Screen-Sharing Tools and Technology A mini-guide

Transcription

1 Screen-Sharing Tools and Technology A mini-guide What is Screen Sharing? Screen sharing is generally understood as the technologically-empowered ability to transmit the contents of your computer screen to one or more remotely connected Internet users. In other words screen sharing allows you to show PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, images and any other software running on your computer while remotely connected users see in real-time what you see on your screen. Traditionally screen sharing has been long referred to as application sharing, to define more specifically the ability not just to show specific applications to other connected participants but the combined ability of screen sharing with remote control. So while the terms "application sharing" and "screen sharing" mean two different things they are increasingly used in interchangeable ways as many of the new tools and online services integrated them both, and companies prefer to use terminologies that make more immediate sense to the end user. Screen-sharing generally requires abundant amounts of bandwidth and therefore it is best used when all participants are on a rather speedy internet connection. Key advantages in using screen sharing tools to present materials to others are generally the ease of use and immediacy that this approach provides. On the other hand, screen sharing key limitations are the need for a good Internet connection to achieve effective results. Screen sharing also does not fare well against Web-touring/Cobrowsing andpowerpoint dedicated delivery tools. These generally provides better display and performance while using less bandwidth. The typical features of Screen Sharing Screen sharing is characterized by the ability to real-time share the contents of your computer screen with one or more remotely Internet-connected users. Key features that characterize popular screen sharing services and tools include:

2 1. Share only specific applications This is the ability to select only a specific application or document to be shared with others, preventing attendees from seeing other materials or info they should not see. 2. Share specific region of screen A few rare tools allow for selecting specific region of the screen to be the only content to be shared with other session atendees. 3. Change presenter (allow any of the attendees to show her screen) Changing the presenter allows the host to elect any of the session attendees to be becoming presenters instantly and therefore become instantly able to share their own screens with others. 4. Max Number of simultaneous participants The number of maximum concurrent participants that can attend a screen sharing session. 5. Remote control - Give/share keyboard and mouse control Remote control is the ability to hand out/share your keyboard and mouse controls with one or more other users. 6. Host can be on any platform (Pc, Mac, Linux) The presenter can initiate a screen sharing from any computer type independently of the operating system he/she uses. 7. Integrates text chat Text chat facility integration. 8. Integrates live annotation Integration of live markup and visual annotation tools. 9. Integrated support for VoIP Provides the ability for voice communication during the screen sharing session. 10. Integrated support for teleconferencing Provides the ability for telephone-based voice communication during the screen sharing session. 11. Recording A visual recording facility is integrated. 12. No download or installation No software or plugins are required to access the screen sharing functionality. 13. Live cursor The presenter cursor is transmitted live to the other attendees allowing it to act as an effective real-time visual pointer. 14. Public URL to join Allows for the sharing of a public URL that other attendees can easily use to join your meeting. The most popular Screen Sharing tools Vyew Vyew is a we-based screen sharing and live annotation tool. Its features include live desktop sharing, whiteboard and the capability to present files to your audience from whatever platform, since you

3 only need a compatible browser. Vyew users are provided a unique teleconferencing bridge number that all presenters and attendees can call into. This is a free teleconferencing service (callers only pay for the toll, if any).the current version is free to use. Change presenter: YES Max Number of simultaneous participants: 20 Remote control - Give/share keyboard and mouse control: N/A Host can be on any platform (Pc, Mac, Linux): YES Public URL to join: Tool URL: Download URL: Price: Free GoToMeeting GoToMeeting is a Windows-based screen sharing software solution offering extreme ease of use, a set of complementary features and a competitive price. It offers outstanding ease of use, a very effectively designed user interface and strong invitation features. With the recently released version 3, attendees can also joing meetings from Macs. GoToMeeting offers two subscription plans (see the checklist below to know more). Share only specific applications: YES Change presenter: YES Max Number of simultaneous participants: 200 Host can be on any platform (Pc, Mac, Linux): Win and Mac Integrated support for teleconferencing: YES Recording: YES Public URL to join: Tool URL:

