Screen Capture Software – A Global Trend in Media Presentation Optimization

Media presentation is an intangible part that plays the trick in successful media marketing and information dissemination. An effective media campaign can boost any type of business in so many ways that is certainly unimaginable. With the advent of the web driven world, accessibility to information is most likely a thing of the past.

Information is created and passed on in so many ways but more than anything, a computer does most of the job. Media presentation can be constructed using certain types of software to create a visually creative media more than a solid content.

When Microsoft PowerPoint was born, most media presentation were made using this application.

Now, a certain trend in visual media presentation came into place. Software developers and publishers came up with Screen Capture Softwares.

A Screen Capture Software is a type of software used to capture any part of your screen from your desktop, the image taken from which is known as a screenshot. Captured images can be sent to the software’s own editor or through a graphic editor, clipboard, file, printer, fax, email and even through instant messaging applications like ICQ, Yahoo! Messenger and MSN. Images can be inserted or used to make Word or PowerPoint documents and can be uploaded to a website using a built-in FTP upload tool.

Images can also be edited in some similar type of software. Annotations, watermarks, shadow effects, frames, arrows, shapes, and other objects can be added to create professional looking presentations that can be used for online tutorials, promotional materials, and many other forms of documents. Prior to editing, images can be saved in various graphic formats such as JPG, JPEG 2000, GIF, TIFF, PNG, PCX, WFF, ICO, TGA and BMP while some can even capture those hard-to-grab DirectX, Direct 3D, 3dfx Glide mode games. Parsing a list of URLs and automatically saving webpages in the graphic formats mentioned above is also possible.

Some advanced type of software can even capture scrolling windows and web pages more than just static screenshots which means it can record desktop activity functioning as a video screen recorder. Recordings can be saved as an AVI video, MPEG1/2/4(DVD, VCD, SVCD), SWF clip(Flash clips) for web publishing or as standalone(.exe) player also known as projector exe file type that is readily playable. Conversions among of those formats can be mabe depending on what is supported by the software. Some software allow creation of java based software demos that can be played through a browser and to complete the total media experience, audio sound can also be integrated.

Given the features mentioned show us the various ways, information on a visual media perspective, our capability of doing just about anything. With the right tools and knowledge, impossible is nothing.

No wonder why this type of software is widely used and is constantly gaining attention to various end-users worldwide. If your not yet familiar with this, try to surf YouTube. You’ll see.

Software overview:
“Screen Capture Software, in deed, has caught the eye of many users. There are various types of similar software available in the market yet all there is to know leads us to the fact that not most of us are accustomed nor have ever tried using this type of software. It all leads us to the importance of user interface, or plainly easy to use. Functionality comes second since we’re looking for something that can be used for its purpose. Lastly, the cost. Who would want something expensive when an affordable one functions the same?

If you are just about thinking of adopting this software, I would recommend that you try first those easy-to-use ones. Grab the trial version first, and see if it suits you. Based on my thorough research, (although I’m not really paid to do it, I just love sharing information) just a handful of these software types are easy to use and not too complicated, of course, unless you get used to it. The choice is yours.”

Posted in Software | Tagged | Comments Off on Screen Capture Software – A Global Trend in Media Presentation Optimization

Useful Social Media Tools For Business Owners, Consultants, Coaches & Entrepreneurs

Social Media is also known as Web 2.0 which has been around for some time now. Web 2.0 is basically application tools which allow users to interact with each other online.

Social media consists of a variety of tools and social networking would be one of those tools which make up the whole of social media. Here are a couple of tools and if you are a business owner then you would use a combination of these tools to increase your online visibility.

Blogs

Most of us are familiar with blogs but if you are not, blogs is a type of website which can be updated quickly and easily and published chronologically. You can post text, images, video, podcasts pretty much anything on blog sites. A blog site can also be your website and it is a good place to start especially for start up businesses. Blogs are inexpensive to set up and easy to self manage. Think of your blog site as part of your brand, a representation of yourself and your business.

