1. Facebook Timeline for all

On Tuesday, Facebook announced that Timeline will soon be activated for all users.

Facebook Timeline was introduced last September at the annual f8 conference in San Francisco. In December, Facebook began giving all users the opportunity to switch over. All you had to do to get Facebook Timeline was click the ‘Get Timeline’ button on the Introducing Timeline page, rather than going through the multi-step process of creating a developer account.

Facebook Timeline, for those of us already using it, has meant a whole lot of changes and new features. Timeline neatly packages your life events in the form of photos, status updates and wall posts.



Will you miss the old Facebook profile? Let us know by commenting below.

2. Twitter to censor content in some countries

Twitter is giving itself the right to withhold content in specific countries, while keeping that content available for the rest of the world, the company announced Thursday.

Until now, the only way for Twitter to censor content was to universally eliminate it from the site. This change means content deemed inappropriate by a specific government can be withheld locally, explains a blog post called “The Tweets Still Must Flow.”

If and when content is withheld, affected users will be notified of either an account or tweet’s censorship.

3. YouTube changes again

Building off its homepage redesign in December, YouTube is rolling out design updates to other aspects of its site.

The changes include updates to the Browse page, Video Editor and Video Manager and align with the overall rebranding that Google has pushed out to the majority of its sites and products.

The Browse page now boasts a cleaner design with a focus on discovering new channels and videos. YouTube displays the most viewed videos as well as recommendations based on your past viewing habits.

4. Twitter Lets Employees Loose at Hack Week

Twitter announced this week that is has been hacked by more than 100 coders and developers.

But don’t go cancelling your account. This is all part of Twitter’s official 2012 Hack Week, a week-long event where employees from across the company are given time away from their desks to hack Twitter, coming up with new tools, ideas and designs to make the Twitter experience even better.

“Hack Week is one of the ways we actively promote innovation through experimentation around the company,” the company wrote in a blog post. “This week, a wide range of folks here are taking time away from their day-to-day work to collaborate and develop ideas that they are passionate about.”

5. 20 things that happened on the internet in 2011: Can you spot them?



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The GWH -NHS Foundation Trust has become more social media savvy and has begun to use Facebook and Twitter to communicate with visitors, general public members and hospital patients regarding queries, concerns, fundraising and  public events.

The chance to be able to communicate with GWH with a mouse click is appreciated by patients and the general public alike, as evidenced by the positive comments posted on their Facebook wall.

Currently, local folks are invited to become part of the popular social-network sites to keep up on the latest Great Western Hospital news. One spokesman from GWH says that they are always searching for new methods of communication with their members, patients and the public and Twitter makes this easy.

In addition, those who want to become employed by GWH are invited to be a part of the Facebook and Twitter accounts of the trust. The new developments and latest news of the trust are regularly updated on Facebook and Twitter. These are two additional ways that people can remain informed about useful information regarding health, hospital events and new developments.

You can follow The Great Western Hospital @GWH_NHS.

Want to increase your hospital’s online presence? At Nitro Digital, we have over a decade of experience delivering social media projects for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry. Get in touch by calling 0844 450 5545 or email info@nitro-digital.co.uk.

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Welcome to this week’s social media news.

1. Twitter unhappy about Google’s social search changes

Twitter has complained about changes made by Google to integrate its social network Google+ into search results. The new feature, called Search plus Your World, will automatically push results from Google+ up the search rankings.

Twitter argued that; “For years, people have relied on Google to deliver the most relevant results any time they wanted to find something on the internet. Often, they want to know more about world events and breaking news. As we’ve seen time and time again, news breaks first on Twitter; as a result, Twitter accounts and tweets are often the most relevant results. We’re concerned that as a result of Google’s changes, finding this information will be much harder for everyone.”

