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Facebook Live adds a bunch of features for famous people
Mentions is the behind-the-scenes tool that public figures use to keep track of their brands on Facebook, and today it's getting three new features aimed at improving the Live video experience. New tools rolling out over the next few weeks include the ability to blacklist certain words or phrases from the comments, fresh customization options for live videos and the option to trim videos after the broadcast has ended.
Facebook Live gets spooky face filters for Halloween
Should Facebook dress as Snapchat for Halloween? The company has unveiled new Facebook Live masks for the spooky soiree with an eerie resemblance to those from its social media rival. To don them, you just start streaming, tap the upper left magic wand and select the masks icon from the creative tools tray below. You can choose a skull, evil queen, "limited edition" pumpkin or witch masks. Facebook also unveiled Halloween Reactions, including a "grimacing jack o'lantern" to express anger, and a cackling witch "smile."
Facebook does live video streaming, if you're a celebrity
After months of sitting on the sidelines while Meerkat and Periscope dominate the livestreaming space, Facebook is rolling out its own offering... well, sort of. It's launching Facebook Live, a service that lets "public figures" (that is, celebrities with verified public pages) stream real-time video of their adventures through Facebook Mentions. You can comment on and share these feeds if you're a mere commoner, but you can't record them yourself. Some of the first broadcasts will come from the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Michael Bublé and Serena Williams, if you're wondering about the intended users.
William Shatner reviews Facebook's new VIP-only Mentions app
Whether you're a fan of Captain Kirk or Picard (we're Team Picard here), you have to admit it's apt that William Shatner is reviewing the celebrity-exclusive Facebook app -- he definitely loves some VIP prestige. The Priceline huckster gives a surprisingly in-depth feature-by-feature comparison between The Social Network's Mentions app and Pages, which everyone has access to, but not before throwing some shade toward the starship Enterprise's yellow-shirted helmsman and all-around social-media-guy George Takei. Apparently, when you first sign into Mentions you can't proceed any further until you follow one of Facebook's suggested celebrity accounts. "The first person on the list I was given was George Takei (rolling my eyes.) I ended up choosing Robert Downey Jr. to follow and then I hid his posts (sorry Robert!)."
Facebook's got a new app and you (probably) can't have it
Though Facebook's origins were in exclusivity, serving only college students for some time, the service has since expanded out to billions of people around the world. Today, Facebook's launching a new approach to exclusivity, and it sounds sadly familiar to reality: "Facebook Mentions" is a new iOS app that only "public figures" can use. What's a "public figure?" The usual suspects: especially high-profile celebrities, journalists, government officials, and popular brands/businesses. So, the rich and/or famous? Got it.
