It's only taken three months, but we *think* we may be able to serve up a Digital News Round Up that doesn't mention the Coronavirus - wish us luck!
Google Chrome to update ads
To provide users with improved battery life, processing power and data, Google's browser, Chrome, will begin tackling display ads that consume a disproportionate share of device resources over the upcoming months. Google will specifically be targeting adverts that are badly programmed, cause unnecessary strain on networks, or mine cryptocurrency - which often consume battery and network data without the user even knowing.
They'll achieve this by limiting the resources a display ad can use before the user interacts with it. If an ad reaches its limit, the ad's frame will navigate to an error page, informing the user that the ad has used too many resources.
It's not just Magento 1 that's reaching end of life
Yes, it's true, we've been banging on about Magento 1 end of life for quite some time, but it's not just Magento that will be ending support for its previous platform version(s). Drupal, another popular, open-source, e-commerce CMS system, will be releasing its newest version, Drupal 9, next month. This will be followed with the ‘end of life’ for Drupal 7 and Drupal 8 in November 2021.
Although Drupal have assured their users that the migration from 8 to 9 will be "an easy transition", it must be considered that they're recommending any of the remaining 700,000 Drupal 7 sites to migrate to 8 before 9, as the transition from 7 to 8 is so significant. It requires substantial planning of technological restructuring and coding. So, perhaps our fondness of Magento speaks for itself in this case? Get in touch to find out more if you’re interested in moving from Drupal to a Magento site.
Even models can work from home with AI technologies
Okay, we've cheated a little on this one. But, even before the whole 'covid-19' situation fully hit, online clothing retailer ASOS had begun testing AI technologies to 'digitally-fit' their models. This is meant to easily allow users to view products and their differing sizes, fits and cuts.
The 'See My Fit' tool works by digitally mapping each product onto models in a "realistic way". This not only provides benefits to the user, but also to the ASOS team, allowing them to safely social distance and, in most cases, work from home.
Forget fake news
This month, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into fake and misleading reviews on several major websites, to examine whether online shops were "doing enough" to protect online customers. Fake and misleading reviews are illegal under consumer protection law - banning traders from pretending to be consumers of their own products etc.
However, consumer group, Which?, revealed that in just one month they found 55,000 posts offering free products to those who wrote good reviews on Amazon. These reviews may be picked up under the investigation, which will cover areas such as:
- 'suspicious reviews', where one person has reviewed "an unlikely range" of products
- 'manipulated reviews,' such as the combining of good reviews for several products together
- 'paid-for reviews'
That’s one less excuse for all those unnecessary purchases then...
Want to know more? Get in touch :)