News

Google rolled out new search results for desktop users. The font size is bigger, the search results are no longer underlined and the ads are no longer seen in a yellow-colored box. The search giant has been experimenting with search redesign since last fall, when it first began bringing out similar changes for mobile users. The changes in the layout were rolled out on a limited basis a couple of weeks back. Most users thought their search was hijacked; and some thought it was a Google hoax. The confusion was cleared when Google's Jon Wiley posted on his G+ page about it.

Get ready for insta-ads-  the photo and video sharing network has signed a deal with ad agency Omnicom. Last year Instagram had experimented with sponsored posts for brands such as Michael Kors and Ben & Jerry's. The value of the deal remains unknown -  Forbes reported the deal was worth $100 million, bloomberg pegged it at $50 million and Adweek's report mentioned it worth $40 million.  

(Michael Kors' Instagram ad as seen on desktop)

What travels faster than light? Gossip on social media. Remember in 2012 when a fake report on Amitabh Bacchan dying in a car crash was doing the rounds on social media? Or the Twitter hoax suggesting Justin Bieber has cancer and the pop star has urged his fans to go bald. #BaldforBieber started to trend in the US and many of his fans ( particularly teenage girls) shaved their heads in solidarity. 

Google made updates to its Place Quality Guidelines . 

A year ago, Twitter released Vine, an oddly green app that let users film six-second videos.

Procter & Gamble is investing almost a third of its media spend in digital, social and mobile as it looks for ways to improve marketing efficiency through clearer messages and better targeting.

All Pinterest users can now play and pause GIFs within pinboards, a feature previously unavailable. When users come across a GIF within Pinterest, it will now show a small "p

Lowe Lintas beat its rival Ogilvy & Mather by 35 points to win the coveted title. However, Ogilvy won the Grand Effie for Lifebuoy Soap's Roti campaign. McCann Worldgroup and JWT finished third and fourth, respectively.

Samsung may launch a competitor to Google Glass as early as September at the IFA trade show in Berlin.