4 Download URL: Price: $49/m (Monthly Plan), $39/m (Annual Plan) Glance Glance is a great tool for the non-technical user. Easy-to-use, cost-effective, reliable. Glance is based on the VNC engine that powers many of the screen sharing solutions out there. A pioneering tool in its niche, it is standing the test of time very well. Glance supports hosts on PCs and attendees on all computer platforms (Mac, PC, Linux, etc.). $ 49.95/month for up to 15 attendees. Max Number of simultaneous participants: 15 Public URL to join: Tool URL: Download URL: Price: $49/m Updated Information Glance now supports up to 100 guests (and no change in price) Hosts and guests can share and view from Macs, PCs and Linux machines. Glance does allow remote control - Macs and PCs. Still no software installation required on the part of guests - a feature that continues to win customers. Same low, meet-all-you-want price (and free 7-day trial). They recently launched a new, easier-to-use Web site at Persony Persony (pronounced: per-so-nee) is a Flash-based web conferencing tool that allows you to screen share,

5 deliver PowerPoint presentations, work on a shared whiteboard and communicate via VoIP (one-to-many) in a very cost-effective integrated solution. Max Number of simultaneous participants: 25 Remote control - Give/share keyboard and mouse control: Integrated support for VoIP: YES Integrated support for teleconferencing: YES Recording: YES Public URL to join: NO Tool URL: Download URL: Price: $99 LiveLook LiveLook is a web-based screensharing solution that lets you share your screen with one click without install any software on your computer. Just click the "Show your Screen" button, share the code with other people, and wait for them to arrive. They can also control your PC from wherever they are, or simply watch. Pricing starts from $10. Max Number of simultaneous participants: 100 Host can be on any platform (Pc, Mac, Linux): YES Integrated support for teleconferencing: YES Public URL to join:

6 Tool URL: Download URL: Price: starting from $10 eblvd eblvd integrates remote control, text chat, VoIP, annotation, file transfer, 128-bit security encryption, event scheduling, free teleconferencing support and recording into an essential PC-based screen sharing solution that costs only $59/month for 5 concurrent users. Change presenter: YES Max Number of simultaneous participants: 30 Integrated support for teleconferencing: YES Recording: YES Public URL to join: N/A Tool URL: Download URL: Price: From $29.95/m (5 Participants) to $159.95/m (30 p.) ezmeeting ezconference is good for group collaboration, presentations, reports, information capture and document review. ezdesktop enables live document editing, distance learning, presentations and technical support. You can connect instantly with other team members using ez's integrated corporate instant messaging. Max Number of simultaneous participants: NO

7 Public URL to join: N/A Tool URL: Download URL: Price: $99/m (4 Participants) or $299(15 P.) Netviewer Netviewer is a high-perfomance enterprise screen-sharing solution that includes two different products: "one2one" and "one2meeting". Netviewer screen sharing products are characterized by a minimalist and easy-to-use interface, strong security, and co-editing and remote control abilities. Cost remains prohibitive for professionals or SOHOusers. One time price: $ 4,995 for ten users Share only specific applications: YES Max Number of simultaneous participants: N/A Recording: YES Public URL to join: N/A Tool URL: Download URL: Price: $ 49,95 for ten users WebBrush WebBrush is a online multiuser web application for creating

8 and discussing projects and sharing your photos, charts, diagrams, schemes, etc. WebBrush can be used in educational purposes (on-line multiuser consultations, lessons or in solving some tasks). Also WebBrush can be useful for those who provide technical support service. WebBrush provides a chat panel for talking, an instrument panel for drawing and text tools for typing. Free to use. Change presenter: YES Max Number of simultaneous participants: N/A Live cursor: N/A Public URL to join: Tool URL: Download URL: N/A Price: Free Shareitnow ShareItNow is a service that allows you to share anything on your desktop to anyone, anywhere, anytime - spontaneously and seamlessly. Use ShareItNow to conduct training sessions, demonstrate a product, collaborate on a document, host a web tourand more. Max Number of simultaneous participants: N/A Public URL to join: Tool URL:

