January 2024

Featured Updates

A better way to find audio in your guide

Bloomberg Connects’ research shows that most visitors associate a digital guide with an audio guide. A new audio icon makes it easy for visitors to find your audio content and start listening.

The icon, which looks like a small pair of headphones, appears automatically when content includes audio. You don’t need to take any extra steps in the CMS to get the icon to appear. Visitors using a screen reader hear the icon announced as, “This content includes audio.”

For updated guidance on using emojis to indicate audio or other content in your guide, see the Emojis topic in the Bloomberg Connects style guide.

QR Code Lookup

What’s new?

Now you can connect your physical and digital experiences using Bloomberg Connects QR code lookup. An alternative to lookup numbers, QR codes help visitors spend less time finding the content in your guide and more time engaging with it.

On the updated Lookup tab, visitors can enter a lookup number (just as before) or scan a QR code.

What does this mean for you?

In the CMS, you can download zip files with everything you need to print your own signs with QR codes and lookup numbers. You can also send your zip file(s) to Alex, Mikea, and Rhody on the Bloomberg Connects Marketing team for their help creating signs.
If you already have Bloomberg Connects QR codes on your wall signs, they’ll continue to work.

For more on this new feature, see Lookup QR Codes.

What's New in the CMS

You can use keyboard shortcuts to “undo” and “redo” changes in the Description and Transcript fields, just like you can in your regular word processor. You can undo and redo changes until you save the form. On a PC, use Ctrl+Z to undo and Ctrl+Y to redo. On a Mac, use Command (⌘)+Z to undo and Command (⌘)+Y to redo.
We heard that it can be challenging to create SVG files for your guide logos. Now, you can use PNG and JPEG files instead. For more, see Asset Guidelines.
Now it’s quicker and easier to add or update your location. Just start typing in the Address field and select a match from the list that appears. Existing addresses should continue to look as expected, but we recommend you check your organization’s addresses in the app and CMS to confirm.
More helpful explanations for how to optimize accessibility-related fields like image alt text and audio transcripts. Just click the (?) icon to the right of a field name to read the tips as you work. For complete details on creating an accessible guide, see An App for All Abilities.
Small visual updates to the date selector for Exhibitions and contextual help windows.
The home logo, explore image, and organization image are all required assets. Now, you can replace each of those three images with a new image, but you cannot delete the images.

Bug Fixes in the CMS

Addressed some minor quirks in the system, including a few workflows that needed better messaging. Now you'll see an error message, as expected, if an uploaded audio file is unable to be processed or if you enter the wrong two-factor authentication code.

What's New in the App

iOS and Android screen reader technologies now read the app name as "Connects."
A smoother experience for navigating to content from links in content descriptions.
Small visual updates and performance improvements.

Bug Fixes in the App

Addressed reports of inconsistency with category filters on the Explore page. Now, selecting a category shows all guides associated with that category (app version 3.39.0).
Addressed a bug that resulted in the app's splash (loading) screen occasionally persisting for too long (app version 3.39.0).
Addressed reports from partners using Android devices of occasional crashes when logging into internal mode (app version 3.39.0).
Addressed reports of Items not appearing as expected in internal mode (app version 3.38.0).