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Mac 101: Using QuickTime to record video of your Mac's screen
Sometimes you need to capture video of your Mac's screen, either to show someone a troublesome error or a quick how-to for a friend or family member. You can purchase a dedicated screencasting app like Camtasia, but for most casual users, QuickTime's screen record feature will fit the bill. To access QuickTime's recording feature, you'll need to open the QuickTime Player app and follow the instructions below: Prepare the app you want to record by opening it and getting the content in place. For example, opening the webpage tabs you want to record. Go to the QuickTime Player app and select File > New Screen Recording. Select the audio source by clicking on the downward-pointing arrow and select the option to record or ignore mouse clicks. Click the red record button and follow the instructions to record either the full screen or just a small selection. Start recording your screen and use the stop button in the menu bar (or Command-Control-Escape) to halt the recording when you are done. When you are done, you can trim the clip, upload it to YouTube or import it into iMovie for some post-processing.
Now iOS users can control Google Glass remotely with MyGlass companion app (update)
For a while there, Google's Glass was really only for the Android population since the eyewear required compatible devices running the MyGlass app for activation and the full suite of features. Not so anymore, as the company's just released that companion app to Apple's App Store making it possible for iOS users to set up the device, manage contacts and Glassware apps, view texts, as well as remotely navigate with turn-by-turn directions right from their smartphones. You'll need to be running iOS 7, however, in order to run the app and take advantage of the screencasting possibilities. And before your itchy trigger finger hits download, heed Google's oft-repeated advice: "If you don't have Glass, then downloading this will be a waste of time." That's right from the mouth of Mountain View itself. Consider yourself warned. Update: Looks like the MyGlass app has since been pulled. We've reached out to Apple for comment and will update once we hear back. Update 2: Google's just released a statement on the situation, saying that MyGlass for iOS will once again be available on the App Store "later this week" and is part of the XE 12 Glass update. Update 3: MyGlass is back! Snag it over at the App Store now.
Chrome DevTools now lets you see how websites behave on mobile devices (video)
Developing a mobile-friendly website can be daunting. How do you account for the many, many devices that will see your page? If you grab Google's new Chrome 32 beta, that kind of testing should be trivial. The desktop browser's DevTools for Mobile can now emulate the behavior of mobile gadgets down to their display resolutions, sensors and touch input. Those who need to test on real hardware will have an easier time, too -- Chrome 32's new USB support lets you screencast an Android device's browser to see how code runs without leaving the developer environment. Many of us normal web denizens won't see the benefits of the updated DevTools, but site builders eager to save time will want to visit the source links.
Google testing Android screencast support inside Chrome
Google could be about to make developing and testing mobile websites inside its Chrome browser a while lot easier. As spotted by Chromium expert François Beaufort, the company has included experimental screencast support inside the latest beta version of its desktop browser. It allows developers and tinkerers to connect their Android smartphone or tablet, test code updates and view the results in real time, without having to leave the safety (and comfort) of their desktop. The feature is especially useful for Chrome users who want to ensure their designs look good on different screen sizes and resolutions, or are just getting started in the world of Android development. There's no word on whether Google will make the feature available to the public, meaning you'll have to hit up the Chrome developer channel in order to try it.
MyGlass update lets you control Google Glass UI with an Android device
As anyone who's stuck Google Glass on their head knows, controlling its UI via swipes, nods and voice commands can sometimes be... awkward. Now you can do it remotely, thanks to an update to the MyGlass companion Android app. It uses Glass' so-called screencast experience, which is a way of letting other users see what you're seeing on Glass from their Android device's screen. Now a Glass user can "touch/swipe/tap to control the Glass UI through the screencast experience," according to the blurb on Play. Some Google+ users have noted that the remote control part is not working yet and probably requires a matching Glass update. You can grab it at the source, but Google has helpfully pointed out that "if you don't have Glass, then... it'll be a waste of time."
