When it comes to mobile photo sharing, there’s no doubt that Instagram rules the roost. No matter how many new mobile photo sharing apps are churned out every now and then, when it comes to hipster-ish mobile photos being shared on multiple social networks, we all know Instagram is king. But what about video? For the past few months, mobile video sharing has emerged and while Instagram does not have any concrete plans (that the general public knows of, anyway) to branch out into video and become its undisputed king, these four apps are fighting for the crown.
Color
Color is not what you would expect when you first hear “mobile video sharing”. There is no editing and uploading involved. There isn’t even audio. It’s purely a live video broadcast which you can caption after the broadcast is done. Broadcasts last 30 seconds long and they can be accessed via smartphones with the Color app, your Color profile or on your Facebook feed. That last detail is one of the most interesting things about Color because it has access to some pretty nifty new Facebook APIs. It may not be for everyone since people are used to the old record-edit-upload process of video sharing, but it’s worth a look.
Tout
Tout seeks to reinvent the status update. With 1-click recording and sharing functions, it gives users a very easy way of recording 15-second status updates that they can share to friend and family on Twitter and Facebook and via SMS. Users can also follow each other so they can see each other’s latest Tout updates as they are posted.
Klip
Klip is currently at the top of the heap as far as popularity is concerned. This free app offers high quality video streaming, unlimited uploads, full support for front and back cameras, privacy settings, hashtags, and a bunch of other features geared towards giving users one of the best social video sharing experiences available. Klip claims to be the best way to share video with friends and family, and from the looks of it, that claim is a legitimate one.
Viddy
Viddy is kind of the new kid on the block. It’s still establishing its user base but with its feature set that includes advanced camera settings and special effects, it could easily be the Instagram of video — until Instagram branches out into video sharing, that is. Viddy offers several effects packs and band packs for free, giving users an entire library of special effects for artsy short films or vibrant music videos without spending a dime. It has already received the glory of being called the iPhone App of the Week so the future looks bright for this mobile video sharing app.
The Bottom Line
While sharing video via mobile devices is something most of us will need to get used to, these apps are designed to make the experience as comfortable as possible. In fact, if you’re already using any of the popular photo sharing apps, chances are you can jump right into any of these mobile video sharing apps with ease. Pretty soon, instead of telling people how hard it is to deal with a hangover through a simple tweet or Facebook status message, you will probably prefer to actually show the anguish on your face in a music video.
