Facebook app update to bring tilt-viewing option for 360 and panaroma pictures

VR and 360-degree content is gaining traction and to comply with the new standard, Facebook has announced that it will be updating its app to improve the viewing experience. Called “360 Photos”, the feature is said to improve the way we look at wide-angle or 360-degree pictures on Facebook. Once a user uploads a panorama or a 360-degree photo through a smartphone or even a 360-degree camera, Facebook will automatically convert it into a 360 photo. Users who see a 360 photo with the compass icon can just tilt their phone to scan around or just use the tap and drag option. This option will also work for panorama pictures. There will also be an option to view these photos in Gear VR by hitting the “View in VR” button option. Product manager Andy Huang said that, “We introduced photos on Facebook more than a decade ago, and they quickly became one of the main ways that people share their experiences.” Facebook is focusing strongly on 360 and VR content and believes that it is going to be the future of media sharing. There is a good chance that this feature will be added to Instagram, sometime in the future. Once this feature is rolled out on Facebook, you will be able to see a wider perspective of what users share, like the view of the Earth from the International Space Station or the huge crowd at a sold out concert show.