This is what it's like to live stream from a DJI drone to Facebook
As promised in April, the drone maker has integrated Facebook's live video broadcasting capabilities into its mobile app.
- More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
During Facebook's F8 developer conference in April -- amid updates on Oculus VR, a new 360-degree camera rig and chat bots -- the social site's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, demoed a new option for its Facebook Live feature: live-streaming video from a drone. A DJI Phantom 4, to be specific.
The drone maker has integrated Facebook Live into its Go mobile app (used for controlling and viewing video from the camera among other things) and is now available to the public. At least it is for iOS with Android support coming soon. (The video below was done with a prerelease version. The app is expected to go live in Apple's App Store in the next 24 to 48 hours.)
To set it up, you go into the settings of the Go app and you'll see the option to Start Facebook Live. Simply put in your account log-in info, add in a title to appear above your stream and tap Go Live. You can set if you want it to be public, just for your friends or private as well as select if you want to send to a personal page or a public one you manage.
Once you're live, it's going to rely on your cell signal to keep the stream smooth, so the better your service, the better the experience. Comments and audio are on by default. Comments pop up on the screen and are small enough not to interfere with important info onscreen. The mic from your phone is used to capture audio.
The feature is available on DJI's Phantom drones that use the Go app as well as its professional models like the Inspire series. It can also be used with its Osmo handheld camera giving you the advantage of three-axis motorized stabilization on the ground, opposed to the potentially shaky video from your smartphone.
If you're already thinking of creative ways to use this, DJI would like you to share them. Hashtag your video with #DJILiveFB over the next two weeks, and if DJI picks your entry it'll be featured on the DJI Facebook page and you'll win a Phantom 4 drone.