The new, new thing — August 2017

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud” M.Angelou

240 pages of Data and Insight:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/multi-sector-research/cmr/cmr-2017

Lots of themes come out of it, nicely illustrated with data, including :

- The rise of Non-Broadcast video

- The rise of Smart TVs — now at 36% (was 27% in 2016)

- People watching TV & movies outside the home

Generational differences in viewing — over 65s now watch 4 hours more TV a day than kids (less than 3 hours difference in 2006)

- Podcasts still a marginal interest

- 4G - 62% now have it

- Messaging — FB Messenger is bigger than WhatsApp in the UK (but not globally)

- Also good data on the rise of programmatic, and mobile payments and banking

The pick of the best 40 (ish) charts here:

https://filegen.com/getfile/?87591275d4554644aa1d9bc6fd3e92c5

& a bigger selection here:

https://filegen.com/getfile/?2979dd9e52db469fb835947a17fec79f

Walmart & Google partner for voice shopping on Google Home

https://www.blog.google/products/assistant/shop-walmart-and-more-your-favorite-stores-faster/

If Amazon is getting into voice search through its partnership with Bing (who handle non-product search in Alexa), it seems only natural for Google to find retail partners to offer shopping. The partnership announced this week allows existing Walmart shoppers to link their accounts to Google, and then get recommendations, special offers and more. Smart!

Facebook

Facebook makes page load speed part of its crieteria for how to rank stories in the feed

https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2017/08/news-feed-fyi-showing-you-stories-that-link-to-faster-loading-webpages/

“With this update, we’ll soon take into account the estimated load time of a webpage that someone clicks to from any link in News Feed on the mobile app. Factors such as the person’s current network connection and the general speed of the corresponding webpage will be considered. If signals indicate the webpage will load quickly, the link to that webpage might appear higher in your feed.

For years, we have taken many factors into account to make sure people quickly see relevant stories to them — including the type of device you’re on or the speed of your mobile network or wifi connection. For example, if you are on a slower internet connection that won’t load videos, News Feed will show you fewer videos and more status updates and links. And to help load stories faster for people on slow or poor network connections, we prefetch stories by downloading mobile content before someone clicks a link, which we’ve seen can shorten load time for webpages by more than 25%.”

Facebook has announced a new video tab ‘Watch’ on its app

https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2017/08/introducing-watch-a-new-platform-for-shows-on-facebook/

“We’re introducing Watch, a new platform for shows on Facebook. Watch will be available on mobile, on desktop and laptop, and in our TV apps. Shows are made up of episodes — live or recorded — and follow a theme or storyline. To help you keep up with the shows you follow, Watch has a Watchlist so you never miss out on the latest episodes.

Watch is personalized to help you discover new shows, organized around what your friends and communities are watching. For example, you’ll find sections like “Most Talked About,” which highlights shows that spark conversation, “What’s Making People Laugh,” which includes shows where many people have used the “Haha” reaction, and “What Friends Are Watching,” which helps you connect with friends about shows they too are following.”

Facebook is now making it possible for brands to promote influencer posts they’re tagged in

https://digiday.com/marketing/influencer-marketing-facebook-get-expensive/

“Brands and influencers need to prepare to spend more money on Facebook.

This week, Facebook started letting social stars turn their paid content into sponsored posts by tagging the brands they are working with and then letting advertisers boost those posts directly without sharing them first. Brands can choose to authorize which creators can tag them in their page settings, and they will also be able to have stats around reach, engagement, total spend and CPM to determine the effectiveness of influencer posts.

At first glance, it seems like Facebook is simply making it easier for advertisers to run paid promotion for influencer marketing, but the worry from execs is that Facebook’s algorithm will gradually suppress influencer posts if brands don’t boost them.”

Facebook’s AI Messaging assistant arrives in the UK

http://www.thedrum.com/news/2017/08/15/facebook-messenger-s-personal-assistant-m-available-uk-users

“The feature is expanding beyond the USA, touching down with UK users to aid them with its artificial intelligence-driven suggestions, dropping into conversations to suggest stickers, polls, birthday celebrations, group gatherings and location sharing.

Furthermore, it can suggest launching calls, based on contextual text sent in the chat window, all to take some of the friction out of the app and better inform users the many perks they can utilize in-app.

Facebook assures that the assistant is fully automated and will integrate with conversations at useful times, although users are capable of muting and digital assistance if they desire.”

Instagram

Instagram Stories is one year old, and has 250m active daily users

https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/02/instagram-stories-anniversary/

“Instagram Stories has blossomed from a Snapchat clone into an integral part of the world’s largest dedicated visual communication app in the first year since its launch. Half of the businesses on Instagram produced a story in the last month, and it’s boosted the app’s average usage to 32 minutes per day for those under 25, and 24 minutes per day for those 25 and up.

