Facebook introduces Live Audio, takes on podcasts and the radio

Facebook has been steadily building its Live Video feature but it seems that isn’t the only thing the social network is building in the live broadcasting space. This time, it’s taking on the podcast and radio markets with Live Audio. Facebook launched the feature with a small group of publishers with plans to open up the service to everyone by 2017. Just like Live Video, the service will bring these Live Audio streams into the News Feed. Right now Facebook launched with BBC World Service, book publisher Harper Collins, talk radio broadcaster Leading Britain’s Conversation, and authors Adam Grant and Britt Bennett.

The social giant claims this’ll be a good way for low-connectivity areas to broadcast data-efficient media. And if, for example, signal gets low, hosts can switch to audio for a seamless stream. Facebook sees these working particularly well for a semi-professional stage setup for things such as book readings and interviews with Live service viewer interaction included. If you listen on Android, you’ll be able to use other apps while the audio streams in the background. For iOS, you need to keep the Facebook app open.

Source: Engadget

Facebook to introduce 360-degree live video

It seems like a natural progression for Facebook to bring together two of its biggest projects: live video and virtual reality. The social network announced plans of releasing 360-degree live video feature to its users. This’ll help bring you right into an event. It won’t be available to all users when it’s released but will come to publishers first. Facebook will officially introduce the feature on Tuesday starting with a video from the Mars Desert Research Station facility in Utah thanks to a partnership with National Geographic.

Source: CNET

Facebook adds HD video uploading support for Android

Sometimes Facebook doesn’t announce changes and updates they make to its apps, including this latest addition to its Android app. The social media app now lets Android users upload HD videos to their accounts. The new option shows up in the settings for most Android users. But it isn’t available to all users yet. Some of the other new video-related features include picture-in-picture video, having specific resolution options for uploading (from 720p to 360p), and the ability to download clips for offline viewing.

 Source: Android Authority

Facebook brings back chatroom feature in Messenger

Sometimes you need someone to talk to about your still growing stamp collection, your young niece or even your closest cousin might not be the proper audience for that. You might soon find people from your “tribe” with the revival of a Facebook featured called Rooms. It lets you enter a group chat with people who share a specific interest, and they don’t necessarily have to be your friend or acquaintance on Facebook. It was a standalone app back in 2014 but Facebook had to pull the plug when social-networking app Room claimed the social media giant stole the idea.

Facebook resurrects the idea for Canadian and Australian users but now has it within Facebook Messenger. It’ll allow you to create public rooms to chat about anything you fancy. You can opt to start a private room as well.

Source: PCMag