Vine - Make a scene

CNET Editors' review

by: Ben Markton on May 12, 2013

Vine is a sensation--one driven by celebrities, startups, and bloggers around the world, and the pedigree of being created by Twitter. As one of dozens of different video recording and sharing apps on the App Store, however, what makes Vine unique and worthy of a download?

Vine's premise is very basic. Record three, short segments of video and the software will string them together in a loop. While on its face value it might seem very elementary, there are actually some incredibly creative, unique applications of the platform, and because Vine is also a social platform, allowing you to share with others, follow their Vines, and comment on or like them, it's easy to see what other people are doing. After initial installation, you'll be asked to register and given a short tutorial on how to create a Vine. You can then record your first video with a few quick taps on the video icon. With each Vine you create, you can add a caption and location and then share to Vine, Facebook, and Twitter, though this is optional.

If you are looking for a video editing app that allows you to do more robust things like add background music, change scenes, or make longer videos, this is not it. Vine is a meme generator--a looping video recorder that perfectly integrates what makes Web video so compelling with the platforms on which it thrives. For Web video junkies or social media mavens, this is a must download.