Facebook beat estimates for Q1 reporting $8.03 billion in revenue. The social network reached 1.94 billion users, up from 1.86 billion last quarter, growing at a rate of 4.3 per cent, compared to 3.91 per cent last quarter. Facebook is on track to hit two billion total users in Q2.
Facebook has debuted a Twitter-like Latest Conversations feature that shows public posts about buzzing topics, exposing users to sentiments outside their social circles. Latest Conversations appears as its own section within search results and includes live-updating showing how many people are talking about the topic.
Spotify has introduced QR-like codes for easy music sharing with nearby users. A Spotify Code, can now be found under individual songs, playlists, and albums. A click of the camera icon next to the app’s search bar brings up the scanning option.
Snap Inc. is launching a new free, self-serve ad manager next month for buying video Snap Ads, aimed at smaller businesses. A new Snapchat Mobile Dashboard will allow campaigns to be tracked from your phone, while a Business Manager site will configure the roles and permissions of team members. Until now, Snap Ads could only be purchased through Snap’s sales team or third-party ad tools.
PressReader is partnering with Bell Mobility to offer mobile access to its catalogue of local, national and international publications. Bell Mobility customers can now add PressReader access to their monthly account for $10. PressReader has partnerships with publishers including the National Post, Vancouver Sun, Toronto Star, Le Devoir, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Forbes, Hockey News, and Elle and is the singular rights holders to distribute news content from mainland China.
Stingray Digital Group Inc. has acquired Israel-based Yokee Music Ltd. and its popular social music apps Yokee, Yokee Guitar, and Yokee Piano. Together, the apps have reached over 80 million downloads in four years and gained four million monthly users. While financial details weren’t disclosed, Israeli media reports suggest the value of the acquisition was $30-40 million.
The Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPAs), produced by Masthead magazine, has issued a call for entries with the deadline July 14. Entering its 9th year. The COPAs have introduced new awards for investigative story, photojournalism, sports article, lifestyle article and company profile. All entries must have been produced between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017. The awards will be handed out Nov. 13 in Toronto.
