Google releases YouTube Capture app for iPhone

Google has released YouTube Capture app for iPhone in an attempt to plug a gaping hole in its existing YouTube app, which does not include the ability to upload videos.

Google released the YouTube app for iPhone back in September with support for discovering and watching videos, months after Apple announced its decision to drop the iOS-bundled YouTube app. Google later updated the app to add a native interface for iPad, iPhone 5 and include other features like AirPlay. Strangely, the app didn't include an option to upload videos to YouTube. This is where YouTube Capture comes in.

YouTube Capture is a pretty basic app that prompts users to sign-in upon launch. Users have the option to enable Camera Roll that allows the app to user the phone's Gallery for storing/ accessing videos, otherwise it maintains its own private library. The app lets you share videos simultaneously to YouTube, Google+, Facebook and Twitter. It comes with basic video enhancement options like colour correction and video stabilisation.

Other options in the app include Landscape lock (enabled by default), which won't let you start video recording unless you're in landscape mode and a Rotate to begin recording option (disabled by default). On the iPhone 4S, you can toggle the upload quality between 480p and 720p (HD) - this may differ from one model to the other.

Overall, it's a pretty decent offering from Google - albeit rather basic -  though as other recent iOS launches, it's not available as a native iPad app on launch day. We expect that to change soon enough.

YouTube Capture (iPhone, Free)

Android-based tablets gaining on Apple's iPad: IDC

The global market for tablet computers is growing faster than earlier estimates suggested, with Android-powered devices gaining on the market-leading iPads, a survey said Wednesday.
IDC said it boosted its forecast for global tablet sales for 2012 to 122.3 million, from 117.1 million, in large part due to demand for Android tablets and the new iPad mini.

IDC also raised its 2013 forecast number to 172.4 million, up from 165.9 million and said shipments by 2016 worldwide shipments should reach 282.7 million.

"Tablets continue to captivate consumers, and as the market shifts toward smaller, more mobile screen sizes and lower price points, we expect demand to accelerate in the fourth quarter and beyond," said Tom Mainelli, research director for tablets at IDC.

"Android tablets are gaining traction in the market thanks to solid products from Google, Amazon, Samsung, and others. And Apple's November iPad mini launch, along with its surprise refresh of the full-sized iPad, positions the company well for a strong holiday season."

IDC now expects Android's worldwide tablet share to increase to 42.7 percent for 2012 from 39.8 percent in 2011. Apple's share is expected to slip to 53.8 percent from 56.3 percent in 2011.

"The breadth and depth of Android has taken full effect on the tablet market as it has for the smartphone space," said Ryan Reith, an IDC analyst.

"Android tablet shipments will certainly act as the catalyst for growth in the low-cost segment in emerging markets given the platform's low barrier to entry on manufacturing. At the same time, top-tier companies like Samsung, Lenovo, and ASUS are all launching Android tablets with comparable to premium products, but offered at much lower price points."

IDC predicts Windows-based tablets, including new devices from Microsoft and others, will gain share from both iOS and Android, growing from one percent of the market in 2011 to 2.9 percent in 2012 and 10.2 percent in 2016.