On Thursday, CloudApp released an update to its OS X app. Among the added features users can expect to find true Google Apps support, improved end-to-end security (full SSL support), and a new feature called CloudApp Motion.
This new feature allows users to turn a standard recording of your screen into an animated image, otherwise known as a GIF.
Before you can use the new feature you'll need to ensure you're running CloudApp 3 from the Mac App Store, or directly from the CloudApp download page.
Once you're running the latest and greatest, they keyboard shortcut Command-Shift-6 will bring up a resizable recording box. You can also click on the CloudApp icon in your menu bar and click on the screen-recording icon to begin the same process. Recordings can be up to 30 seconds in length.
Once you're finished recording, CloudApp automatically uploads the GIF and adds a shortened link to your Mac's clipboard ready to be shared with a coworker, friend, family member, or anyone else you deem worthy of showing.
Creating a recording, carrying out a task, or trying to troubleshoot an issue on a Mac isn't a new idea. Just search the Mac App Store for a screen-recording app and you'll find more than a few options. However, the speed and ease of use provided by CloudApp in turning a video into a GIF is extremely convenient and easy to use. By eliminating large video uploads and the need for video players to view screencasts, CloudApp has made it possible for anyone to share a screencast, even those who aren't all that tech-savvy.