Instagram Launches New Gif Like app Boomerang

The new Instagram Boomerang app is available to download today, as a new place to share super short videos that you create on your smartphone. Boomerang exists outside of Instagram and Facebook, but you can share it directly to these services. With the Boomerang app you can create a 1 second video that you can save or share. Although the app is from Instagram and Facebook, you don’t need an Instagram account to use it.

Here’s what you need to know about this 1 second video app for your phone.

The Boomerang app is from Instagram and it allows you to record a series of burst photos that turn into a short 1 second video file that exists on your phone.

You can save to your camera roll, instantly upload to Facebook or Instagram or share to other sources since it is a Video file.

A Boomerang is different than both of these in that it is a movie file without sound. Live Photos are essentially a movie file with sound and a GIF is a photo that moves without sound.

A Boomerang is basically the happy medium of sharing a fun video without any sound.

Users can edit the video so it plays in forward or reverse, and it is possible to share to any device that can play videos. Unlike the recent Live Photos option from Apple, there is no real restriction on where you can view these.

After you download the Boomerang app for iPhone or Android you need to open the app.

How to use the Boomerang app.

You can press the circle at the bottom of the screen to shoot your burst of photos. Swipe the screen or tap the logo to the right of the circle to switch between the rear facing and front facing cameras.

When it is complete you can tap on Instagram or Facebook to share there or the share icon to share in another location.

There doesn’t appear to be a way to convert burst photos you already shot on the iPhone or Android to a Boomerang.