is Screenr oEmbed all about?

The Screenr oEmbed allows developers to programatically get the Screenr embed code for any Screenr screencast. If you have the URL to a Screenr screencast you can use it to get the embed code without copying and pasting anything, you simply provide a Screenr URL to our oEmbed API and in return you’ll get the proper embed code.

oEmbed Endpoints

Our oEmbed provides responses in both JSON and XML and can be found at the following URLs.

http://www.screenr.com/api/oembed.json?url=http://www.screenr.com/oXs

http://www.screenr.com/api/oembed.xml?url=http://www.screenr.com/oXs

All you need to do is substitute in the URL of the screencast you need the embed code for.

We also provide discovery of these URLs by providing them on each screencast page, so for example, if your app supports oEmbed it can automatically get the Screenr embed code just by knowing the screencast URL.

Example Response

JSON

{
    "type": "video",
    "version": "1.0",
    "provider_name": "Screenr",
    "provider_url": ""http://screenr.com",
    "title": "Here’s what your Screenr screencasts look like on an iPhone.",
    "author_name": "GetAdam",
    "html": "<embed src=...>"
    "width": "560",
    "height": "345"
}

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
  <oembed>
    <type>video</type>
    <version>1.0</version>
    <provider_name>Screenr</provider_name>
    <provider_url>http://Screenr.com/</provider_url>
    <title>Here’s what your Screenr screencasts look like on an iPhone.</title>
    <author_name>GetAdam</author_name>  
  <html><embed src=”...></html>
    <width>560</width>
    <height>345</height>
  </oembed>

It’s as simple as that! If you have any questions about the Screenr oEmbed support, or if you got a cool app or website that uses the Screenr oEmbed we would love to hear about it, so why not let us know about it by shouting at us on Twitter at @Screenr or posting a question on community.screenr.com.

To learn more about oEmbed, check out the spec at http://www.oembed.com/

Publish your screencasts in half the time

Tue, 18 May 2010 10:34:00 -0400

Over the weekend we made a small update to Screenr that makes publishing your screencasts twice as fast.

Here’s a 30-second screencast about it:

View this screencast on Screenr

We look forward to seeing more screencasts from you now that publishing is even easier.

Here’s the 10 Most Popular Screenr Users

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:17:00 -0400

Just last week Screenr passed 20,000 followers on Twitter. That’s about the entire population of the British Virgin Islands! Screencasts have been made showing anything from a really funny unsubscribe page, a simulation of browsing on the iPad without Flash, to a countless number of tutorials. There are so many people making all sorts of Screencasts on Twitter we thought we would highlight the most popular Screenr users.

After tabulating the views, here is a list of the 10 most popular Screenr users!

@NETTUTS (91,509 views) - @nettuts has posted 35 Screenr Screencasts showing quick web development tips. Their screencasts are so awesome we have featured them multiple times on the Screenr homepage.
@elearning (54,982 views) - David Anderson is an elearning designer and Community Manager for Articulate. He has posted over 130 Screenr Screencasts on everything from quick PowerPoint design tips, to tips on spicing up your Screencasts. One thing you will notice about David’s screencasts is they always have killer thumbnails.
@tomkuhlmann (51,678 views) - The author of the award winning Rapid E-Learning Blog, Tom Kuhlmann comes in 3rd. Tom has created 100 Screenr screencasts on a wide range of elearning related topics, and occasionally makes screencasts about Donkeys too :-).
@amymengel (46,196 views) - Amy’s screencast of the fist-bump of two Georgia State troopers behind Steve Spurrier quickly went viral on Twitter/Screenr with over 45000 views coming from this screencast alone, quickly becoming the most seen screencast on Screenr.
@nicksdjohnson (22,877 views) - Nick created a screencast showing how to use netboot.me as a universal bootdisk and installer. Not really sure why this has gotten so many views…maybe it is because he gives away a cookie at the end of the Screencast?
@jeanettebrooks (19,376 views) - Jeanette is the other Community Manager for Articulate. She has created over 120 Screenr screencasts for the community, including some cool screencasts on how to create a Star Wars text effect in PowerPoint.
@robinsloan (18,531 views) - Twitter’s Robin Sloan posted a screencast of Tweet Visualization from NBC Olympics that received over 18,000 views.
@englishraven (17,510 views) - Jason Renshaw is an English Teacher, writer online tutor and webmaster at www.englishraven.com, and the majority of his views come from screencasts on his TEFL Speaking Mentor Service screencasts.
@mjepson(16,794 views) - Magnus Jepson is one of the Co-Founders of WooThemes, the popular Premium WordPress Theme company. Most of his screencasts are tours of some of the WooThemes and some customization tips.
@slhice(15,339 views) - Stephanie Harnett is an e-Learning Developer who recently had her iPhone/iPad PowerPoint screencast featured on The Unofficial Apple Weblog. She has definitely come along with some killer screencasts lately, so I don’t think we are going to see her drop out of the top 10 any time soon.

