Google announces updates to its app and video ad functions

Google announced upgrades to its ad capabilities during the DMEXCO digital media conference in Germany. Universal App Campaigns, which allows developers to promote their apps across various platforms, will now be available to all advertisers worldwide.

TrueView -- which allows users to skip ads -- will now include a call-to-action format, where advertisers can include a button for "Get a quote," or "Sign up." Google hopes the upgrade will help users to take more meaningful action online.

Recently, Google also launched a new virtual exhibit that resurrects dinosaurs from the ashes through virtual reality experiences on Google Street Maps and YouTube. In collaboration with 50 leading natural history museums, Google has created more than 150 interactive stories, 300,000 new photos and videos and 30 virtual tours for dinosaur fans and natural history buffs.

Participating museums include natural history museums in London and Berlin, from Australia to Russia. The virtual museum uses a variety of mediums and platforms including virtual reality, YouTube's 360-degree video, virtual tours and online exhibits.

With inputs from AFP