Twitter will now offer users more than 140 characters. The popular social networking site has unveiled Periscope, an interactive video app that let’s you broadcast in real-time to your followers.
Sound somewhat familiar?
Well, Twitter acquired live video-streaming company Periscope in January. It’s clear that the social media juggernaut wastes no time, rolling out the app, which allows followers to interact in real-time by commenting and “sharing ‘hearts’,” as VentureBeat noted.
“A picture may be worth a thousand words, but live video can take you someplace and show you around,” the Periscope team said in a release on Medium.com.
The app is also a direct competitor to Meerkat, the new live streaming app introduced recently. With news of a building explosion on Second Avenue in Manhattan, Periscope is already trending on Twitter as users livestream from the scene.
Mashable reports that the apps simple design and easy-to-use navigation make it a more polished product than Meerkat. Fellow live-streaming app Meerkat has been gaining traction and popularity, which could’ve led to the quick release of Periscope
Here’s how the live-streaming app works:
Like Vine, you have to sign-in with your Twitter credentials. When you launch Periscope, you’ll see a list which is divided into “Featured” Periscope users, including early adopters like Shonda Rhimes and magician David Blaine, and people who you follow who are currently on Periscope. Don’t feel pressured to keep all those on that list. The app allows you to deselect and pick and choose who you want to follow.
In the Watch area, you’ll see a list of videos. At the top are your current broadcasts as well as recently recorded ones. When you broadcast, you can choose to make it public or private. You’ll have to hit the “lock” icon prior to broadcasting to select the individuals you want to invite if you’re opting for the private option. Periscope allows a tweet to be sent out to your followers when your broadcast begins, so they can watch via the Twitter site or in Periscope if they have the app installed.
Once your broadcast has ended, it can be viewed for 24 hours as a “replay,” or deleted immediately or saved to your camera roll.
Periscope is a standalone app currently available on iOS.
Will you try Periscope? If so, let us know why in the comments section below.
