This spring, Twitch Media Group launched beta testing of the desktop version of its streaming service, and the official release of the application took place in early August. The developers not only imported all the features of the browser version, but also expanded the functionality. Let's try to figure out what new can offer Twitch Desktop App for viewers and streamers.
A bit of prehistory
Twitch is one of the few services that has managed to displace YouTube, which is dominant in all areas of video broadcasting. Launched in 2011, two years later Twitch ranked fourth in terms of traffic in the US, with an audience of 45 million unique visitors per month. Such success attracted the attention of market giants and the service was bought out by one of them, Amazon.
In turn, in the summer of 2016, Twitch buys Curse, a developer software for games and their broadcast. Since then, work has begun on creating our own desktop application that allows you to follow the broadcasts of the service outside the browser. It was the Curse client that became the basis for the Twitch Desktop App.
Nothing is forgotten
First of all, the functionality of the Twitch Desktop App is in no way inferior to the browser version: VOD (video on demand), videos, online broadcasts, chats, the ability to support your favorite streamers with a subscription or beats - everything is in place. However, being a standalone application, the Desktop App also has a number of advantages, such as improved performance and OS integration features: minimizing to tray when minimized, auto-start after turning on the PC, and the like.
Dedicated servers
Ending a broadcast session is no longer an obstacle for viewers to communicate. Thanks to their own servers, in the Twitch Desktop App, they will be able to stay connected 24/7 in chats or voice rooms.
Dark mode
The dark interface mode is ideal for night broadcasts.
Chat with friends
In general, the application has become more focused on social interactions and community building. Here and voice calls (only available in the browser version) text messages), and group video broadcasts.
CurseForge
It is very important that CurseForge, a huge collection of mods for World of Warcraft, Skyrim, Minecraft and many other games, was transferred from the Curse client to the Twitch Desktop App (thus preserving).
You can download the Twitch Desktop App. Versions for Windows and Mac are currently available.
All you have to do is add a time stamp to the end of the URL – in this case we linked to the 102nd minute and 38 seconds by adding ?t=102m38s at the end of the URL(http://www.twitch.tv/liquidhero/b/297908075?t=102m38s)
Gonna keep this post short and sweet so… enjoy! 😀
Video Game Media Giants Future U.S. and JustinTV's TwitchTV Join in First Corporate Partnership to Serve the Covetefd 18-34 Year Old Demographic
SAN FRANCISCO, CA–(Marketwire – Aug 10, 2011) – Future U.S., a leading publisher of gaming and technology media properties, today announced an exclusive partnership with JustinTV, owner of TwitchTV, the world's largest gaming video and chat community, and home of 300 million monthly global video views per month. The alliance enlists Future U.S. as the exclusive advertising sales team for TwitchTV, enabling Future U.S. to leverage TwitchTV's massive, engaged community of video game enthusiasts for brand advertising and sponsorships.
By joining forces, Digital Future will deliver a coveted audience of nearly 8 million influential, engaged video game enthusiasts with a strong foothold in the 18-34 year old demographic. Simultaneously, TwitchTV will grow its audience by tapping Future’s established network of loyal gaming fans.
“We’re proud to put our advertising and sponsorship interests in the hands of veteran gaming publishers like Future U.S.,” said Emmett Shear, co-founder and CTO, JustinTV and general manager of TwitchTV.
Future U.S. will also dedicate editorial resources to create new online gaming programming for viewing on both TwitchTV and existing Future U.S. properties, including GamesRadar.com. Editorial staff will provide expert commentary at top trade shows, product launches and online gaming tournaments such as 24 hour round-the-clock gaming marathons and sponsored events.
“We have a proven track record of directly connecting advertisers to special-interest audiences through our digital properties,” said Rachelle Considine, vice president of sales and marketing, Future U.S. “Our partnership with JustinTV and TwitchTV will assist in our efforts to extend our digital capabilities, enabling us to broaden our reach to a wider online audience and deliver new, creative content.”
For further information visit Future U.S. at www.futureus.com or TwitchTV at twitch.tv.
About Future
Future plc is an international special-interest media group that is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: FUTR). Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today we have operations in the UK and US creating over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events for people who are passionate about their interests. We hold strong market positions in games, music, technology, action sports, film, automotive and crafts. Our biggest-selling magazines in the US include Official Xbox Magazine, PlayStation: The Official Magazine, Nintendo Power, PC Gamer, Guitar World, Maximum PC and Mac|Life, while our UK business publishes leading titles such as T3, Total Film, Digital Camera, Fast Car and Classic Rock. Our web sites include GamesRadar, BikeRadar, TechRadar, and MusicRadar. Future sells over 4 million magazines each month; we attract more than 11 million unique visitors to our websites; and we host 16 annual live events that attract hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts. In addition, Future exports, syndicates or licenses its publications to 90 countries internationally, making us the UK’s biggest exporter of monthly magazines.
Who should you add as an Editor?
We recommend only adding people you know and trust as Editors. Make sure they understand how to user the Broadcaster Dashboard well, as they will have complete control over cutting VODs and other important aspects of your live broadcast. You may only add “Editors” who already follow your channel.
We hope this feature will make the broadcast experience easier for everyone. You can now collaborate with friends in order to focus your attention on what really matter – producing awesome and entertaining content. If you have any questions or content, feel free to leave a comment below, or connect to us via
If you have fast internet(6 megabits or more), but broadcasts on Twitch as a source still slow down, then read this guide! Also, this guide will help if you have a low-performance PC and low fps when watching a video and the PC is paralyzed.
A bit of theory
When viewed through a browser, data from the server is transmitted to the client and immediately broadcast on the screen. And sometimes the data stops streaming for a second or more (your ISP's network is busy, the Twitch server can't handle it, etc.), the broadcast freezes. Interruption of data transmission, even for a few seconds, negatively affects stability.
