Welcome to the first edition of our Dreamers Digital Digest of 2017! With stories from Google, Instagram, Trello and LinkedIn, we bring you the latest stories from the digital world to help you get through the week.
Google have rolled out ‘Intrusive Interstitials’ penalty
Google have confirmed that they have rolled out their (link: http://searchengineland.com/google-confirms-rolling-mobile-intrusive-interstitials-penalty-yesterday-267408 text: intrusive mobile interstitial penalty) this week meaning that intrusive pop ups which cover the main content on mobile devices could be penalised on that specific page. Google feels that anything which hinders the user from accessing the main content of a page proves to be problematic to the user’s journey. This will particularly be the case on mobile devices where the screen is much smaller. The penalty itself will penalise the specific page which has the pop up/interstitial on rather than the whole site and will be on mobile only.
Google to launch automated call extensions on mobile ads
Google has begun to alert advertisers that call extensions will (link: http://searchengineland.com/google-adwords-automated-call-extensions-267292 text: automatically start showing on ads) from February 2017. This means that advertisers who use landing pages which prominently feature a phone number will get an extension added to their mobile search ads using the numbers from the landing page itself.
Instagram trials video ads on stories feature
Temporary video and photo ads are being (link: https://www.ft.com/content/426fbbd6-d788-11e6-944b-e7eb37a6aa8e text: tested by advertisers on Instagram) as the app overtakes rival Snapchat. Nike, Netflix and car companies such as GM and Buick are testing ads within the feature which launched last year. The 24 hour only feature has confirmed that numbers using it on a daily basis has reached 150m.
LG launches OLED Wallpaper TV
LG have announced the launch of one of the thinnest TV’s around with its (link: http://www.wired.co.uk/article/lg-thin-tv-w7-wallpaper text: W7 OLED 4K television). Dubbed ‘Wallpaper’, the TV is just 2.6mm thick and can be mounted on walls by magnets and provides a ‘picture-on-wall’ experience. Introduced at this year’s CES tradeshow in Las Vegas, can come in 65 inch currently or 77 inch later in the year and costs around $8,000.
Trello to be purchased by Atlassian for $425 million
Atlassian, the maker of software such as Jira and HipChat have (link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-09/atlassian-to-buy-trello-project-management-app-maker-for-425-million text: agreed to acquire project management app Trello) for $425 million. The app, which offers digital whiteboards and post-it notes to help businesses manage and organise tasks and priorities will be bought by the corporation by the end of this quarter. The move has been made in order to win more non-technical business customers.
LinkedIn to be removed from Apple and Google app stores
It has been (link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/technology/linkedin-blocked-in-russia.html?_r=1 text: announced) that users in Russia can no longer download the LinkedIn app on iPhone or Android smartphones. This move follows china which has recently blocked downloads for the New York Times app. Russian authorities are said to be concerned about the networking service flouting laws which require internet firms to store data on Russian citizens within the border.
Join us next week for more digital news.