Have you ever needed to make a video for a class or
a demonstration for work? I have. It is hard to find software that is easy to
use and quality that fulfills the need presented. Camstudio is free downloadable software that
runs solely of donations for people to use for such purposes. Videos you can record yourself saves money and
can save time in some instants by answering frequently asked questions by
showing solutions. How about come up with a way to train people in multiple
locations without having to travel? Making a video for people to access is a
simple way for training to occur. Have you ever set in class reading a text
book and wonder just what in the world are they talking about then the teacher
show you and it all made sense. What if that teacher made a video that showed
you that goes along with your textbook? Do you have product that you want to
sell and you are not sure how to advertise it so that it shows all the
features? Make a video that you can share with customers, online, or use for a
sales pitch. Camstudio is the software that can do all those things and most of
all it is free.
Camstudio was originally released by
Rendersoft. Rendersoft also owns ehelp
and several other different associations with other companies. There is a long
history on the website on how Camstudio came about and all the associations it
has through Rendersoft. Ehelp was bought by Macromedia who wanted Rebodemo
which was made by Ehelp technology. Robodemo later became captivate. Elements
of Robodemo was part of Camstudio and Robodemo had to be registered and most of
the code was broken, so Camstudio used and earlier version and changed the code
so that none of the other companies in its history was able to come up with the
same technology.
Businesses that use demonstrations can use Camstudio
software. Whether you are showing someone how to cook something or how to fold
laundry, there are demonstration videos out there for people to see. I am a big
fan of cooking videos myself cause it is not one my strong suits. Many
businesses make money every day off of showing people how to do ordinary
things. How a big corporations though who are doing training? New employees
that work in factories or start any professional job usually has some sort of
training when they start the job. Those training videos often show
demonstrations on how to do the job they are being hired to do. Sometimes they
even show things that employees shouldn’t do as a way to keep people safe. Camstudio
software is easy tool for training supervisors or anyone that needs to
demonstrate a process for someone.
Have you ever looked at the frequently asked
questions on a website to see if someone has the same question as you? I often
do if I run across a simple problem. It beats have to be on hold for hour
waiting for a person to answer your questions. The CamStudio software can be
used to answer the questions. If you have business that requires customers to
certain processes and you are having problems going through the process
wouldn’t it be easier to see how it is done instead of reading it. Here is an
example of that: Say you trying to change the light in your oven but you have
no idea how to get to it. You go the manufacture website and look up the model
of the stove and go to frequently asked questions on how to change the bulb. It
tells how take screws out, etc. Often times even the simplest things some
people would call a repairman for just because the instructions are too
complicated. How about a video that you
can play that shows you step by step how to change the bulb? It would save on
repair bills and enable you to fix it yourself. You can pause the video as you
go through each step and take your time doing so. Not only would it help the consumer, but it
would also same the company money because there would be less of a need for
people to answer the phone and for them to have repair people. They would have
someone make the video and it could be someone who is already employed by the
company.
When I was college studying for my accounting degree
we did all the work manually. Then when I started working in the field, I know
how everything worked but not the automated programs. I decided to take a class
on accounting and computer system management. The class solely focused on
demonstrating how the software worked.
Camstudio is software that professions and teachers can use to make
videos for classes like the one I took. If the teacher couldn’t be present for some
reason we could still have class because there would be a video waiting for us
to work with. For some students, they have to see how the certain things work
and have them demonstrated in real world circumstances before they truly
understand what they are suppose to be doing. I was one of those students and I
learned more by watching tutorials and see how things were done, than I ever
did by reading a text book.
Most businesses are out to sell something, be it a
product or service. Camstudio allows
business to make videos to show how their product or service will exceed a
competitor and how exactly their business works. Companies that have infomercials on in the
middle of the night make their money on demonstrating how a product works.
