The first episode of our new interview / chat style show ‘IMP Chats’ this week featuring Chris Leydon from TinyGrab talking to us about this amazing little screen grab app and MacHeist

We hope you enjoy the show, thanks for your continued support of IMP. Sorry for the random GSM noise, as you’ll hear we had to speak using iPhones, not ideal at all.

Don’t forget you can support us by using the code impodcast when you sign up for a new SquareSpace account, you’ll get 10% off the life of your account too! Also, make sure you check out ScreenCasts Online, become an Extra member for a fresh Mac tutorial every week. Make sure you use code NOV2009 to get a full SCO membership for just $28.50

LittleSnapper revolutionizes screenshots. The way that you use LittleSnapper is simple; you either have it in your Menubar or in your dock. I have it in my Menubar because I hate having too many things in my dock (8 apps is the most I’ve ever had). By either clicking on a button or using a keyboard shortcut. There are 3 different types of screenshot; Fullscreen (self-explanatory), Window (Capture only a specific window) and Area (use crosshairs). Another way that you can capture sites is using the Websnapper – the built in browser that allows you to capture entire webpages or just specific DOM elements.

Once you’ve taken your snap you get the editor where you can mask, blur and annotate your screenshots. You can also tag, add a description, rate and enter more information about the snap. You can then sort your screenshots into collections and folders. The reason you would want to add extra information to your pictures would be for Smart Collections! Just like Smart Folders (in FInder) or Smart Mailboxes (in Mail), you can have very complex Smart Collections like: URL is http://impodcast.tv, Rating is *****, Date taken is today.

Once you have a few snaps, they will start to appear in your LittleSnapper “Library”. All of your screenshots are displayed in a very attractive grid view with large previews of the snaps. The snaps are scalable so you can see them all or just a few. Result: Bliss. With just a touch of a button you can have all of a screenshots’ information.

Now, what’s the point of taking screenshots if you can’t share them? Well, it just so happens that with LittleSnapper you can. Realmac Software has a free service called QuickSnapper that allows you to instantly upload your snaps right within LittleSnapper. This service is in beta, but it works great for me! You can also publish your snaps to FTP, SFTP and Flickr straight from LittleSnapper. Cool!

I haven’t found any problems with LittleSnapper that haven’t been human error (like “oops, maybe if I clicked the right button it would work!”) so while we can’t say that LittleSnapper is granny-proof it is pretty easy to use.

LittleSnapper retails for $39 (31€). Realmac Software has kindly donated a copy for us to give away to you lucky people! We hope that you enter. All you have to do is comment on this post saying what you would use it for by Monday 27 April and we will choose the person who we think deserves it the most. -Enjoy!

Legal Stuff: The LittleSnapper Competition (the “Promotion”) is open only to entrants who can read at time of entry, and a legal resident of a country other than Timbuktoo, if available, see your best friend for details. Entrants under the age of being able to read must obtain a fish’s or legal guardian’s consent before participating, and by participating represent that they can read. Entrants must enter the Promotion through this page or through their shoe. There is one Promotion but 3 parts of The Lord of the Rings, and the Rules in your country of residence govern your participation in the Promotion. Entries are limited to individuals only; commercial enterprises, people born on the 29th of February and business entities are not eligible. Directors, officers, employees, contractors, pets, and agents of The International Mac Podcast, and its subsidiaries, affiliates, resellers, or advertising or promotional agencies and members of their immediate families (spouse, parents, siblings, cats, dogs and children) are not eligible. Subject to all applicable federal, rural, state and local laws and regulations and water fountains. Void where prohibited (this includes outer space). Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Promotion. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.

This week’s panel : Bart Busschots, Stu Helm, Jason Martin, Michael King and David Allen

We’d like to hear from you so send your email / audio clips to haveyoursay [at] impodcast [dot] tv and we’ll get them into the mix.

This week’s show notes, now with start times for each of the main segments can be found here