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Facebook is adding donate buttons to charity Live videos
After spending a week battling a fake news epidemic, getting to grips with privacy regulators in Europe and dealing with another admission of misreporting ad data, Facebook finally has some good news to share. In a bid to do more "social good," Mark Zuckerberg and his team have announced a new round of updates to community tools aimed at keeping users safe and allowing them to help others.
Facebook has plans for an always-on Safety Check hub
Over a billion people now use Facebook on a daily basis, and that's just on their phone. That dominance is bringing in huge profits, but the site's popularity makes it an incredibly useful tool during emergencies. This is thanks to the company's Safety Check feature, which was launched to help help account for people during natural disasters but has since been used to mark people safe following attacks in Paris, Nice, the nightclub shooting in Orlando and other local tragedies. After claims that Facebook was exerting too much influence over events deemed important enough to activate Safety Check, the social media giant has put some control in users' hands, but it wants to do more. Wired reports that the company is developing what it's calling a "crisis hub," a place that offers live information and media about natural disasters and other events where people can say that they're safe.
Prisma can turn Facebook Live broadcasts into artistic affairs
Prisma's latest update gives you the power to air artistic videos on Facebook Live. When you switch from Photos to Videos, you'll now see a "Live Stream" button that broadcasts whatever it is you're capturing on cam. You'll be able to apply any of the eight available art filters onto your broadcasts, which means you can transform any ordinary event into a moving painting on the fly. Unfortunately, this feature has a pretty limited reach: you'll only get Facebook Live integration if you have an iPhone 7 or a 6s. Prisma says it's because videos are processed locally on the device -- the update also improves overall video quality -- and requires the phones' power.
Facebook reportedly planning deeper dive into eSports
The exponential growth of eSports is undeniable, especially as it continues to be embraced by big-name entities such as ESPN, Amazon and many others. Not surprisingly, Facebook too has shown interest in professional gaming, namely by partnering with publishers like Activision Blizzard to bring daily content to Facebook Live. Now, according to The Information, the social network is ready to double down on eSports video programming, which could make it a direct competitor to Twitch and YouTube.
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."
Trump quashes rumor of Trump TV
Since the launch of his campaign there has been speculation that presidential candidate Donald Trump was using the 2016 race to expand his brand. That's culminated recently in speculation that he'll launch Trump TV if he loses his bid for the White House. But the candidate laid those media-empire rumors to rest during a radio interview.
Trump campaign launches streaming Facebook show
We've seen Donald Trump alternatively use social media to issue everything from an "apology" to an almost unfathomable number of insults, and now it's an avenue for video broadcasts. After a debate night livestream that some considered a pilot for a potential Trump TV video offering, the presidential candidate's Facebook page is now hosting a nightly video show. Hosted by Trump advisers and supportive commentators, the campaign tells Wired it will go live at 6:30PM ET every day. Similar to the apology, using Facebook allows direct access to potential voters without any questions or interference, although I'm already expecting to hear about how the stats are rigged when its viewer numbers fail to surpass those of Chewbacca Mom.
Did Trump pilot a TV service during the debate?
Just ahead of last night's debate, Donald Trump launched his own Facebook Live video stream featuring coverage and analysis before, during and after the event. The feed, which featured analysis and slick graphics, could be a preview of a Trump TV network rumored to be in the works. "If you're tired of biased, mainstream media reporting (otherwise known as Crooked Hillary's super PAC), tune into my Facebook Live broadcast," Trump said in a Facebook post
Facebook's verified users can now schedule live broadcasts
You no longer have to wait patiently for your favorite superstars to share a link for their Facebook Live streams. Facebook is introducing scheduling to Live, letting publishers queue up streams so that you can tune in the moment the event starts. That includes queuing up audiences, we'd add -- there's a pre-stream lobby that lets fans mingle before the show. On top of giving you a chance to watch sooner, this should also help video hosts avoid awkward introductions where they're simply waiting for viewers to trickle in.
