Compact cameras and the ability to record in high resolution have completely changed the way users generate content. You don't even need a specialized product, as the built-in lens of a smartphone can capture very high quality videos. However, if the plan is to create a time-lapse that also stabilizes the image, we need an external tool like Microsoft Hyperlapse Pro, which is currently in technical preview.
Most videos filmed with a GoPro are characterized by being in first person. That is the underlying idea, and the market offers us all kinds of alternatives to attach the camera to helmets, drones, bicycles, cars, and so on. At the same time, this exposes one of the most complicated parts of the equation: stabilizing the image. The hardware does its best to compensate, but if someone is flying through the air doing tricks on a skateboard, both the GoPro and other similar cameras need a little external help. One of the options is the so-called hyperlapse, which is essentially a time-lapse with a fixed reference point. The most common hyperlapse example is an accelerated video where the camera films a specific point while circling around it, but the creativity of users has taken the definition of hyperlapse much further.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/twncW4PLdsYA new option for creating hyperlapse videos is Microsoft's Hyperlapse Pro tool, and the Hyperlapse app for Android and Windows Phone. The desktop version, compatible only with 64-bit versions of Windows, is more advanced than its mobile counterpart, but the end goal is the same. There is a standard mode that reduces processing time, and an advanced mode, recommended for videos with more action, like those from a GoPro. Hyperlapse Pro is a technical preview, and as far as we have been able to find out, it will remain free during this stage. In reality, it is better to view the program as a demo, as it adds a watermark and credits at the end of the video, indicating its origin.
Another aspect to keep in mind is its lack of stability. Honestly, Hyperlapse Pro leaves a little to be desired, but since it's a preview, we need to be patient. First, we had to install the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2013. After that, it did nothing but spew errors related to video drivers, and disabling hardware acceleration didn't help. In summary: If you manage to get it working on your system, and you tolerate the presence of the watermark, Hyperlapse Pro does a good job.
