Twitter Launches 360-degree Live Video Streaming On Periscope; Battling Facebook For Livestreaming Supremacy [Video]
The latest step towards the introduction of the 360-degree live video streaming by Twitter shows that the company is getting more and more serious about the live video streaming feature.
One Dec. 29, the first ever 360-degree live stream through Periscope was taken by the Alex Pettitt, who is the broadcaster, and Periscope expert. He has shared the momentous event on his Twitter account. The live stream showed Pettitt and model/travel vlogger Brandee Anthony walking around a fort in Florida.
Twitter has announced the feat in a blog post by saying that, the company is hopping that the new feature would allow the company to make up for a rather demoralized 2016 that saw the service supposedly being used by personalities to spread lies and fake news, and the company letting go of people and later shutting down Vine.
To determine if a Twitter or Periscope video is shown in 360, you have to look for the LIVE 360 badge. If the badge is present, you just need to tilt the phone or swipe across the screen. Those using a desktop or laptop can also see the 360 video by simply clicking and dragging the screen. This action rotates the camera allowing a 360 view of the video.
According to The Verge, the 360-degree broadcasting is nothing new. Facebook has earlier tested this feature on Facebook Live. This put some pressure on Twitter and Periscope after some publishers moved and signified their intent to move to Facebook Live to get more viewers
In the month of December, Twitter announced that it will allow users to live stream video from the Twitter app directly. Previously, users had to broadcast live stream video through the Periscope app.
All Twitter and Periscope users have access to the live 360 videos, they can watch them anytime. However, only a select group of partners can go live in 360 using Periscope at present. Twitter did not say anything about its plans of expanding the feature outside the limited number of partners but it is possible that the feature will be offered to the general public soon.
