You may have already heard of Periscope and Meerkat, but just what is the difference between the two live video streaming apps?
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Back up. What’s Periscope and Meerkat?
Simply put, Periscope and Meerkat are two apps that more or less do the same thing. They allow users to stream live video broadcasts from their smartphone. The link to these streams is shared though social media so others can view.
Is Periscope better than Meerkat?
The two apps rose to prominence as they were pitted against each other as rivals earlier this year. Both used Twitter to allow users to log in. Twitter then bought Periscope and kicked Meerkat out. While both offer a similar experience and it’s great to root for the underdog, Periscope offers the much cleaner and polished user experience. Periscope also links flawlessly into Twitter, so it’s the clear winner from the two.
So why would I want to stream video through Periscope?
The exciting thing about Periscope is the unrivaled images you can receive from anywhere in the world. Sometimes it’ll be funny individuals or randomers trying out the app for the first time, but the app offers unique insight into current events. For example, during the recent race riots in Baltimore, users could view live feeds from the local population rather than the snippets the media provide. This allows the public to absorb a much wider picture of what’s actually happening on the ground.
How do I start Periscoping?
In order to start broadcasting video, simply download the Periscope app to either your Android or Apple device, sign in with your Twitter account. Then just title your broadcast and start (remember to share the link when it’s up and running. You can view streams by finding links on Twitter through either your phone app or laptop.