Do you think Google’s new search algorithm will decrease search accuracy when it comes to news and world events? Let us know by commenting below.2. London Olympics restricts volunteers Twitter and Facebook use

London 2012 Olympics volunteers have been banned from posting updates and photos to Twitter, Facebook and other social networks. The London Organising Committee announced Friday that Games Makers, the 70,000 person volunteer squad, cannot post their roles, locations, or details about the athletes and other VIPs online.

Broadcasting our whereabouts on Foursquare or snapping an Instagam of a celebrity sighting have become second nature for many of us. While athletes are permitted to tweet or post Facebook updates, the London Organising Committee has made a decision that will limit the citizen discussion of Olympic events.

Do you think these social media restrictions will be possible to monitor effectively?



3. Creative use of Facebook Timeline

Israel’s Anti-Drugs Authority along with agency McCann Israel makes creative use of the Facebook Timeline’s design, which splits your profile content evenly down the middle. A profile for “Adam Barak” compares pictures of the fictional character over the course of a year – on one side, he is on drugs, on the other, he is not, effectively capturing the split personality of a drug-user.

Of course, Facebook Timeline is not open to brands yet, but since this is still a real profile of a person – albeit an imaginary one – this may just slide past Facebook’s policy.



4. Social Media Tracks Haiti’s Cholera Epidemic

Public health systems may be losing their monopoly on data about outbreaks of disease.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital Boston found that news reports and social media can also collect accurate data, and deliver those results faster than government agencies.

When the cholera epidemic began in Haiti in late 2010, clinics and hospitals began sending reports to the Ministry of Public Health, which tracked the spread of the disease.

Is social media the solution to disease prevention? Let us know by commenting below.



5. What does your Tweet smell like?

A company has found a way to incorporate smells into the Internet. Imagine, your significant other mentions you on Twitter and magically you smell his/her perfume. If someone tags you in a Facebook video, the scent of buttered popcorn or fruit fills the room. Olly makes an Internet with smell possible.

Olly — a web-connected smelly robot — created by London and New York-based company called Mint Foundry will give all your online notifications a scent. The creators figured since the web incorporates sight and sound, it’s time to experience it in a different way.

Olly would scent anything from a tweet on Twitter, Like on Instagram, to a photo tag on Facebook.

As seen in the video, Olly is a compact white box that has a removable space in the back that can be filled with any scent you desire. The company suggests essential oils, fruit, perfume, cologne or a drop of gin. They can be stacked, so you can give all your online accounts a different smell.

Cool or pointless? Would you consider adding a scent to your Twitter/Facebook account?

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Having had our Secret Santa and our 1920’s themed Christmas Party last week, we have been feeling very festive here at Nitro Digital! We would like to therefore take the chance to say a BIG Merry Christmas to all of you lovely people out there!

To further foster this season’s festivities, we have compiled a collection of Christmas social media campaigns that have caught our eyes this past month.

1) Heineken’s Digital Christmas Tree

Heineken’s digital Christmas tree combines tradition with technology in a truly innovative way.

The 11 meter high structure in Clarke Quay, Singapore, which consists of 48 LCD screens, displays messages sent from Heineken’s Facebook Page. On the page, people select a message, choose friends to tag and choose a design style for the message. The message is then sent to one of the screens on the tree.

2) Google’s ‘let it snow’ and ‘Christmas’ tech twist

Google has been fostering our Christmas spirit through its festive browser. Type ‘let it snow’ into your browser and watch snowflakes slowly appear on your screen. Similarly, Christmas decorations appear underneath the search bar when you type ‘Christmas’.

3) O2 Twitter Christmas Campaign

Thanks to O2’s ambitious festive social media campaign, this year, you have the chance to receive a personal video message direct from Santa Claus himself!

Anyone with a Twitter account can send their Christmas messages to the O2 Santa via the company’s @O2 handle using the #O2Santa hash tag and a personal video message is then created for the user to share.

4) Local Christmas decoration competition

Two councilmen and one mayor in New Jersey have decided to lighten up this year’s holiday festivities with a house decoration competition organised through Facebook where visitors can post pictures of their fully decorated homes. And it is for a good cause as the competition was organised to help local struggling city libraries.