If Facebook’s goal was stop Snap in its tracks, it’s largely succeeded with Instagram Stories. Snapchat’s monthly active user growth rate has plummeted from 17.2% per quarter to just 5%, while Snap’s share price has fallen from its $17 IPO to $13. Instagram Stories now has 250 million daily users compared to Snapchat’s 166 million. Instagram’s usage per day beats the “more than 30 minutes per day” of usage Snapchat claims on average now, as well as the over 30 minutes per day for under 25s and 20 minutes per day for over 25s Snap cited in its IPO filing.”

Apple finally has an Instagram account, showcasing pics & videos #ShotOniPhone

https://www.instagram.com/apple/

Snapchat

Q2 results show growth of only 7m Daily Active Users to 166m

https://investor.snap.com/news-releases/2017/08-10-2017-210950357

“Daily active users (DAU)(1) — DAUs grew from 143 million in Q2 2016 to 173 million in Q2 2017, an increase of 30.5 million or 21% year-over-year. DAUs increased 7.3 million or 4% quarter-over-quarter, from 166 million in Q1 2017.

Average revenue per user (ARPU)(2) — ARPU was $1.05 in Q2 2017, an increase of 109% over Q2 2016 when ARPU was $0.50. ARPU increased 16% over Q1 2017 when ARPU was $0.90.”

Retail

Walmart introduces Scan & Go in stores

http://www.mobilemarketer.com/news/walmart-jumps-ahead-of-amazon-with-scan-go/449076/

“Walmart is offering a Scan & Go capability in several stores that allows shoppers to use a mobile app to scan barcodes of items they want to buy, pay for them in-app with one touch and show the in-app receipt to a greeter as they leave the store — entirely avoiding checkout lines and physical payment terminals, Business Insider reported.

After testing earlier this year, the retailer is rolling out Scan & Go to more than a dozen stores in Texas, Florida, South Dakota, Arkansas, Georgia and Kentucky, the reported stated. Customers who want to try it need to download Walmart’s Scan & Go app to their smartphones.

Shoppers without smartphones can take advantage of similar capabilities with hand-held scanners provided by Walmart. Additionally, users of the Scan & Go app who don’t want to save credit card info in the app also have the option of visiting a self-checkout register in-store to pay.”

US Retailer Tilly’s launches an augmented reality scavenger hunt

http://www.mobilemarketer.com/news/tillys-taps-ar-and-youtube-star-shonduras-for-in-store-push/448509/

“Tilly’s, the teen retailer with 221 stores in the U.S., launched a mobile scavenger hunt this week that urges shoppers to visit its stores and win discounts, according to documents made available to Mobile Marketer. The promotion uses augmented reality (AR) to let app users search stores for prizes.

Shonduras, the online star with more than 1 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, is hosting the contest and frequently hints to mobile users where to collect virtual coins in stores.”

..and More..

Alibaba has signed a deal to turn Macau into a smart city

http://www.alizila.com/alibaba-signs-smart-city-development-deal-macau/

“Alibaba Group on Friday signed an agreement to help Macau transform itself into a “smart city” via cloud-computing technology.

Under terms of the four-year partnership, China’s largest online and mobile marketplace said it will leverage the group’s cloud-computing technologies to collaborate with the Macau government to foster development of tourism, transportation, healthcare, city governance and talent-nurturing.”

A new Asian reality show is trying to find the best undiscovered eSports players

https://www.techinasia.com/sput-esports-reality-tv-show

“Singapore-based media and events firm Spout360 has launched a new project to help kickstart a more vibrant Southeast Asian video gaming culture, he tells Tech in Asia. In part, because he’s passionate about esports, but also because he thinks it’s a business opportunity worth investing in.

The latest project is a 32-part reality TV show. “Think Big Brother meets American Idol,” Teo says.

The show’s goal is to unearth Southeast Asia’s new generation of gaming talent, which will feed into the funnel of Spout’s other interest: digital media, talent management, and events.”

VR at theme parks — Disney is working on a Star Wars attraction

https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/3/16084460/star-wars-secrets-of-the-empire-disney-the-void-virtual-reality

“The project is a collaboration between The Void, Lucasfilm, and Industrial Light & Magic’s immersive entertainment division, ILMxLAB. Similar to previous Void attractions, like Ghostbusters: Dimensions, Secrets of the Empire will be a VR experience that guests can see, touch, and interact with. Visitors walk through a physical stage and sets, with the virtual world mapped on top of it thanks to a customized head-mounted display, haptic vest, and backpack computer. If you see a virtual wall, you can actually touch it, and if there’s a virtual chair, you can sit in it. Combine that with sensory elements like smells, heat, or mist, and The Void provides an overall experience that we’ve found uniquely impressive.”

Johnnie Walker on Indiegogo — buy a unique bottle

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/johnnie-walker-my-edition-gift#/

“Your own My Edition will be crafted by carefully combining these different whiskies to produce a blend that is perfectly matched to your unique taste. Once you’ve crafted your personal whisky, you’ll be able to customise the packaging it comes in, with a range of bespoke design options to craft a bottle that reflects your unique style using the latest technology.”

