Periscope is a mover and shaker. In only six months the live video streaming app has been rolling in features and updates one after another, which to an extend is fair as it tries to squash bugs and figure itself out. The one big update though started rolling out yesterday. Periscope announced that users can now sign up with their mobile phone numbers only.
Until now users could only sign up via their Twitter accounts. This meant people who had their accounts deactivated or have let their accounts lie dormant because Twitter has lost its early charm had to be on Twitter again. One is not forced to be active on Twitter though but that icon amongst your apps is enough to annoy one.
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The new method of signing up is good news, both for the user and Periscope. As much as is it appears that Periscope has been growing in numbers, it is still in its infancy and it does not need a deterrent like forcing users to sign up via their Twitter account. This move is also perhaps an indication from Twitter that the social networking service may have lost some of its cool. A sad admission but one that might help Periscope grow while Twitter executives find a way to fix Twitter or sell it. Periscope still recommends people to sign up to it via Twitter, promising that “we’ll help suggest people to follow based on your Twitter social graph”.
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In addition to this feature, Periscope introduced two other features and an update.
Users can now change their profile picture. Before this one had to change their Twitter account’s profile picture. The picture can be changed by a tap on the avatar in your profile, giving you the familiar options, camera roll or to take a new photo.
It has made replying to somebody else’s comment during a broadcast. Users can now tap the comment and hit the reply button and they will be automatically be presented with a response including that person’s @handle. Replies that mention you will appear with an arrow.
Periscope has also updated its blocking feature, making it more stringent and public.
“When a broadcaster blocks a participant during their broadcast, a message is posted to the chatroom indicating that the block occurred. We think this adds an important layer of transparency and accountability to the comments in a broadcast.” Periscope wrote in a blog.
Months from now, it will be interesting to see if Periscope uptake increases month on month.
