Twitter launches Periscope live video app to rival Meerkat
Live streaming mobile video apps promise to let users see 'the world through someone else’s eyes.'
Twitter has launched its live video app Periscope after a year-long beta testing process and following competitor Meerkat's breakout at the SXSW festival last week.
Introducing <a href="https://twitter.com/periscopeco">@periscopeco</a>, a new app to share & experience live video from your mobile phone: <a href="https://t.co/nhIX7KU6jj">https://t.co/nhIX7KU6jj</a> <a href="http://t.co/ndgVpRjMJW">pic.twitter.com/ndgVpRjMJW</a>
—@TwitterCanadaThe app allows users to broadcast live video from their smartphone cameras to anyone on the internet, either publicly or privately to a selected list of people.
"We’ve always imagined Periscope as a visual pulse of what’s happening right now," wrote Periscope in a post on Medium today.
Work on Periscope began a year ago and the developers of the app have been working with Twitter since January.
The app already has enthusiastic supporters. Former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield mused about how the app would be used in a live stream Thursday morning.
Thanks for hanging out in my <a href="https://twitter.com/periscopeco">@periscopeco</a> stream this morning <a href="https://twitter.com/kevinjonas">@kevinjonas</a> <a href="http://t.co/iA5lWigtyk">pic.twitter.com/iA5lWigtyk</a>
—@AnthonyQuintano<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/meerkat?src=hash">#meerkat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Periscope?src=hash">#Periscope</a> ... As someone whose job is live broadcasting I'm loving the new apps! Working on the chat option for Periscope??
—@angenauscbcPeriscope's utility for advocacy, social justice, whistleblowing tho ... ! ❤️ ! ❤️ !
—@snotforprofitThe ability to stream video privately has been noted as an especially attractive feature — one that's missing from Meerkat.
Twitter's live-streaming app <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Periscope?src=hash">#Periscope</a> is out. I think it has a killer feature >> <a href="http://t.co/kNiV1T3ndT">pic.twitter.com/kNiV1T3ndT</a>
—@MarcSettleHowever, it is Periscope's first day and the content on the app leaves much to be desired.
Will Periscope be like this forever? <a href="http://t.co/YoydM4Vp9Y">pic.twitter.com/YoydM4Vp9Y</a>
—@JamesLiamCookFirst thing I saw being streamed live on <a href="https://twitter.com/periscopeco">@periscopeco</a> when I installed: someone's sneakers. Yup.
—@johnbowmanBut who will Periscope the Periscopers? <a href="https://twitter.com/Evins">@evins</a> <a href="http://t.co/Iq2UOcO7YH">pic.twitter.com/Iq2UOcO7YH</a>
—@sladurantayeThe app launched on the iPhone App Store today with an Android version coming soon.