What you need to know about Instagram's new app Edits
Meta's Instagram has announced a video editing app on the heels of rival TikTok briefly going dark before restoring its services.
The app is called Edits and appears to be similar to CapCut, which millions of users use to stitch together videos for TikTok.
CapCut and TikTok are owned by China's ByteDance, which was under scrutiny by the United States for national security reasons.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, in a video message posted on the platform, said, "There's a lot going on in the world right now, and no matter what happens, we think it's our job to create the most compelling, creative tools for those of you who make videos for not just Instagram but for platforms out there as we can."
"It's hoping not just to be an editing but an entire full suite of creative tools for those of you who are passionate about making videos on your phone," Mosseri added.
He noted that Edits is for making short-form videos on the phone and not for desktop. It's also not for users who look for templates.
According to Mosseri, the app will have a dedicated tab for inspiration and trending audio where creators can get ideas. It also comes with a high-definition camera, which he noted he used to film the video he's in.
He said they're working with several video creators at the moment to get feedback.
He asked users for patience as the first version of Edits will be "incomplete" upon release.
The app is available for preorder on Apple App Store starting Jan. 19, while it will be available for Android in February.
Promised features
On the Apple App Store, the Edits page states that users may export their videos with no watermark and share them to any platform.
Their drafts and videos can be tracked in one place.
They may capture up to 10-minute-long videos and start editing right away, ready for sharing on Instagram in 1080p.
Videos can be edited with single-frame precision, and camera settings include resolution, framerate, and dynamic range, plus upgraded flash and zoom controls.
There are also AI animation features to bring images to life.
Similar to CapCut, Edits has a green screen editor and background noise reduction.
Users can make their videos their own with a variety of fonts, sound and voice effects, video filters, and stickers.
Those who want their clips to have subtitles have the option to automatically add captions and customize how they appear in the video.
More than an editing platform, the app will allow users to track their Reels' performances with a live insights dashboard.
They will also get a breakdown of engagement for followers and non-followers.
Insights such as if the created Reel gets recommended and skip rate are shared to help creators plan their next videos based on what's working for their audience.
