14 DAY TRIAL // YouTube has added an interesting new capability to its not very well known YouTube Video Editor, image stabilization. The timing of the new feature launch is also interesting, since just last week Google bought an Irish video processing company that, among other tools, offers a video stabilization technology. The new feature, however, is based on technology developed by Google in house.
The YouTube Video Editor was introduced last summer. It began as a simple "20 percent time" project, but has gained new features and capabilities along the way.
With the new image stabilization tool, most of the needs of the average YouTube uploader should be met.
Initially, the Video Editor only enabled users to stitch together videos or trim them to cut out unwanted sections. Later, new capabilities, enabling users to adjust the videos as well, were added, things like Brightness and Contrast controls and a "Black and White" filter. Transitions were also introduced a few moths later.
Another feature that came in handy in the world of cell phone videos is the rotation tool which enables users to rotate their videos 90 degrees if they were shot vertically.
The latest addition is the image stabilization feature. It has a slider which allows users to choose how much of their video are they willing to lose, due to cropping, as opposed to how much stabilization they want.
Apparently, it took Google's engineers just three weeks to create the new feature. Unbeknown to them though, YouTube was looking to acquire Green Parrot Pictures which also offers an image stabilization tool.
YouTube ended up buying the Irish company last week and will likely start using its technologies to boost the quality of YouTube videos. Green Parrot Pictures has several tools for enhancing and restoring video which have already been used by Hollywood studios for major motion pictures like Lord of the Rings, X-Men and Spider-Man. [via NYT]