Screencast.com Blog

New Today! Beta Playlists and Other Improvements

2011-09-14T19:12:19Z

The Screencast.com team has published a collection of improvements related to the Beta Library which brings it closer to meeting or exceeding parity with the traditional Library. Playlist contents now appear in the Beta view, and you now have the ability to add/delete content, view and change playlist details, including privacy level. In the new Library you can now see folders and playlists that have been shared with you through the Authenticated user privacy method.

At this point there should be little need to switch out of the beta view and back to the old Library interface. (Hidden playlists are still a bit wonky - let us know how often you use them.)With the added search and sorting improvements in the new Library, we hope you find it more efficient and comfortable to use the new interface instead of the old. If not, let us know!

Along with a few bug fixes, the length of an iTunes RSS feed is now unlimited. You can now host your iOS-centric content on Screencast.com, and distribute that content through iTunes without worrying about hitting a display limit.

Finally, we upped our Flash player limit to 10.1. We know there are still some holdouts still using the version 9 series player (less than 1% of all viewers), but we are experiencing compatibility issues with Microsoft's Internet Explorer and the old Flash players, which is forcing us to increase our minimum player version.

Let us know what you think via our Get Satisfaction topic and if you have a technical problem, creating a ticket and working with our technical support staff is still the fastest way to get help.

Dirk Frazier
Product Manager
Screencast.com

Screencast.com undergoing maintenance Sunday 9/04/11 10 PM Eastern

2011-09-02T20:39:49Z

The Screencast.com team is going to be doing some work on the database Sunday night, September 4, 2011.

Screencast.com will be down and inaccessible beginning around 10 PM Eastern (GMT -5:00). We expect the work and implementation of the improvements to last between 15 and 30 minutes.

We apologize for the inconvenience but we feel this is important in order to improve the service and address performance issues encountered this week. We will do everything we can to keep the downtime to a minimum.

Thank you for your patience,
Mike Curtis and the Screencast.com team

Progress Update: Details View (Beta)

2011-08-11T12:27:34Z

We pushed some new functionality on Screencast.com which is now available to content owners. To try it out you must be in the "Beta" view.

Our new details view not only allows you to easily see and compare your content details, but it also serves as a much more convenient way to enter or update content details such as title and keywords. In addition, you can more quickly enable download links or enable commenting on the content you wish.

Here's a little video demo (2:26)

In this release we addressed an issue where people were having thumbnails in their Library go missing. You may notice that based on some feedback and testing we cleaned up some of the "tile" view interface including the big details tool tip/hover box.

As always, the best way to send us your feedback is at http://feedback.techsmith.com.

You're Invited to ScreencastCamp!

2011-06-28T18:22:23Z

Hi! I'm cross-posting this from Betsy Weber's Visual Lounge TechSmith blog. I'll be at this camp and would love to meet some fellow Jingers!

Come on in! Our doors at TechSmith are open! I'm really excited to invite you to the first ever ScreencastCamp!

So, what is ScreencastCamp? It is a gathering of screencasters and visual communication aficionados who want to network, learn, and collaborate on the art of screencasting.

The event relies on... YOU! All sessions, discussions, and demos are led by attendees sharing their knowledge. The program isn't determined beforehand--it's created the first day by the participants. Anyone with something to contribute or with the desire to learn is welcome and invited to join. ScreencastCamp follows the BarCamp model-an ad-hoc unconference born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. It is for new screencasters and veterans alike.

TechSmith trainers, developers, video staff and evangelists will be onsite and sharing their knowledge too. You'll have access to TechSmith's studio and sound room. You can even visit the giant spork.

Here are some more details:

When: Friday, August 12 to Sunday, August 14
Where? At TechSmith headquarters, in Okemos, Michigan.
Cost: Free! All meals and drinks Friday evening through Sunday afternoon are provided by TechSmith.
How do I sign up to attend: Sign up through the Eventbrite site here. Note: We have a limit of 100 attendees.

I know you're probably thinking, "Do I really have to set up a tent and camp?" No, you don't have to camp. If you don't feel like roughing it, you can camp inside TechSmith or there are a couple hotels within walking distance. I'd encourage you to camp - around the campfire is where great ideas are born, interesting conversations happen, new friends are made and creativity is sparked... and, lets not forget about s'mores (did I mention I make homemade marshmallows?)!

The hashtag we're using for the event is #screencastcamp. You can follow @screencastcamp on Twitter. You can find out more about ScreencastCamp here plus I'll make periodic updates on the Visual Lounge as well.