Besides, this way allows you to watch broadcasts without flash player and generally speaking without a browser. Also, the CPU load will become less (especially true for Linux, since the flash player of this OS does not support hardware acceleration). For example, when browsing through a browser on Linux, my CPU (Core 2 Duo [email protected]) is loaded at 80-90%, and when viewed through alternative way only 8-20%. It also saves RAM. So you can comfortably watch broadcasts in FullHD at 60 fps on older systems (provided that your video card supports hardware video decoding. Even old GF 8600gt support this technology).
Twitch is now moving to html5. HTML5 is, of course, good, but new technology consumes a lot of CPU resources. For example, video broadcasts slow down for me even as a “medium”.
So, the idea is this: first we download a piece of the stream to our computer, to the buffer. We set the buffer size ourselves, I recommend 32 megabytes. Next, we show not the live broadcast, but read the data from the cache (buffer). 32 megabytes is about 10 seconds of stream. Even if the video transmission from the stream stops for a while due to unstable Internet or shortcomings in peak speed, there will be no lags, the data is taken from a pre-prepared cache. 32 megabytes in ideal conditions will ensure continuous video transmission in case of loss of Internet connection for up to 10 seconds. The buffer will then fill up again.
Let's get down to business. linux
As we can see, when watching streams, the CPU is only 10-20% loaded. Without this method, the CPU usage would be 80-100%.
Since the program is a console program, and command line in Windows systems, in my opinion, disgusting, and the directory organization system is very strange, using the program on Windows is not so convenient. Besides, Windows users, as a rule, are afraid of the console. But don't panic! You will succeed.
Run the program itself with the command livestreamer.exe [link] [quality]
For example:
Available qualities (from best to worst): source, high, medium, low, mobile.
To view goodgame:
Available qualities: 720p, 480p, 240p
But that's not all! The program supports several dozens of online streaming services and more. A list of all services is available on the website:
Create a bat script (optional)
Create text file and open it for editing. Enter a line
(change the link to the desired streamer and specify the correct path to the livestreamer) and save. Change the extension from txt to bat. Ready. As soon as your favorite streamer starts streaming. You just have to double click on this file and enjoy streaming video.
What you need to know to avoid a ban on Twitch?
Twitch, like any social platform, has many restrictions on use, as it allows you to interact with different people from all over the world. And it would be wrong to ignore Twitch, referring it to the category of standard Internet resources, because the platform is highly popular, covers a wide contingent of users and has the specifics of video platforms, because it allows you to broadcast video in real time.
To start broadcasting on Twitch and be able to earn money, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules of the resource, knowing which will save you from unwanted blocking.
According to Twitch laws, you must be at least 13 years old, and registered users from 13 to 18 years old are required to visit the website under the supervision of their father and mother. Twitch has the ability to ban a page or channel if you break the rules.
The main rules are familiar to everyone: do not violate copyright, do not incite ethnic hatred, violence, do not broadcast sexual content, etc., etc. The website administration can ban your page without explaining the reasons.
By downloading, installing or visiting the Twitch website, you confirm that you are at least 13 years old, you have never been removed from the service.
Briefly about blocking:
Compliance with laws
Respect the law. Any violation of local, regional and national laws will be prosecuted, incitement to violate laws will result in a ban.
Account ban evasion
If you have restricted access to a resource, you do not have the right to bypass the lock prematurely. Any attempt to bypass the lock by changing account, identification data entails an increase in the blocking period, up to indefinite.
Self-torture, suicide attempts
Any violent actions in relation to oneself that can cause harm to health and endanger life are prohibited. It also includes suicide attempts, intentional mutilation, excessive drinking and drug use.
Violence, threats against others
Any actions aimed at humiliating the honor and dignity of people are prohibited. Threats, slander, intimidation against any person, users and moderators of the resource are prohibited.
DDOS threats, weapon use
Attempts and threats to injure or kill, threats to use DDOS attacks and SWAT detentions are prohibited. It is unacceptable to use and brandish any type of weapon.
Displaying confidential information
Don't invade other people's privacy. Any confidential information about a private person posted on the resource is prohibited from displaying without his consent. Distribution of identification information (real name, place of residence), information from private social profiles is prohibited. Broadcasting streaming content that captures another person's private life or touches on private property without permission is prohibited.
Discrimination of social groups
Any statements that discriminate against people on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality are punishable by account blocking.
Personalization
Impersonating someone else, a representative of an organization, including a Twitch employee, will result in the user being banned indefinitely.
Malicious activity on the resource
Any activity aimed at destabilizing the work of services and Twitch services and other users. This includes flooding, spam, unauthorized advertising, distribution of viruses and malware, sale of accounts, phishing.
Pornography and explicit behavior
Any content or activity related to pornography, as well as excessively explicit sexual behavior or clothing is prohibited. Behavior focusing on violence, gore, and other extreme content is prohibited.
The use of any pirated content is prohibited. Downloading and displaying content that you do not own is possible only with the permission of the copyright holder.
Cheating in online games
Actions that give advantage over other players in online multiplayer games are prohibited. During the game, it is forbidden to follow the broadcast of another player.
Games for adults
Broadcasting games with elements of pornography, sex is possible only as long as you do not focus on it. Gameplay modified for sexual themes is strictly prohibited. It is also prohibited to broadcast games rated “Adults Only”. A list of all banned games is available on the Twitch website.
Broadcast closed beta testing
If prior permission is not obtained to broadcast the beta test, the channel may be removed at the request of the copyright holder.
That's all you need to know to avoid being banned from Twitch. Good luck on the streams!
