Zamzar

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Zamzar
Type of site
Online file conversion
Available in English
Owner Mike and Chris Whyley
Website www.zamzar.com
Alexa rank 3,591 (April 2016)[1]
Registration Optional
Launched 29 January 2006; 10 years ago (2006-01-29)
Current status Online

Zamzar is a web application to convert files. It was created by brothers Mike and Chris Whyley in England.[2] It allows user to convert files without downloading a software tool, and supports over 1,000 different conversion types.[3] Users can type in a URL or upload one or more files (if they are all of the same format) from their computer, Zamzar then converts the file(s) to another user-specified format.[4] For example, from an Adobe PDF file to a Microsoft Word document – users receive an email with a URL from where they can download the converted file. It is also possible to send files for conversion by emailing them to Zamzar.[5]

User privilege levels[edit]

Zamzar is currently free to use. However, users can pay a monthly subscription in order to access preferential features, such as online file management, shorter response and queuing times and other benefits.[6]

Legal issues[edit]

Currently, Zamzar is able to download and convert videos from a large number of video sharing websites – however, on 12 June 2012, it stopped providing support for downloading videos from YouTube after receiving a C&D order from Google's legal department.[7]

Naming etymology[edit]

Its name comes from Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis. Its main character is called Gregor Samsa and it is from his surname that Zamzar is derived.[2][8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Zamzar.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2016-04-24. 
  2. ^ a b Zhang, Michael, "Interview with Zamzar", Folksonomy, November 11, 2006 (archived version 2008)
  3. ^ Zamzar – Conversion format support
  4. ^ Lifehacker – Online file conversion with Zamzar
  5. ^ "Convert files by email". Zamzar.com. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012. 
  6. ^ "Convert file types - signup for Zamzar". Zamzar.com. Retrieved 2012-06-16. 
  7. ^ "Downloading YouTube videos: No longer supported.". Zamzar.com. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012. 
  8. ^ 10 Worst App Names – PC Magazine

External links[edit]