How to Make Highlight Reels on the Moto X 2014

Everyone knows that the modern smartphone has almost made the point-and-shoot camera extinct. Motorola’s Moto X 2014 is no exception with its 13 megapixel camera. It can capture 4K and high-definition video with no problem. Taking a great picture is as simple as tapping on the screen thanks to automatic HDR and focusing. The trick is what you do with the memories you capture. Highlight Reels on the Moto X 2014 provide a way to make all of that media you’ve captured interesting.

Highlight Reels are small video clips that you can create using the media that your Moto X 2014 has already captured. The Moto X 2014’s Gallery app allows users to create Highlight Reels of their favorite memories where every they are. What pictures and video are included are up to you. You can also layer in music and add in a title.

Here’s how to create Highlight Reels on the Moto X 2014.

Before we begin, it’s important that you know the software in this example may look a bit different than what you have available to you. Don’t worry, we’re running Android Lollipop, the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system to arrive on the Moto X 2014. This software is rolling out to all versions of the Moto X 2014, but today it’s not available for some. Regardless of the way your version of Android looks, creating Highlight Reels is the same.

Press the power button and unlock your Moto X 2014 using your PIN Code or lock pattern. If you’re connected to a trusted device using Bluetooth already than you may find your device is already unlocked.

If you haven’t done a lot of customizing than you’ll notice the Gallery app is already on your screen. Open it. If you don’t notice the Gallery app there tap the circle at the bottom of your screen to open a list of every app you have installed on your device. Swipe from left to right until you see the Gallery app.

Welcome to the Gallery app. Tap Camera Roll to look at all the pictures and video you’ve recorded. Tap the check box in the top-right side of your screen.

Now select every photo you’d like to include in your Highlight Reel.

Now tap the movie sign style icon in the top-right corner of your screen.

Welcome to the Highlight Reel creation screen. Immediately a video should start playing. You can assign it a title and hit Save at the bottom of your screen if you don’t want to do any more customization.

Tap More Options.

In the More Options are you can adjust length so that it’s faster or slower than what the default is.

A button that looks like a photograph just below your Highlight Reel preview gives you the option to remove some photos from your Highlight Reel.

The musical note button on the far right underneath the preview lets you choose a song for that Highlight Reel. By default, one is randomly chosen using the free selection that Android provides. They’re all a bit basic though. Scrolling down past those basic songs reveals MP3s that are stored on your Moto X 2014. You can select any song you wish, as long as it doesn’t have copy protection on it.

Tap the Save Highlight Reel button to store the Highlight Reel on your Moto X 2014.

Now add a title and choose a size. I recommend you going with HD if you plan on sharing this on a computer or television set at some point. If you’re just going to keep it stored on your Moto X 2014 SD is fine. You should note that SD will take up less space on your Moto X 2014.

Wait for your Highlight Reel to save.

Now tap the play button to watch it or the Share button to send it YouTube, Facebook or just about any other service that allows video to be uploaded.

That’s it. You’ve successfully created your first Highlight Reel. You can circumvent most of this process by tapping on the Menu icon in the top left of the Gallery app and selecting the Highlight Reels menu. There your media is organized into date and location so that it’s easier to create Highlight Reels on the fly. Because Highlight Reels are shareable, if you ever decide to switch smartphones you can and still keep them. We were able to upload Highlight Reels to YouTube and Facebook. In theory, Instagram should have worked too, but the Android app for Instagram crashed every time I tried. Whatever storage medium you choose, it’s probably a good idea to go with one you’ll be using for a very longtime.