Periscope up!
My friend Joe Smith recently told me about a new communications app for cell phones called Periscope. Using the Periscope app, people broadcast videos that other people can watch live and that then stay available for viewing for just 24 hours. (Can you spell ephemeral?) I’ve gone ahead and joined, which is free, and while I was out doing my usual thing this morning I also created a few brief test videos about the native plants I was seeing. These are very much on-the-fly productions without the controlled quality of the still images that appear on this blog, but if you’re curious you’re welcome to have a look. Videos have a couple of advantages over still images: [1] things move (plants in the breeze, for example, and me) [2] there’s sound, so you get to hear my mellifluous narration (along with the noise of passing cars, etc.).
You can download the free Periscope app for iPhone at
https://itunes.apple.com/app/id972909677
and the free app for Android at
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.periscope.android
Once you have the app running on your phone, you can search for people by touching the icon at the bottom right of the screen, the one made up of three stylized people’s heads. I’m listed as Steve Schwartzman; you can also search for Portraits and the app will find my name. Once you find a person whose videos you want to see, you can press the circular icon with the plus sign to the right of the person’s name. From then on you’ll be notified of any new videos the person posts. And of course you may want to start posting videos of your own.
I am not adding any more apps to the phone but I am sorely tempted just to hear those professorial descriptions amongst the wildflowers. Maybe you could upload a video or three to YouTube.
Steve Gingold
August 18, 2015 at 6:26 PM
My first videos were pretty rough, but if I get some decent ones I might consider posting them. I think we can even embed videos in our WordPress posts but I’ve never tried to.
Steve Schwartzman
August 18, 2015 at 8:52 PM
Good to know you’re on Periscope too! I am a follower now. My user name is @mlgphotography if you care to follow me back!
Michael Glover
August 18, 2015 at 8:35 PM
I see you’ve got over 40 followers. Nice going.
Steve Schwartzman
August 18, 2015 at 9:33 PM
Thanks Steve!
Michael Glover
August 18, 2015 at 10:38 PM
Great idea, I added Periscope and found it really interesting. I signed up for a class this Friday to see how I can use this effectively.
Charlie@Seattle Trekker
August 19, 2015 at 1:32 AM
If you find out anything especially interesting, please let me know.
Steve Schwartzman
August 19, 2015 at 1:03 PM
Hmm, I doubt my sad little phone would cope. I would like to see them on one of your posts though.
Gallivanta
August 19, 2015 at 5:51 AM
I’ve been thinking about it, but I don’t know anything about editing videos: another world to learn.
Steve Schwartzman
August 19, 2015 at 1:04 PM
I don’t know much about this, but I do know that Twitter bought Periscope, and that it’s possible to post/link Periscope videos there. If WP doesn’t yet have a shortcode for posting Periscope videos Twitter might be a good way to make them available for those who don’t have smart phones.
shoreacres
August 19, 2015 at 8:36 AM
I’m one of those recalcitrant people who still hasn’t dealt with Twitter. Oh, the ways of the world…
Steve Schwartzman
August 19, 2015 at 1:06 PM