Bringing a New Dimension To The Visual Web

We are happy to announce that users of Microsoft Office 365 software will now be able to create and view interactive images, videos and 360-degree virtual tours in the Microsoft Teams environment. See our official press release below!

Thousands of digital professionals use ThingLink for creating interactive virtual tours, experiences, lessons, and presentations that may include several types of media. This is why many have requested the option to create transitions from a regular 2D image (for example, a floor plan) to a 360 image (a 360 photo of a space) and back. We are excited to share that this is now possible!

ThingLink user: VG/Dressman - Interactive shop the look (created with new editor)

Description:  VG creates an interactive "shop the look" experience for a new clothing line using ThingLink's new image editor.  Customers can scroll through this landing page and purchase the products being worn by the models directly from the image.  Each product hotspot includes a picture of the product, description, price, and call-to-action that drives to a product landing page. This visual experience previews various looks for customers in an engaging way, ultimately encouraging them to purchase. 

Some weeks ago we got a note from Leonardo Coelho, a journalist and a student at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. After the devastating fire that destroyed the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro, Leonardo had started working on a project that developed new ways for people to remember and share memories of the museum they loved. To us, Leonardo’s initiative struck as a truly wonderful example of how 360 media and immersive publishing can support cultural preservation, and we wanted to take a moment to share Leonardo’s story with you.

ThingLink user: Mittelbayerische - Interactive Infographic (created with new editor)

Description:  Using ThingLink's 360° image editor Mittelbayerische creates an interactive advent calendar for their readers.  Each hotspot includes a variety of surprises, quizzes and Christmas stories that are opened each day.  This experience is a unique way to get readers or customers engaged during the holiday season.  Other interactive holiday campaigns include shoppable showrooms, seasons greeting messages from your team, and festive blog posts.

ThingLink user: Routledge - Interactive Infographic (created with new editor)

Description:  Routledge uses ThingLink's new editor to create a helpful infographic for teachers to explore while chosing books to use in the classroom. The infographic is targeted at Psychology faculty and each hotspot educates on different Routledge products, using online resources, and even a free eBook download.  The new editor offers many advantages over the previous ThingLink editor and you can read this post on why our team recommends switching to the new editor. 

Get Access to all Editor Features: Test campaign ideas and graphics

Starting January 1st, free business account users will be able to access all the new ThingLink editor features including new tag layouts, customization, full screen viewing, and 360 photo editing. This makes it easier to test content creation with ThingLink before upgrading to a paid plan. 

Our new distributor program offers resellers an easy way to create ThingLink accounts to customers.  In this blog post you will learn how to create activation codes and instructions for clients to redeem the codes.  If you have questions, or you want to become a ThingLink Distributor, please email our team at sales@thinglink.com.  Once you are approved, we will schedule a demo to go over best practices and project ideas for clients.

ThingLink user:  City of Espoo  - interactive floor plan layered with 360° images

Description:  Building interactive maps and floor plans with ThingLink is a popular way to educate viewers about physical spaces or administer virtual tours.  For example, you can create an interactive floor plan of your corporate office to acclimate new employees before their first day, or interactive maps featuring your organization's initiatives in a certain region.  The City of Espoo, Finland layers 360° images on top of each room appearing in this floor plan of a new service center.  This virtual tour gives visitors a view inside the service center and learn where a certain service is located and how to get there.   If you are looking to acquire an easy to use DIY 360° camera for making interactive maps or floor plans we recommend the Ricoh Theta. 

Our brand new interactive image editor offers a wide range of new features and much more flexibility than the previous editor.  We recommend switching to the new image editor by enabling it in the interface tab of your account settings here.  Note that if you change to the new editor it won't alter previously uploaded content and is only be activated for new uploads.  Continue reading for a summary of the main highlights and why we believe you should switch to the more powerful new editor.