5)   The Krispy Kream Christmas Sing Along

Krispy Kream has created a festive sing along video celebrating a ‘Dozen Days of Doughnuts’.

If you want to find out about our social media marketing services, give us a call on 0844 450 5545 or email us on info@nitro-digital.co.uk.

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Welcome to this week’s social media news! Hope you are all feeling festive!

Google ‘let it snow’ brings Christmas to your browser

If you’re yet to get into the Christmas spirit, allow Google to help, and with a tech twist. Type ‘let it snow’ into the search engine, and snowflakes will start falling from the top of the screen. Not only that, the screen will start misting up too. You can even write in it by dragging the cursor, just like wiping your finger over a misted-up car window.

All I want for Christmas is…. Siri?

Apple’s new iPhone spot does an unusual thing for an advertisement: It doesn’t mention the iPhone at all. The advert is a commercial for the iPhone 4S’s digital assistant, Siri, used by Santa himself!

KML to offer mile-high dating via Facebook

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has taken bli8nd-dating to new heights by launching an initiative that will allow customers to pick their seat-mates on Facebook.

The pilot programme is being praised for those people who are sick of being stuck next to crying babies or the passenger from hell – or for those simply looking for mile-high love.

The airline announced its plans to start a “meet and seat” service early next year that will link travellers’ Facebook and LinkedIn profiles to their check-in information.

Would you use ‘meet and seat’? Let us know by commenting below.

O2 is spreading Christmas cheer through its social media campaign

Thanks to O2’s ambitious festive social media campaign, this year, you have the chance to receive a personal video message direct from Santa Claus himself!

Anyone with a Twitter account can send their Christmas messages to the O2 Santa via the company’s @O2 handle using the #O2Santa hash tag and a personal video message is then created for the user to share.

Angry Birds UK activity park to launch in 2012

The first Angry Birds activity parks are going to launch next year, featuring slides and rope swings based on the hugely popular app.

Having already made a fortune out of a merchandise range featuring the games’ popular characters, such as soft toys and jumpers, there will now be a series of Angry Birds-themed parks around the world.

Rovio, Angry Birds’s Finnish parent company, has just signed a global deal with activity park manufacturer Lappset Group, which has already started creating themed swings, slides and towers.

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Welcome to this week’s social media news!

Stumble Upon branded pages

Last Monday, StumbleUpon’s website has been revamped to include a new logo, design and a channel feature that gives brands a non-intrusive role in the service.

While the social web discovery site sported a green and blue logo with its initials, SU, winding through it Sunday, it switched to an orange logo that includes more abstract initials Monday. The website’s once Facebook-like design has been reworked to be visually driven, and a new StumbleUpon Bar integrates the Explore box that the company launched in August (the Social Bar, which launched on the iPad app in July, is still nowhere to be found).

What do you make of the new StumbleUpon design? Let us know by commenting below.

Google is bringing high-end gaming to Chrome

Google is bringing console quality to your browser with heavy hitters like Supergiant and Square Enix porting fan favourites in the months to come.

Google showcased the power of its Chrome browser recently, announcing a slew of new console-quality browser games exclusive to Chrome. Among the companies utilising the browser’s Native Client feature include Square Enix, Bungie and Unity Technologies.

Google plans to combine Gmail with Google+ Circles

While Google+ features continue to slowly seep into other Google-owned products, Gmail is getting some social love with a direct tie into the Google+ Circles system.

Mentioned on the official Gmail blog last week, Google announced plans to integrate Google+ Circles into the Gmail interface and has already started rolling out this new feature on Gmail accounts. On the left side of the interface, Gmail users will find a new link that brings up all Circles connected to their Google+ account. Users have the ability to add someone to a Circle through the Gmail interface. When clicking on an email from any contact that also has a Google+ account, Gmail users will be able to view the most recent Google+ wall post from that person on the right hand side of the screen next to the email message.

