Users can also browse event recommendations based on time, location, and interests, then explore options on an interactive map. Facebook explained the feature in an announcement post: “Think of spatial audio as 3D sound for 360 videos. Formerly called Facebook at Work, Workplace includes many of Facebook’s core features, such as News Feed, groups, Reactions, and chat. Workplace is now open to “any company or organization that wants to use it.” It is priced based on active users. They’re currently available to businesses in the U.S. Facebook plans to add more third-party services in the coming months. Image via Instagram. The app includes core features such as Stories, Direct and Explore. Image via Instagram. Image via LinkedIn. Hootsuite users can now manage, optimize, and measure social ad campaigns across multiple networks, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Candy and pumpkins and costumes—oh my!
October’s known for being spooky, but this month the most
‘frightening’ social update was Facebook’s addition of
Halloween-themed Reactions and Live masks (though the social
network also announced a myriad of other updates).
Meanwhile, Twitter shuttered Vine and pumped up Periscope,
Instagram celebrated six years, Pinterest delved further into ads,
and LinkedIn added new tools for job seekers.
Lots happened on social in October. That’s why we’ve done the
hard work of rounding up all the updates—big and small—from all the
major networks so you don’t miss a thing.
Table of contents
Link Periscope to Twitter profile
On October 4, Twitter added the ability for users to link
Periscope to their Twitter web profile, so that a link displays
below a user’s bio.
You can now link Periscope to your Twitter web profile, making
it easier for followers to discover and watch your live videos!
pic.twitter.com/WlIt9PkPuT— Periscope (@periscopeco) October
4, 2016
Periscope Producer
On October 13, Twitter-owned
Periscope introduced Periscope Producer, a way for broadcasters
to live-stream high-quality video from devices other than a phone
or tablet. Using Producer, brands, media organizations, and other
video creators can stream from external sources, such as streaming
software, hardware encoders, and professional cameras. Below, a
broadcast from high-end fashion brand Louis Vuitton streamed using
Producer.
The #LouisVuitton
#LVSS17
Show by @TWNGhesquiere is live from
Place Vendôme in Paris with #Periscope
#PFW
https://t.co/LRnukM3aPj— Louis Vuitton (@LouisVuitton) October
5, 2016
Twitter shutters Vine
On October 27,
Twitter announced that it would be shutting down Vine in the
coming months. The announcement post explained: “We’ll be keeping
the [Vine] website online because we think it’s important to still
be able to watch all the incredible Vines that have been made.”
Vine, which was known for short, six-second looping video clips,
debuted in June 2012 and was purchased by Twitter later that same
year, in October. Users can still access and download their
Vines.
We have some important news to share about Vine. Read more here:
https://t.co/jPveGelXgS
Messenger Lite
On October 2,
Facebook introduced Messenger Lite, a slimmed down, standalone
version of Messenger for Android. Messenger Lite offers the core
features of the main app for markets with slower than average
internet speeds and a prevalence of basic Android smartphones.
Facebook explained in their
announcement post: “With Messenger Lite, more people can stay
in contact, regardless of network conditions or storage limitations
on their Android devices. Messenger Lite was built to give people a
great Messenger experience, no matter what technology they use or
have access to.” Facebook initially rolled out Messenger Lite to
people in Kenya, Tunisia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela, but
plans to make it available in other countries in the coming
months.
Marketplace
On October 3,
Facebook launched Marketplace, a place for users to buy and
sell among their local community. Marketplace—which can be accessed
from the shop icon on the bottom of the Facebook app—opens to
photos of items that people near the user have listed for sale.
Users can filter results by location, category, or price as well as
browse items in a variety of categories. Interested buyers can
contact sellers via direct message.
Marketplace is available to users over 18 years old in the U.S.,
U.K., Australia, and New Zealand, though Facebook plans to expand
it to additional companies.
Events from Facebook app
On October 7,
Facebook introduced the Events from Facebook App, which
provides information about events that are nearby, that a user or
their Facebook friends are interested in, and recently-announced
events based on the Pages a user likes.
Users can also browse event recommendations based on time,
location, and interests, then explore options on an interactive
map. Events from Facebook also includes a calendar feature, which
can sync with other calendars on the user’s phone, so they can see
when they’re free. Events was released on the App Store for iPhone
users in the U.S. Facebook plans to release an Android version
soon.
Spatial audio for 360 videos
On October 7,
Facebook announced spatial audio for 360 videos. Facebook
explained the feature in an announcement post: “Think of spatial
audio as 3D sound for 360 videos. It’s an immersive sphere of audio
meant to replicate how humans hear sound in real life, but
delivered over headphones. As audiences move around in a 360 video,
the sound moves around with them, helping to place them in the
context of the scene.”
Spatial audio will be available for 360 videos that appear in
News Feed on iOS, Android, Chrome on desktop (coming soon), and
Samsung Gear VR, powered by Oculus. For creators, spatial audio can
be recorded using an ambisonic microphone (which records
directional audio), or existing monoscopic and stereoscopic audio
tracks can be edited using Facebook’s free 360 Spatial
Workstation tools in post-production.
Workplace by Facebook
On October 10,
Facebook introduced Workplace, a new version of the network for
enterprise organizations. Formerly called Facebook at Work,
Workplace includes many of
Facebook’s core features, such as News Feed, groups, Reactions, and
chat. It also includes several Workplace-only features intended for
companies, such as a dashboard with analytics and integrations with
single sign-on.
Along with the public launch of the offering, Facebook also
announced new Multi-Company Groups for cross-organization
collaboration. Workplace is now open to “any company or
organization that wants to use it.” It is priced based on active
users.
Watch Facebook videos on TV
On October 13, Facebook rolled out the ability to
stream videos from Facebook to a TV using devices like Apple TV
or Google Chromecast. Users can already stream Facebook videos to
Apple TV (and other AirPlay-enabled devices) or Chromecast (and
other Google Cast-enabled devices) from an iOS device or a web
browser. Soon users will also be able to cast from Android devices
to Chromecast.
Messenger conversation topics
On October 17,
TechCrunch reported that Facebook had begun testing a
‘Conversation Topics’ feature, which offers suggestions about what
to…
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