9 Download URL: Price: Free or $30 (Plus) BeamYourScreen BeamYourScreen is a simple web-based screen-sharing solution that works like Glance, HostPresentation or PCvisit. You provide a standard URL and a code number to your attendees and once they log in at that web page they can immediately see your screen. Beamyourscreen supports up to 20 guests per session, who need not to install any software or plug-in. Beamyourscreen also uses proprietary encryption to protect all data transfers. $59/month. Max Number of simultaneous participants: 20 Integrated support for teleconferencing: YES Public URL to join: Tool URL: Download URL: Price: $59/m GoMeetNow GoMeetNow enables remote desktop sharing and collaborative webbased meetings. In addition to its full set of features, it is very easy to use and works compatibly with the most restrictive firewalls. Max Number of simultaneous participants: No limit Remote control - Give/share keyboard and mouse control: Yes

10 Integrated support for VoIP: YES Recording:YES Public URL to join: NO Tool URL: Download URL: Price: $15.95/m (3 Participants)+$3/m for each additional participant Gatherplace Gatherplace is a cost-effective and simple-to-use screen sharing and remote-control solution that can be used to show your screen to attendees operating on any operating system and without requiring no software downloads. Gatherplace unique features also include full screen display for attendees, manual image-quality control, warning to the presenter when attendees have a lower screen monitor resolution than the presenter, usage reports, web site integration, multi-monitor support and more. Share only specific applications: YES (On Mac you share the entire desktop) Change presenter: YES Max Number of simultaneous participants: 1 or Host can be on any platform (Pc, Mac, Linux): (On some Linux systems with Java installed Linux can be used to host) Integrated support for VoIP: YES Integrated support for teleconferencing: YES Recording: YES Public URL to join: Tool URL: Download URL: Price: Check the pricing list WebEx MeetMeNow WebEx is one of the leading web conferencing providers in the market today. WebEx integrates audio and video conferencing

11 and supports both Internet Phone (VoIP) and teleconferencing (telephone). Furthermore, meeting participants can use a simple text chat tool to communicate. Max Number of simultaneous participants: 10 Integrated support for VoIP: YES Integrated support for teleconferencing: YES Public URL to join: Tool URL: Download URL: Price: $49/m BLive Unlimited BLive allows you to temporarily connect to your client's computer over the web to quickly diagnose and fix problems, demonstrate difficult tasks, and respond to technical queries. If you download it you get 200 free minutes of desktop sharing, remote viewing and remote control. Max Number of simultaneous participants: 10 Integrated support for teleconferencing: YES Public URL to join: N/A Tool URL: Download URL: Price: Free+$0.10 per participant or $49.95/m (Unlimited)

12 RealVNC RealVNC (Virtual Network Computing) software is cross-platform, allowing remote control between different types of computer. For ultimate simplicity, there is even a Java viewer, so that any desktop can be controlled remotely from within a browser without having to install software. RealVNC is free and is redistributable. Max Number of simultaneous participants: 1 Host can be on any platform (Pc, Mac, Linux): YES Public URL to join: N/A Tool URL: Download URL: Price: Free, $30 (Personal) or $50 (Enterprise) ISLLight ISL Light is an instant remote support solution enabling you to see your customer's desktop over the internet and gain secure remote control. ISL Light is easy to use. No installation, configuration or maintenance is required to use a firewall friendly ASPSubscription mode. Live internet connection is all you need to instantly assist your customers via ISL Grid. Share only specific applications: YES Max Number of simultaneous participants: N/A Integrated support for VoIP: YES

