7.35 Release Highlights

Release Schedule

• Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.:
  • Tue, 29th October 2019 07:00 am Prague time (01:00 am D.C. time)
• Voice of America:
  • Wed, 30th October 2019 03:00 am D.C. time (09:00 am Prague time)
• Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc.:
  • Wed, 30th October 2019 04:30 am D.C. time (10:30 am Prague time)
• Office of Cuba Broadcasting:
  • Wed, 30th October 2019 06:30 am D.C. time (12:30 pm Prague time)
• LibertyNet:
  • Wed, 30th October 2019 13:00 Prague time (07:00 am D.C. time)​

Table of contents

1. Widget Improvements: Multimedia (FRED) Widget
2. RFE/RL Job Publisher Improvements
3. Structured Data Markup Improvements
4. Podcast Implementation: New Platforms, Subscribe Link on Multimedia Pages
5. Progressive Web App Caching: Phase 1
6. Digital Audio Tab on How to Listen Page (Link to mp3 Stream)

New Features

1. Widget Improvements: Multimedia (FRED) Widget

In order to provide our readers with new user experience we are bringing a new look for our section pages. Part of this update include changes to the Multimedia widget (also known as FRED-widget). These changes will help make multimedia content more visible and attractive.

Aside from the standard view, which will be similar to the current one, new layouts for the widget will have an option with vertical images:

Desktop version:

Mobile version:

Given that some services use this widget for non-multimedia content, the dark background can be misleading to the readers as it is often used as a colour code for multimedia.

Therefore, to avoid this misdirection, it will be possible for services to choose a multimedia widget without a background colour.

Additional improvements include stylistic and performance-based changes. Navigation elements will now be placed over the widget. It will also be possible to to save the space on the top, by removing the title. Mobile users will appreciate the fact that the swipe process between items will now be far smoother.

To set up new layout or disable background please use widget settings:

2. RFE/RL Job Publisher Improvements

RFE/RL HR uses RFE/RL Jobs Publisher for creating and managing advertisements for any job position. In order to provide HR with the flexibility to style a job position, a CKEditor has been added to the Jobs Publisher.

HR will also be able to print a job position directly from the Publisher.

3. Structured Data Markup Improvements

We have improved the job-seeking experience in the Google Search Result pages by adding job posting structured data to RFERL job pages. Adding structured data markup will make RFERL job pages eligible to appear in a special user experience in Google Search results. The job search experience on Google is currently not available in all countries. Here is the list of regional availability:

• Asia: Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
• Europe: Belarus, France, Germany, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom
• Latin America: Available in the entire region
• The Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates
• North America: Available in the entire region
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Available in the entire region

4. Podcast Implementation: New Platforms, Subscribe Link on Multimedia Pages

As part of the effort to highlight Podcasts on our sites, we are introducing new ways of providing users with information about subscription options.

Building on the Podcast widget and support of Google podcast in subscribe modal which were introduced in previous releases, a multi platform support will now be available for Podcasts. You can add for your podcast following Podcast platform links:

• SoundCloud
• Anchor
• Spotify
• Yandex Music
• VK Podcast
• CastBox
• Podcast Addict
• Podcast Republic

You can add these links in Zone settings for any Zone which has enabled podcast:

Readers will be able to see these links once they click on the Subscribe button in the widget, on the Schedule page, or on the Podcast page:

A new Subscribe button has been added on Multimedia page. If a Multimedia Zone has podcast, users will see the "Subscribe" button in the header of the Zone:

You can localise Titles of social networks, using config keys which start with "Common.Link".

5. Progressive Web App Caching: Phase 1

As you probably remember our Progressive Web Apps are dedicated to sites, which don't have native web-apps, allowing users to easily install PWA to their desktop.

In this release the 1st phase of caching has been implemented. We have started to cache simple graphics, fonts, java-script, css using PWA functionality. Next phase should include caching some of the content for off-line mode.

6. Digital Audio Tab on How to Listen Page (Link to mp3 Stream)

A "Digital audio" tab on the "How to listen" page can now be enabled. This will allow the sharing of information about the digital source of your radio with your listeners.

To enable the tab, please add "DigitalAudio" value to: Responsive.Broadcasting.Radio.Tabs

Example: Schedule|Programs|Waves|Satellite|Affiliates|DigitalAudio

You can localize text and title of the tab using config keys below:

Title of the tab: Responsive.Broadcasting.Tabs.DigitalAudio

Text of the tab: Responsive.Broadcasting.DigitalAudio.Mp3StreamInfo