Rimmel launches an AR tool for Facebook’s in-app camera

http://www.mobilemarketer.com/news/rimmel-london-debuts-ar-makeup-tool-for-facebooks-in-app-camera/448721/

“Coty’s Rimmel London cosmetics brand debuted a series of virtual try-on effects within Facebook’s in-app camera and Stories feature, according to a press release made available to Mobile Marketer. The augmented reality (AR) features let users virtually sample several of the brand’s eyeliner looks in the app and post them directly to the social network.

The feature builds upon the brand’s private AR app “Get the Look,” which rolled out in March. Rimmel brought the feature to Facebook because 55% of users said the social network is their primary source of beauty inspiration, according to a survey by GfK.”

Tile has sold over 10m location trackers

https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/08/tiles-new-lost-item-trackers-have-double-the-range-better-looks/

“On the heels of a $25 million funding round, connected device maker Tile is today rolling out a more premium line of lost item trackers, with the launch of its Tile Pro series. The line today includes two new devices, a dark slate-and-graphite Tile Sport and a white-and-gold Tile Style. Beyond their more fashionable look, these Pro trackers include upgraded internals, allowing the devices to be located from further away. They also offer a louder ring, better water resistance, and improved durability.

Tile is one of the most popular lost item trackers on the market. The company, to date, has now sold over 10 million of its Bluetooth-connected dongles that work with an app on your phone to help you find misplaced items, like your keys, purse, wallet, tablets, laptops, luggage and more.”

Xiaomi is now leading in wearable shipments

https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/10/wearables-are-still-growing-globally-thanks-to-xiaomi/

“Last week Strategy Analytics noted that the Chinese company had taken charge of global shipments for the first time ever, following Fitbit’s middling financial report, and that assessment is reflected in these numbers.

Canalys’s numbers (which are a bit lower than SA’s) put Xiaomi in first place at 3.5 million shipments, just edging Fitbit’s 3.3 million. What’s more notable than the photo finish however, is Fitbit’s on-going struggles, which find the company dropping a full 34-percent year over year. It’s an almost complete reversal of last year’s 36-percent year over year growth. Apple’s number also dropped in the report, with company’s smartwatch moving to third place at 2.7 million shipments.”

Vogue & Google launch a VR show where you see inside the wardrobes of models

https://vrscout.com/news/kendall-jenner-closet-vr-vogue/

“Condé Nast Entertainment and Google Daydream have unveiled a new VR series today that takes you inside the closets of some of the most iconic Vogue cover supermodels.

The first episode transports you into the closet of Kendall Jenner, where she takes you on a roughly 4-minute tour showing off her favorite vintage Hermes handbag, matching pajamas, and even some boots Kanye West gave her. Available exclusively on Vogue’s YouTube channel, the VR series is a celebration of Vogue’s 125th anniversary and this year’s upcoming September issue.”

Love these — some great examples of new ways of shopping

http://www.alizila.com/joe-tsai-alibaba-economy-new-retail/

“In traditional retail, the shopper goes into a store and buys what’s only available on the shelf, and they come away with bags of stuff to bring home.

Imagine a store where you can pick items from the shelf, and at the same time, purchase other items not from the shelf, but from your mobile phone. And then you tell the store to send everything you just bought to your home because you need to go catch a movie.

Another example: You buy groceries from your nearby supermarket. You only shop for what you need for dinner that night because you have no idea what you want to eat for the rest of the week.

Next day, you remember seeing something from the same store but you had no time to go because you had to rush home, so you order it on your mobile phone on the way home. The same store, the one you visited yesterday, is the same store that handles your online order today and delivers the item to your home.

That’s the kind of spontaneity, convenience and speed that modern day consumers are going to expect. And Alibaba is setting the standard for fulfilling this high expectation. What makes New Retail possible is Alibaba’s scale, technology, consumer insights and ability to innovate.”

Google Maps now lets you see inside some homes

http://uk.businessinsider.com/use-google-earths-new-feature-to-learn-about-people-around-the-world-2017-8

“If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to grow up in a completely different society, there’s a fun way to find out using Google Earth. With the latest update to Google’s “This is Home” project, you can take a look into twenty-two “traditional” homes around the world.

Using the Street View feature, you can step inside a fascinating assortment of dwellings, from mud huts to farmhouses. It’s an eye-opening experience that lets you look around the house, study the various objects and furniture, and read all about the people who live there.”

The #Hashtag is 10 years old

http://avc.com/2017/08/the-hashtag/

On 23rd August 2007 twitter user Chris Messina first used the # symbol in a tweet to try to create a searchable term for tweets around groups. Since then its become ubiquitous in culture, on the end of ads, even in spoken form. #RaiseAGlass!

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