Back when Essential released the Essential 360 Camera earlier this year, it wasn’t possible to use the accessory to stream 360-degree video to popular live streaming platforms like Facebook Live and Periscope.
However, in a new update for the optional accessory, released this week, it’s now possible to use the Essential 360 Camera in conjunction with Facebook Live, with support for Periscope coming soon.
To use the functionality, Essential Phone owners simply need to launch the Essential Camera app, attach the Essential 360 Camera to their smartphone, tap the red ‘Live’ camera icon and log into their Facebook account. The app includes support for both 2K and 4K video streaming, as well as spatial audio, which allows viewers to pan their view of the unfolding action to hear more or less of a certain sound.
Additionally, in a blog post published earlier this month, Essential details how users can upload content they capture with the Essential 360 Camera to services like Instagram, Vimeo and YouTube.
The Essential 360 Camera is available through Telus for $200 CAD. The Essential Phone, meanwhile, is currently available exclusively through the carrier. Telus recently reduced the on-contract price of the Essential Phone to $0 on a two-year $85 per month plan.
MobileSyrup reviewed the Essential 360 Camera when it first came to Canada, and found the camera’s accompanying software to be on the buggy side. It appears, however, that Essential has been hard at work polishing the code that powers its smartphone and 360-degree camera.
MobileSyrup may earn a commission from purchases made via our links, which helps fund the journalism we provide free on our website. These links do not influence our editorial content. Support us here.
