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Vine finally lets you make clips based on your existing videos
If there has been a recurring gripe with Vine, it's that you've had to capture all your videos in Vine to share them -- you either had to record 6-second square clips or head elsewhere. You won't have to make that compromise any more, though. As of today, iOS users (Android is coming soon) can use existing videos in their Vines, no matter how many are needed or how they were shot. If you want to stitch together highlights from your iPhone 5s' slow-motion footage, you can.
Vine's loop counts tally plays in six-second increments
Until now, Vine's stats only indicated likes and revines for those carefully crafted six-second masterpieces. With an update rolling out today, Twitter's video app tacks on a real-time loop count tallying plays across both mobile and embedded footage on the web. There's also a redesigned feed with larger videos and polished likes and comments. In the activity tab, new items are easily recognizable alongside the older stuff, and notifications are now included for post milestones (100 likes, for example). The new version is headed to both Google Play and iTunes, so both Android and iOS users will be able to snag the latest.
Google is bringing Android apps to Chromebooks
Google I/O wasn't all about Android and wearables. The Mountain View company unveiled more information about Chrome OS, that other Google operating system, as well. The big news? Google is finally bringing Android apps to the Chromebook. Sundar Pichai, Google's Senior VP of Android, Chrome and apps, showed off the Vine Android app on a Chromebook Pixel on stage. As seen in a picture (after the break) different apps work differently, with Flipboard showing up larger, and Vine appearing in a phone-sized window. The apps can access local hardware so you can record a Vine from your Chromebook's camera if you wish. Additionally, when your phone and laptop are connected, a notification will pop up on your Chromebook letting you know if your phone battery is low; there are alerts for incoming calls and text messages too. At last, it seems Google is working to bring Chrome and Android together in a unified experience. Update: A post on Google+ indicates that the only approved apps right now are Vine, Flipboard and Evernote. Others will need to be added to the list before you can access them on your Chromebook this fall when the feature launches. Want a say in which app is next to make the jump? Nominate your preference on Chromebook.com/newapps to let the team know.
IndieCade at E3 is full of hugs ... and games
The IndieCade booth at E3 showcased 30 games that might be highlighted at the actual IndieCade festival in October, including Asher Vollmer's Close Castles, Nova-111 from Funktronic Labs, Elegy for a Dead World from Dejobaan Games and Popcannibal Games, Sportsfriends, Bounden, Hotline Miami 2, 6180 The Moon, Fract OSC, Bloom, and so many more. Mostly, though, the booth was filled with hugs. [Image: IndieCade]
HBO Go, Twitter among 35 apps coming to Xbox One by year's end [Update]
Xbox One and Xbox 360 will receive 45 apps by the end of the holiday season, Microsoft announced today. Among the apps are Twitter, Facebook, Vine, HBO Go, ShowTime Anytime, Comedy Central and Major League Gaming, some of which already have a presence on Xbox 360. Xbox One's Twitter app will integrate directly with its live TV offerings, as viewers will be able to view a stream of tweets for shows they're watching at the moment, as well as a "trending" section of the console's OneGuide that ties to popular programming going on at the time. Head past the break for a full list of the incoming apps and the regions they will launch in, courtesy of Xbox Wire. Update: To clarify, 35 of the apps will arrive on Xbox One as opposed to the 45 combined for Xbox One and Xbox 360. We've updated our headline accordingly.
Xbox One getting Twitter, Vine, and HBO Go by year's end
There you were, using your Xbox One, thinking how much you'd like to watch a variety of six second video clips. Right? Maybe? Okay, maybe you were using your Xbox One, thinking how much you'd like to see a list of what's trending on Twitter? Alright, let's stop kidding ourselves: there's a high likelihood no one is doing those things, but Microsoft is answering the non-existent call regardless and adding both services to the Xbox One. Those are just two of the 45 new apps heading to Xbox One and Xbox 360, including the long-promised HBO Go app, Comedy Central, Watch ABC and more. Moreover, the "most popular experiences" are scheduled to launch "by the end of this holiday season." Head below for the full, lengthy list of new apps and a video showing off Twitter integration. Spoilers: it's pretty silly!
