Still images are boring, and we can’t always shoot compelling, share-worthy videos. Facebook and other tech giants know it pretty well. The social networking giant is currently testing the ‘Slideshow’ movie maker feature for Android. The feature allows users to post a slideshow of several photos and videos with music on the Android beta app.
Facebook added Slideshow to its iOS app in June
The Menlo Park-based company had introduced Slideshow feature with its Moments app in August 2015 for privately sharing images and videos with friends and family. The feature debuted on iOS in June this year. The iOS app would automatically create a slideshow if the user had taken at least five photos or videos in the last 24 hours. Users could customize the pre-made slideshow by adding or removing content, and choosing themes on top.
However, the Slideshow in Facebook’s iOS app didn’t have any option for users to discover and create their own slideshows. Users could discover the feature and “Try It” when they found a slideshow already posted by their friends in the News Feed. The only other way was when they came across a pre-made slideshow consisting of photos and videos they took in the last 24 hours.
The Slideshow movie maker feature that Facebook is testing on its Android beta app allows you to create your own slideshow and post it. It means you won’t have to wait for Facebook to generate a slideshow for you, or scroll through your News Feed to find another slideshow and ‘Try It’ for yourself.
How to create your slideshow
Inside the Android beta app, tap on the writing canvas that serves you options like Photos/Videos, Go Live, Check-In, Feeling/Activity, etc. There you’ll also see a new Slideshow option. Tap on it and you will be taken to the Slideshow editor. You need three or more photos on your Android phone to start creating your slideshow.
You can choose one of the existing music themes, and give your slideshow a title that stays at the top. Users can also tag people on images within the slideshow. Now tap on ‘Next’ at the top right corner and you’ll be taken to the slideshow, where you can trim it and choose its orientation. You can also toggle on HD at the top of the slideshow, if you want it to go in high definition.
Facebook going up against Google Photos
Over the last few months, Facebook has introduced several new features to the beta and stable versions of its Android app such as offline video downloading and floating video widget. Facebook says people love to capture moments and share them with friends and family. The new Slideshow feature will allow users to stitch together those pictures into a format that fully captures the spirit of the event.
A broader rollout of the feature can be expected soon. Facebook’s Slideshow will go head-to-head against Google Photos which has a Movies Assistant performing similar functions, and the iOS 10’s Photos app that comes with a Memories feature.
Sheeraz Raza also contributed to this post.