Telestream reveals ScreenFlow 4 update
Telestream's flagship screen-recording app, ScreenFlow, has been updated today. ScreenFlow 4 (US$99, $29 paid upgrade to owners of previous versions) adds a ton of new and improved features to the app, which is used for recording and editing screencasts and presentations. ScreenFlow 4 now runs as a fully 64-bit app in OS X 10.7 and 10.8, which Telestream reports "improves overall performance, memory usage, export speed, and scalability." The app can also record up to 2,880 x 1,800 resolution Retina displays while still producing relatively small file sizes. There are new organization tools to handle clips, support for close-captioning has been added and chroma key ("green screen") lets users add virtual studios or locations behind clips of narrators. Core Image filters and effects are supported, bringing a whole new palette of audio and video tools to the app. Existing ScreenFlow customers who purchased earlier versions of the app directly from Telestream can easily upgrade by going to ScreenFlow > Check for Updates, and then clicking the Install Update button. Once ScreenFlow 4 is installed, the upgrade license can be purchased by selecting Purchase > Purchase ScreenFlow Online. If you purchased ScreenFlow through the Mac App Store, check this page for details on how to upgrade. A video highlight of the new chroma key and effect tools in ScreenFlow 4 is available below.
Camtasia for Mac 2.2 update adds new effects, interactivity
TechSmith today announced an update to Camtasia for Mac, its powerful screen recording and video editing solution. Camtasia is a popular application for creating screencasts, and the new features announced today should make the app even more handy for existing and new users. The new hotspot capability allows Camtasia for Mac 2.2 users to embed links in any videos. For example, a video can now include a call to link to a research site or online store that those watching the video can access with a click. Sharing has been enhanced, providing a way to create video content that can be played on iPhones, iPads, and Macs seamlessly. In the past, Camtasia has provided ways for users to highlight certain content to focus viewer attention. New Spotlight and Mask video features enhance that capability in Camtasia for Mac 2.2. TechSmith has also added a way to provide table of content functionality for videos that are uploaded to YouTube. Camtasia for Mac 2.2 is a free upgrade to owners of the 2.0 and 2.1 versions, while Camtasia for Mac 1.x owners can upgrade to the new version for US$49.50. The app is available on the Mac App Store for $99.99. A free 30-day trial of Camtasia 2.2 is available as well.
Belkin ScreenCast TV Adapter streaming from a WiDi laptop near you in July
We've already seen Belkin's ScreenCast TV Adapter at its most unflattering, stripped naked for all the FCC to see, so it was a welcome change spotting the streaming media device in a more flattering light on the floor of gdgt's New York meetup. The set top box can stream 1080p video and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound from any WiDi-enabled laptop to your HDTV. It's also got dual-band wireless technology (at 2.4 and 5GHz) and can also handle your Blu-ray collection. The ScreenCast will start hitting living rooms in mid-July for $130, including a bundled HDMI cable. Stream some press releasey goodness after the break. %Gallery-126851%
Belkin's ScreenCast TV WiDi adapter hits the FCC
Looking for another way to add some WiDi to your TV? Then you can now also add Belkin's ScreenCast TV adapter to the list of options that are available or imminent. It recently turned up on Belkin's own website with a "coming soon" message, and it's now just hit the FCC, which could mean that "soon" is actually really soon. As for the device itself, it's about as straightforward as you'd expect, with just an HDMI port and some RCA inputs 'round back, plus support for full 1080p video and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound streamed from a WiDi-capable Windows 7 laptop. Look for this one to set you back $129 when it lands at retail.
