LoiLoScope 2 (beta)

It’s often hard to tell, at a glance, one video-editing app from another. Not so with LoiLo (loilo.tv), the Japanese company that broke convention with its quirky interfaces a few years ago.

LoiLo’s big idea was to put elements such as the video timeline and media library on a virtual, CUDA-accelerated Desktop. As in Google Earth, but with a bit more immediacy, you can zoom into or away from the Desktop with your mouse wheel or buttons. If you want to see something front and center, just click and drag it. Want to preview a clip? Simply hover your mouse pointer over it.

It’s almost easier for novice users to learn to use LoiLoScope, as its hands-on approach is more intuitive than many video-editing veterans might expect. More than one vet has exclaimed, “It can’t be that obvious…!” about an operation, only to find that with LoiLoScope, it is.

Newbie or old hand, you’ll want to check out the software’s new interactive guides to take advantage of the benefits of its unique user interface. The software launches with a text-and-icon list of tasks LoiLoScope’s interactive guides can show you how to perform, such as uploading to video sharing sites and creating slideshows.

We took a look at a prerelease version of the new LoiLoScope 2.0.2.1. (The previous edition was called Super LoiLoScope.)

Among version 2’s new features is compatibility with Intel’s Quick Sync Video technology built into its “Sandy Bridge” Core processors. LoiLo says that the optimization speeds up encoding of MP4 and BD files.

LoiLoScope also now has a DVD/BD creation tool that supports disc burning. There’s the slideshow movie assembly feature we mentioned, plus a new tool for making credits at the end of your video projects. LoiLoScope 2 also shows the waveform of sound data now and comes with a new Time Remapping tool and support for pause inserting.

We like the fact that LoiLoScope can easily brighten video that’s too dark, blur out portions of it, capture still images from it, slow it down, and speed it up. It also offers YouTube HD, Vimeo, and Facebook uploading support.

The software accepts video formats such as AVCHD/AVCHD Lite, HDV, H.264, and JVC’s Everio and Picsio. It can output formats compatible with Apple devices, mobile phones, and more.

Once you use LoiLoScope’s interface for a few minutes, you’ll realize that it’s a natural for multitouch support. Hence this feature is available in the $118 LoiLoTouch for Windows 7 Home Premium or better. As tablets and touchscreens invade the business world, this full-featured app—it has all of LoiLoScope’s power—warrants your serious consideration.

Tags: Home Premium, Sandy Bridge Core, Time Remapping