Product Introduction
- Zone Share is a macOS utility application designed to solve screen-sharing challenges for users with ultra-wide monitors during video conferences and presentations. It creates a dynamic mirror of any selected screen portion as a separate resizable window that can be shared independently. The tool operates through a menu bar interface, enabling quick access to screen-mirroring functions without disrupting workflow.
- The core value lies in its ability to provide granular control over shared content, eliminating the frustration of displaying irrelevant or poorly scaled screen areas. By isolating specific screen regions, it ensures optimal visibility for audiences while allowing presenters to maintain privacy over other applications. This precision enhances professional communication across platforms like Zoom, Teams, and PowerPoint.
Main Features
- Zone Share enables custom screen area selection through a draggable rectangular overlay, supporting pixel-level adjustments for exact content framing. Users can manually define dimensions or use preset aspect ratios (16:9, 4:3, or square) to match platform-specific requirements like YouTube streams or slide decks. The selected area dynamically updates in real time, ensuring continuous alignment with active applications.
- The application generates a dedicated "Screen Mirror" window that replicates the chosen zone independently of the primary display. This window behaves as a standard macOS window, allowing resizing, repositioning, and direct integration into conferencing apps via screen-sharing menus. It supports HiDPI rendering to preserve clarity when scaling content for smaller displays.
- Global hotkeys (default: Command+Shift+Z) allow instant activation or termination of mirroring without navigating the menu bar. Hotkeys are fully customizable in System Settings to avoid conflicts with existing shortcuts. Combined with one-click presets for common aspect ratios, this feature streamlines workflow efficiency during time-sensitive presentations.
Problems Solved
- Zone Share directly addresses the ineffective display of ultra-wide or high-resolution screens in video calls, where full-screen sharing often renders text and UI elements illegible to viewers. It eliminates the need for manual window rearranging or application switching mid-presentation.
- The primary user base includes remote professionals, educators, and developers who frequently present complex workflows on 21:9 or dual monitors. It also benefits hybrid teams requiring selective content sharing to protect sensitive data visible on other screen areas.
- A typical scenario involves a financial analyst sharing only a spreadsheet tab during a Zoom call while keeping email and messaging apps private. Another use case is a designer presenting a Figma prototype in 16:9 format without revealing adjacent artboards or Slack notifications.
Unique Advantages
- Unlike basic screen-cropping tools, Zone Share creates a persistent mirrored window that remains interactive, allowing presenters to scroll, type, or click within the isolated zone while sharing. Competitors like OBS require complex scene configurations, whereas Zone Share offers single-click presets.
- The app introduces "context-aware scaling," which automatically optimizes text sharpness when resizing the mirrored window. This leverages macOS Core Graphics APIs to maintain readability unlike pixel-stretched solutions. The menu bar integration ensures zero desktop clutter when inactive.
- Competitive differentiation includes native compatibility with macOS Sonoma's Stage Manager and low CPU utilization (<2% on M1/M2 chips), enabling simultaneous operation with resource-heavy apps. Unlike subscription-based alternatives, it’s a one-time purchase with offline functionality.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Does Zone Share work with all conferencing apps? Yes, it integrates universally with any macOS app that supports screen/window sharing, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Webex. The mirrored window appears as a standard system window in sharing menus.
- Is my data collected when using Zone Share? No user data is collected, as explicitly stated in the developer’s privacy policy. The app operates locally without internet permissions, ensuring compliance with enterprise security protocols.
- What macOS versions are supported? Zone Share requires macOS 13.5 Ventura or later, leveraging Apple’s ScreenCaptureKit framework for low-latency mirroring. It is optimized for Apple Silicon chips but supports Intel Macs with macOS 13.5+.
- Can I mirror multiple screen zones simultaneously? The current version supports one active mirror window, but users can quickly redefine the zone. Future updates may introduce multi-zone support based on user feedback.
- How do global hotkeys function during full-screen apps? Hotkeys remain active system-wide, including during full-screen presentations. This allows toggling mirror zones without exiting full-screen mode in Keynote or PowerPoint.