Will I see you at ScreencastCamp? I'll bring the marshmallows if you bring yourself!

Under the Hood: Two Performance Improvements

2011-06-07T13:50:25Z

It's easy to see the dramatic changes in the new Beta Library. Others may have noticed how the short URL (e.g. http://screencast.com/t/RaNd0M) stays short once entered into the address bar. It used to redirect to the full content URL.

Anyway, if you're into "invisible" performance-related facts, you might be interested in a post from Jared Wein's blog. Jared worked on Screencast.com for a short time and made significant contributions.

The latest Screencast.com release included a couple speed improvements that were quietly included.

URL improvements

The first improvement was one requested by Kyle Mulka, of Twilk, [among others] during a visit to TechSmith. Kyle mentioned that he wished the Screencast.com short URLs would stay short after the web page was accessed. He mentioned that a lot of users like to copy and paste the URL from the address bar and use it in tweets.

I spent a bit of time researching what we would have to change to fix this issue, and in a couple of days we had the changes implemented.

This change also brings about a nice speed improvement to the loading of pages on Screencast.com. Previously, when a piece of content was visited, the server would reply with an HTTP Status Code 302 - Found. This causes the browser to then load the page at the redirected location. This little bit of communication takes time, and with our new change we have removed this initial hurdle.

Here is a graphic showing the change in loading times:

With this improvement, we have increased the speed of viewing your Screencast.com content by 4.1% on average. If you are viewing your content from outside of North America, you can expect an even larger speedup. [We know it's not a large speed increase, but every bit helps, right?]

Reduced page size

The second [and more noticeable] improvement that was added to Screencast.com was a new library layout. Much care has been taken to reduce the filesize of the webpages, to the point where loading up my library using the Library (beta) only uses 1/4 of the bytes yet sends more data. The Library (beta) also makes 11 less network requests than the current library. This means that your Screencast.com library is now more accessible under tighter network conditions such as 3G.

Change the First Frame of Your Embedded Video and Have it Start Playing Automatically

2011-05-12T11:51:55Z

In the video below, I'll show you how you can modify the Screencast.com embed code so you can use whatever image you want as the first frame. The first frame is what appears behind the Play button before the viewer clicks it. Since many videos start with a fade from black, the first frame is black. This isn't always the best first impression.

Update: The image you use for the first frame should be hosted on Screencast.com. The video is not clear on this, and it won't work if you reference an image on Flickr, etc.

I'll also show you how you can add a special "flashvar" so the video starts plays as soon as the viewer loads the page. This can be a little disconcerting and a lot of people like to be in control of starting the video. (Click here to jump right to the part about auto-playing videos.)

Hidden Library

2011-05-05T12:44:47Z

With Screencast.com's recent Library redesign comes a particularly interesting enhancement that many may have missed.

In the old design, you could upload anything to your Library. Some people might have a bunch of loose content that wasn't in any true folder. Further, this content is "Public" - meaning anyone that knows your display name can see your Library.

Take a look at my public offerings at http://www.screencast.com/users/d.frazier You see two public playlists that I've created, and four folders that are publicly visible and able to be browsed. What's not showing up are all the individual pieces of content that are stored at my Library level.

When you log into your account using the old UI, you find yourself in a "My Library" view by default. Here's a snapshot of some of my Screencast.com account now with me logged in:

Uploading content by clicking the "Upload Content" button results in your file being stored at your Library level, i.e. not in a specific folder. (You can of course upload content into a specific folder by navigating to that folder level and initiating the upload process.)

Previously we had no way of implementing any level of privacy at the Library level other than "Public." With our new UI, and particularly by displaying all folders in the left hand navigation area, we can now treat the Library as a real folder (and it is now called "Default"...by default. Clever, I know). Now with the new UI, when you log into your account you find yourself not in your Library, but in a "view" - specifically the "All items" view.

When you choose to upload content from this view, your content goes into your Default folder - for the time being. (A logical enhancement for us is to put a folder picker on the Flash-based uploader, but that's for a different discussion.) The point here is that because the Library is now a real folder, you can set the privacy of it to something other than "Public".

If you set it to "Hidden", anyone browsing to your account by using your display name won't be able to see any content that's been uploaded to your Default folder, until you send someone a direct link to it, or move it into a "Public" folder of your choosing. I see this as a benefit to most who want to upload lots of content in bulk (through the Desktop Uploader application or Camtasia Relay for example), not have it be instantly, publicly browseable, and then decide later how to organize and share it.