  • WordPress (my favourite)
  • Typepad
  • Blogger
  • MSN Spaces
  • Movable Type
  • PMachine
  • Greymatter
  • B2 Evolution
  • Text Pattern
  • Express Engine

Social Bookmarks

Social bookmarking is just really another way to bookmark your favourites but the difference is that you do it online instead of offline.

Digg, Delicious, Stumble Upon, Tweetmeme, Reddit, Mixx, Propeller are just a few social bookmarking tools out there.

Microblogging

Microblogging to me is like sending an sms but too many rather one person. It is short live updates.

  • Twitter
  • Jaiku
  • Tumblr

Aggregators

The web definition of an aggregator is a person who collects things, so picture an online web aggregator as a social media tool which collects information and brings them together in one place.

Aggregators allow us to syndicate our content in one place, it is very much like having your own newspaper because you determine the content and you do this by adding RSS feeds from various sites to your chosen aggregator. Other terms for aggregators are RSS readers, feed readers, news readers.

  • Netvines
  • Friendfeed
  • Techmeme
  • Google reader
  • Alltop

RSS Feeds

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. RSS is a very powerful tool, it allows you to distribute your content easily in various places. It also allows others to share and distribute your content easily or to add it to their aggregator or email if they want to keep up to date with your content.

Example: I take my RSS feed from my blog and I add it to my Twitter account, Facebook and Linked In account this way each time I blog those sites are updated automatically. I also take RSS feeds of blog sites I like reading and add their feeds to the same accounts so that my audience can benefit from this if they like the content of course. I also subscribe to receive email updates or add the feed to my aggregator so that I can read the updated blogs and comment if I wish to.

Photo sharing

Photo sharing sites is a place where you can post your digital photos online and share them with others.

  • Flickr
  • Photobucket
  • Picasa

Podcasts

A podcast is basically a multimedia file or another simpler term would be audio file which you can upload online and users can download it to their computer which can then be added to a mobile device.

Video

The use of video online is becoming more and more popular with both companies and the general public.

  • YouTube
  • Metacafe
  • Break
  • Google Video

Wiki’s

A wiki is basically software which allows multiple users to work collaboratively to add, remove or edit content. A popular wiki is Wikipedia of course.

Forums

People use forums to ask questions, answer questions and discuss topics. Companies generally have their own forums where their customers can post questions, find answers, or get help.

  • Apple Forum
  • Vodafone Forum
  • UK Business Labs Forum

Community Sites

There are many community sites, business community sites, social community sites and your more niched community sites where people can network online and share common interests.

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Better Networking
  • Ecademy
  • MySpace

If you have a particular hobby then search online for your hobby you are bound to find a community.

Teleseminars

A teleseminar is a telephone call in which hundreds and even thousands of people can listen in to. People can either dial in and listen to a teleseminar or listen via web. Its like having your own radio talk show.

This is a great tool to share your expertise, interview others, or do online training. Most teleseminar facilities records the session and you can then download and replay.

  • Instant Teleseminar

Instant Messaging

Instant messaging is one of my favourite social media tools, I am totally hooked up to Skype which is one of the instant messaging, VoIP tools. I even have a Skype number so if I’m out and about people can still connect with me.

Instant messaging is basically an online chat facility which allows people to type messages to each other, some of these instant messaging tools are also VOIP tools which is basically telephone over the internet.

  • Skype (also VoIP)
  • MSN messaging
  • Facebook has an instant messaging facility
  • Better Networking has an instant messaging facility

Newsletter Marketing

Have you ever wondered how some companies have these really smart flashy email messages?

They use an autoresponder. An autoresponder is basically an email facility which can email information to a very large database. When you visit a website and you input your name and email, this is where your information goes to, an autoresponder.

  • Mailchimp – Free up to a certain amount, good if you are just starting out.
  • Aweber
  • Icontact

I have listed 14 social media tools that will help you to increase your online visibility. Combine and make use of a couple of these tools tools and you will be well on your way to making your online presence known.