Box.net SimpleShare Mac app for free screencast and screenshot sharing
Cloud storage provider Box.net has announced a new free Mac app called SimpleShare to make sharing screenshots and screencasts with others a piece of cake. When installed and used with a free (5 GB) or paid Box.net account, SimpleShare appears as yet another menu bar icon. To capture a screencast to demonstrate a feature or bug, selecting "Start Screencast" from that menu brings up a selection tool to drag around the area you want to capture. The capture begins immediately and is stopped by clicking a "Stop Recording" button that appears on the screen. Once recording has ceased, the screencast is uploaded to Box.net's servers, and the light blue menu bar icon "fills up" as a progress indicator. As soon as the file upload is done, a unique address is generated for sharing the screencast or screenshot with friends or co-workers, and that address is copied to the clipboard for pasting. I noticed that every time the screencast was viewed for the first time, I received an email -- that's a nice touch if you want to make sure that your co-workers have viewed the content. To send other files on your Mac, you just drag them up to the menu bar and drop them on the Box.net icon. For screenshots, just using the traditional Command-Shift-3 or Command-Shift-4 shortcuts automatically sends the full screen or selection to your SimpleShare folder. I wasn't happy with the fact that the screencasts are saved in the Adobe Flash Video format, as that makes it impossible to view the videos on iOS devices. But this is a 1.0 app, and hopefully Box.net will migrate to a more compatible screencast format in the future. While cloud storage services like Box.net are not unique -- I tend to use Dropbox for most of my cloud work -- SimpleShare is useful for collaborating with others thanks to its drop-dead ease of use. For me, it's a keeper.
Screencast your Mac to Apple TV over AirPlay
That screen you're looking at there? It's not my Mac. It's my Apple TV. TUAW reader James Low wondered if you could stream your OS X screen using the screen:// feature of VLC along the lines of the instructions found on this blog post. I decided to test it out using the same method I described in my earlier DVD-to-Apple TV post. Instead of streaming from my DVD (namely via dvdread:///dev/rdisk5@1:3-), I substituted screen://, as follows. /Applications/VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/VLC -vv screen:// --intf=rc '--sout=#transcode{vcodec=h264,vb=2048,acodec=mp4a,ab=192}:standard{mux=ts,dst=-,access=file}' | mediastreamsegmenter -f /Library/WebServer/Documents/stream -D It worked. All other instructions remain the same as from the DVD post. So what are the downsides? First, the image was a bit blurry due to the H.264 transcoding and the limited bit rate, but it wasn't too bad. It remained reasonably readable at all times. Second, there was a distinct lag between what was going on at the Mac and what was being shown on the Apple TV. Pausing the stream, like I did to take this screen shot, slightly increased that lag. On the bright side? Screencasting. From your Mac. To your Apple TV. I think that's pretty cool.
Drag and drop your windows into tidiness with Cinch
I'd never heard of Cinch, just mentioned over at Cult of Mac, but it's such a great idea I thought I'd check into it. Basically, Cinch does what all great Mac software does: it works in the background and lets you do what you want to do, skipping completely all the usual nonsense you usually have to do in between. Basically, it's a window helper -- all you have to do is drag any window on your desktop to a side of the screen, and it'll put the window maximized in that space. Drag it to the top, and it'll maximize it across the screen. When you're done, drag the window away, and it returns to its original size. There's a great screencast on the Irradiated Software website that shows some of the possibilities. One idea that really appeals to me is dragging two Finder windows quickly to either side of the screen to both browse two folders at the same time, and then pass files back and forth between them. Cinch reminds me of this old chat by Quicksilver creator Nicholas Jitkoff, where he talked about software that didn't worry about what you wanted to do and just let you do. Cinch serves its purpose in that same way. It's available over on the website for US$7.