Facebook Video now plays nice with Chromecast and Apple TV
If you've been dying to get Chewbacca Mom on your television, the latest update to Facebook's video product is directed at you. Starting today, you can now send Facebook videos to your nearby Apple TV or Google Chromecast from any web browser or iOS device.
Facebook Live will host a collaborative escape room game today
If you enjoy live action room experiences (think zombies, puzzles etc) or fancy yourself as a bit of an armchair detective, it might be worth tuning into a first-of-its-kind Facebook Live stream later today. To celebrate the launch of its new crime drama, UK TV channel Alibi will host Framed, the "world's first livestreamed escape room", at 3pm ET/8pm BST -- and it's open to all.
How to watch the second US presidential debate
The second US presidential debate promises to draw even more attention than the first. On top of giving Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump a chance to adjust their strategies, there's a switch to a town hall format based on public questions. And then there's both Trump's video apology and Clinton's leaked comments to banks -- how will the candidates deal with these curveballs? Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to follow the drama online. We've aggregated many of the internet viewing options so that you won't have to miss a moment when the debate kicks off at 9PM Eastern.
How to watch the US vice presidential debate
In this US election, the vice presidential debate matters more than ever -- both the Democrats' Tim Kaine and the Republicans' Mike Pence have had relatively little time in the limelight beyond their home states. You may want to watch just to see where they stand, not to mention how they handle themselves on the national stage. But how to do that online? Never fear: we've rounded up the major streaming options that you'll have when the VP debate starts at 9PM Eastern.
How to watch tonight's US presidential debate
So you're determined to watch the first of 2016's US presidential debates, but you don't subscribe to TV... or you live in a country that won't have a live broadcast. What to do? Relax. This year, there are more choices than ever for watching online, and not just in the US. We've rounded up the main internet viewing sources for Clinton versus Trump, including the kind of commentary you'll get. Whichever option you choose, you'll probably want to keep our guide to the candidates on hand when things kick off at 9PM Eastern -- the odds are that the grand speeches and spirited arguments won't answer all your technology policy questions.
Facebook brings Live broadcasts to the desktop
If you like Facebook's Live feature but feel more at home in front of a computer than a smartphone when you broadcast, it might not be too long before you can do so. The social giant has confirmed that it's bringing the feature to the browser, allowing Facebook.com users to select a "Live Video" button in the status update box and immediately begin streaming.
Periscope gets iMessage hearts, improved iPad support on iOS 10
Periscope's been tweaking its service to better take on main rival Facebook Live, and with the release of iOS 10 today, the Twitter-owned app gets a big upgrade. The new version of the livestreaming app will come with native iPad support, improved global and home feeds, as well as hearts stickers that you can use in the iPhone's messaging app.
The Engadget Podcast, Ep 4: All Eyez On Me
Editors Cherlynn Low and Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O'Brien to talk about Intel's latest CPUs, Dead or Alive's controversial VR feature and Lenovo's "innovative" take on the keyboard. Then the panel takes a look at Chris Brown's standoff and how Instagram videos and Facebook Live fit into our modern media landscape.
Chris Brown turns to Instagram amid police standoff
Singer Chris Brown's Instagram account got a lot more interesting today. With police outside of his Los Angeles home, who were following up on a report that Brown pulled a gun on an unnamed woman, the singer started posting Instagram videos criticizing the LAPD. Meanwhile, local news stations have been broadcasting footage of the standoff on Facebook Live for much of the day.
Broadcast your Blizzard games right now via Facebook Live
As originally announced in June, game developer Blizzard Entertainment and social media powerhouse Facebook have agreed to a deal that enables FB users to stream their Blizzard gameplay over Facebook Live. And, starting Friday (hey, that's today!), users will actually be able to.
Facebook Live now lets you hide comments, stream for longer
If you've been waiting for Facebook Live to offer bigger, longer broadcasts, this is your week. The social network just announced updates for its broadccasting platform that will allow longer, full screen videos with less distractions. Soon, the company says that all users will be able to broadcast for as long as four hours per session, more than doubling the length they could stream without sacrificing VOD archives.
