Twitter is taking another step by introducing live 360-degree-view video streaming to its streaming app Periscope. The app's latest update seems to attempt to compete with Facebook's live stream offering, Facebook Live.
The tool allows anyone on Twitter and Periscope to watch live 360-degree videos and can go live in 360 using the app. It makes sense that Twitter would start launching a tool like this since live streaming becomes increasingly popular in many platforms. Facebook and YouTube are platforms with the same feature to stream live videos.
Facebook is also investing in their live video and earlier this December, they began streaming 360-degree videos. Even if Twitter was first to introduce the feature, they're likely to be dominated by Facebook's efforts.
An example of 360-video was posted Alex Pettitt via Periscope and has been watched by 231,200 viewers. The first-ever video shows a sunset view in Florida.
The feature offers the same navigation options as Facebook Live. Viewers can click and drag or swipe the field-of-view to change what they are looking at, and live 360 videos are marked with a red badge on Twitter and Periscope.
The company announced their latest offering last Wednesday in a blog post, but the new feature is only available for a limited number of partners for now and it's not clear when users can start broadcasting their everyday lives.
In order to start recording and broadcast videos, users will need to have an Insta360 Nano camera. The $199 camera offers two 210-degree lenses and a pair of sensors capable of 3K video output at 30 frames per second.
2017 is a very challenging year for Twitter. The network is struggling to figure out new ways to grow and has only added new products and features. The Periscope team has assured people that they would start rolling out this feature in the coming weeks, and those who wishes to join can now register and be included in a waitlist.
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