Live streaming video app Periscope is making a couple of changes to its video broadcast app. Periscope announced today that beginning in a few weeks all videos will be saved by default, rather than expire after 24 hours. The new functionality could have significant ramifications for companies that have struggled to find ways to use the app for promotional purposes.
In addition to saving videos by default, the Twitter-owned platform also announced two other major feature changes: the ability to search for broadcasts by title or topic, and support for drone broadcasting. The latter functionality will allow users with DJI drones to broadcast live streaming video.
Full Control Over Broadcasts
Periscope calls the decision to save videos by default the “beyond 24-hours approach.” The app previously offered a preview of the functionality to users through a public beta test. Starting today, a preview of the function will be available to all users, with a full solution deployed in the coming weeks.
The change represents a significant strategy shift for the company, which had made the temporary nature of its broadcasts its most distinguishing feature in a market saturated with similar platforms.
“Our goal is to give you full control of your broadcasts,” Periscope said on its corporate blog. “Soon, your broadcasts will be automatically saved on Periscope and Twitter with comments and hearts. Should you change your mind, you can still delete your broadcasts at any time in the post-broadcast screen or in your profile. And, for those of you who still want your broadcasts to be removed after 24 hours, you can easily configure that in your account settings.”
Search by Topics
Another major addition to the app is the ability to search for broadcasts by titles and topics. According to the company, when users tap on the search button in Periscope’s Global List, they will see a list of suggested topics to search for, including #Travel, #Music, and #Food, among others. To broadcast about a topic, a user taps the Broadcast button in the topic’s search results to add the relevant hashtag, or the user can add the hashtag to the title directly.
Periscope said it will also be testing two new search topics. The “First Scope” topic will allow users to search for broadcasters that are new to the platform. The “GoPros and Drones” topic, meanwhile, will feature broadcasts streamed from both GoPro cameras and drones.
The company is also highlighting its new feature that allows users to broadcast video directly from DJI drones. To do so, a user must have an iPhone that can be connected to the drone. Periscope will then automatically pull in the drone’s video feed and let the user switch between the drone, the iPhone’s camera and the GoPro. During the broadcast, a user will also be able to narrate the video from a bird’s eye view using a phone, or using the app’s sketch feature, the user can sketch on the broadcast to highlight different sights.
Image Credit: Periscope.