Posted in Social Media | Tagged | Comments Off on Useful Social Media Tools For Business Owners, Consultants, Coaches & Entrepreneurs

Let’s Go Beyond Just Talk – Virgin Mobile Talk Plans

These new plans offer three distinct price points for all levels of cell phone users. They are offered at $25, $40, and $60 per month for the unlimited service which includes unlimited text, email, data, and web services for use with any Virgin mobile phone new or used.

Every Beyond Talk Plan offers excellent 3G nationwide coverage and all taxes and fees are included in your monthly plan price. The $25 plan offers you 300 minutes, the $40 plan offers you 1200 minutes, and the $60 plan offers totally unlimited everything! The $60 plan is the ultimate plan for those people that can’t stay off of their cell phones or a person that needs to be constantly in contact with customers or business partners!

To get started on this plan all a person has to do is purchase a new or used virgin mobile phone, pick a Beyond Talk Plan, activate their account online or call the 1800 number, and that’s all there is to it! As long as the monthly plan price is paid on time every month, then you start each month with the plan that you signed up for. In case you run out of minutes additional minutes can be purchased with a credit/debit card or a Virgin mobile top-up card from any retail location around. If you go over your monthly plans anytime minutes, then you are charged just 10 cents a minute for calls, and if your monthly charge does not go through due to a problem with your PayPal or credit/debit account, or because there is not enough money in your balance to cover the charge then your phone service is terminated until you top-up.

Virgin mobile also offers a plan for customers who own a BlackBerry mobile device and wants to get on the Beyond Talk Plan. It is available for $10 extra per month or $70 per month, and it includes all the unlimited features and allows customers access to their web-based email, the BlackBerry messenger, and the BlackBerry App World.

There are other cell phone services and providers out there, and I have tried them all and for me Virgin mobile’s Beyond Talk Plans are perfect for when I want to talk a lil’ or a lot, so go and check it out and let’s all “GO BEYOND JUST TALK!”

Posted in Mobile Apps | Tagged | Comments Off on Let’s Go Beyond Just Talk – Virgin Mobile Talk Plans

Get Paid to Play Games

Video games have grown into a billion dollar industry within the past few years. Video game giants such as Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony create games for the average person like you and hoping they will generate a revenue. These giants try to make sure that every game they publish has the largest possibility for profits. So, before any game gets released to the public they must test them first. This is where you come in and get paid to play games. Getting paid to play games can be one the best jobs best if you truly love playing games then why not get paid to do it. It is almost like being a profession athlete except you don’t have to be physically fit.

These companies NEED people like you and me to test their games and they are willing to pay you for your efforts so why not let them. The only thing you will have to do is play the game and relay what you feel about it to the company such as, “the difficulty is too high, what was the point of what that man just said? or glitches that may and will happen”. Your main job as a game tester is to test the game for the bugs that come up as you play.

If a game was released without this kind of testing the company will lose thousands of dollars just from bad reviews of their product. Glitches can seriously hinder a company’s success. Now I am going to stop the blabbering about what a person does to get paid to play games and tell you how to get into the business.

To get paid to play games there are some requirements that you need have before you can even think of becoming a true game tester.

Almost anyone can get paid to play games ,but there is one small requirement. There is a minimum age of 18 for these positions as most companies cannot hire anyone younger than that. If your younger than 18, and you are still interested in learning how to get started then read on. Besides being 18, there are no other requirements for this job besides being able to play games.

Being a game tester does have some obvious advantages to any other job the first being that as a game test you are able to play the hottest games before anyone else and you get to keep the game after you done. You will also learn about product development, marketing, manufacturing, customer service and testing of games.

How would you like to work from home and earn anywhere between $20-$120/hour to test games for any system and keep the games for free. This could be the best experience of your life so why not check it out.

Posted in Game | Tagged | Comments Off on Get Paid to Play Games