ScreenFlow 2.0: top Mac screen recording app gets even better
I have a handful of apps that I use to show off my Mac to those still stuck on the dark side (ahem, Windows users), and ScreenFlow is among them -- heck, it's even the app I use for screen recording Windows (via Parallels). Already the gold standard in the screen recording app genre on the Mac, Telestream's ScreenFlow adds a host of goodies in its 2.0 update. While the new features provide the means for you to enhance the look and feel of your screencasts, they're more notable for better facilitating your screencasting workflow; the end result is more of a one-stop shop for all your screencasting needs. The first new feature relates to media interaction and management within the app. ScreenFlow 2.0 now allows you to drag, drop and position content from your media list directly onto the main ScreenFlow video canvas. In addition, said media files are now saved within a package. This means that the media files (pictures, music, and movies) you used in your project will be bundled in one place, rather than scattered hither and yon on your hard drive. As a result, you no longer need to worry about the folder(s) you placed your media in. Prior to 2.0, freeze framing or adjusting the speed of a clip required you to use another video editor, such as iMovie or Final Cut, which was an annoyance given the fact that you had to export the video. In the 2.0 update, however, ScreenFlow has added built-in support for freeze frames and speed adjustments. And if you yourself need your own personal freeze frame -- er, break -- you can now do so without splitting up clips through the pause and resume feature of ScreenFlow 2.0. While stopping and recording results in a separate clip, pausing and resuming screen recording results in a single clip that can be moved through the editing process as a unit. As many screencasts eventually make their way onto YouTube, ScreenFlow has incorporated YouTube publishing within the app. No longer will you need to use your browser or export to an iMovie-compatible format to upload your screencast to Youtube. YouTube publishing includes support for distribution control, giving you control over whether or not you want your screencast available for public consumption. Other notable features in the 2.0 update include: • New keyboard shortcuts (for resizing the timeline, zoom in and out, and nudging clips) • Advanced audio edits and audio ducking • Action curves • Improved timeline performance and improved export performance • Support for exporting only part of the timeline instead of the entire document • Color correction • Live audio scrubbing • Snow Leopard optimization Mac OS X Snow Leopard provides built-in support for screen recording via QuickTime X, and this may serve as a "good enough" solution for basic screen recording needs. But, just as Little Snapper serves as a powerful and elegant screen capturing tool suite over the built-in capabilities in OS X (via command-shift-3 or via the "Grab" app) for more advanced uses, ScreenFlow serves as a compelling screen recording suite for those who want to add extra polish and sheen to their screencasts. And with the 2.0 update to ScreenFlow, Telestream has made adding that extra polish and sheen that much easier. A 30 day free trial of ScreenFlow 2.0 is available at the Telestream website. ScreenFlow 2.0 is available for USD $99, or as a USD $29 upgrade for owners of previous versions of ScreenFlow. Download and purchase links available here.
Camtasia for Mac looks like a screencasting powerhouse
It hasn't exactly been a secret that I (and several others at TUAW) have been big fans of ScreenFlow since its release. Up until yesterday, I didn't really think it had much serious competition in the professional screencasting field. That seems to have changed with the release of Camtasia for Mac. At the same $99US price tag as ScreenFlow, Camtasia is offering a very similar interface with some impressive capabilities. Camtasia has long been considered a heavyweight in the PC world, and its Mac debut has been anxiously awaited. While it hasn't exactly reached feature-parity with the PC version, it's been quite a pleasure to try out. Some of the features it's lacking in comparison to its PC counterpart include region recording, narration-only recording and ScreenDraw. However, its capabilities in the area of direct media manipulation are quite well-developed. For a complete feature comparison, check the TechSmith website or grab the comparison PDF. A quick run-through with a review copy convinced me that this is some serious competition for ScreenFlow. One of the coolest features I played with was the SmartFocus action, which can be applied to an entire clip or just a region in the editor. It automatically determines what the point of focus at any given time should be, and zooms that area. Additionally, you can highlight the foreground window, add text and shape callouts, and work with imported media. The only problem I noticed immediately was with changing colors of library elements (arrows, etc.). I haven't figured that out in my brief trial, and haven't had a chance to ask yet. I'm hoping that's not a missing feature, as it seems relatively important to me. A complete array of QuickTime formats can be exported, and presets for YouTube, Screencast.com and iTunes are included. There's a default export which gave me a 10.5MB QuickTime file for a 47-second clip, at a 960x600 resolution. The "Advanced Export" option provides the opportunity to tweak settings and export to all the standard formats. There's some mismatch between the PC and Mac export capabilities, though, making cross-platform projects difficult (file format comparison). Camtasia for Mac requires that all of your video cards be Quartz Extreme-enabled. If you run any USB->DVI hardware, be sure to disconnect it before you launch the application. Also, TechSmith warns against running Perian with Camtasia. I tried it and didn't have any problems -- but it was for a short record/export experiment and I'm guessing they have good reason for pointing out the potential conflict. I would probably heed that advice when working on a more important project. Camtasia for Mac is currently available at the Camtasia website as a free trial, and can be purchased for $99US, or a 5-pack for $495US.
