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Instagram is testing live video broadcasts in its Stories feature

According to Russian news outlet Tjournal.ru a few days ago, the popular photo-sharing service Instagram is testing live video functionality in its recently-launched Stories feature which permits users to create slideshows from their photos that automatically disappear after 24 hours.

Facebook added live video to its mobile app in August 2015. Facebook Messenger gained the ability to share live video with contacts while chatting in September 2016.

Periscope update brings camera and sharing improvements & more

Periscope, Twitter's live video-streaming app, has been refreshed in the App Store this morning with a few new features related to in-app camera, sharing and more. For starters, you'll notice improved tap-to-focus while broadcasting live video, plus you can now follow a broadcaster from the viewers list with one tap. There are also improvements to Persicope's VIP Program and more.

In time for NFL Thursday Night Football, Twitter launches live-streaming Apple TV app

Twitter's bird logo set against a transparent background

Twitter's new live-streaming Apple TV app arrives just in time for NFL Thursday Night Football. Available at no charge in the tvOS App Store, it lets owners of the fourth-generation Apple TV stream both top Twitter/Vine videos and the 10 NFL games that the micro-blogging services recently acquired the rights to broadcast, plus content from Bloomberg News, Campus Insiders, Cheddar, MLB Advanced Media, NBA, Pac 12 Networks and other premium sources.

Facebook Messenger picks up live-streaming feature, called Instant Video

Facebook today announced a new live-streaming feature on the mobile Messenger app, dubbed “Instant Video”. Similar to the live-streaming feature built into the mobile Facebook app, Instant Video allows you to start streaming live video with a friend on Messenger by tapping a new button found in chat windows. The video streams in a small window so that you can continue chatting while streaming.

Periscope introduces Replay Highlights, Live Autoplay and Tweet Embeds

Periscope, Twitter's live-broadcasting app, was updated in the App Store with a few new features, among them Replay Highlights, Live Autoplay and Tweet Embeds. Highlights automatically generates a short trailer for every Periscope broadcast of your home feed, making it easier to catch up on broadcasts you missed from the last day.

Periscope is a free download from the App Store.

iOS 10 beta 2 opens up live-streaming support for apps and games

Live streaming support for third-party apps is among the 30+ developer-focused features Apple did not discuss publicly during the WWDC 2016 keynote. Realized through ReplayKit Live, a new framework on iOS 10 that lets players share gameplay recordings or broadcast live games to other players and viewers online, the feature was originally absent from the first beta of iOS 10.

iOS 10 beta 2 turns on this functionality and, as a Reddit post noted today, live-streaming can already be found in Apple's Swift Playgrounds app for the iPad.

Apple to live stream this year’s WWDC keynote

It looks like Apple is going to once again be providing a live stream of its WWDC keynote address this year. On Tuesday the company updated its event website with a note that a stream of its keynote will go live on June 13 at 10:00 am (PST).

Users will be able to tune in on their Mac and iOS devices, via Apple's Safari web browser, and on Apple TV. Second and third generation ATVs will feature an Events channel, and fourth generation models with tvOS will get a standalone app.

Periscope for iPhone now lets you search videos and broadcast live from DJI drones

Periscope, a Twitter-owned app that lets anyone start a live video broadcast from their iPhone, today received a pretty substantial update on the App Store. Bumped to version 1.4, Periscope for iPhone now lets you search videos and broadcast live to the service from a compatible DJI drone.

In addition, the team shared a preview of their full beyond 24 hours approach that will be available in the coming weeks.

YouTube planning to launch a live TV subscription service in 2017

Google has accelerated efforts to beat Apple to market with a live TV service on YouTube, dubbed “Unplugged”, Bloomberg reported yesterday. Work on boosting YouTube's infrastructure is already underway as launching the service has taken on a high priority.

For a yet-to-be-determined monthly fee, YouTube users will be able to subscribe to so-called skinny bundles of television programming, streamed over the Internet.

These bundles should include some of the most popular offerings from major U.S. broadcast networks and cable services.

Periscope gains live-sketching feature, broadcasts come alive within Twitter for iOS

Wouldn't it be great if you could doodle over live video broadcasts on Periscope? With Periscope's latest iPhone app refresh, now you can! The latest version of the Twitter-owned app lets you draw with your finger on top of a live video feed in any color you want, like a boss.

Your drawings automatically disappear after a few moments, similar to the Apple Watch’s sketching feature, and remain visible on Periscope replays.

Facebook hopes a standalone camera app with Live Video might re-engage users

Facebook used to have a dedicated camera app on the App Store that didn't get much love from users so it was eventually pulled.

But now, the company is said to be working on a brand new, standalone mobile application designed to encourage its 1.6 billion users to create and share more photos and videos, including live video broadcasts, The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday.

Apple TV’s Siri can now tune you in to live broadcasts in supported apps

Apple has enhanced the tvOS operating system via a silent backend update that now permits users to ask Siri to tune in to live broadcasts in supported apps such as Disney XD, ESPN and CBS, the latter having gained integration with the Apple TV's universal search feature yesterday.

MacRumors has caught wind of this useful new feature addition on a splash screen that customers see after upgrading their 4th-generation Apple TV to the new tvOS software.