Twitter introduces brand pages

Last Thursday, Twitter announced a program for Facebook-style brand pages. The announcement, which was coupled with the introduction of a major redesign, will expand the number of brand pages on the platform. Launch partners for the pages include American Express, Best Buy, Bing, Chevrolet, Coca-Cola, Dell, Disney, General Electric, Hewlitt-Packard, Intel, JetBlue, Kia, McDonald’s, Nike, PepsiCo, Staples, Verizon Wireless, NYSE Euronext, Heineken, Subway and Paramount Pictures, specifically for the release of Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol.

Angry birds dress makes big fashion statement

Angry Birds has made its way into fashion before with the introduction of t-shirts and accessories, but the wife of a Rovio executive is taking the brand to a whole new level with an off-the-shoulder ballroom gown that pays tribute to the widely popular game.

Teija Vesterbacka – who is married to Peter, CMO of the company that created the game – wore an Angry Birds dress to an event on Tuesday night at the Finish Presidential Palace to celebrate Finland’s independence. The red dress features the iconic face of one of the Angry Birds characters.

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Google+ Launches Branded Pages

Last Tuesday, Google+ launched branded pages, which allows businesses and brands to join the Google+ network. Unlike on Facebook’s branded pages, on Google+ brands cannot hold competitions and promotions on their pages, they can however make use of Google’s group video chat feature ‘Hangout’ to connect with their consumers and business partners. The pages currently only allow the creator of the page to make edits, but multiple-admin options are promised to be available shortly.

What are your thoughts on Google+’s new branded pages? Let us know by commenting below.

Disney to sign a deal with YouTube

Disney and YouTube are set to announce a content partnership worth $10million to $15million, The New York Times reports.

Under the terms of the agreement, YouTube will invest millions of dollars on an original video series produced by Disney and distributed exclusively through a new co-branded channel on both YouTube and Disney.com.

The deal also makes sense for YouTube, which is always on the lookout for more original, quality content and strong brand partners. However, Robert Kyncl, YouTube’s global head for content partnerships, emphasized that YouTube will be a neutral distributor and is not planning to go into the production business.

Twitter Adds ‘Activity Panel’

Last Wednesday, Twitter users received a notification when they logged into the site: “New! Activity / View favourites, follows, retweets and more by people you follow in Activity. / View your mentions, tweets that were retweeted and more in @.”

The new tabs appear below the message field, next to the tab for Timeline. To the right, the Searches and Lists tabs remain as they were before.

‘Activity’ condenses a few features and functions into one place. For example, it shows all the activity around marking favourites as well as following activity, such as when someone new follows you, or when someone you follow begins following a another person.

Do you think Twitter’s new activity feature enhances usability?

Twitter users most generous charitable donors on social media

New research suggests that Facebook users give to charity more often but Twitterers are more generous.

Data compiled via charitable website JustGiving suggests that Tweeters give £30, YouTube viewers give £28 and people on Facebook £18. LinkedIn users averaged £25 while users of the new Google+ social network currently donate an average of £17.77.

The research also suggests that charity supporters increasingly prefer to give directly through social channels. Those who donate to charity directly through Facebook using an app donate an average of £26.45, over 44 per cent more than those who are asked to click through to another website.

Why do you think social media so effective for charitable fundraising?

Banks are the least social companies in the UK

A new survey by UK-based MHP Communications has found that the most anti-social of all consumer-facing industries was the banking sector.

Findings show that just 16 percent of banks have a social media strategy in place, 28 percent are in the early stages of implementation and 41 percent of respondents are in the process of creating a social media strategy.

Are you surprised by these findings? Are banks really that anti-social? Let us know by commenting below.

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In July this year, Google asked brands to hold off using the consumer version of Google+, telling them that a version for businesses and brands would be launching towards the end of the year and it looks like this promise will soon be materialised.

