Google's Allo messaging app turns selfies into emojis

The new feature can create 563 quadrillion different faces.

By Rob Williams • May 15, 2017

Starbucks app vulnerable to hacking, fraudulent charges

The app's popularity and use of gift cards make it an attractive target. 

By Rob Williams • May 15, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Consumer Packaged Goods

If CPGs can adeptly adjust to emerging mandates, they have an opportunity to strengthen their brands.  

By Marketing Dive staff

Apple buys AI company Lattice Data

The acquired company specializes in using artificial intelligence to turn dark data into structured information.

By David Kirkpatrick • May 15, 2017

Gillette enters shave club business

The new direct-to-consumer service, an answer to the popularity of Dollar Shave Club, includes a text-to-reorder option.

By David Kirkpatrick • May 15, 2017

Pepsi flaunts Snapcodes in summer giveaways

Packaging marked with a special code unlocks a mobile game, lenses and filters.

By Rob Williams • May 12, 2017

Edmunds brings car-buying research to Amazon Alexa

The voice-enabled virtual assistant's value rises with each company that develops a skill.   

By Rob Williams • May 12, 2017

Mashable rolls out vertical video content series

Launch partners for the new Reels product include Sprint and McDonald's.

By Rob Williams • May 12, 2017

IBM's Watson brings voice commands to VR 'Star Trek' game

Players can put on their best Captain Kirk impression and take command of a virtual crew with the help of the AI's interactive speech and cognitive capabilities. 

By David Kirkpatrick • May 12, 2017

Facebook adds tools to measure offline lead generation

The social media giant hopes to help marketers understand what drives transactions and boosts customer acquisition.

By Rob Williams • May 11, 2017

Swirl Networks, AccuWeather partner on mobile location marketing

Weather forecasts could help retailers customize in-store promotions.

By Rob Williams • May 11, 2017

Google connects mobile searchers to nearby events

Finding concerts, festivals and activities is now easier from a smartphone.

By Rob Williams • May 11, 2017

Smithfield's digital loyalty program transports fans to 'Ham Capital of the World'

Visitors to a virtual re-creation of the pork brand's namesake town can earn rewards and loyalty points by interacting with its architecture and history. 

By David Kirkpatrick • May 11, 2017

Facebook updates News Feed to reduce links to spammy experiences

The move stems from user complaints about being directed to web pages riddled with annoying ads.

By David Kirkpatrick • May 11, 2017

Brawny taps Spectacles-wearing toddlers for Mother's Day campaign

"Once a Mother, Always a Giant" splices together video footage of moms shot from their childrens' point of view. 

By David Kirkpatrick • May 11, 2017

Vertical video: It's not just for Snapchat anymore

The format has spread to Facebook, Instagram and top publishers, offering brands a way to enhance the consumer experience, writes AdColony's Jeff Hackett. 

By Jeff Hackett • May 11, 2017

Can the Echo Look accelerate Amazon's push for apparel dominance?

The e-commerce company taps the latest Alexa-enabled device to personalize clothing recommendations and drive sales.

By Corinne Ruff • May 11, 2017

Apple Pay purchases jump as China's Alipay, WeChat enter US

Apple's mobile payment app is tied with PayPal as a favorite among iPhone users, but they face growing outside competition. 

By Rob Williams • May 10, 2017

Pebble Beach Resorts enlists IBM's Watson for mobile tour guide

The California golf resort’s new smartphone app includes voice-activated digital assistance.

By Rob Williams • May 10, 2017

McDonald's, Soundtrack Your Brand launch mobile music quiz

The burger chain’s mobile app lets smartphone users in Sweden test their knowledge of music trivia while dining.

By Rob Williams • May 10, 2017

Pinterest upgrades visual search tech with QR capabilities

The platform's Lens camera is also getting better at recognizing multiple objects at once.  

By Peter Adams • May 10, 2017

Why Instagram is building out its mobile web functionality

A more robust mobile web experience comes as a bid to reach international markets where the app might be too slow or demanding of data. 

By David Kirkpatrick • May 9, 2017

Study: Adoption of voice-activated home assistants will more than double this year

Microsoft announced "Invoke," an intelligent speaker on Monday, but Amazon still leads the voice-enabled gadget market with 70% of users.

By Rob Williams • May 9, 2017

Blippar launches mobile banner ads using AR

Enabling ads to open a user's smartphone camera gives marketers a way to create unique experiences.   

By Rob Williams • May 9, 2017

Pizza Hut serves up Delivery Tracker with real-time order status text alerts

The biggest U.S. pizza chain is late to the game with digital order tracking.

By Rob Williams • May 9, 2017

QR code test drives 27% of in-store Starbucks customers to trial app

Overall, 60% of visitors with Snapchat scanned a bar code supported by 1App for quick web access to the coffeehouse chain’s app. 

By Chantal Tode • May 9, 2017