Camtasia coming to Mac on August 25th
If you're wavering on the edge of switching to the Mac as a consequence of the impending release of Windows 7, this may be news that will push you over that edge. In the Windows world, there's an extremely popular app for recording, editing, and publishing screencasts. That application is Camtasia Studio, and today developer TechSmith finally let the world know when the Mac version of Camtasia is going to see light. Beginning August 25th, you'll be able to purchase Camtasia for Mac for only $99. TechSmith plans on keeping this introductory price until the end of 2009, after which the price will bounce up to $149. Details of the Camtasia for Mac release are still extremely sketchy, but TechSmith promises to spill more beans about what the app will do over the next couple of weeks. You can sign up for email updates on the website, or follow the Visual Lounge Blog to get more info. It'll be interesting to see how Camtasia for Mac fares against the existing screencasting champ, ScreenFlow, also available for US$99 and much more established in the Mac community. While we're waiting for Camtasia, why don't you tell us about your favorite screencasting application? Leave a comment below.
New Media Center features in WHS Power Pack 3 exposed in a screencast
A picture is worth a thousand words, which is why we wish we would've been the ones who thought of making a screencast that exposes the new Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 (Beta) features for Media Center. Our friend Adam from the Digital Media Zone takes us through the TV show archiving and converting feature as well as the new remote console that lets you check to see if your backups are running from the comfort of the couch. Although we're not super excited by any of these particular features, we are encouraged to see more evidence that our vision of the future of Windows Media Center might be in line with Microsoft's. Full screencast after the jump
Adobe demos Photoshop CS4's content-aware scaling
In a QuickTime screencast, Adobe's Russell Brown demonstrates content-aware scaling, a feature of Photoshop CS4, due to be released this month. A lower-resolution YouTube demo from Lynda.com is available here, if you don't want to download a huge QuickTime movie. The content is different, but you'll get the idea. Adobe licensed an algorithm that senses "dead" areas in photos, and resizes the image to avoid squashing or stretching every object. In the video, Brown demonstrates resizing an image of four golfers, interactively removing space between and around the golfers, but leaving the golfers' proportions correct. He also demonstrates resizing a Volkswagen bus, making it a more "economical" size, but automatically keeping the wheels round. For those looking for a compelling reason to upgrade to Photoshop CS4, this might be it. If not, what is? Let us know by leaving a comment. [Via Swissmiss and Michael Sippey.]
Found Footage: Writing your first iPhone application
The removal of the NDA from the iPhone development scene means that a trickle of educational content for would-be developers is rapidly turning into a flood. Xcode instructor extraordinaire Bill Dudney of The Pragmatic Programmers has made a 22 minute video screencast available for those who want to join the elite ranks of beginning iPhone developers. The free video covers the details of how to start getting acquainted with Xcode and Interface Builder for iPhone development. Dudney actually builds a simple application while guiding viewers through the process of creating an iPhone app. The video is available at the following URL along with links to several other "pay per view" screencasts sold by The Pragmatic Programmers:http://pragprog.com/screencasts/v-bdiphone/writing-your-first-iphone-applicationA zipped QuickTime version (.mov format) of the video is here, while a zipped version for iPhone / iPod touch is available for download here. Bill Dudney is the co-author of iPhone SDK Development and several other development texts. If you want some in-person instruction from Bill to supplement the books and the 'casts, he is teaching a November iPhone programming course in Denver, CO.Thanks Mike!