Other honorable mentions include Articulate’s CEO and Screenr founder (11) GetAdam, and CEO of 6Theory Media (16) johnnydorama.

Screenr users have been making some seriously awesome screencasts lately. It is going to be interesting to see how this list changes over the next couple months.

Got some theories on why the list falls the way it does? Add your theories to the comments.

Freecast Your Way to Better Screencasts!

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0500

This guest post is written by Articulate’s David Anderson. You can find out more about what David has to say here.

Whether it’s a quick how-to for a co-worker, a project-demo for a client, or a special effects tutorial, all of us want to create screencasts that are effective and engaging.

That’s why one of the most common questions we’re asked is, “How can I learn to create better screencasts?”

It makes sense that questions around style, technique and delivery are more common than technical, “how-to” questions. The software is the easy part, right? Click record and off you go.

So how can you create better screencasts?

Freecasting

One of the best ways you can improve your Screencasting is by something I call freecasting. Freecasting is the screencasting equivalent of freewriting.

Freewriting, made famous by Jack Kerouac, is a writing style often called spontaneous prose or stream-of-consciousness-writing. The idea is that by writing freely, without concern for quality, grammar or punctuation, you’ll learn to “write without consciousness” and with less inhibition.

That’s exactly what freecasting is designed to do: get you recording. Freecasting helps release your attachment to “sounding good” while strengthening your presentation and improvisational speaking skills.

How does it work?

Time limits. Set aside 5-15 minutes a day when you can record without interruption. Once you click record, you screencast until your predetermined recording time is up.

Don’t stop recording until the time is up! This means you don’t stop or pause the recording for mistakes, do-overs, coughs, sneezes, phone calls, IM chats or to check your Twitter stream. If you run out of things to say, start narrating about the fact you can’t think of anything to say. You don’t stop talking and recording until the timer’s up.

Screenr’s 5-minute time limit is a perfect timer for practicing.

Select a structure. Focused screencasting is structured around a specific topic or lesson. Focused screencasts may require you first prepare your applications and recording area before you record.

Unfocused freecasting is looser and guided by your immediate thoughts. Unfocused can be as spontaneous as selecting the first application or window you see and screencasting whatever comes to mind during your recording session.

Each approaches offers unique value so it’s a good idea to work both types into your routine.

After your freecast

Review your recording. Your freecasts are private and not intended to be shared. They’re designed to improve your overall screencasting skills.

If you choose to delete your recordings, try playing each video back a few times. Take notes on what you like, don’t like or wish to improve. You may even uncover new ideas for presenting your screencasts.

So give freecasting a chance and please share your feedback in the comments.

How to Add Your Webcam to Your Screencast

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:43:33 -0400

You already know that Screenr can record your desktop. But did you know that Screenr can also record your webcam? It’s a great way to add that personal touch to your screencasts.

Here are some easy steps so your webcam recordings come out great.

Go to Screenr and click Record to bring up the recording frame. Don’t click the actual record button yet.
Open your webcam preview (iChat, iSight, Windows versions) so you can see yourself in the webcam preview window.
Resize Screenr’s recording frame to suit your screencast. You can record only the webcam window or your entire desktop - whatever you like.
Click the record button to record your session

Remember ALT+D will pause your recording. That’s a great way to pause when you’re adjusting your camera or moving the camera to show something new.

Screenr user @minutebio created a great screencast that shows these steps in action which can be seen below.

View this Screencast on Screenr.

