Month: December 2016

Google has announced that it is going to change AMP display in order to find and share publishers’ direct URLs easily. The change is for the header in the AMP content and will be upgraded by early 2017.

Currently, AMP content — accelerated mobile pages — are loaded differently by Google than regular content. Clicking on regular content, generally takes people away from Google and to publishers’ sites. Clicking on AMP content keeps people at Google, with a Google URL appearing for that content.

This upgrade will be helpful for users viewing AMP content in Google search results to find and share URLs that lead directly back to publishers, rather than to Google itself.

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After the recent announcement of Live 360 videos, Facebook continues to enhance its live experience. Now, they introduced Live Audio as well to provide amazing user experience.

Facebook explained the possibilities of Live Audio like this:

“We know that sometimes publishers want to tell a story on Facebook with words and not video. We’ve even seen some Pages find creative ways to go live and reach audiences with audio only by using the Facebook Live API or by adding a still image to accompany their audio broadcast. Our new Live Audio option makes it easy to go live with audio only when that’s the broadcaster’s preferred format.”

Facebook envisages Live Audio as a new way to connect with audiences in areas with weak network connections.

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The recent trend shows that video is rising as the king of content. Facebook has recently launched 360 video feature to the Facebook Live experience. It is reported that Facebook introduces the first live 360 video in collaboration with National Geographic.

In fact, Facebook has introduced Live video feature in 2015, which was primarily accessible to celebrities and public figures. Later it was available to all users with several updates. Facebook has also launched their 360 videos last year.

Facebook felt that incorporating these two new features was inevitable. According to them:

“Live video on Facebook gives people an immediate, authentic window into what’s happening in the world right now; 360 video immerses viewers fully into the scene, letting them explore on their own and experience a new environment. We’re excited to combine these two formats with Live 360 video. Live 360 transports people into new experiences—right as they happen.”

It is also noted that YouTube had been supporting 360 live streaming since April 2016. They had also launched 4K 360 live streaming last month. It seems, the battle for live streaming and 360 videos is ongoing.

So, let’s wait to know how marketers and advertisers will make use of Facebook’s live 360 video to attract customers in coming years.

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It seems Google Maps is planning to add new features in the near future. According to a new report, a recent internal test build from Google Maps shows that it might include some location sharing features.

As per the report by Ausdroid, the new internal Google Maps version includes a “friends” section in the menu so that users can show their friends where they are currently located. The app also permits you to add new friends and others to be removed from the list. Additionally, there is a “navigation sharing” option in the app’s settings.

Ausdroid added that there is a “hands free faster route “ option available, it will ask users to say “Yes “ or “ No” in order to find an easier route to reach the destination. It is reported that Google is working to store searches and direction data offline, which could make Google Maps run faster.

Remember, this report is based on an internal test build of Google Maps. Anyway, it would be great news for users if the future updates include all these features.

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Google Search Console has updated property sets feature with more reports. Now you can see more reports for your property sets, comprising mobile usability report, apps, review your AMP implementation, internationalization mark up and many more.

Google added that now users are allowed to merge more properties into one set. Only verified properties are permitted to add to a set.

Google Search Console has added a property set feature back in May of this year , which helped users to view a snapshot of Search Analytics reports for all canonical versions of their sites.

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Google has announced that they have replaced the “In the News” box with the “Top Stories” box. With this update news box on desktop will become more in line with the mobile version of search results. In fact, this update happened with the introduction of new  Google desktop user interface this week.

When enquired whether there were any algorithmic changes made to which stories are eligible to appear in the box, Google did not give a clear reply. They just answered this update is to make the desktop version match the mobile version.

Business Insider reported that this change was to tackle the fake news issues. But Google would not comment about this.

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WhatsApp has officially announced that it is going to stop support for some of the older phones by the end of 2016. They had announced earlier in February, they might stop support for some of the older versions of Android, smartphones such as Nokia, Blackberry, iPhone, Windows Phone 7, and Blackberry by end of 2016. Later WhatsApp clarified that it would extend support for Nokia Symbian S60, Nokia S40, and Blackberry 10 until June 30, 2017.

Now as a first step they will discontinue support for some of the older devices by the end of December.

It’s expected that ending support for older versions will not affect too many phones in Android and iOS universe. WhatsApp will end support only for smartphone users still running on Android 2.1 and Android 2.2, iPhone 3GS or any other iPhone on iOS 6 and Windows Phone  7.

According to WhatsApp, they are forced to stop support as these phones do not have kind of capabilities to cope with the upcoming versions of this instant messaging app with advanced features.

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