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Clik here to view.Key takeaways

• Apple announced a number of updates at WWDC 2013; we ask our team what new platforms such as iOS 7 could mean for industry and whether operating systems are becoming less differentiated
• Facebook has introduced clickable hashtags, giving potential for wider reach and better targeting for enterprises
• Forbes has released its list of top marketing influencers

Apple WWDC 2013: Are technology platforms becoming less differentiated?

The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2013 (Apple WWDC 2013) has dominated the tech airwaves with multiple announcements, including the iOS 7 platform bragging enhanced features and the ‘future of desktop’ Mac Pro.

Some analysts have welcomed the new iOS 7 features, others have found the design of the new platform ‘simply confusing’ with a lack of clear direction, and then there have been quips about similarity to other interfaces such as Android and the Windows Phone.

The team verdict

We asked our team what impact this and other new platforms would have in terms of mobile design, development and differentiation, especially within the enterprise environment:

• Rob Chan: “The differences between iOS and Android are becoming fewer and fewer. Currently, mobile platforms are a headache for developers who need to support multiple device types. Apple keeps things simple with one size/resolution whereas Android has outsourced its platform to Samsung/HTC/LG that all make different resolution phones, making designing for the user experience increasingly difficult. However as standards converge the ‘advantage’ that Apple has will be less significant.”
• Simon Doukas: “For me the most interesting update from the conference is the iOS 7 interface design. It looks like Jonny Ive (VP Apple Industrial Design) has taken a much more contemporary approach since taking over the OS division.”
• Emmanuel Churchley: “Simplicity of design is in line with the already underway flat design approach – and more will follow. Applications of the new platform for enterprise could be broader than initially thought. However new platforms alone won’t cause changes – enterprises need to want to make the change and then utilise the best approach for their employees and stakeholders.”

Facebook joins in on trending with clickable hashtags

Facebook has enabled use of hashtags, in response to their popularity on other social media platforms, as well as growing use by its users. Hashtags from third party posts (for example, Instagram and Twitter) will also be recognised and clickable.

Facebook has a history of taking a reactive approach to user trends. Back in 2011, status updates were changed to be more ‘Twitter-esque’ by allowing mentions via the ‘@’ symbol. This reaction isn’t much different given users are already adding hashtags in front of trending topics.

Many companies will already be incorporating hashtags into other social media platforms, and they’ll be a must for marketers. Key benefits and uses for businesses will be in the opportunity for wider reach and being able to monitor and measure topics of interest. For advertisers, Facebook has just opened the door to another data gathering metric – they can expect to directly target advertising based on hashtags as well as expect Facebook to have more demographic and psychographic information available.

Forbes’ top marketing influencer is…

Finally, a shout out to our National Digital Change Leader, John Riccio on being rated one of the top influential executives in marketing by Forbes Insights.

The post Finger on the Pulse: Apple WWDC 2013; Facebook’s clickable hashtags; Forbes’ top marketing influencer appeared first on Digital Pulse - Disruption, Innovation and Industry Change.