Advantages, Disadvantages and Features, of Live Streaming Apps

by Alice Fowell Live Webcast Services

Live streaming refers to content broadcasted live over the web requiring some source of media e.g. a video camera, audio interface, screen capture software etc. and viewers play the content via IOS, android Roku, and Apple Tv. Statistics conducted on Live Stream Australia state that uses for apps for live streaming is a trend taking over the world.

What are the live streaming apps and how are they helpful:

Mobile phones have become a necessity in society and are literally everywhere. It has become easy to take advantage of this phenomenon through live video streaming with the help of some extremely powerful apps. People are now eager to watch what they want and when they want it. Apps like Meerkat and Periscope are a boon to live video stream lovers.

Meerkat:

In one sentence, Meerkat allows you to live stream video from your phone to all your Twitter followers at once. Meerkat first came into existence in 2015. It is available for both IOS and Android users.

Advantages:

Live streaming videos created through this app are live-only, which means the app does not save the content. However, the video can be saved to the device using the app. All your Twitter followers receive a tweet once your videos start streaming. While watching viewers can comment, like or retweet the stream to their followers. The best part and benefit of the Meerkat app is that you can program your streams in advance and tweet the schedule to your followers.

Disadvantages:

A major drawback of the app is that your every activity in Meerkat becomes a tweet for your followers which could be quite annoying for them because it jams their timeline. Secondly, the Meerkat app is unable to save videos i.e. your followers cannot view the video once it ends.

Periscope:

Periscope is the current hot favourite app among mobile users. This app is non-segregated with the social platform. As opposed to the working of Meerkat, your every action does not have a reaction at the twitter feed. But as soon as you start streaming, it notifies your followers with a link to your stream.

Advantages:

The best advantage of the app is that it gives an insight into the list of viewers that viewed your stream. It means you can get performance ratings on retention, the number of views and the average viewing time after the end of your live video streaming services. Secondly as opposed to Meerkat, Periscope saves your live stream for viewing till 24 hours after it ends. This feature is extremely valuable to engage audiences who have missed out on an event but are eager enough to view it later. Following is easier on Periscope and live streamers also have the choice of streaming or not streaming their videos.

Disadvantages:

This live streaming app allows us to interact with our viewers through a text-box. But the bad part is that the text box partially blocks the video being streamed. The big decision as to which app is better and when completely depends on the business and the marketing strategies lay down by the experts and the technical department of the said business. These apps are also very useful for video conferencing Melbourne because they offer real time connections between places and people.