ZoomTimeRecorder

Life is undoubtedly unpredictable, and, with unexpected changes in circumstances waiting at every corner, many people try their best to ensure they make the most of the time they have in every endeavor. This holds true when it comes to the realm of remote work as well, which is why managers may wish to keep track of video meetings’ lengths in order to make comparisons and maximize productivity in a shorter time span, an objective that can be achieved using a utility known as ZoomTimeRecorder.

Once downloaded, double-clicking the program’s executable instantly launches a low-profile system tray icon alongside its background process, meant to automatically detect the Zoom client’s running process and record the runtime of each video conference. While in a call, the app’s icon switches from its default monochrome style to a red variant, similar to a video camera’s interface that lights up when recording to inform users whether Zoom was detected to be running.

Interaction with the utility can be carried out by right-clicking its icon to access a resizable list of the meetings’ lengths alongside the approximate starting and ending points to provide users with a bit of necessary context regarding the time and day of joining and leaving each conference. Given the program’s portable form factor, it can be easily added to on-the-go USB flash drive-powered setups for those who wish to record their video calls’ durations on multiple devices without having to worry about running different iterations or synchronizing the list through the cloud.

Unfortunately, certain issues encountered when testing the app may hinder the user experience. For instance, the utility needs to started only after joining a meeting, since its background process does not seem to detect it automatically otherwise, and viewing the duration of a conference after the user leaves it requires relaunching the app, ultimately solidifying the need for a built-in refresh button in the system tray icon’s context menu for a speedier interaction process. Finally, the approximated start and finish times do not seem to match the overall duration, leaving users to do some guesswork in the process.

Despite its flaws, ZoomTimeRecorder may still be of use for those who want a way to remember how long certain meetings take, in order to have a rough idea of how to alter the pace and introduce a wider variety of topics in a shorter or longer time span meant to increase productivity in the virtual office space.