Here is a quick roundup of some of the latest happenings in the social media world.
Facebook announced the upcoming launch of its new iPhone app. With Paper, you will be able to keep an eye on your News Feed, while also checking out content from emerging voices and well-known publications in more than 12 categories.
– Everything responds to your touch so you can pick up or thumb through stories with simple, natural movements
– You can tilt your phone to explore high-resolution panoramic photos from corner to corner, and see faces and other important details up clos
– Fullscreen autoplay videos come to life and bring you deep into the action
– Beautifully detailed covers make it easy to spot articles from trusted publishers and decide what to read or watch.· Articles unfold in the app and appear fullscreen for a focused reading experience
– When you’re ready to tell your own story, you know exactly what your post or photo will look like because you see a live preview before you share it
(Source: Facebook Newsroom)
The app will be available for download on February 3 — but only for U.S.-based users.
Facebook is now allowing all advertisers to reach people across devices. With Custom Audiences, they will be able to deliver targeted messages to visitors of their website or mobile app. And some News Feed ads will feature enhanced call-to-action buttons. For more information, visit Facebook for Business.
Users’ real names won’t be required for the separate mobile apps Facebook is developing. However, Paper does not count.
If you use Google+ on a desktop or Android, did you notice the new Explore category at the top of your Home stream? This new section includes the following:
1. A summary view that highlights posts across multiple categories.
2. A starter set of topics (like Music, Sports and Photography) that you can click on to explore further. What’s Hot is also listed here, instead of in the navigation bar.
3. The ability to search for specific topics, and read what others are saying about them.
4. The option to “go deeper” on relevant sub-topics (like #HolidayBaking) when you select or search for a topic (like #FoodAndDrink).
5. An easy way to follow the people and/or join the communities that are talking about the stuff you’re into.
(Source: Steve Farrell)
The Hangouts page now shows all conversations in one place (desktop version)
YouTube allows video creators to reply in-line to comments from their comment dashboard. http://youtube.com/comments.
Finally, Google for Education released a series of new tools for teachers and students, including thousands of K-12 books, a Learning Center for teachers looking for new online courses, best practice videos, guides, updated exams and certifications, and more.
Want to see how much engagement (+1s, reshares, and comments) your public posts have generated over time on Google+? Check out CircleCount‘s new feature below:
Photo credit: CircleCount on Google+
LinkedIn is trying to make the introduction process between potential new connections easier with its new “How You’re Connected” feature. Located in the right sidebar of profiles, the feature shows you your mutual connections and how they know one another. For example, you will learn if they are co-workers or studied at the same university.
The Pinterest team added a new feature to its site on the web. Interests is available from the categories menu (“Preview! Explore Interests“).
Keep in mind that this is still just a preview. You may see a few interests here and there that aren’t quite your thing, but rest assured that improvements are already in the works. If there’s something specific you’d like to see, we’re all ears!
(Source: Pinterest Blog)
Pinterest also updated its Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). The new AUP includes detailed explanations on content guidelines, example Pins, and a section on buying followers and pins.
Do you speak Indonesian? The site is now available in that language.
The updated Twitter for Android app lets you crop and rotate your photos before sharing them. The new feature, which will soon be available to Twitter for iPhone, also comes with a reminder to mention friends.
With this update, if you pull down on your home timeline to refresh it and there are no new Tweets to load, you may see recommended Tweets, trending topics and suggestions for new accounts to follow. In the U.S. only, you’ll see TV, sports and news events updates as well.
(Source: Twitter Blog)
Did you notice that you can now restrict your Twitter searches to only show people, photos, videos, news, etc.?
We’re bringing new filters to search on http://t.co/eNvqKTup1d: by videos, news, people you follow, and more. pic.twitter.com/vkxfkNf2ou
— Twitter (@twitter) January 29, 2014
According to Re/code, buying products from Tweets may soon become a reality.
Yahoo
Yahoo Search now displays local business information (e.g., company overview, photos, hours of operation…) next to results. The option is only available for companies in the U.S.
After an attempted security attack on Yahoo Mail accounts, Yahoo had to reset passwords on affected accounts. The company is also working for federal law enforcement to find and prosecute the perpetrators.
In addition to adopting better password practices by changing your password regularly and using different variations of symbols and characters, users should never use the same password on multiple sites or services. Using the same password on multiple sites or services makes users particularly vulnerable to these types of attacks.
(Source: Yahoo Blog)
More social media news
GoDaddy launched Get Found, a service that allows businesses to have their information, and consequent updates, automatically pushed across various platforms, including Google, Yahoo, Bing, Yelp, and Foursquare.
Image-hosting platform Imgur has a new analytics service. With it, users can:
– Track total image views over time
– Graph image views over time by date range and even by the hour
– See top traffic referral sources (ex. Facebook, Reddit, Twitter) (Pro only)
– Get detailed traffic referral paths within each top referral source to know the exact traffic source (Pro only)
(Source: Imgur Blog)
Last.fm partnered with Spotify to bring back on-demand music to the service.
Blogging platform Svbtle is open to everyone.
Wikipedia announced a new project. Created by Wikipedia editors Andy Mabbett and Andrew Gray, WikiVIP asks personalities featured in the online encyclopaedia to make short recordings of their voice. The pieces are then added to their articles. Everything is available on Wikimedia Commons or on the appropriate Wikipedia articles.
I’ve recorded my voice for Wikipedia’s #WikiVIP project: http://t.co/NfIIZCIN9y Other article subjects can do so, too.
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) January 25, 2014
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