Speaking at the Web 2.0 summit in San Francisco, Vic Gundotra, Google’s senior vice president, engineering, is reported to have said that brand pages will be arriving on the platform soon, “with clever surprises”.

Will your company be using Google+ brand pages?

Promoted tweets work “better than expected”

Last month, the social media world saw confirmation that promoted tweets worked despite being referred to as ‘intrusive’ by many social media analysts. This time around, there is further evidence showing that promoted tweets not only ‘work’ but they actually outperformed themselves. Twitter CEO Dick Costolo says “that thing is working better than we could have ever hoped” and that new ad formats are coming soon.

YouTube spreads images of Turkey’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake shook eastern Turkey on Sunday and YouTube was quickly flooded with videos of the destruction. While we’ve seen Twitter boast that it’s faster than earthquakes, when it comes to getting news from a population across the world, YouTube uploads add a needed level of depth and imagery. As many as 1,000 people are feared dead in the mountainous region, full of poorly constructed buildings and through YouTube, we can see exactly what the destruction they’re facing looks like.

Although a number of countries have pledged to help in the relief efforts, we are yet to see many campaigns mobilize online. You can donate to Global Giving, which is the first site we have seen with a targeted campaign set up.

YouTube now allows music partners to sell merchandise, downloads and event tickets

Last week, YouTube announced it will be rolling out a new feature in the coming weeks, which will allow music partners to sell merchandise, tickets and more via the site.

Through a feature called the Merch Store, YouTube partners will be able to sell artist merchandise, digital downloads, concert tickets and other experiences to fans and visitors. YouTube has partnered with a number of companies to launch these stores. Topspin is helping power merchandise sales, concert tickets and experiences; SongKick will help sell tickets for concerts; and iTunes and Amazon will power transactions for music downloads.

New social network combines Twitter, Blogging and Reddit

Chime.in, a new social network which combines Twitter Blogging and Reddit, made its public debut on Tuesday.

Unlike Twitter, which describes itself as an “information network”, Chime.in has been described as an “interest network”. Like other social networks, Chime.in lets users share content with others. It has a newsfeed, profile pages and a system for following other users. The social network doesn’t have status updates, though. Instead it has “chimes,” which are a cross between a Facebook status update and a blog post.

Will you be using Chime.in? Let us know by commenting below.

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Welcome to this week’s social media news!

1. iPhone 4S sets off on the right foot

After a high-profile launch last week, the new iPhone 4S got off to a shaky start as many were expecting more than a tweaked iPhone 4, which is essentially what the 4S is. It has a faster processor and better camera, along with an improved antenna on the hardware front – and Siri, the voice command assistant, on the software front.

However, any underwhelming feelings tech critics may have had didn’t translate over to punters as the iPhone 4S steamed to a record 1 million pre-orders in its first 24 hours on pre-sale (where the iPhone 4 managed 600,000).

Are you impressed with the iPhone 4S or still not convinced? Let us know by commenting below.

2. Twitter to Reformat all URLs with T.co

Twitter announced last Monday that it will soon begin reformatting all links posted to its service with t.co, regardless of length. Previously, only links that were 20 characters or greater were reformatted with t.co.

T.co is Twitter’s official URL shortener, which is designed to prevent malware and phishing attacks. Unlike other URL shorteners, such as bit.ly, Twitter displays the domain name in full so users know what they’re clicking on. Existing URL shorteners will continue to function as normal, although fewer characters will be displayed.

3. Google+ Traffic Falls 60 percent from post-launch highs

Traffic to Google+ spiked 1,200 percent in the first few days following its public launch September 20, but has since plummeted by 60 percent, according to a report from a data analytics company. Chitika tracked Google+ traffic before and after the social networking service opened its gates to all users. “The data shows that, on the day of its public debut, Google+ traffic skyrocketed to peak levels. But, soon after, traffic fell by over 60 percent as it returned to its normal, underwhelming state,” Chitika says of its findings, as illustrated in the chart below.

