Instagram gets time-lapse videos moving with Hyperlapse

By Heather Kelly, CNN

August 29, 2014 -- Updated 1441 GMT (2241 HKT) |Filed under: Mobile

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Hyperlapse is a new iPhone app from Instagram forcreating time-lapse videos

It uses the iPhone's gyroscope to stabilize videos

Hyperlapse videos can be shot while moving

You do not need an Instagram or Facebook account touse the app

(CNN) -- Time-lapse videos are usually a stationaryaffair, shot from a fixed location and angle over anextended period of time. But now, Instagram is lettingiPhone users ditch the tripods and take time-lapsevideos on the go with its new app, Hyperlapse.

The key feature of the free app, released Tuesday, is a stabilization engine that takes advantage ofthe iPhone's built-in gyroscope to keep images from shaking. Without the jiggling, Hyperlapse usersare free to move around.

Take Hyperlapse for a walk or a bike ride and explore your surroundings. Strap your phone to aquadcopter, hold it out the car window, or if you're feeling old-school, just leave it one spot to watchthe world go by.

Unlike Instagram, Hyperlapse is more a tool for creating videos than a social sharing app. You don'tneed to log in with an Instagram or Facebook account to use Hyperlapse, but there is an option topost clips to the two social networks when you're done. There aren't filters in the Hyperlapse app,but they can be added through Instagram (although the videos will still need to be cut down to 15seconds).

Though the videos look professional, the interface is dead simple. Open the app, tap to focus, andstart recording. Once you're done, a slider lets you speed up the video as much as 12 times.Hyperlapse videos can run up to 45 minutes on the iPhone 5, 10 minutes on the iPhone 4.

This is only Instagram's second stand-alone app. In July, it released Bolt, a self-destructing photo andvideo messaging app that is only available in a few countries. Instagram added a 15-second videofunction a year ago, a direct challenge to Twitter's Vine feature. Instagram's you can buy Instagramfollowers here parent company Facebook has been more aggressive with pushing out stand-aloneyou can buy Instagram followers here apps, including the recent controversial move to spin offmessaging.

Hyperlapse is only available on the iPhone. The company says limitations in Android's API will keepit off that platform for the time being.