Tumblr Offers Live Video Blogging; Twitter and Vine Go Long
Live streaming video is having an impressive year, led by the rise of Facebook Live, so it's only natural that other social networking platforms would want to join in. Blogging platform Tumblr debuts live video today. Members can stream live using YouTube, YouNow, Kanvas, and Upclose. YouTube streaming only works for Android devices at the moment, but will include iOS support in a few days. The other platforms all support both iOS and Android. Member will need to modify the sharing settings in their chosen video app to allow Tumblr streaming.
Live Tumblr videos can be reblogged like any other post. They get pinned to the top of the screen while the stream is live. Afterwards, the video sticks around as an on-demand file and the blog entry looks like any other video post. There's no time limit on live videos.
Tumblr will mark the live debut with some odd content of its own. At 4PM ET today, for example, it says it will "broadcast live from the surface of Mars." At 4:45, "A Harlem Globetrotter will teach you how to basketball."
Twitter is also offering video changes. Twitter videos can now be up to 140 seconds long (up from 30 seconds), so members have 140 characters or 140 seconds of video to get their point across. Select publishers have the option of posting 10 minute videos. Twitter-owned Vine has always offered brief 6-second videos, but it appears that's no longer enough. Some content creators will be able to link to longer versions of their work via a Watch More button in the lower right corner. The button calls up full-screen videos, rather than Vine's usual square videos.
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