Photo-sharing service Instagram announced on Monday new features in its mobile apps for Apple and Android products:
- A live video functionality in Stories
- Ability to send and receive auto-disappearing photos and videos for groups and friends in Direct.
The two new features basically combine the best of Snapchat and Periscope without copying Facebook Live.
The Live video helps you connect with followers right now. When
you’re done broadcasting, the live story automatically disappears from
Instagram.
To begin broadcasting live on Instagram, one would swipe right from
the feed to launch camera or tap the dedicated Camera button at the
bottom, then tap ‘Start Live Video’.
Followers would then receive a notification when one is live. The
number of viewers appears in the top right of the screen while comments
can be see at the bottom.
Also while live, one could tap and hold a comment to pin it to the
top for everyone to see or turn comments off altogether by tapping the
three dots, then select ‘Turn Off Commenting’.
It was also said that if one’s Instagram account was recently created, that person may be unable to share a live video.
To learn more about the new feature, you can visit the Instagram blog post.
