Search Engine Optimization - Facebook Releases New, Faster iOS App - getFoundsem

Facebook Releases New, Faster iOS App

Facebook issued a massive update to its iOS app Thursday, with app version 5.0.
Facebook describes the app as being “rebuilt so it’s faster and easier to use.”
Once a template for how to design a great mobile app, Facebook for iOS has faced criticisms in the past 18 months for being slow and unresponsive.
Part of the reason behind the slowness was the old app’s reliance on HTML5. While HTML5 is a great way to build cross-platform, mobile-friendly apps and web pages, it’s not as fast for certain types of applications.
In June, two Facebook developers told The New York Times that they were working on rebuilding the iOS app in Objective-C and that the resulting app could be 2.5 times faster.
For iPad users, Timeline is finally supported on the device. We have to say, it looks great on the retina screen!
You can download Facebook for iOS [iTunes link] from the App Store. We’ll have a full hands-on look at the update for iPhone and iPad soon.
Facebook also issued a smaller update to Facebook for Android [Google Play link]. While not as far-reaching as the iOS update, the Android app now supports faster photo uploads and emoji in messages.

source: Mashable
by Christina Warren


http://www.getfoundsem.com 

Internet Marketing - Google+ Widens Rollout of Custom URLs - getFoundSEM

Google+ has started rolling out the custom URLs it first announced earlier this month to select users and brands — but the company says it may start charging for the shortened addresses in the future.
Instead of profiles being identified by a randomly assigned number string, the new wave of custom URL receivers are able to switch their profiles over to a simple, easy to find and remember URL. Mashable‘s own Google+ page, for example, can now be found at Google.com/+Mashable.
The Google+ team began notifying users Thursday morning of the option to claim a pre-approved custom URL or apply for a different one. Here’s an example of the emails users have received:
A look at the service’s updated Policies & Principles page, however, shows that Google+ users may eventually have to pay for their convenient, easy-to-use custom URLs.
“Custom URLs are free for now, but we may start charging a fee for them,” the terms-of-use page reads. “However, we will tell you before we start charging and give you the choice to stop participating first.”
Saurabh Sharma, a product manager at Google’s San Francisco office, wrote in a blog post earlier this month that the personalized addresses will eventually be “available to people and pages worldwide,” but did not specify an exact date.
Would you pay money for a custom social media URL, or is would that be an unfair charge? Share your opinion in the comments.

source:  Mashable
by Sam Laird

http://www.getfoundsem.com

Google Plus: Growth by Brute Force - getFound SEM

When Google’s new search feature “Search Plus” started favoring Google+ results several weeks ago, the change was immediately resisted by competing social networks like Twitter and Facebook. In addition to receiving negative publicity regarding the new Search Plus feature, an ongoing FTC investigation was expanded to further research the potential antitrust and privacy concerns of the new search feature. However, recent actions by Google demonstrates a firm commitment to the new feature and the Google+ social network.

During a phone call with investors last week, Google CEO Larry Page announced that Google+ has doubled in size over the past 90 days. Page also stated that the social network, which now has over 90 million users, has a high level of engagement from its users.
However, Google has been accused with artificially boosting the number of Google+ users as a result of “forcing” users to sign up for the service. Now, when a new user creates any type of Google account, the system requires that the user register a Gmail account, fill out a Google profile, and join Google+.
Google said the following regarding the recent change to the registration process:

“We hadn’t changed our Google Accounts sign-up flow in more than seven years so it was due for a refresh. We’re working to develop a consistent sign-up flow across our different products as part of our efforts to create an intuitive, beautifully simple, Google-wide user experience. Making it quick and easy to create a Google Account and a Google profile enables new users to take advantage of everything Google can offer.”

In the past, it was easy for a user to simply register for one service (i.e. Gmail) without the requirement to join Google+. In addition, the option of registering with an existing email address has now been removed.
Although Google automatically creates a Google+ account for all new users, it is easy to delete the Google+ profile in the accounts setting page.

[Sources Include: Google, ars technica, & Google Operating System]
by David Angotti