Vimeo, YouTube’s significantly better dressed cousin, has just updated its iOS app. Aside from adding background video uploading, easier sharing on social networks, and some welcome interface refinements, the big news here is that Vimeo ditched one of the app’s marquee features: video editing.
HOORAY!
Why is this a good thing? Because it’s a clear indication that iOS based video editing has evolved to the point where mediocre tools are no longer relevant.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a slew of editing apps come and go, some good, some bad, and a lot that just plain sucked. Existing video apps were adding basic editing functionality just to keep pace. Vimeo for iPhone was one such app. Vimeo’s editor couldn’t do much, but it was free, and I suppose that was enough to get people excited.  Personally, I thought it was poop — a bummer since I’m a huge fan of the Vimeo service.
Things in the editing universe started getting interesting when Apple introduced iMovie for iOS. While it was hardly a “pro” app, it did advance the state of mobile editing. In fact, a recent iMovie update added a precision editor, letting users create J and L cuts (when picture and sound cut at different points). Video editing giant Avid even got into the act with their iPad app, Avid Studio (now owned by Corel, and titled Pinnacle Studio).
Thanks to low-cost, feature-packed editors like iMovie and Avid Studio, basic editing apps now seem trite by comparison. For this reason, I believe Vimeo’s decision to remove the basic editing functionality from its otherwise elegant app was the right choice.
What do you think? Will you miss the editing feature?
While you’re thinking it over, here’s a fun video promoting the latest version of Vimeo:
2 Responses
Totally disagree. The new vimeo is buggy and crashes on my 4S. I used the editor a LOT to teach students of all ages BECAUSE it was so simple and slim on unnecessary features. New VIMEO = FAIL.
your are right JOEL !