Clips updated to 1.1
Clips is a relatively new application (designed by our friend Nicholas Penree and his cohorts at Conceited Software, who also sell Linkinus) designed to kick your clipboard into overdrive -- it'll let you keep track of any and all clips even across applications, Spaces, and even different Macs. The screencast gives a pretty good idea of just how capable it is, and while it seems just a tad bit too complicated for a user like me (I mostly just stick to the browser, and Quicksilver's shelf gives me pretty good access to all the reusable bits I need), it definitely seems like the kind of program that finds its way into your workflow: the more you use it, the more uses you'll find for it. Plus, they've just released Clips 1.1, with a bevy of new features -- Abbreviations are now live (they'll expand as you type them, like Text Expander), you can use hot corners to invoke the program, video URLs are now supported (along with Amazon and IMDb URLs), and you can rename clips through a contextual menu (that last one might sound boring, but have you tried it yet?). The application is $34.99 (though hurry to get that price -- it may go up on October 1st), and there's a 15-day free trial.And hey, if you don't want to buy it quite yet, just wait a bit -- Conceited has given TUAW a few giveaway copies to pass on to you readers, so stay tuned for your chance to pick it up right here.
Evernote + Screencast ready for prime time and paid use
Two of my preferred Mac-friendly cloud services have now made the jump to actually accepting money from subscribers, which is a good thing (really, it is!). TUAW favorite Evernote has moved from private to public beta, and Techsmith video hosting site Screencast.com is now at 1.0 release status. Both services are now offering trial/free plans alongside their premium plans for paid subscribers. The Screencast.com site is already integrated with the free Jing Project capture tool for Mac and the pro-level (and, at least for the moment, Windows-only) Camtasia Studio app; you can also upload screencasts that you create with almost any tool you like (including ADA multi-winner Screenflow) in a variety of formats for hosting on the service. Selecting which of your screencasts to share and which to password-protect is very easy, and the service automatically sets up RSS and iTunes feeds for the folders you choose to make public.The 60-day trial account includes 200 MB of storage and a 1GB transfer limit; paid plans start at $6.95 a month. Evernote's private beta grew to include over 125,000 users (ahem), and the new public beta includes an option for a $5/month premium user plan that increases your monthly transfer quota/new note cap from 40 MB to 500 megabytes and gives you SSL for all data, priority access to the text-recognition queues and tier 1 customer support. Plus you get a snazzy t-shirt while supplies last (pink elephants on parade!). The web interface to Evernote has also gotten a facelift, with full drag-and-drop support and an improved clipper feature. Can't say yet if they've fixed the session timeout issue that ate a long note my wife was writing last night, but I surely hope so. In a conversation a couple of weeks back, Evernote CEO Phil Libin shared some future directions for the product with us as well as a couple of tips from his personal use of Evernote. First, what many are waiting for will be coming very soon: a native iPhone client for Evernote (shipping shortly after the App Store opens), including one-button publishing to Evernote and location tagging for every item you create from your phone, like a trail of breadcrumbs leading you back to that favorite restaurant or bargain spot. (Phil's tip: whenever he parks his car at the airport, he takes a picture of the parking spot and sends it to Evernote to help jog his jetlagged brain.) Second, the upcoming platform-wide features for Evernote will soon include more granular controls on publishing and sharing, a revamped Windows client, Evernote for Blackberry, and audio notes. (Phil's tip: he uses Evernote notebooks to share collections of photos or screenshots, like this accidental poetry from CNN rundown.) Later this summer we should expect to see the first public release of the Evernote API, which will permit third-party devs to add features to the service (personally I'd love to have a business card postprocessor tool, which Libin sees as a good 3rd party opportunity). Other future features are yet to be publicly disclosed, but Libin hinted that the image-processing power of Evernote's servers may be bent to teasing out specific features of photographs. Faces? Product barcodes? Geotagged landscapes? Can't wait to find out. Meanwhile, the free Mac version of Evernote (read Brett's original review here) is downloadable at evernote.com.
