It’s a week of new features in this week’s Dreamers Digital Digest. Including a facelift for Snapchat, Apple taking on Android (again, maybe), big changes to the App store and new timeline and e-commerce features on Facebook.
New developments at Facebook
Facebook is keeping itself busy by making a number of improvements to its platform.
### Not on my timeline
(link: http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/news/a796994/facebook-is-changing-one-of-its-most-popular-features-news-feed-timeline/ text: The way the Facebook Timeline works) is changing by making it possible to post without it staying on your timeline forever. Although this could be done retrospectively after posting, Facebook is improving the user experience by providing the option earlier on.
The ‘hide from timeline’ feature is likely to encourage more carefree interactions (a la Snapchat) as they won’t be saved for all to see on your timeline. It will also make it easier to curate your timeline to reflect how you want the outside world to view you.
### Don’t write it, say it
Another new feature added to the Facebook platform is replying to posts with (link: http://mashable.com/2016/06/10/facebook-video-comments/ text: videos instead of written comments). This is an extension of the feature that is available in Facebook Messenger, which seems to have taken off with users.
### Direct payments being tested
Facebook continues its move into the e-commerce world. With ‘buy now’ buttons already available in posts and advertising, the platform has recently started to (link: http://techcrunch.com/2016/06/09/facebook-is-testing-social-commerce-payments-in-southeast-asia/ text: test direct payments in Thailand). Stores have also leapt upon the recent (link: http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/facebook-bots-guide text: introduction of bots) to Messenger, which has seen people being able to order things directly through Facebook, without ever having to visit the store’s website.
Apple announces big App Store changes
Apple is starting to make a number of changes to the App Store to provide a better deal for those that publish to it. These changes include:
– **A reduction in the time taken for the approval process** – no longer will the app developer have to (link: http://arstechnica.com/apple/2016/05/report-apple-is-approving-apps-more-quickly-to-increase-services-revenue/ text: wait an agonising 7 days) to find out whether their submission has been accepted
– **Changes to the revenue split between the developers and Apple **- the current 70/30 split of in-app purchase revenue will continue to be in place for users that have been subscribed for less than a year, but following on from the initial year all in-app purchases will be (link: https://developer.apple.com/app-store/subscriptions/whats-new/ text: split 85/15 in favour of the developer)
– **New display advertising** – in a move that is very ’un-Apple’, the company is planning to introduce (link: https://developer.apple.com/app-store/search-ads/ text: display advertising into search results) for apps
iMessage on Android?
Though nothing has been confirmed yet, there have been a number of rumours that Apple will be announcing the release of an iMessage app for Android devices at the upcoming WWDC. We do love a good rumour, but it’s probably best to approach this one with a bit of scepticism.
Subtle change at Snapchat
And finally, users of popular messaging app Snapchat had a pleasant surprise this week with a subtle change to the user interface. Though there is always the expected unrest from those that don’t like change ((link: https://www.superdream.co.uk/dreamers-digital-digest-40/ text: remember Instagram a few weeks ago?)) there has been an overall acceptance of the changes, especially the new stories layout.