13 Public URL to join: Tool URL: Download URL: Price: $125(500 Minutes) Network Streaming Network Streaming is a service that supports remote control virtually any PC or Mac through firewalls. Simply send clients to your website. No prior support interaction is needed to establish a remote desktop connection with clients. Network Steaming supports remote PCs and Macs. Max Number of simultaneous participants: N/A Host can be on any platform (Pc, Mac, Linux): YES Integrates text chat: YE Recording: YES Public URL to join: N/A Tool URL: Download URL: Price: $3,690 (includes 1 license) GoToAssist GoToAssist is a service that enables remote support with integrated screen sharing capabilities. End users can request support both by phone or simply by posting a help message over the web. File transfer and text chat are integrated. Max Number of simultaneous participants: N/A

14 Recording: YES Public URL to join: Tool URL: Download URL: Price: $425/mo Spreed Spreed is a service that allows you to perform remote presentations and organize distance seminars and conferences. You can access it both from PC and Mac and it is free to use up to three participants. Spreed integrates whiteboard, chat, video conferencing, screen sharing and file transfer. Share only specific applications: YES Max Number of simultaneous participants: 1000 Integrated support for VoIP: YES Public URL to join: Tool URL: Download URL: Price: Free (3 Participants), from $ 467(5 P.) to $5886 (1000 P.) ScreenStream ScreenStream lets others 'watch' your screen while you work. When you run this program on your computer anyone else on your network (or even the internet) can

15 view what is on your screen by typing the link (and optional access code) into their internet browser. They can continue to watch your screen until you close the program. Host must be on a Windows PC but all other attendess can be on any computer type. Share only specific applications: YES Max Number of simultaneous participants: N/A Host can be on any platform (Pc, Mac, Linux): YES Integrated support for teleconferencing: N/A Public URL to join:n/a Tool URL: Download URL: Price: Free Bosco Screen Sharing Bosco is a screen sharing solution for Mac OS and Windows users. Bosco's built-in personal web sharing system to share screens on the web. Mac OS Classic and Mac OS X both have personal web sharing systems built-in and ready to use. With Bosco's you can control manually the screen-sharig refresh rate, the compression level to be applied to images before being sent to your attendees screens. Bosco's Screen Share can also be used to periodically write out to anyweb page an pre-designated image of your screen. Basic package $ Available for Mac OS9, Mac OSX and Windows XP. Max Number of simultaneous participants: 1 Host can be on any platform (Pc, Mac, Linux): YES (except for Linux)

16 Public URL to join:n/a Tool URL: Download URL: Price: Free Skyfex SkyFex Remote Assistant is a free service that allows seeing what is happening on the remote computer desktop in real time. This is a secure service, does not require additional software installation and configuration and works transparently through proxy/firewall and NAT networks. SkyFex is Windows based and requires Internet Explorer to run it. Max Number of simultaneous participants: 1 Public URL to join: Tool URL: Download URL: N/A Price: Free AOL Instant Messenger Pro AIM Pro IM client has a one-click WebEx meeting feature by which you can run presentations and collaborate on documents in realtime. Basically you can perform application and desktop sharing. AIM Pro also has text, voice, and video-calling. AIM Pro must run on a Windows PC. Share only specific applications: YES Max Number of simultaneous participants: 1

17 Integrated support for VoIP: YES Public URL to join: N/A Tool URL: Download URL: Price: Free WebDialogs Unyte for Skype WebDialogs Unyte is an easy-to-use, secure sharing plug-in that allows Skype users to seamlessly escalate a call or chat to a realtime collaboration. With Unyte, you can share documents, applications or even your entire desktop with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Simply download the WebDialogs Unyte plug-in and start sharing documents, presentations and applications with anyone in the world in real time. Share only specific applications: YES Max Number of simultaneous participants: 25 Public URL to join: N/A Tool URL: Download URL: Price: Free