Many of us have journals. Sometimes you need a space to express yourself, or share something you’re not comfortable sharing with others. If there is one thing the internet is good for, it’s private and public forums (data-sharing issues notwithstanding). Controlling your own shared private space is important for many reasons. This week, we’re writing about Jam! No not the delicious preserve, the invite-based audio rooms for you and your friends, your collaborators, your clients, your mum, your uncle, your dog, the choice is entirely yours! Jam allows you to create an online chat room designed for vocal communication. Think Alan Partridge’s vocoder but someone else telling him ‘Lady Shapes’ was a bad idea. 

To use Jam, go to their website and create a username, optionally upload a photo, and add your Twitter handle and you’re good to go! No sign-up and it costs nothing! Click the gear-wheel (the universal settings icon) and begin to set up your audio collaboration space. Give it a name, a description, a colour and various URI options to create your room, ready for the big collab. Once your settings are ready, schedule the room and share it with whomever you want! The spaces are neat and easily navigated, you guys know our hang ups when it comes to clutter, well success! Jam despite the name, is positively uncluttered. You will need to allow permissions for your microphone and once confirmed, your stage is set.

The audio spaces in Jam are really diverse, provided you’re controlling your input levels you can use the space for figuratively any venture. Whether it’s a conference call, or a death metal medley, it’s the ideal space. There is an emoji option to have some visual additions to the space which we think is a nice touch, emojis have basically replaced full sentences these days anyway. If you fancy yourself as an upcoming podcaster, there is an option to stream your Jams, although there doesn’t seem to be an option for live-streaming as of yet, unless you count being invited to the space to begin with.

You can of course also use your Jam space just for yourself, which we did for this review. Share thoughts you may not feel comfortable writing down or sharing with others. Sometimes we just need a space to vent. You might have a brilliant idea that is better explained out loud, well Jam has you covered. Covered by jam, yum. We like this tool, it’s got versatility and the fact it’s free, unlimited and requires no sign-up is even sweeter. What might be most interesting about this service is, we can’t seem to find a like-for-like competitor. So Jam is out there on its own, without a marmalade to steal its thunder… We’ll stop with the jam puns now. 

All in all, we like Jam. It’s got a very user-friendly interface, it’s mission statement is realised and it’s original. Shared space, online audio rooms may not be the most needed service in the world right now but it’s certainly not nothing. Jam’s one of a kind, for now. And it’s pretty good.

So Jam, nice effort! You get 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼/5!