Facebook is rolling out Slideshow to all iOS users worldwide, following in the footsteps of its rivals. Apple announced its version called Memories this month coming toiOS 10 Photos, and Google Photos already has its Movies Assistant.
Builds on Facebook’s “Year in Review” feature
Static photos are boring, and most people cannot shoot compelling videos. Therefore, tech firms are all pushing their own versions of automatic movie makers. Now Facebook will suggest that users create a slideshow if they have taken more than five photos or videos in the last 24 hours or if they have posted a status. While viewing a friend’s Slideshow, the social media giant may give you the option to “Try It” as well.
Slideshow was originally launched in August 2015 as part of Facebook’s photo-sharing companion app Moments. Each Slideshow is automatically composed for the user by combining videos and photos with themed music and transitions. A user can also edit it to add or remove images and change the theme to one of ten, including Playful, Epic, Nostalgic, Thankful, Night Out, Tropical, Birthday, Amped and Bollywood.
Slideshow builds on Facebook’s “Year in Review” feature, which creates short films of what the user shared last year. By taking the Slideshow feature from Moments and placing it prominently in the main app, the social networking site is taking another step in its campaign to turn the platform into a video-first destination.
Slideshow to help Facebook compete with Snapchat’s Stories
Facebook says people love to snap photos and share what they have been up to on the weekend, whether it is a road trip with friends, a family gathering or even an epic brunch. This fun new feature will allow you to stitch together those special photos into a format that captures the spirit of the event, the company says.
Users have long been able to select one of their best videos/photos from an adventure to post on the platform. Now Slideshow’s movement, music and transitions jazz up the less eye-catching images and turn them into something better. Slideshows are created from stored media and could help the social media giant compete with Snapchat’s Stories, which show photos the user posted in the last 24 hours in a chronological narrative.
Over the past few years, Facebook has seen a drop in personal content sharing as links to new articles started to dominate News Feeds. The company wants irreplaceable, unique sharing to live on its platform, and Slideshow will make it simpler.
