Gyazo

If someone asks for help with a complex operation, you could take a series of screenshots, which make it much easier to explain something over a distance. On its official website, Gyazo is described as "the easiest way to capture your screen" and you can't argue with that statement if you try the application for yourself. This lightweight utility can take snapshots of the screen or record GIF animations and upload them automatically to a storage service, from which you can share them.

Gyazo comes in free and paid editions, for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux and for iOS devices. The application can be installed in a matter of seconds, without going through any complicated settings. It doesn't have any significant impact on a computer's performance and it doesn't have any special requirements.

Once installed, Gyazo will place two shortcuts on your desktop and on the taskbar, for taking screenshots and for recording GIF animations. All you have to do is run one of these shortcuts and draw a rectangle, by clicking and dragging, to capture or record a portion of the screen. If you decide to record, the rectangle will be accompanied by pause, resume and stop options.

When you take a snapshot or stop recording, the application will upload the video or screenshot automatically and it will display it immediately on a web-based interface, for which you may create an online account. You can preview your recordings and screenshots on the web interface, add them to a favorites list or delete them. Furthermore, when you play a recording, you can decide to play it as an animated GIF or as an MP4 video.

Besides storing and previewing your screenshots and recordings online, Gyazo allows you to share them as well. Once a file is uploaded, the application will copy its link automatically, so you can share your work right away. If you share a file via direct link, users will be able to leave comments. Additionally, you can share your files on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks.