Title: Cinemagram
Cost: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android (this review refers to the iOS version)
For those who love to make short videos or gifs on their phone, Cinemagram is a great option. In many ways, it is similar to Vine, an app that exploded onto the scene a few months ago. As in Vine, users of Cinemagram create short (in this case 4 second) looping videos. And, as in Vine, Cinemagram is focused on sharing these videos online, with options to share finished videos via Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr or email. To add to the social aspect of the app, you can also connect with friends from Facebook, Twitter or from your phone’s contact list or search through videos or users to find other people to follow.
Perhaps the most fun aspect of Cinemagram is the fact that you can add a host of effects to your video once you have recorded it. This includes changing the speed of your video, choosing to loop it or even run it in reverse, or putting tints or filters on the video to change the look á la Instagram. But, my favorite feature of the app is the ability to choose to animate only sections of the video while leaving the rest static for a fun and unusual effect that many have used to create really fun videos.
Once you have finalized your video, you have the option to caption it, tag any friends who appear in the video and add location information before you share it via social media. And, Cinemagram also offers a “trending cines†page where you can see some of the most popular videos created using the app and like your favorites. This app is a great alternative to Vine, particularly for Android users who are eagerly awaiting the release of a version of Vine for the Android platform.
For more app recommendations, check out the YALSA App of the Week Archive. If you have an app you think we should review, let us know!
