By Kelson Ong, Candice Novia, Andy Lim, Erasmus William
YouTube makes live streaming from desktops (significantly) easier and simpler.
Gone is the lengthy process of having to download and configure an encoding software in order to broadcast a live stream on YouTube. Now, all streamers simply have to do is click the “Go Live” button in the YouTube header to start the stream, or through a direct link. Later this year, YouTube is also looking to roll this function out on mobile by adding a live stream feature directly in camera applications on select devices.
With live streaming becoming more popular with brands and creators, by adding simpler live streaming capabilities, YouTube is looking to better compete against industry leaders such as Facebook Live and Periscope.
YouTube is testing Multitasking features on Desktop
YouTubeis testing floating video and miniplayer bar on Desktop. This is similar to what’s already been rolled out in YouTube’s mobile app that allow users to continue watching video as they scroll and navigate through YouTube. The only difference between floating video versus the miniplayer bar is where the current video is being positioned. Miniplayer bar sits on top while floating video stays in the bottom right corner of the page.
Facebook has already rolled out similar feature on both their mobile and desktop site. YouTube might be testing these two features to test what might be the most suitable update for its desktop version.
Instagram Profile Bio Now Includes #Hashtags and @User Instagram has just rolled out a new feature that allows users and brands to add #Hashtags and tag other @User accounts on the profile bio which will be displayed as actual clickable links. Rather than just having simple texts and URLs, users can now list their favourite hashtags and tag their best friends.
Brands can also utilise this function to keep their followers up-to-date on their own hashtags or even tag partnering brands during collaborative campaigns.
Google’s new app lets you draw lines in augmented reality
The new app from the Google team – “Just a Line” is part of the company’s Tilt Brush virtual reality (VR) painting app and strips away every custom tool and setting, leaving you with the ability to “paint” the world with digital white lines suspended in 3D space and anchored to reality.
The big difference is that a lot more people have AR Core-compatible phones than VR headsets, so this is going to be a cool first experience with “3D painting” for many consumers.
Users can simply hold up their phones and use their fingers to draw lines; the interface relies on a ton of physical movement, using the phone itself as the main controller. Users can also record videos of their creations and download them after, to watch their masterpiece come to live.