Our intention is to one day index all public content in Screencast.com in order to provide discoverability both internally (as related content perhaps) and externally through the various search engines. Additionally, we will one day make the new UI the only available viewing option for content owners. When we do that (and for those who don't realize that their Library/Default content is publicly browseable), we have an opportunity to set everyone's Default folder to "Hidden" (by default), without affecting any of the content or links to content that have previously been shared. If after that update, you want your Library/Default folder to be browseable, you can easily set its privacy level back to "Public", but it will be you that initiates that action and not us, on your terms and with your understanding.

For now, if you want to take advantage of this new degree of security, feel free to update the privacy settings of your Default folder and rest assured that any content you upload into your account that's not uploaded directly to a Public folder, will be hidden from view until you decide to share it.

Try the New Beta Features and Workflow

2011-04-27T17:53:07Z

The Screencast.com team has been hard at work making improvements to make it easier for you to find, manage, and share your content. While we still have more work to do, (better folder management and playlists come to mind) you will likely notice a snappier performance and a more efficient and consistent workflow.

What do you think? The best way to send us feedback is to post it here. Thanks in advance for taking the time to tell us your thoughts. We crave it.

Have three minutes? Check out this overview video.

Learn about everything that's new and changed!

Basics of Embed Code, and the Top Three Issues People Encounter

2011-02-25T13:50:41Z

I made a little video that attempts to explain why you might care about embed code. I then address the top three reasons people contact us for embed code help.

The top problems are:

The code is displayed to viewers (instead of the video)
Video is way too big for blog or website
Code doesn't work, or isn't accepted by html tool

I welcome feedback on the video, especially as I plan to create a three-part series on embed code. This would be the "Basics" video. Do you like the live intro or should I just cut straight to the screencast? Anything you want me to cover in the next videos?

Don't forget you can click the Full Screen button to watch the video at it's original size. (I also made a low-res version that is a faster download.)

Screencast.com Looking Strange? Clear Your Cache

2011-02-11T16:20:02Z

We've received reports that some people are having viewing issues--the tabs or layout doesn't look quite right... The culprit is that your browser is using some cached data so it's not loading updates we made with yesterday's release.

The fastest way to clear the cache is to hold the Shift key and then click the browser's refresh button (while still holding down the Shift key). That should do the trick!

February 2011 - New Features on Screencast.com

2011-02-08T13:35:35Z

The Screencast.com team is excited to announce the availability of a number of new features, including Google Analytics integration, Closed Caption editing, mobile display of hotspots with HTML5, and social networking integrations with Twitter, Facebook, and Get Satisfaction.

Many customers have requested increased access to data associated with viewing their content. While we provide basic information, both free and Pro users can now tap into the power of Google Analytics. Content owners can also now receive event data from the Flash player, which provides added insight into how content is consumed. Click My Account then enter your key as shown here:

All three TechSmith Camtasia products have recently beefed up captioning abilities. Some of the many uses for closed captions include providing a richer viewing experience for people who are hard of hearing, watching video on an iPad on a crowded bus, or who use English as a second language. But what if you don't use a Camtasia product or want to change captions after the video is already on Screencast.com? Well, we've created a Silverlight-based caption editor right on Screencast.com. Check out the tutorial!

Flash hotspots are now supported by our HTML5 player. Who cares about this feature the most? Well, this one's for Camtasia Studio users who wanted hotspots to work in non-Flash conditions--like on an iPad. Screencast.com now also supports WebM video for those who want to share video created with this format. We now have feature parity among our Flash, Silverlight, and HTML5 viewing environments.

Finally, we've integrated Screencast.com with Facebook, Twitter, and Get Satisfaction. Viewers of public content will be able to "Tweet" or "Like" the content that they're viewing. And you can now join our growing community of users on Get Satisfaction that are interacting with dozens of TechSmithies from all areas of the company. Get Satisfaction is a much better way for us to hear what you're asking for and help answer questions you might have. From your Library or Folder view, you can use the Feedback tab on the right hand side of the screen, or just visit http://feedback.techsmith.com.

TechSmith product teams are hard at work to make 2011 our best year yet. We've got our eyes on improving our end-to-end user experience, from content creation to consumption. We trust you will be pleasantly surprised by what emerges from TechSmith this spring...and we don't mean the croci. And finally, please tell us what you think of the new features. What can we do for you?

