Periscope, the live video streaming app developed by Twitter, has finally been made available on the Android mobile operating system. The social media giant debuted its Periscope mobile app on the iOS platform early this year, and now it is doing the same to the Android platform. It has been a rather significant wait, but through the efforts of Sara Haider (formerly of Twitter for Android, who now heads the company's Android app development projects), the app can now be used by Android users everywhere.
The Periscope app for Android basically possesses the same features of the iOS version. But considering the Android and iOS environments are not entirely identical, there are bound to be some platform specific functionalities. For instance, the Android version of the Periscope app has a “return to broadcast feature” that allows users to revert back into a video stream whenever they go to another app or program on their mobile device.
Indeed, it is high time Twitter made its Periscope app available on the Android platform. Meerkat, its rival in the world of live video streaming mobile apps, had already launched a private beta version earlier this year, then followed that up with the debut of its open beta version in the early part of this month. Based on its recent actions, Meerkat seemed to be introducing its live video streaming mobile app in stages. As for the Periscope app, it appears that it is being launched by Twitter already fully formed, more or less. Plus, the social media giant is even adding some special perks for Android users only.
The Periscope app for Android will need at least version KitKat 4.4 (or newer) of the Android OS. And because the app is launched in the era of Android 5.0 Lollipop, its user interface will integrate some of the look and feel of Google's Material Design aesthetics and functionality.
Since the Periscope app first launched on iOS almost three months ago, it has had some success in attracting users. As a matter of fact, Twitter claims that over a million users had already used the mobile app in its first 10 days. And just this month, the app grabbed some media attention when many netizens used it to stream the Mayweather-Pacquiao boxing match live and for free on the interwebs (the match costs $100 to watch via pay per view). Legal or not, this is evidence that Periscope, and other live video streaming apps for that matter, do have potential to be the next big thing.
