Time-lapse videos look impressive for their surreal and fluid representation of time passing. As opposed to simply speeding up video, time-lapse movies use still images which are then arranged in the order they were taken to produce a moving image. Images must be shot at pre-determined regular intervals for best results, and the use of still photography often provides a crisp and high-resolution output which can be zoomed, panned and cropped without too much loss in quality.

Creating time-lapse videos on smartphones is no new thing, and another app that's joined the fray is Droid Timelapse. This free Android app works on phones using version 4.0 and upwards, providing an automated time-lapse function for your phone. Unlike a regular time-lapse taken with a DSLR camera, Droid Timelapse only supports a maximum resolution of 1080p in its final MP4 file and there is no image export.

For best results, grab yourself a tripod and mount for steady results as any movement will detract from the finished product.

As well as high-res output, the free version ensures a smooth 30 frames per second, allows the user to stipulate the duration of the time-lapse and comes with variable focus modes, white balance, flash and colour effects on supported devices. The pro version comes with a few extra features like the ability to turn off the screen while shooting (vastly improving battery life) and exposure compensation, a good upgrade if you're taken by this free version.

Features:

• Take time-lapse movies on your smartphone.
• Output in 1080p MP4 format.
• Focus, flash, white balance and colour mode settings.
• Upgrade to pro for additional features and lower battery drain.

Check out Droid Timelapse at the Google Play Store.