Live video streaming is an emerging trend on social media – and, reflecting this, Twitter has given its iOS app a new ‘LIVE’ button enabling users to more quickly launch live Periscope broadcasts on the network.
This new button appears in the media picker when the text field for typing a new tweet is brought up. Nonetheless, the button’s functionality could actually disappoint some tweeters; tapping it doesn’t let you use Periscope right within the Twitter app, but instead launches the separate Periscope app – or offers a download if it isn’t already on your device – to let you activate the feed from there.
Ready to go live? Now everyone can tap a new button on iOS & Android to easily broadcast on #Periscope from Twitter! pic.twitter.com/tedpUN1QMA
— Twitter (@Twitter) June 15, 2016
This initially clumsy-looking arrangement has led Engadget to speculate that the LIVE button is really more about promoting Periscope to newcomers than helping veterans to use it in a more streamlined and convenient manner. Nonetheless, many keen live broadcasters could still find tapping this button more convenient than manually switching to the Periscope app.
The Twitter and Periscope apps are both free to download for iOS. An iPad-optimized version of the latter, however, is absent – presumably due to the rarity with which iPads are used for video shooting.