However, many companies do not have the resources to make those kinds of
advertising moves. With Camstudio they have access to free software to make
their own sales video. They can use their own sales people who do the job
everyday instead of an actor and use actual clients to show how successful the
product is. I would much rather see real people from a local business on a
video selling something than I had an actor or someone that I do not know. I am also more likely to buy a product or use
a service if there are people from the actual business in the video. It gives it a personal touch and lets me know
that the people in the business actually care about what they are doing and are
not just doing a job.
The new software that comes out on computers often
has shortcuts that enable use the system without having a bunch of steps to go
through. Camstudio allows you to record techniques on such software so that you
do not forget how you to do it. For
example let’s use an older program like excel. In excel you can use functions
and formulas to make the system easy to input data and keep records. If you use
Camstudio to record the different functions and action you do when you use the
program, you would be able to remember them next time you go to use the
software. How about those who are gamers? There are often shortcuts and secret
levels in games. Camstudio would allow recording all those secrets so that when
you plan the game again you know what you have to do in order to have access to
them. Camstudio is easy to use that there
uses of the software is endless.
Up to this point it has been all the uses of the
program, but what about all the features the software has. I for one do not
like recording myself. I sound to soft spoken. Camstudio has a voice feature
that allows you add voice captions to your videos in just a few short minutes
that even works on web cam videos of yourself. You can make videos of all
different lengths. Email for instance only lets you send short videos. While
you are burning a cd or DVD you can make long smooth videos that can be burned
with high quality results.
As with most software, there are always bugs that
often new versions of products fix. In the existing software internet explorer is
not having any issues. Whereas, Firefox and Netscape are having some viewing
issues, which the website shows a few simple steps that will fix the issue and
allow you to use the software. The new
version of the software that will be coming out will have fixes for these
issues. When you download the free software, there is a forum you can download
as well so people can discuss any issues and uses of the software.
The site also mentions some issues with registration
and how to resolve it. There have been some questions on how to register the
product. There is a description of what to do to resolve the issue so that
there is no registration required. Some customers are also having issues with
memory on their computers. There is also
a detailed description how to monitor the memory and how to keep the memory on
your computer from getting to full. That way the software is not more a hazard
than it is a useful tool.
On the Camstudio website, there is also a list of
other software that is available for free that helps with website videos.
Simplesiteaudit is monitoring software that allows people to monitor uploads to
their sites and alerts you if edits or alterations have been made without you
knowing it. Audioflash is audio recording software that you can use to upload
auto messages to your websites. There is Podcast software available as well.
All the software is free to use just like the Camstudio software. When you
click on one of the software links you go to that webpage. The web pages for
each are similar to Camstudio page with many of the same easy to understand
features. The additional software is great addition to the Camstudio, because
it gives you more options to utilize.
If you use Camstudio, how would you like to have
your video used by them for promotion? Although you wouldn’t get monetary gain
out it, it least you could be used as a success story. If you are a programmer,
Camstudio would be an opportunity for you help design upgrades and features of
the product. They are also looking for donation so they can pay the people who
help develop the software. It cannot continue to be free without the help of
those who use the software and become successful.
Camstudio had been editors pick from several
different companies. It is also a recipient of the decent download award.
Camstudio is always looking for feedback. They want to hear what you liked,
what you didn’t, and how you think the software can be improved. There is
always room for improvements and the people who use the software are often the
ones who can see where the improvements are needed.
Camstudio has links to terms of use and privacy
policy that reveal what how your information will be used. Privacy is a big
issue anymore and I for one do not like to use anything that shares my
information with another company. I want to be able to choose whom I give my
information to. There is also a link to online resources forum that allows
people to have access to other resources they might find useful in their
business. The Privacy section discusses log files, cookies and web beacons.
There is specific section of the privacy policy that discusses information and
how it used of children under the age of 13.
The Terms of use sections talks about legalities.
