If you noticed video updates this year coming from the likes of celebrities Jimmy Fallon and Ellen DeGeneres, presidential candidate Donald Trump, citizen journalists, or your friends, well, you’re not alone.
The live video streaming app Periscope took off big-time in 2015; Wednesday, Apple named it the coveted iPhone App of the Year ranking in its annual year-end ranking of the best in mobile tech. "This game-changer made sharing and watching life videos an instant obsession," said Apple in offering the nod.
Co-founder and CEO Periscope Kayvon Beykpour says he was “shocked” to get the news. “This is one of the most prestigious honors you can be given.”
Periscope launched in March, but had already been snapped up by Twitter for $86 million shortly before the debut. The app, which is available for Apple and Android devices, has been downloaded over 10 million times. Using it is simple: you open the app, click broadcast, title your subject, start recording, and now your Twitter followers can tune right into your video feed.
The idea for Periscope was to share the world live, using smartphone technology.
“We wanted to build a teleportation device,” says Beykpour. “We wanted you to see the natural wonders of the world from the comfort of your couch. We want you to feel like you’re there.”
Periscope wasn’t the first app to offer live video streams. Justin.TV, Ustream, Hang with, Meerkat and others pre-date Periscope, but none have reached critical mass like Periscope has.
Meanwhile, Periscope could be facing its biggest competitor yet. The 1.5 billion strong social network Facebook recently added Live Video, as a test, and after the initial test with celebrities and journalists, Facebook says more of its members will begin to see it showing up their in status updates. But Beykpour isn’t worried.
“If we spent time worrying about what competitors were doing, we wouldn’t get any work done,” he says. “So bring it on.”
In past years, other app of the year winners include the brain training game Elevate (2014),Duolingo for language learning (2013) and video effects app Action Movie FX in 2012.
Google also put out a year-end "Best" list this week of apps, but without editorial comment. Number one on the Google Play "Best" list is Flipagram, which marries your Camera Roll photos with music to create little music videos that can be shared on Instagram and Facebook.
The runner-up to Periscope for best of the year is Enlight, a photo app that Apple says is the "best all-in-one photo editor," providing "powerful tools that are easy to use."
Follow USA TODAY Tech columnist and #TalkingTech host on Twitter and Periscope:@jeffersongraham