Screenr now a Top 5 Twitter app

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:21:00 -0400

Wow! All you have voted and pushed Screenr into oneforty’s top 5 list of popular Twitter applications.

oneforty helps you to find, rate and share the best Twitter applications. Check out what GetAdam has to say about oneforty in this screencast.

Watch this screencast on Screenr

View the Screenr listing at oneforty here, and make sure you add a review and a rating to help us to get to #1!

Thanks everyone!

Case Study: How to provide customer support with Screenr

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:37:00 -0400

This inspiring 3 minute Screencast from Screenr user @ScottSkibell demonstrates how you can become a customer support hero with Screenr.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Scott!

Watch this screencast on Screenr

Going Beyond Mic Recording – How to Record System Sounds

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:19:00 -0400

You already know you can record your microphone when recording your screencasts. But every so often Screenr users ask us how they can record system sounds – the sounds they hear playing through their speakers.

This post will show you how you can record system sounds.

What you need:

A 3.5mm Stereo Male to Male cable. Don’t have one? No sweat, you can pick one up from Amazon for under $3.00, shipping included.

A 3.5mm Speaker (Line-out) jack and a 3.5mm Microphone (Line-in) jack on the back of your computer like the ones highlighted below.

How to get started:

Insert one end of the cable into the green speaker jack on your sound card.
Insert the other end into the pink microphone speaker jack.
Launch the Screenr recorder
Select the Primary Sound Capture Driver from the list of microphones
Click record

Primary Sound Capture Driver

See this in action:

Check out the recording below where we were able to capture audio from Second Life.

View this screencast at Screenr

Engage Your Audience By Embedding Screencasts In Your Site

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:27:35 -0400

Embedding Screenr screencasts is a great way to add life to your site, add context to an instructional post, or give your site some personality. Here’s some embedded screencasts we’ve seen in action.

ThemeForest
Check out what the guys over at ThemeForest are doing with Screenr. They created a Quick Tip video series where they answers questions directly from their community using a quick Screenr screencast.

MattFlies.com
Matt over at MattFlies.com has done some pretty cool screencasts with Screenr on customizing the wildly popular Thesis Wordpress theme. We love what you have done Matt, and hope to see more screencasts from you soon.

The Rapid E-Learning Blog
Articulate’s own Tom Kuhlmann has been adding Screenr screencasts in his blog. His screencasts walk his readers through cool tutorials like this post on creating an envelope icon using PowerPoint. Tom’s screencast makes it easier to follow difficult concepts.

Cool stuff guys, we can’t wait to see the other ways that people are embedding screencasts in their websites and blogs!

Seen cool embedded Screenr screencastst? Leave us a comment and we’ll check them out.

What People Are Saying About Screenr

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:31:50 -0400

Screenr is one week old today. I took this opportunity to capture some of the great things you guys are saying about Screenr. (Thank you!) Check out a few highlights in this screencast:

Viewing this on your iPhone? Click here to watch this on Screenr.

Should you want to dig in, here are the pages (in order) seen in the screencast:

How ABC News Uses Screenr

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:32:00 -0400

We’ve been browsing the Screenr public stream and are blown away be the interesting ways people are using Screenr. Of course, people are using Screenr to create some really cool software demos and tutorials, but we’re also seeing some amazing uses that we never anticipated.

Take this one from the Rhode Island ABC television news affiliate. ABC6 Chief Stormtracker Meteorologist Fred Campagna is using Screenr to post realtime updates about Hurricane Bill.

Doing something really cool with Screenr? Let us know about it by posting a link to your screencast in the comments below.

Welcome to the Screenr blog

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:15:00 -0400

Hey everyone and welcome to the Screenr blog!

We just launched Screenr yesterday and we’re amazed by the response we’ve received already. So far, there’s been thousands of enthusiastic tweets posted about Screenr. I’ve collected a few dozen typical tweets about Screenr here. To say we’re flattered is to put it mildly.

Major blogs are also beginning to cover Screenr. Like this one or that one. This stuff makes us very proud.

So have you created a screencast yet? Give it a whirl, it’s easy. For now, I’ll leave you with this screencast posted about an hour ago from the folks at TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog. Nice screencast guys!