Why Produce to Screencast.com via Camtasia?

2011-02-02T16:10:44Z

You have so many choices when it comes to deciding how to present your video to your audience. Instead of trying to explain pros and cons or delve into feature comparison lists, we tried something a little different.

This info graphic attempts to convey some of the more unique reasons why you may choose to produce your video to Screencast.com directly from Camtasia Studio on Windows or Camtasia for Mac.

What do you think of having the information presented this way?

Click image to enlarge.

New Way to Interact with the Screencast.com Team and Other Screencasters

2010-12-08T15:40:54Z

After reading thousands of feedback emails you've sent us--and responding to as many as we could (probably hundreds)--we're trying something new.

We're using a platform called Get Satisfaction and would love to hear what you think. Get Satisfaction is carefully crafted around the idea that when companies and customers work more closely together--out in the open--everyone wins. We're looking forward to the increased transparency and the ability help people find answers to questions we frequently get via the former feedback forms.

Feel free to head on over to Get Satisfaction right now and post a topic or a response. We're just getting started, so you have a chance to help make it great by sharing your questions, answers, and ideas.

Here's what's in it for you...

Have a louder voice: Other people can vote up your requests (or you can say "me too" to theirs!) and our product teams will better understand what people need and why
Find answers faster: Get Satisfaction increases the odds that you'll find the best answer--before you even post a question!
Hear from a broad range of experts: Over time, you'll see responses not just from our amazingly dedicated and knowledgeable volunteer moderators...but you'll see technical responses from TechSmith developers, tips and work-arounds from user-assistance specialists, and responses from the Product Managers who shape the future direction of the products.

We have high hopes that Get Satisfaction will enhance your TechSmith experience and help you rock (even more!) at what you do. Please give it a try and let us know what you think!

Top Five Ways Educators Use Screencast.com

2010-11-22T19:20:03Z

Here's a quick list of popular ways in which educators are leveraging the privacy of Screencast.com and how it's easy to get your content from a TechSmith product to Screencast.com where designated people can view it.

Host instructional videos and provide links to parents and students. Parents and students can view the videos 24/7.
Create a MediaRoll that is hosted on the class or school webpage. The MediaRoll is automatically updated when videos are uploaded to the corresponding folder.
Have students use Jing to explain a concept. These Jing videos or images are shared with just the teacher, the class, or maybe the world. Here's an example: http://mrshedge.squarespace.com/all-videos/.
Host classroom "lectures" or any type of instruction or presentation with Camtasia Relay. Just record, and Camtasia Relay does all the processing. When the video is done, you're emailed the link to where it's hosted on Screencast.com.
Host files (attachments) such as PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, and PDFs. Selected people are able to download the materials.

Have you tried Screencast.com in education? What tips do you have?

Back to School with TechSmith

2010-10-12T16:55:08Z

Fall in mid-Michigan usually means cooler temps, lots of great color, and school buses. While the temperature continues to be unseasonably high, and the color really hasn't taken off like most would prefer, school is definitely back in session, and Screencast.com is here to lend a hand. After all, we are part of the TechSmith family - and TechSmith is helping to drive the revolution that's happening in the education world today.

Our products are the tools that students and teachers use to create engaging content that motivates kids to learn. Jing, Camtasia Studio, Camtasia for Mac, and Camtasia Relay are regularly used to quickly communicate great ideas and record lectures and classroom activities, and to deliver all that great content to the masses is Screencast.com. It's like we have a plan or something. :)

I've written previously about how Screencast.com can be used in the classroom to help organize and deliver digital media. With our latest update last week, we're also now supporting the display of closed captions created in Camtasia Studio 7.1, Camtasia for Mac 1.2, and CamtasiaRelay 3.0, on three platforms - Flash, Silverlight (with Camtasia Relay content only for now), AND HTML5! Imagine the possibilities when viewers have access to content hosted on Screencast.com from their iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Classrooms are never going to be the same.

Even more exciting is the ability to search through the caption and transcription text of a video - effectively letting the viewer navigate to points of interest as easily as typing in a keyword or two. Today Screencast.com supports search on the Flash and Silverlight platforms, and an HTML5 solution should be here soon. We're also supporting Tables of contents in Flash, Silverlight, and HTML5, and Flash-based hot spots created with the Camtasia family of products...and we're not done yet!

Fall may be seen by some as the end of many things - but to us, it's the start of great things coming out of TechSmith and Screencast.com.

-Dirk