Facebook to enable viewing of Apple’s animated photos

But when the camera app is set on Live Photo, it also records about a second and a half of movement and sound on either side of the 12-megapixel photo.

When Apple introduced the new Live Photos feature on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus back in September, Phil Schiller said on stage that Facebook was committed to supporting the new photo format by the end of the year. As innovative as they are, they have been handicapped by only working on Apple gadgets.

The latest iPhones come with the ability to turn still images into video just like magic but sharing options had been limited to other Apple apps. Android customers or people accessing Facebook’s website will see a regular old still photograph.

Facebook makes the UI for uploading Photos identical to its current process, but when it does load up there will be a little “Live” icon that needs to be toggled to allow the feature to work. Tumblr started displaying them on its iOS app December 10.

On the iPhone 6s, Live Photos can additionally be set as a person’s Lock Screen wallpaper or as their watch face on Apple Watch. Even though any app can integrate Live Photos, relatively few have. Instagram would seem to be a natural fit for the images, but the Facebook-owned app hasn’t shared any plans to add Live Photos. 3D Touch is a pressure-sensitive touchscreen. Apple is making tools available for third parties to incorporate the feature.

That’s been progressively changing over the intervening months, most recently with tumblr adding support earlier this month, but adding Facebook to the roster could give the camera trick its biggest boost to-date. Flying game Breakneck uses pressure to navigate, and Johns Hopkins is working on a game that can help stroke victims improve dexterity.