Facebook has increasingly made VR an integral part of its platform, so today’s announcement isn’t a huge surprise: 360 degree photos are coming to your news feed.
The update follows the introduction of 360-degree video in September, and the stills version will work pretty much the same way: either click and drag with your mouse, or move your phone to look around a scene. They will also be compatible with the Oculus Rift and Gear VR.
The difference is that 360-degree stills are much easier for everyday consumers to shoot, as they don’t require anything beyond a regular smartphone. With the update, users will be able to upload flat panoramas, Google’s photospheres, or photos from a proper 360-degree camera.
Google first tried to popularize 360-degree images with the introduction of Photospheres three years ago, but they never caught on much as they were inconvenient to share.
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Expect that to start changing now that Facebook supports the format. No word on an exact release date, but Facebook says 360-degree photos will be available on mobile and the Web in the coming weeks.
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