Google Shaking Up Video Recording/Sharing on Apple's iOS with the New 'YouTube Capture' App

I wasn't really expecting to have to refer to the theoretical 'Instagram of Video' for another while -- major choices for mobile users are already in place and 'in the running' for such a title, and it could be a while before everyone in the discussion unanimously declares one app the victor (if ever). The Verge (seemingly in a nod to comments) acknowledged YouTube as the elephant in the room for these apps, because even on iOS where the YouTube app is read-only (well, watch-only -- no uploads), the service is the megalith for easily-socialized video. A complete YouTube experience is already native on Android (again, YouTube is Google is Android), perhaps to the chagrin of recent Android-joiner Viddy. A new development may totally shift the dynamics of this interplay, however: Google just yesterday released YouTube Capture for iOS.

YouTube Capture is an app that does exactly what you think it does -- and more, actually. Check out this video straight from YouTube, with thanks to Mashable for their report (and both for the thumbnail image)

More from Mashable:

The app... will make it easier to upload videos from your iPhone. Features include color correction, stabilization and editing. You can also add free background music from YouTube and write a caption. The app also reminds you to rotate your phone to avoid "vertical video syndrome." So far, there's no Android version of YouTube Capture. The company has not indicated when one will be available.

The latest release will doubtlessly be closely watched by startups like Viddy and Socialcam that are based on creating short videos and sharing them on social networks, but also by Vimeo, whose iOS app was recently updated to include the ability to shoot and share videos.

It's worth noting that YouTube Capture for Android (as mentioned above) may be somewhat redunant or pointless, because YouTube's Android app already allows for native shooting/sharing within its functionality -- albeit without some of the sexier prospects of YouTube Capture, such as filters. Basically, as it stands now, each of YouTube's iOS apps specializes in either shooting/sharing or viewing, while the Android offering allows both, but with a bit more limitation.

Here's more -- from another Mashable post, actually -- that illustrates well the ways in which this app may be beneficial as well as simple and entertaining.

If you want to upload your video to the entire YouTube-viewing world in a single click -- or Facebook, Twitter and Google+ in two clicks -- you can. Something shot seconds ago can start going viral seconds later.

This is going to be particularly useful for on-the-scene news reporting, whatever form it takes in the future. YouTube has been one of the primary means for information on the conflict in Syria, for example; an app this easy must triple or quadruple the number of potential citizen journalists, for want of a better term.

On the one hand, this is just another direct-sharing social video platform, any of which is just fine if you find pleasure in using such apps -- but on the other hand, YouTube has the greatest weight to throw around in terms of any web-based video scenario, and as such, I think it's safe to assume that YouTube Capture will shake things up a bit.

Which iOS users among you see yourselves using YouTube Capture? How has your mobile shooting/sharing operated prior? Do you Android users out there feel a bit jealous that Google isn't instilling some of these features into your own YouTube apps?

Link: YouTube Capture

[via Mashable]