Hashtags now work the way they were meant to on Facebook

June 16, 2013June 20, 2013 ToniLeave a comment

Hashtags have arrived on Facebook.

As mentioned on The Social Media Hat, Facebook recently made an announcement that they will be rolling out the feature to users in the coming weeks. Up until now hashtags appeared as plain text in Facebook and were not able to be used to group search results by keyword or topic.

Hashtags now work the way they were meant to. Enter hashtags in the search bar

What this means

When you type a search by keyword or hashtag (for example #stateoforigin) in the Search bar in Facebook it groups together all the public posts from Facebook Pages and Profiles into one search listing – you need to make sure the hashtag already exists, so once you see someone use a hashtag you can click on it or type a new search. You can also find hashtags that are trending on Twitter or Google +.

What about my private posts, will they show up when someone searches using a hashtag?

In short no. Any posts that you set to private or viewable only by your Friends, will continue to be only viewable by your network. Only Public posts will appear when someone you don’t know searches on Facebook using a hashtag.

Try it today and see how it helps you find out what fellow Facebook users think about a particular topic or event.

Facebook Hashtags for Brands: What You Need to Know (jonloomer.com)
How Sports Teams Can Start Using Hashtags on Facebook (sportsnetworker.com)

Apple announces ios7 and a new range of Macs

June 12, 2013June 12, 2013 ToniLeave a comment

This morning as us Australians were sleeping, Apple held its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. (WWDC). This annual event is where Apple announces its new products and features for the year, it is so coveted that tickets to the event sold out in 71 seconds.

As reported in ABC’s WWDC live blog by Lauren Effron and Joanne Stern a range of new features are coming to our iPhones, iPods and iPads.

This operating system is known as ios7.

The updates are so huge that it will seem like you are getting a new iPhone, iPad or iPod.

If you are like me, you are already impatient about the wait to get ios7, however for now it is only available to developers. It will be available to the rest of us in the US Fall. Cue annoyed ‘I want it now’ face.

The next time you are asked to update the operating system on your mobile device you will get (assuming you have an iPhone 4, iPad or iPad Mini or iPod touch) these new features:

New look interface

A new look interface that is so unique and beautiful, you will want to cradle it. Assuming you don’t already do that. According to Forbes writer Anthony Forbes Kosner the new interface is “lushly colorful, subtly dimensional and exquisitely modern.”

New Control Center allowing short cuts to WiFi settings, better Multi tasking, Flashlight app and filters for Photos.

improvements to Siri

Password library known as Keychain where you can keep all your passwords securely

iTunes Radio

this is Apples answer to Spotify and Pandora, an online music streaming service, that is free with ads.

Apps will now update within the App Store and can you location services to suggest new apps near you.

New range of Mac Book Air laptops will be available and new Mac Book Pros are due out later this year.

For a complete list visit the ABC live blog

What do you think of ios7?

City of Lights – Vivid Sydney uses Facebook and Instagram to woo crowds

June 9, 2013June 13, 2013 ToniLeave a comment

Vivid Sydney is an annual light festival which transforms iconic Sydney landmarks into illuminated pieces of art for two weeks each year. Think of a trippy architect being let loose in the city with light installations.

Sydney Opera House during Vivid Light Festival 2013.

Over the last five years the festival has flourished to the point where crowds are so thick, Vivid’s Facebook page issues notices to Fans so they can avoid peak periods. And this is largely due to its use of Social Media.

Vivid has done a fabulous job of using social media to showcase the city light show. The public and both amateur and professional photographers are encouraged to post their pictures on Instagram using #vivid and #vividsydney as well as the Vivid’s Facebook page. By encouraging Fans to share pics to the Vivid Facebook page and their own social network, the level of engagement and reach is very high. The Facebook page currently has more than 140,000 Fans and a Klout score of 66.

One light projection has a touch screen which allows you to choose your own architectural light design. My attempt below shows how fluro you can get within the 2 min timeframe.