12seconds creates iPhone video montages

For reasons known only to Apple, the iPhone SDK does not include tools to build video recording apps. Developers at 12seconds, however, claim to have come up with a workaround that lets users make their own video slideshows and post them on the company's website. The 12seconds app lets users capture three pictures, or select three from their photo album, and record a 12-second soundtrack. The raw materials are uploaded to the company's site, where they are automatically assembled into short movies, complete with randomly-chosen special effects such as pans and zooms. Videos can be shared on MySpace and other social networking sites.

12seconds' co-founder, Sol Lipman, tells MacNN that the time limit is the ideal "threshold for good user-generated content," long enough to tell a story but short enough to prevent people from getting bored. Lipman compares the video service to Twitter, which lets bloggers provide short bits of text that can be easily read.

12seconds is available at the App Store for $1. Users must also sign up for a free account at the matching website, needed to store and play videos.

Filed under: iPhone, digital imaging, iPhone apps
Other story tags: video