In recent days, Facebook is undergoing many changes. Now, it came with a new feature which supports 360-degree videos on web and android. A 360 video gives an immersive experience to users by allowing them to view a scene from any angle. The feature will roll out on iOS in the coming months.
These 360 degree videos are created using a special set of cameras that manage to capture all 360 degrees of a scene at the same time but Facebook plans to make it possible for independent video creators to upload the videos down the line.
The mobile user can swipe 360-degree video on Facebook or moving one’s phone allows the user to view the content from different angles. Whereas, the Web users can explore the scene by dragging the video with their mouse. Cox said in his post that “It’s an open-ended format, so we’re really excited to see what creators around the world come up with as they get their hands on it.”
Action camera maker GoPro Inc has posted a video on motocross riding in the Idaho desert while Vice Media has released a video of on-the-ground reporting in Afghanistan.
Basketball star LeBron James has also uploaded a 360 video, taking viewers behind the scenes during his workouts.
Walt Disney Co has uploaded a video of its upcoming “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” movie, which allows viewers to explore the fictional planet Jakku.
360-degree videos offer a more immersive experience than traditional videos. The move suggests that Facebook is serious about advancing video technology among its suite of apps, and echoes comment the social network’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg made in July that “immersive 3-D content is the obvious next thing after video”.
“Our goal at Facebook is to connect you with the people and things that matter every single day,” Facebook said in a blog post. “Over time, we’ve seen that people enjoy more immersive content in their News Feeds. This is one reason the video has been so successful on Facebook, and we’re excited to take it a step further with 360-degree video.” Anyone can upload 360 videos starting today, but Facebook is not currently allowing users to run ad campaigns with the videos.