Whether it’s a funny holiday moment or a heated protest, Bambuser allows you to record, live stream, share and save video content with a quick click of the big red button.
Bambuser is an app and an online service that allows you to stream, share and save any kind of video content whether you’re using a phone or a webcam.
When I spoke with the Bambuser team they stressed the fact that the app could be used for so many different purposes and when you see how easy it is to use, you realise why they’ve had users streaming everything from conferences to paragliding attempts to protests.
It’s very easy to use once you’ve got the app onto your phone, just press the big red circle to record and the content will be streamed live to your online Bambuser page.
While you’re recording you can also share the content with your social networks, monitor the video quality and see how many viewers you’ve clocked up.
A lovely view of Leeds from my iPhone:
I spoke with Hans Eriksson, CEO of Bambuser, about putting the app to good use:
What kind of users did you have in mind when you were creating Bambuser?
One of our founding members, Mans Adler, envisaged Bambuser as a global tool that would aid democracy, allowing anyone and everyone a medium to get their message heard. During the recent Egyptian and Bahraini protests we saw a surge in broadcasts as demonstrators used Bambuser to stream personal videos from inside Tahrir square, Friday prayers and even funerals.
On the flip side, we also have more light-hearted users in mind. Another member of the founding team originally created the beginnings of the Bambuser technology so he could live stream his outfits to his girlfriend who always despaired of how he would dress on dates. We have created Bambuser so that people can share and interact with each other visually and in real-time to share whatever is important to them.
Why should we all be using Bambuser?
Bambuser is all about letting people share their life and their opinions, be it serious or social, and engaging people in the process. It’s about allowing people to create a dialogue between the stream’s creator, it’s direct audience and the world.
We’ve had users stream a massive range of things, from the recent protests in North Africa, conferences (such as the latest GeeknRolla), Q&A interview sessions, or just singing from their bedroom. The team are avid Bambuser users as well.
I used the app to live stream my first paragliding attempt (WARNING: Some swearing) and having my friends in other countries watch the broadcast and live chat with me whilst I was literally floating down the side of this mountain was surreal.
What are a few of your top tips for making the most of Bambuser
On a rather technical note, make sure that your settings are adjusted for your specific needs; use the settings in the Bambuser application to ensure you don’t miss out on reaching the people you want from your chosen social network sites.
Encourage your viewers to use the live chat service so you can really engage with your audience. If you are broadcasting for a longer period, say to show an event, don’t forget that you can use a webcam or DV cam to broadcast with Bambuser.
It’s really interesting that Bambuser has already been used for such a diverse range of purposes. As Hans suggests, it’s an ideal way to catch memorable moments but don’t underestimate the power of being able to record news as and when it happens. The rise of citizen journalism and our easy access to online networks means that anyone can share important news and opinions as easy as traditional media.
To start streaming visit the Bambuser website where there are a few quick steps to get you started. The app is available on most handsets with video recording capability and you can even use it with a webcam too.
BitchBuzz app rating: 5/5. Granted the quality isn’t always perfect, but it gets top marks for being easy to use and fit for so many different purposes and users.
Becca Caddy is a BitchBuzz Tech columnist and freelance writer. She is also the UK editor of US-based tech blog Popgadget.net. You can follow her @beccacaddy or read her blog beccacaddy.com.