Now the social media giant has published the feature on iOS, and for those unfamiliar with the technology, it may come as a surprise that it requires no additional hardware – other than an iPhone or iPad.
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Facebook is doubling down on 360-degree videos. Samsung smartphone users with Samsung Gear VR will be able to take part in a more visceral virtual reality experience.
Facebook’s new video creation tool is now compatible with a VR-like ad format that appears as sponsored posts in News Feeds, according to Ad Week. Usually, people would just click a YouTube video and leave.
Zuckerberg and Co. on Thursday announced that 360-degree videos, which let you scope out a scene from any angle, can now be viewed on iOS devices, in addition to Android and the Web.
Facebook launched a microsite to provide video creators with resources and information, including uploading guidelines, frequently asked questions and best practices from Chris Milk and Aaron Koplin of VR studio Vrse. The social network said its videos will work on the Samsung Gear VR, which is slated to hit store shelves on November 20.
Page administrators uploading 360-degree videos can now edit initial camera positions and vertical fields of view.
Devices from the likes of Theta, Giroptic and IC Real Teach are adding “publish to Facebook” options from their native mobile apps.
The strategy is similar to what Facebook did in photos and later video.
It’s very evident that Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) believes virtual reality is big and it’s the future by making it easier for users to upload 360 content they have on their consumer cameras.
The company also started offering ad space dedicated for 360-degree videos.
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They will also be opening the said format to brands that want to experiment with their videos. That should theoretically allow for more engaging content, as users will be more compelled to interact with the ads. That means that companies like AT&T, Walt Disney, Samsung and Ritz will soon be placing 360-degree video ads directly into your News Feed.
