1. In a move that could help to accelerate the development of metaverse technology, a group of leading companies and organizations have formed a standards group dedicated to fostering open, interoperable standards. The Metaverse Standards Forum, which includes Adobe, Epic Games, Meta, Microsoft, and more than 30 other companies and organizations, will
explore where the lack of interoperability holds back metaverse deployment and how the work of Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) can help to address those challenges.
2. DistroTV, an independent free ad-supported streaming TV channel provider, is expanding its core content library by triple digits. The company is adding 120 new FAST channels, marking 87% channel growth year over year, and bringing DistroTV’s tally to more than 270. The channels span news, media and entertainment, sports and lifestyle. Distro is also touting a multicultural slate with new offerings from Nigeria, the Philippines and
India. In addition to the content expansion, DistroTV has also improved its user interface and introduced new features such as picture-in-picture mode and closed captioning support. With these changes, DistroTV is positioned to offer a compelling alternative to traditional cable television.
3. GroupM, the world's largest advertising company, plans to release findings of a year-long analysis of ways to calculate the impact media has on carbon emissions. The company hopes to make its findings an industry standard by the end of the year. "Let's get a version that we can have working by the end of the year and then continually improve that," said Ollie Joyce, GroupM's global chief transformation officer. The move comes as advertisers
are under pressure to address their environmental impact. In 2019, Unilever, one of the world's largest advertisers, announced it would only work with platforms that take action on climate change. As awareness of the need to address climate change grows, it is becoming increasingly important for advertisers to consider their own impact on the environment. GroupM's move to publish its findings on media's impact on carbon emissions is a step in the right direction.
4. As any Netflix subscriber knows, watching movies and TV shows on the platform is a ad-free experience. That could soon change, as the company is reportedly in talks with potential advertising partners about introducing a low-cost, ad-supported subscription option. Google is said to be one of the companies being contacted about the possibility of selling ads on Netflix. Nothing has been decided yet, but it's clear that Netflix is considering
adding ads to its platform in order to make it more affordable for subscribers. This would be a major change for the streaming service, and it remains to be seen how users would react to seeing commercials while they're trying to watch their favorite shows.
5. LinkedIn may be best known as a place to recruit new talent, but during a presentation at the Cannes Lions Tuesday, its CEO gave agencies a big tip on how to recruit new business: Check out the site’s “new B2B categories.”
“For the advertising industry, these new B2B categories – and the businesses like them – that’s where the growth is going to come from,” LinkedIn Ryan Roslansky told Cannes delegates gathered to hear him in the Palais.
So there you have it, ad agencies. If you want to find new business opportunities, just head over to LinkedIn and check out its new B2B categories. And while you’re at it, maybe take a look at some of the site’s other features, like its job board, company profiles and groups. You might just find your next big client – or your next great hire.
6. Google is known for its simple, straightforward design. But with its latest redesign of Google News, the internet giant is shaking things up a bit. The new look features three different columns on the home page, each dedicated to a different kind of news: Your Briefing, Local news, and Top Picks. You can also customize the page to include only the topics that you're interested in. While it's not clear why Google decided to make this change,
one thing is certain: the new design is sure to be a hit with users who appreciate a more personalized experience.
7. In what could be one of Twitter’s more significant changes since doubling the character count from 140 to 280 characters, the company is preparing to launch a new feature that would support the direct publishing of long-form content on its platform. With Twitter Notes, as the upcoming feature is called, users will be able to create articles using rich formatting and uploaded media, which can then be tweeted and shared with followers upon
publishing.
8. Adobe has started testing a free-to-use version of Photoshop on the web and plans to open the service up to everyone as a way to introduce more users to the app. However, some people are worried that this may lead to more people using pirated versions of the software. The company is now testing the free version in Canada, where users are able to access Photoshop on the web through a free Adobe
account. Adobe describes the service as “freemium” and eventually plans to gate off some features that will be available for purchase. While many people are excited about the prospect of being able to use Photoshop for free, some worry that this may lead to more people using pirated versions of the software. Only time will tell if Adobe’s plan will be successful or not, but it’s definitely an interesting experiment worth watching.
9. Meta is adding some new creator monetization options, including new metaverse and Web3-aligned options, as it looks to build the next platform for creative expression and engagement, and ensure that it keeps its top stars posting to its apps into the future. The new options will allow creators to be paid in MetaCoin (MTC) for their content, as well as other virtual currencies, and will also allow them to sell digital goods and services
directly to fans. In addition, Meta is also introducing a new Creator Academy, which will offer courses and resources to help creators monetize their content on the platform. With these new tools, Meta is positioning itself as the go-to destination for creatives looking to build a career in the metaverse.
10. Wordpress is encouraging theme authors to switch to locally-hosted theme fonts. Why? Because solutions like Google-hosted fonts expose visitors' IP addresses, and that violates the GDPR. Oops. It looks like the Google didn't think this one through. Now, they are scrambling to find a solution that will protect people's data while still allowing them to use their preferred fonts. In the meantime, theme authors are stuck using less-than-ideal
fonts. Let's hope the CMS can sort this mess out soon.
