CamStudio2.0 : Open Source, streaming video, screen capture / recording software

The first free software that i used for recording my screen with audio. Actually i was wondering how to create a demo or record an embedded video. I am completed satisfied with this software. I used on windows platform. Frame rate was less that expected but i need to find out if that is softwares' fault or my system configuration is too low to achieve that.

What is it?

CamStudio is able to record all screen and audio activity on your computer
and create industry-standard AVI video files and using its built-in
SWF Producer can turn those AVIs into lean, mean, bandwidth-friendly
Streaming Flash videos (SWFs)

Here are just a few ways you can use this software:

• You can use it to create demonstration videos for any software program
• Or how about creating a set of videos answering your most
  frequently asked questions?
• You can create video tutorials for school or college class
• You can use it to record a recurring problem with your computer
  so you can show technical support people
• You can use it to create video-based information products you can sell
• You can even use it to record new tricks and techniques you discover
  on your favourite software program, before you forget them

Why use 2.0 instead of 2.1 version??

CamStudio was originally released by a company called RenderSoft who
were subsequently bought by a company called eHelp who used some of the
technology in their program, RoboDemo ...

Some time later, eHelp was bought by Macromedia who wanted RoboDemo
(which was to become Captivate) ...

Knowing that CamStudio did some of the stuff RoboDemo did for free (mainly
export to streaming Flash), it looks like they released a newer version
of CamStudio (2.1) which fixed some bugs but most importantly, removed
certain features, mainly the ability to create SWFs and you were required
to register to use it and over time, links to the various
webpages that had CamStudio and its source code were became broken.

In short: Version2.0 is free open source software(FOSS) and it has more features.

Useful Links

CamStudio: http://www.camstudio.org/CamStudio20.exe

Lossless Codec: http://www.camstudio.org/CamStudioCodec10.zip

Source: http://camstudio.org

LinuxMCE: complete whole-house media solution

LinuxMCE is a free, open source add-on to Kubuntu including a 10' UI,
complete whole-house media solution with pvr + distributed media, and
the most advanced smarthome solution available. It is stable, easy to
use, and requires no knowledge of Linux and only basic computer skills.

FEATURES Media & Entertainment • 3D alpha-blended GUI optimized for displaying on a TV and using a remote control • Media browser presenting all content on all devices in the home on a 3D rotating cube • Plug-and-play detection and aggregation of network storage and DMA's • Built-in NAS providing centralized backup and whole-house media server • "Follow Me" Media, each family member's media follows him/her through the house • Automatically controls all existing av devices, like TV's, Stereo's, etc.) • Many control options: mobile phone, webpad, pda, phone Smart Home • Home Automation: Control lighting, climate, security, camera surveillance, and more • Communication: Phone system with auto-attendant, voice mail, call forwarding/routing for VOIP and POTS lines • Security: Uses your existing home alarm, surveillance cameras, lights, phones and tv's to notify you on your mobile phone of any security alerts with the option of reseting the alarm or broadcasting your voice in the house over the tv's Source: http://www.linuxmce.com http://wiki.linuxmce.com/index.php/Main_Page Cool Demo Video (MUST SEE): http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2176025602905109829

ScribeFire: Firefox extension to enhance blogging experience

This blog is being written using a popular Firefox extension named ScribeFire 1.4.2.

I personally find it as a great utility. I liked the concept of blogging as most often i find my relevent information in a blog written by somebody else.

ScribeFire (previously Performancing for Firefox) is a full-featured
blog editor that integrates with your browser and lets you easily post
to your blog. You can drag and drop formatted text from pages you are
browsing, take notes, and post to your blog.

You can use it as an ideal tool to take notes while surfing on the internet.I surf a lot and if i like a link, i used to create a bookmark.Using ScribeFire i can copy and paste little peices of information i like on any webpage ( including images ).

It would really help me blog more and keep sharing the useful stuff i come across.


Link to download ScribeFire

Transition from Windows to Linux

Step 1: Start using open source alternatives of proprietary software in Windows system. e.g. Firefox for browsing, Eudora or Thunderbird for email client, Gaim ( now called as Pidgin ) for any kind of chatting, Openoffice for office applications, VLC for playing any multimedia files, etc.

Step 2: If you have internet connection, install Ubuntu latest ( dual boot with Windows). If not, then start with OpenSuse. Try doing the basic things that you did in Windows system earlier.

Step 3: Once you are comfortable with using Ubuntu or any other user-friendly linux, then you can move to a more advanced linux. This step is very crucial. You should go for advanced distro only when you feel it from inside, only when you have enough confidence to read configuration files, read error logs, analyse them, and to be able to compile from source code.

Step 4: Start the project named : Linux from Scratch. Even if you don't understand all the steps, do not worry. Just walk through that path. This way you would be able to create your own custom linux distribution. You will now have enough idea of how linux works, what are major softwares, and what is missing.

Step 5: Start contributing. This can be done right from step 1. But if you are short of ideas, i am sure that after completing first 4 steps, you will be full of ideas. If you find that you idea is already being implemented in some project, then join that project instead of creating a new one.

That is all i know right now. I may edit this blog if find something more.

Why it took me so long to get started?

These are some of the reasons in decreasing order of priority.

1. Every Linux user is an active internet user. But sadly the reverse is not true. I had the power of broadband 3 months back. Then i realized that there is a world beyond Windows XP.
2. Lack of community support. When i bought my computer having XP pre-installed, i didnot know many basic things. My friends helped me out with the help of their prior experience. If ratio of linux user was.... i cant even quote a number here. Few people lived in secrecy with linux. They did not open up because most of the others would laugh at them telling that linux is such a waste of time.
3. I was not ready to learn, to search for a solution on my own

TIP: Everything is possible in linux. All the solutions are there on the internet. You just have to frame a right question.

Why i started liking open source?

I bought a computer 3 years ago having pirated Windows XP.
I had a tendency to change fonts, themes, look and feel of my operating system.
Also i loved trying out new softwares in the market. My friends used to come to me for software advice as well as advice on how to crack it (illegally registering proprietary software). At that time i didn't realize that i was committing a crime by using pirated OS and third party software.

3 months ago i realized that i was meant for open source technologies. Reasons being:
1) i wanted to have a look at source code, primarily to crack it i.e. i needed freedom
2) i wanted to modify the software according to my needs. i am basically a windows power user who does not like mouse, as you need to switch to keyboard to perform same tasks quickly
3) i wanted to customize the look and feel of my system by tweaking it to a great extent.

Now i have the freedom to do everything i wanted with the help of GNU/Linux system.