4. Twitter secures ‘tweet’ trademark

Twitter has settled a lawsuit that will give the company control over the “tweet” trademark, according to a new report.

Twitter doesn’t currently own the trademark to the term. Instead, Des Moines-based Twittad controls the trademark. Twittad, a provider of sponsored advertising on Twitter, has trademarked its tagline, “Let your ad meet tweets.” It also has trademarked various variations of the word “tweet.” Twitter and Twittad have long been in legal struggle over the trademark.

5. Facebook’s iPad App finally arrives

Facebook has finally launched its official iPad app, after months of speculations and leaks.

Facebook for iPad looks much like the version that leaked in July. The app is designed primarily as a consumption experience, which is why the app emphasizes photos. Photos take up the entire screen, and users can pinch to zoom in on them. Navigating through a photo album is done simply by swiping left or right.

The Facebook iPad App includes a left-hand navigation bar for accessing the News Feed, photos, messages, Groups and settings. Notifications, chat, status updates, search and Facebook’s other key features made the cut as well.

What do you think of the new Facebook iPad app? Let us know by commenting below.

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Welcome to this week’s social media news!

Facebook to Launch iPad App at Apple’s iPhone 5 Event

Facebook will launch its long-awaited iPad app at Apple’s iPhone 5 launch event on October 4^th. In addition to the iPad app, Facebook is also expected to release a revamped version of its iPhone app and may unveil an HTML5-based mobile app marketplace.

Amazon’s Kindle Fire Hits Apple Hard

With the Kindle Fire, Amazon is making its first foray into tablet computers, a market where Apple dominates with its iPad and nothing else has even made a dent. The Android-based Kindle Fire is merely the front-end of a set of end-to-end services which will deliver digital media from Amazon’s servers to people’s hands.

There is no doubt that the Fire is no iPad however, the main factor that differentiates it from the iPad is its price. The $199 (£128) price of the fire surprised almost everyone. It is $300 (£193) lower than the cheapest iPad 2. So even if it is not as fully featured, doesn’t work as smoothly and will launch with a laughably small number of apps (less than 1 percent of the number of apps available on the iPad, which is currently over 100,000), all of that may not matter. If it is good enough, millions of people will decide to buy it for $199 instead of spending $499 (£321) for an iPad.

Would you compromise for a less impressive iPad to save a little extra cash? Let us know by commenting below.

The New Facebook – Privacy Changes

Facebook took a huge step toward ubiquitous sharing with its new timeline and sharing features. But to Facebook’s credit, it has tread into a new level of sharing with some caution. In many ways, its privacy settings are more accessible. A new private activity log, for instance, allows you to review all past activity in one place to easily hide it from your Facebook Timeline, change the privacy setting on individual stories or delete posts altogether.

For a detailed overview on how to avoid three of the new Facebook’s potential privacy concerns click here.

Twitter shows we get up happy but get grumpier as day wears on

People around the world wake up feeling enthusiastic and alert but become slowly more negative throughout the working day, according to a study of Twitter messages. Researchers analysed more than 509 million posts from 2.4 million users of the micro-blogging website to study trends in their moods over a two-year period. They found that our outlook varies greatly depending on the time of day, the day of the week and whether the days are getting longer or shorter. In the morning we wake up full of optimism, but it declines during the day and only recovers after 6pm when the stresses of work are forgotten. Overall, British Twitter users were more optimistic than those in France and Portugal, but less than people in the USA and Australia, scoring slightly below average on a global scale.

Lego Combines the Digital and Physical in iPhone Game

Danish toy company Lego is pushing its toys into the mobile age with the Life of George iPhone app, which combines a digital and physical gaming experience.

The new Lego game consists of a free iPhone app, a set of bricks and a play mat that acts as a green screen. The goal is to build the image shown on the screen as fast as possible in real life. When players finish building the model they have to take a photo of the structure with their iPhone or iPod Touch to see if they succeeded. The app will calculate a score based on accuracy and speed.

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