TechCrunch reported late last week that Twitter will soon unveil a video player that will host videos up to 10 minutes long with no file size limit.
The article was later updated with a note: “A Twitter spokesperson tells us that the FAQ and terms are in reference topromoted video services for Amplify users, not the new video player that it plans to launch for consumers in the first half of 2015. Another spokesperson says there is nothing new to share at this time.”
Still, all signals point to a player like the one TechCrunch described coming soon as Twitter is scrambling to find a product that will help provide a steady revenue stream. As we all know, nothing accomplishes that better than video.
Here are details via TechCrunch’s original article:
The Twitter Video Player will host videos of up to 10 minutes with no limit on file size, initially supporting mp4 and mov files. There will be no ability to edit videos or schedule them within the player — at least in its first iteration. And, pointedly, the Twitter Video Player will not support videos hosted on YouTube or anywhere else, just those on its own service.
The details of Twitter’s native video service were stumbled on by a Twitter user noodling around, curious about what might live at the http://video.twitter.com URL. (It’s a restricted access page for now where you can request access to publish video content.) An angular JS file provides details about both the terms of service as well as a FAQ about Twitter Video.
Back in November, Twitter set out its ambitions for what it wanted out of a new video service — beyond that of what users can already do with Twitter’s Vine app, or by watching videos embedded by way of Twitter’s card feature.
“Aside from just watching video more easily on Twitter, you should be able to record, edit and share your own videos natively on Twitter too,” wrote Kevin Weil, VP of product. “Alongside short looping Vine videos, we think you’ll have fun sharing what’s happening in your world through native video.”
Google’s YouTube is still the clear-cut leader in the online video space. But, as the space crowds, there are openings for social networks with large user bases: Facebook’s made a number of video plays in December and Twitter made the prescient acquisition of Vine in 2012. We will certainly be following any more news about the service closely.