Zamzar
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Type of site | Online file conversion |
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Available in | English |
Owner | Mike and Chris Whyley |
URL | www |
Commercial | Yes |
Registration | Optional |
Launched | 30 October 2006 |
Current status | Online |
Zamzar is an online file converter, created by brothers Mike and Chris Whyley in England in 2006.[1] It allows users to convert files without downloading a software tool, and supports over 1,200 different conversion types.[2] Since it was started the service has converted over 400 million files for users[3] from 245 different countries, including Antarctica.[4] The service supports the conversion of documents, images, audio, video, e-Books, CAD files and compressed file formats.[5]
Users can type in a URL or upload one or more files (if they are all of the same format) from their computer; Zamzar will then convert the file(s) to another user-specified format, such as an Adobe PDF file to a Microsoft Word document.[6] Once conversion is complete, users can immediately download the file from their web browser.[7] Users can also choose to receive an email with a link to download the converted file.
File conversion API[]
in 2015 Zamzar launched a file conversion API, allowing users to integrate file conversion capabilities into their own websites and applications.[8] Sample code is provided to allow users to integrate file conversion capabilities in C#, Java, Node.js, PHP, Python and cURL.[9] Zamzar also maintains a project on GitHub which allows users to perform file conversion from the command line on Linux, MacOS or Windows systems.[10]
Email file conversion[]
It is also possible to send files for conversion by emailing them to Zamzar.[11] Zamzar launched this capability in 2012,[12] allowing users to email files to dedicated email addresses for the file to be automatically converted to a different format. A link is then emailed back to the end user to allow them to download their converted file. For example, to convert a .doc attachment to .pdf users would simply email the file to pdf@zamzar.com
.
Customers / User Privacy[]
Zamzar does not publish lists of customers that use their services, but in 2019 they announced[13] that Xerox Corporation would be using the Zamzar API to help power conversions in the Xerox Audio Document application. Users of Zamzar's services have access to both a Terms of Service document[14] and a Privacy Policy.[15] In April 2018 Zamzar announced[16] their compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and began offering a Data Processing Agreement (DPA), covering end user data rights and outlining Zamzar's contractual obligations to protect that data.[17]
User privilege levels[]
Zamzar is currently free to use, but there is a limit of two conversions per day. Users can pay a monthly subscription in order to access preferential features, such as unlimited file conversions, online file management, shorter response and queuing times and other benefits.[18]
Naming etymology[]
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.[1][19] The founders of the service considered three other names – Konvertieren, Khamailen and Obrogo – before settling on Zamzar.[20]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b Zhang, Michael, "Interview with Zamzar", Folksonomy, November 11, 2006 (archived version 2008)
- ^ Srivastava, Shivani (July 19, 2017). "Zamzar file converter: in-Depth Review". TechGYD.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
- ^ "Word to PDF - Convert your DOC to PDF for Free Online". www.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ^ "Zamzar - File Conversion API - About Us". developers.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ^ "Zamzar - free online converter". www.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ^ Lifehacker – Online file conversion with Zamzar
- ^ "Realtime File Conversions - Better, Faster, Stronger!". The Zamzar Blog. 2018-12-10. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ^ Team, The Zamzar (2015-01-26). "Announcing the file conversion API". The Zamzar Blog. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ^ "Zamzar - File Conversion API - Documentation". developers.zamzar.com. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ^ Bash Command Line Interface for the Zamzar API: convert files to 100s of formats direct from the command line. - zamzar/zamzar-bash, Zamzar, 2019-07-05, retrieved 2019-09-03
- ^ Fisher, Tim (June 11, 2018). "Zamzar Review". Lifewire.com. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
- ^ Team, The Zamzar (2012-02-10). "Convert files by email". The Zamzar Blog. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ^ "Zamzar powers new Xerox "Audio Document" app". The Zamzar Blog. 2019-01-11. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
- ^ "Zamzar Terms of Service". Zamzar Terms of Service. 2018-11-26. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ^ "Zamzar Privacy Policy". Zamzar Privacy Policy. 2020-09-16. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ^ "Zamzar and GDPR". The Zamzar Blog. 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ^ "Zamzar Data Processing Agreement". Zamzar Data Processing Agreement. 2018-05-25. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ^ "Convert file types - signup for Zamzar". Zamzar.com. Retrieved 2012-06-16.
- ^ 10 Worst App Names – PC Magazine
- ^ Team, The Zamzar (2019-07-12). "Landing on Zamzar: How we chose our company name". The Zamzar Blog. Retrieved 2019-09-03.
External links[]
- Web applications
- Video conversion software