Vine's web redesign makes it a lot more useful
You could peruse Vine clips on the web since early January, but now the app's browser-based presence is getting more of what its mobile companion offers. The new version of the site allows you to scroll through channels and curated playlists and feature clips alongside what's trending. What's more, you'll be able to access the site if you haven't logged in, sending six-second links to anyone for full-screen viewing in TV mode. Once you do log in, you can gaze at your feed, populated with content from the folks you follow. Unfortunately, there's no word on when you'll be able to use the web cam for your next selfie. Bummer.
Vine, now with messaging
Vine isn't just about sharing six-second videos anymore. The Twitter-owned service has just launched a messaging feature that lets you reach out to friends through either videos or text messages. It's not very sophisticated at this stage (there's no true group chat, for instance), but you can send videos to anyone in your smartphone's contacts, whether or not they've installed a Vine app. Android and iOS users can get chatty today, but there's no word on a corresponding Windows Phone update. Wherever Vine goes from here, it's apparent that the service wants to be more than just entertainment -- it would like to be a complete social platform.
This is how we TowerFall
When the Joystiq crew gets together in person, things get intense. We need somewhere to channel all of that pent-up editing rage and story-scheduling mania, and thankfully we've found our outlet: TowerFall: Ascension.
Vine bans pornographic material, says artistic nudity is okay
Consider it an unspoken, but universally true rule: if it can be used for porn, it will be. Texting, Snapchat, Skype and video streaming technology have all fallen to mankind's more base desires, and now, Vine has too. According to a post on the Vine blog, the company has determined that a small percentage of its users are posting videos that "are not a good fit" for its community. In response, Twitter has changed its terms of service to ban sexually explicit Vines, specifically prohibiting videos of sexually provocative nudity, obviously aroused genitalia, sexually graphic art or animation and clips of sex toys being used erm.. as intended. That said, the company doesn't want you to think it prudish -- nudity in natural, artistic or documentary context (such as unclothed models in an art class or nude protesters) are A-OK, as are the swaying hips of any fully clothed erotic dancer. "We don't have a problem with explicit sexual content on the internet," the company wrote. "We just prefer not to be the source of it." Fair enough, but if we were to guess, we'd say the move has more to do with upsetting App Store policies than maintaining a squeaky clean community.
Twitter and Vine: coming soon to a theater near you
Silence is golden, reads your local theater's pre-film PSA: please turn off your mobile device. It's a courtesy to other moviegoers, of course, but a deal between Twitter and theater advertising firm National CineMedia could tweak this gold standard. According to Variety, the pair are working on a one-minute weekly pre-roll show that culls movie-focused content from Twitter and Vine, featuring a stream of hashtagged tweets from viewers. The initiative is set to launch this summer, giving viewers what NCM reps are calling "an original look inside the world of movies." It's no marquee billing, but if you're dying to put yourself up on the silver screen, you'll soon have an official, easy route. Seriously though, turn your phone off. The movie's starting.
Vine update for iOS brings exposure and focus locking
Vine's six-second videos may not allow much room for artistic expression, but the company is happy to provide a little more control. It just updated its iOS app to enable exposure and focus locking; you now just have to tap and hold on a subject to prevent any surprise changes in brightness or sharpness while you're recording. There aren't any corresponding updates to Vine for Android or Windows Phone, but we wouldn't be surprised if those arrive in the near future.
Daily Roundup: CES 2014 preview, new Acer tablets, Veronica Mars movie trailer and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Vine truly comes to the web, with full screen TV mode
Vine certainly is taking its time fleshing out its feature set. Most surprisingly, you couldn't actually browse the short video sharing service from the comfort of your desktop browser until now. Sure, you could follow a link that would lead you to a specific Vine, but couldn't skim a feed of clips from people you follow or look through a user's history. Thankfully that all changes today as the service finally embraces the web, and begins moving away from its entirely app-based existence. Now when you log in you'll be presented with a scrolling list of six-second updates and you can click through to checkout those all important profiles. And, just so the company can't be accused of being lazy, it's bringing something a little special to the desktop -- TV Mode. Click the TV icon in the upper right hand corner and you'll be treated to a full screen presentation of Vines played in sequence. It's a pretty easy way to catch up on all your friends' travels, meals and petscapades (you know, pet escapades) without having to touch the scroll bar.
