Facebook releases a 360-degree video viewer
Facebook released a tool Wednesday that will allow users to get the most out of videos that are recorded in 360 degrees.
Publishers on the social network have started uploading specially made, enriched videos. Among the first to do so were GoPro, NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” Vice and Star Wars. Members using Facebook on desktop and Android will see the 360degree videos within days, and the feature will be available on apps for Apple devices in the months ahead, the company said. Users can upload their own 360degree videos, and for viewing, they can change the angle of videos by moving the cursor, sliding their finger across a cell phone or rotating the device.
“In the future, imagine watching 360 (degree) videos of a friend’s vacation to a small village in France or a festival in Brazil — you’ll be able to look around and experience it as if you were there,” wrote Maher Saba, engineering director of video at Facebook on the company’s website. That is, provided the friend has proper video equipment to create a 360-degree movie.
Analysts say the move suggests that Facebook may one day incorporate virtual reality business Oculus VR into the social network. Facebook purchased Oculus for $2.3 billion last year.
Oculus said it will sell its virtual reality headset, the Oculus Rift, next year. By offering 360-degree videos now on Facebook, it allows the social network to test what works or doesn’t on this immersive type of video, said Rob Enderle, with advisory services firm Enderle Group.
“Often the problem with virtual reality... is you don’t have the content when the hardware arrives,” Enderle said. “Facebook is moving to get content when the hardware arrives.”
Filming 360-degree videos hasn’t been widespread among consumers, because few cameras capture it, analysts said. One camera that has 360-degree video capability, the Ricoh Theta S, sells for about $350.
“More than likely, people will want to see professionally produced content at least in the beginning,” said Brian Blau, a research director with Gartner.
Facebook has been expanding its video efforts, with more than 4 billion video views each day. The company has showed new short films based on characters from the popular vampire series “Twilight,” and some YouTube stars are using the social network to successfully promote their videos.
“It’s early days, but we’re excited about the possibilities for 360 video and hope it helps people explore the world in new, immersive ways,” Saba said.