Vidoco, Tout, Vine: You Have To Use Them To Know Them

Vidoco, Tout, Vine are three of the many seconds-long video-apps that are available for use on your smartphone. I’ve used Tout for as long as, well, since it’s founder and my friend Michael Downing contacted me about its creation early in 2011. Prior to Tout, I was on something called 12 seconds, which was the first micro-vlogging app of its kind, and ended its run in 2010.

There are now, by my count, 17 active video platforms of this type, and many more in beta form. But regardless of the system, one fact remains: you have to use them to know them.

I say this because I ran across this photo by my friend George Kelly of a bunch of guys, journalists, I guess, sitting on their asses watching a presentation of how Tout works.

That’s not how one learns about how useful Tout, or Vidoco, of which I’m on its advisory board, is.

In order to appreciate Vidoco, Tout, or even the annoying Vine (because six seconds is not enough time and Twitter’s pushing it like nobody’s business), you have to download them and use them. You’re not going to learn a thing sitting in a chair watching a presentation.

Get up. Get out. And as Stifler from American Pie would say “use them!”

Stay tuned.