The Download Blog

As a faithful corporate blogger, I take a lot of screenshots. I've mentioned that in previous roundups of screen capture apps. When I found myself at the Under the Radar conference yesterday (see all posts) without a handy screen capture installed, I quickly downloaded Jing Project, for Windows and Mac.

Jing Project, thoroughly reviewed on Webware.com, floats a sun-yellow ball to the top of the screen. Hovering over this orb produces three rays, one of which launches cross-hairs that, when dragged around content, captures the image. I love this method for high-pressure blogging, even though for everyday use I prefer a more precise, full featured capture program like Snagit, which, like Jing, is made by TechSmith, or the free Gadwin PrintScreen.

The cross-hairs capture method tends to obscure edges, making it hard to see if you've grabbed too little, too much, or just the right amount, but Jing Project gives at least the impression, if not the reality, of saving microseconds when grabbing images from the screen. One note to Windows users: If you don't have the .NET Framework 3.0 already installed, Jing Project will auto-download it, though it will take a few minutes longer before the app installs.

I use TechSmith's Snagit screen-capturing tool (review) on a daily basis to gather all sorts of shots for posts and archival purposes. It works great at getting those pixel-precise sizes you might be going for, along with taking a step or two out Windows' less-than-stellar built-in print screen function. Today I've been playing with a small download called Clip2Net. It's a free and simple screenshot program with built-in Web uploading for screenshots AND image files. It's not at all as advanced as Snagit, but if you're in the market for a relatively easy way to take and host screenshots, or share a roll of pictures with friends, Clip2Net is a promising hybrid solution.

Setup is simple: Just download and install the less-than-1MB file and you're good to go. You can start capturing right away, either in regions or the entire screen at a time. Registering and plugging in your login credentials lets you upload your shots to a Web folder that saves all your shots. Likewise, if you'd like to stay anonymous, Clip2Net will provide you with a URL where your shot is being hosted--although keep in mind that if you lose that URL, you won't be able to track it down again.

FullShot is easy on the eye, but less so on the pocketbook.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Most software categories have their share of free and commercial, good and bad samplings. Screen capture applications, which are more powerful and specific than a PC's native Print Screen function, and which seem like they should be straightforward, are also a varied bunch.

I captured every pixel of my display a few times over while testing four screenshot products--FullShot, SnagIt, Gadwin PrintScreen, and ScreenHunter Free. Because we evaluators just love criteria, I looked at image quality, editing features, and ease of access--the quickest, most natural way to get from screen to a shareable image. Ready for some findings?... Read more

With Mobiola Studio, you could create a YouTube video hall of fame.

(Credit: Warelex)

What makes a cell phone more than a phone? What it can do. Software can elevate your plastic slider, candy bar, or PDA above its earthly mechanics and turn it into the kind of dream machine that entertains you and organizes your life.

Consider, for example, ListPro (for Pocket PC, Palm, and Smartphone), a handy organizer with a slew of built-in, customizable list templates for managing everything from your shopping to your calendar to the sudden surge of brilliance that will eventually lead to that multimillion-dollar idea. No really, it can do that.... Read more

(Credit: CNET Networks)

I'd put money on the probability that most Internet users have had to grab and optimize screenshots for cyber use. While some of us are lucky enough to have professional graphic artists on our side, it's important to know how to quickly create and touch up an image for the Web. For example, you might want to create your own avatar from a real-life photo or digital graphic.

Editing images for the Web is a different process than editing for print, and it therefore calls for its own approach. That's primarily because screen resolution can affect how easily the eye can interpret graphics. Ever noticed that faint flicker on the screen? Eyes have to work harder to overcome that subtle interference and process a clear image.... Read more

(Credit: CNET Networks)

SnagIt is great for taking screenshots of your PC, but why should stationary users have all the fun?

After all, handset screens may be smaller, but are they any less worthy of digital capture? If you're still using your digital camera to take said screenshots of your Windows Pocket PC or Smartphone, it's time you discovered Screen Capture, a free, friendly app you can load from your PC that takes stills of your mobile screen. Unlike other screenshot programs, you open Screen Capture before shooting your image and close it when you're through, jumping from the program Start menu to the desired screen to grab those shots. Because the app snuggles into the Start menu, it's painless to toggle between screens.

The options menu lets you customize which hardware button becomes your shutter's hot key. "App 1" is the default, but you can choose your favorite of four button triggers. The biggest trick is working out which app number corresponds to which button--on our HP iPaq, "App 1" is the handset's leftmost key.

Click away, and lo and behold, screenshots save as bitmap (BMP) files, accessible through File Explorer. Saving screenshots to your PC is as easy as copying files from the device via ActiveSync (Tools-->Explore device.)

Screen Capture conveniently supports a wide range of Windows Mobile and Windows CE platforms, beginning with Windows Mobile 2003 and above in both handsets. You're also in luck if you've got Windows CE 4.20 and above on your Pocket PC, or Windows CE 4.21 on your Smartphone. Get ready, small-screen shutterbug.