SlideSnack

Today's post is over SlideSnack, a child of SnackTools.

Although more than one of SnackTools's applications are not really unique to the World Wide Web, per say, I really like the fact that I just need one username and password to have access to SnackTools's current supply of 7 different applications. I have so many website usernames and passwords to remember that I am willing to abandon some of them in favor of a 7-in-1 deal like SnackTools offers!

SlideSnack is, as expected, an online presentation. The end result looks similar to a PowerPoint, but you have the convenience of never having to e-mail the show to yourself or travel with it flash drive (since it's all stored online).


Here are some cool features of SlideSnack:

1. You can use it for free. 
2. You can publish it on several different websites (think: personal website and social media websites). There's an embed code so that viewers can actually see the slideshow on your website instead of having to follow an external link to see anything.
3. It uses Flash when posted on regular websites; I'm still looking for information on how it views on an iPhone/iPad.
4. You can record your voice comments to make what SlideSnack calls a "slidecast" (presentation + voice = slidecast, according to them). *I think this may be the coolest feature of all, personally!*
5. You have the option to download your online presentation and then upload it to other video-hosting websites for easier access (think: YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).
6. You can add 500 files per presentation! (Each individual file = a slide in the show.)
7. Many, many people can view your show for free. The way I understand it, people with a free membership can have a max of 25,000 views per day on sites external to SlideSnack (VIP members get 50,000 views). Even after all the day's views have been exceeded, the embedded codes won't work until the next day, but users can still click the link and view the show on SlideSnack's webpage. Pretty convenient. I don't ever expect to reach that 25,000 view maximum, anyway, so I don't see this as a problem. 

The website allows users to upload PDF documents, but it says you can convert Word, PowerPoint, Keynote, etc. files into PDF documents fairly easily. I can personally attest to the "Word to PDF is simple" comment, but I have yet to try to convert any of the others. I assume they're easy, but...we all know what assuming does. ;)

The only other file type SlideSnack allows is .jpg, which means you can upload most of your pictures, if needed. 

Now that you know about all the great features, let me give you some details about the $$ involved:

• There is a free version, but, as with most websites, there are a few limitations. The free version puts a watermark on all slideshows. There's also an upload limitation: you can only have 20 slides (each file = 1 slide) and the show can only last 5 minutes, max. 
• You can have the watermark removed from individual shows by purchasing points. It costs 10 points in order to do this, and the price of the points varies, based on how many you purchase at a time. (A purchase of 10 points will run you $19, a purchase of 25 points will run you $39, a purchase of 50 points will run you $49...you get the picture. There's a slight discount when you buy points in bulk.)
• If you don't want to mess with the limitations at all, you can always purchase a VIP membership for $14/month. This membership actually gives you premium access to all of SnackTools's apps, so you're getting quite a bit for your money. (Although, I'd really appreciate the ability to just buy a premium membership to ONE app, but maybe they'll implement that later!)

Here's an example of a show SlideSnack made and posted on the example page.

*At the time of my writing this post, SlideSnack is still in the beta stages. It may come out with even cooler features by the time this post is published. You may have to hop on over there and see for yourself what's going on. :)