There is a restriction on how you can the software and limitations on the
material that is uploaded online. I recommend you read these sections before you
download and use the product, however it deals with topics such as copyrights
and trademarks as well as when you contact them there is you cannot sue them
for how they use your information you send to them. There are limits to
liability so that they cannot be liable for injury or harm the consumer may use
the product for. The links the other sites as referrals the company is no
liable for they are simple offering you a link to try addition products. There
is description of how termination of use can happen and how the other countries
are subject to local laws as laws in many of the different countries are
different than they are in the United States.
The support forum and the FAQs forum you can sign up
for before you download. It allows you see how other people are using the
product and any good and bad experiences they have. The support forum will also
notify you if there are any updates to the software. Depending on the how fast
your internet is, will depend on how long it will take you download the software,
but you can download anywhere at any time.
In the support forum after you have signed up, there
is a topic of announcements that are published by Camstudio so that people who
are members can see anything new that is coming out. There is also a list of
tips and tricks on how to use the software along with support discussions. You
have access to graphics discussion and how to get around file size issues that
many people have run into. I recommend applying for membership when you
download Camstudio that way you have access to all the addition information.
In the support forum, there is a list of code
contributions. It is a detailed list of people who have contributed to the
creation of Camstudio and development of new software and code used for the
product. If you donate and help out with Camstudio you would be among that
list. Most of the list is of bugs that have been fixed by people who use the
product. Just simple bits of code that help improvement an already useful
product, and that is what feedback good and bad is all about and how you can
contribute.
The FAQs section is specifically for version of 2.0
and older that have issues. It is a list of issues these version have had a possible
solutions. One negative thing is that there is no live support or email support
for this product because it is free. So if your issue is not in the FAQs
section you may not be able to find the answer. However, the forum would be a
good place to research if the FAQs do not have the information needed to fix an
issue. The FAQs is sectioned off with different parts of Camstudio, from audio
to video, miscellaneous, and general issues that Camstudio has had with older
versions. For most issues there are step by step instructions to walk you
through. This section is different from up the Firefox and Netscape issue that
is on the main page.
So why would you pay to have someone make a
promotional video? Why would you pay for
software to make lessons for students or new training videos for employees?
Camstudio is a free option that elements costs for companies and allow you to
determine what you want in the video. It is easy to use and has all the
features of those expensive software programs.
I learned about Camstudio though my job at
typathome.com. If you like to learn how to get paid to write articles about
different topics, visit Type at Home.Com.
Type at home is a job you can do from your own living room that lets you
review different items and then write an article about it with pay. It also
includes paid training.
Camstudio is definitely worth a look if you are
interested in promoting you own business. If are a teacher and are looking for
ways to engage your students and show them how to practice what you are trying
to teach them, then this software is one tool that will be beneficial to you.
How about all those people out there that train people for a living? If you could make a video so that you
wouldn’t have repeat the same things a thousand time to each trainee would you,
especially if it something as simple as setting up their account or something
at work for payroll. I have trained people and let me tell you sometimes I wish
I had a tape recorder so that I wouldn’t have repeat myself on how to simple
tasks a dozen times and then only to realize that once I showed them instead of
telling them I no longer had to repeat it. Make a video of yourself and use the voice
feature to help you make the video unique. Use it to save secrets from you
favorite game. The uses are endless and there are probably more uses than I
have even mentioned.
CamStudio is a free tool that anyone can use. It is
efficient and the even though it has bugs there is easy ways to resolve any
issues with help available to you. Take
a look at the product and give it try. It just might be the next big marketing
tool that your company needs to find affordable advertising and increases
sales, growth of you company, and increase customer access. You are out nothing and you have nothing to
lose by trying it. So why not give it a try and see if it is right for you.
Does this software sound too good to be true? Well
you will have to decide for yourself. I, for one, think it is great tool and
easy to use. I had a bug and easily found answer and solved it and now can use
it whenever I need to. Go to Camstudio.org and read about the product, download
it, join the forum, and begin making money using this product!
