Getting Started

About virtualbreak

virtualbreak helps you provide beautiful countdown screens for online trainings, events and workshops.

It also features the popular "mobile timer" - by simply scanning a QR code, users can take a break or event timer with them on their mobile phone, so they never miss the start of your class or event anymore.

Starting a Break or Event Countdown

It's very easy to get started. On the Start Break screen, you will find a few default templates for various breaks and event countdowns. Each has a standard duration associated with it and comes with a custom background picture that is shown during the countdown.

Select the appropriate break or countdown type (such as "Lunch Break" or "Event Countdown"), and the suggested end time will be set in the end time field. Of course, you can also manually enter any time as the end time for the countdown - by selecting "tomorrow" you even can specify an end time on the next day. This is especially useful for event countdowns.

Pro Tip: You can use the dropdown field next to it to align the time to the next full 5, 10, or 15 minutes so it is easier to remember.

The Break Coundown Screen

After you click on Start, the break countdown screen will be shown - this is meant to be shared with your audience so they have a nice screen to look at that reminds them when the break is over (or the event starts).

The countdown screen offers some added benefits for your audience:

Mobile Timer

Users can scan the QR code the get a mobile timer page on their mobile phone. This way, they can take the timer with them, for example when they have a coffee or when they are waiting for an event to start.

Countdown End Times for Different Time Zones

virtualbreak can display the end time of the countdown in different time zones. That is an useful service for audience members from around the world.

You can select the time zones that are shown by going to the Time Zone Settings screen. Your home time zone is always shown on top, the display cycles through the additional time zones one after the other.

Text Area

You can display information for your audience using the text editor area. Use the Editor button on the right edge of the screen to show or hide the text editor area. You can also select from a set of stored text modules that you can define in the Text Module Settings screen. To find a specific text module, search for it by entering text in the search field or select it from the dropdown list.

Pro Tip: Both the main and mobile timers will change color when the countdown is nearing the end time. Two minutes from the end time it will turn yellow, for the last minute it will be red.

Closing the Countdown Screen

Click on the Close button on the top right edge to close the countdown screen and get back to the Start Break screen. Please note that this doesn't notify mobile timer users that you have ended the break.