Facebook app now lets users take 360 degree photos

Facebook has added 360-degree photo capabilities to its iOS and Android apps.

Starting today, users can capture VR photos on their mobile devices via the Facebook mobile app and even use them as their profile cover photos.

This is the first update Facebook has ever officially made to cover photos since it was introduced in 2011.

Starting today, users can capture VR photos on their mobile devices via Facebook and even use them as their profile cover photos. This is the first update Facebook has ever officially made to cover photos since it was introduced in 2011

‘Place yourself at the center of the experience and use “360 Photo” through the Facebook app to take a full 360 degree panorama,’the firm said.

To capture a 360 photo, mobile Facebook users simply open the app and select the ‘360 Photo’ option inthe drop-down menu within the ‘What’s on your mind?’ status box.

Then press the blue button and follow the path to take a full panorama.

‘Place yourself at the center of the experience and use “360 Photo” through the Facebook app to take a full 360 degree panorama,’ reads an announcement on Facebook’s 360 site

Lastly, select the view you want to be viable at first glance on the newsfeed.

From there you can share the photo to your timeline or make it your cover photo – every image will be saved to your camera roll as well. 

The photos also support tagging capabilities, so you can tag friends and have the photos appear on their profiles as well. 

HOW TO USE FACEBOOK’S MOBILE 360 PHOTO FEATURE

Capture a 360 photo by selecting the option in the drop-down menu within the ‘What’s on your mind?’ status box

To capture a 360 photo, mobile Facebook users simply open the app and select the ‘360 Photo’ option in the drop-down menu within the ‘What’s on your mind?’ status box.

Then press the blue button and follow the path to take a full panorama.

Lastly, select the view you want to be viable at first glance on the newsfeed.

From there you can share the photo to your timeline or make it your cover photo – every image will be saved to your camera roll as well.

Other users will be able to scan through all 360 degrees of the image and zoom in when it appears on their feeds. 

No special camera is necessary -Facebook is using machine learning and computer vision to automatically stitch to the photo together after you take it panorama-style while following the guide on the screen. 

The photos also support tagging capabilities, so you can tag friends and have the photos appear on their profiles as well 

Other users will be able to scan through all 360 degrees of the image and zoom in when it appears on their feeds. 

Thanks to artificial intelligence, a 360 camera isn’t necessary to use the new feature.

Facebook is using machine learning and computer vision to automatically stitch to the photo together after you take it panorama-style while following the guide on the screen.  

While this is the simplest way to upload a 360 photo, Facebook also supports the use of 360 cameras (such as the Nokia Ozo and Samsung Gear 360) and select panorama apps (like Street View and Google Camera).

360 VIDEO FOR NEWSFEED 

The company introduced the new video format for attendees at the 2015 F8 conference by showing off a 24-camera-view of the Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, California.

On a desktop computer, it is controlled by a mouse.

‘You’re going to be able to put on your Oculus headset,’ Zuckerberg said, ‘and view spherical videos there too.’ 

Facebook first introduced 360 virtual reality in 2015.

At that year’s F8 developers’ conference in San Francisco, Mark Zuckerberg introduced the capability for VR videos in the newsfeed under the name Teleportation Station – a name that was leaked via an app notification this morning.  

The social network announced that users will be able to view videos filmed with multiple cameras, and move the viewpoint in order to explore a location.

The videos are shot with twenty-four cameras working in parallel. 

‘You can move around inside the video,’ Mark Zuckerberg said, ‘and view it from different angles.’ 

On a desktop computer, it is controlled by a mouse.

However, the company described its spherical videos as a ‘first step’ toward even more immersive videos that we’ll view through virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Rift, which straps over your eyes and provide the illusion of stepping inside a digital environment. 

‘You’re going to be able to put on your Oculus headset,’ Zuckerberg said, ‘and view spherical videos there too.’   

Facebook first introduced 360 virtual reality in 2015.  The social network announced that users will be able to view videos filmed with multiple cameras, and move the viewpoint in order to explore a location

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk