Facebook announced it is enabling the ability to post and view 360 degree photos to its Newsfeed. Facebook announced last September that they would enable 360 degree videos and just debuted their first live-action video called Here and Now featuring New York’s Grand Central Station last week.
The videos and photos will be viewable on desktop and the mobile app. Users will be able to change their view by dragging their cursor (or finger on mobile) around the screen or holding the phone at different angles. Both photos and videos can also be viewed by Samsung’s Gear Virtual Reality headsets.
For now, the 360 degree photo feature will support images shot from 360-degree camera and panoramic shots captured on smartphones. Currently, 360 degree videos are only open to select publishers and filmmakers but Facebook has plans to open the feature to all users in the future. Most individuals do not have the tools and equipment to film 360 degree videos so for now these will mostly be videos from larger companies.
Much like YouTube’s announcement earlier this year with their own 360 degree video, the trend points to more and more possibilities for virtual reality.
For small businesses and brand on Facebook, these tools will allow them to give an even more detailed look at their locations or behind the scenes content. You can now post your 360 degree tours of your location on your Facebook page, inviting your customers to get to know you and what you have to offer in an in-depth way. For example, realtors will have more tools for showing homes for sale. Museums and amusement parks can take prospective customers on tours before they even leave their house. You can see full views of products, get a look at services and much, much more with these 360 capabilities.