Vine introduces web profiles, lets you snag vanity URL
Up to this point, your only chance of viewing vids on Vine was via its mobile app or if someone decided to share those clips on Twitter or Facebook. Soon, however, you can do so via the web as well thanks to its newly announced Web profiles. Just like with Instagram's web presence, we're guessing you won't be able to upload anything over the browser, but you'd be able to scan your Vine history as well as peruse through your timeline and other folks' pages. If you're so inclined, you may even sign up for custom URLs, though you should be careful of what you pick as you'll be stuck with it for the foreseeable future. Those fortunate enough to be verified on Twitter will get relevant usernames pre-reserved for you, while others will have to take their chances. We're not sure when Vine's web profiles will go live just yet, but we'll update this post when they do. Update: We initially said vanity URLs were only for verified users today, but it appears they're open for everyone now. According to our comments, it also seems that you need a minimum of two posts in order to reserve a name.
Vine for Android comes to Gingerbread phones, but only for viewing
Android fans running Gingerbread no longer have to sit out the Vine video craze. An updated Vine app now supports playback on the 2010-era Google OS, giving the many people using older Android phones a chance to see all the short clips they've been missing. They shouldn't expect to record clips, though -- Vine says that "device limitations" prevent Gingerbread users from creating their own content. That negates much of the app's reason for being, but the expanded support still represents a kindness toward those who'd otherwise be left out of the (video) loop.
Updated Vine for Windows Phone lets you save clips as drafts
Although Vine launched on Windows Phone with many core features intact, it didn't come with a draft mode -- if you switched tasks, your hard work (six seconds of it, anyway) went out the window. That won't be an issue with the latest version of the app, though. You can now save the video you've recorded to finish it later; interruptions and time-lapse videos won't be major headaches from now on. The Windows Phone client still doesn't have the post-shoot editing of its Android and iOS siblings, but it's clear that the feature gap is narrowing quickly.
Twitter looks back at 2013, 140 characters at a time (video)
500 million tweets a day and 230 million users: Twitter's job of neatly summarizing the year is probably getting tougher each time. For 2013, the social network's displayed what happened (the UK has its own break down -- lots of One Direction tweets) and when in month-by-month summaries of both the major events and hashtags of the moment -- including the most-retweeted post of the year. It also has specialized synopses for sports, news, entertainment and showcase. The latter is curated highlights from Twitter's selected publishing partners, so it's pretty classy fare. Twitter's slightly limp #music service has ensured the same hashtag was the top trend of 2013, followed by #nowplaying at no.3. If you already can't remember what's gone down since January, hit up the source, or watch Twitter's summary after the break, which pulls together Royal babies, typhoons, red pandas and well, the launch of its own six-second video sharing service, into a single-minute highlight reel.
Vine expands its reach internationally with support for more languages
Twitter's six-second video sharing app Vine is making a play for more markets, announcing today that its apps for iOS and Android have been translated into 19 new languages, plus two more just on Android. Also available on Windows Phone and sporting a user base of over 40 million, a blog post also mentions Vine is working on ways to highlight popular clips on a country-by-country basis. Many of the Vine's we've seen work in any language, but we suppose opening up access to the app to more people will only increase the creativity seen. Now, who can translate "Ooooh, kill 'em" into Polish?
PS4 via Vine: Vita Remote Play setup, HDMI length, dancing cats
Our PlayStation 4 review covers a lot of territory, but even after all those words there are some particular questions that require the power of Vine. Answering queries submitted to our @Joystiq Twitter, we've been trying to hit the ones that caused us to stop and ponder for a moment. After the break, we've posted the collection of today's clips. Yesterday, we answered burning questions like: Where's the power button? It's still one of the most magical things to watch someone figure out when confronted with the PS4 for the first time. If you've got a question that we can answer in just a few seconds, leave a comment below or feel free to ask @Sliwinski directly. We'll answer some more questions tomorrow as folks meet the console during the North American launch.
