Twitter's Periscope Live Streaming App Makes Everyone a Reality Star
— -- Everyone is now a reality star -- if they want to be.
Twitter launched its Periscope live streaming app today gunning for the estimated hundreds of thousand users and others that upstart streaming app Meerkat has attracted during its first month in existence.
Broadcasts from around the world are featured on the home screen of the Periscope app showing off everything from friends dining at a fast food restaurant to a guy lounging in bed with his dog to a live view of the Eiffel Tower.
Users have the option of choosing to push a link to their Twitter followers, allowing them to tune in to the live stream.
While Meerkat was the darling of the South by Southwest Interactive Festival, the biggest complaint users have with the app has been that by the time they click a live streaming link in Twitter, it's already dead.
Periscope differentiates itself by offering broadcasters the chance to let viewers replay their stream when it is complete, while Meerkat is more bare bones, taking an ephemeral approach to live video.
Audience love is also a huge aspect of the Pericscope app, which allows viewers to tap the screen and send hearts to the broadcaster, letting them know they appreciate what they're doing.
On popular streams, such as those belonging to magician David Blaine and astronaut Chris Hadfield, who have been testing the app, the hearts float like a constant stream of bubbles across the screen.
Twitter revealed earlier this month it had acquired Periscope. Around the same time, Twitter stripped away Meerkat's access to Twitter's social graph.
The move means users will have to individually re-build their network of friends inside of the app as opposed to getting a populated list of people they follow on Twitter. Meerkat users can still push links from their live streams to Twitter.
While Periscope is aesthetically nicer to look at and offers more users engagement opportunities -- it's unlikely to be a Meerkat killer.
The company announced today it has received an investment for an undisclosed amount led by Greylock Partners -- providing more capital for Meerkat continue on its explosive growth path.
