Mobile News Round-up: WannaCry and Google I/O

This week was a busy, busy one in the world of mobile, apps, and digital technology. From WannaCry to Google I/O to Global Accessibility Awareness Day, there’s a lot of information out there this week. So kick back and catch up on everything you might have missed over the past week.

Enjoy!

Digital Marketing

Here’s How Marketers Are Benefiting from Beacons by H.B. Duran – [a]list Frontline Marketing, May 15, 2017.
Beacons: what they are and why they’re a $40 million a year industry.

Internet of Things

Samsung's Bixby will soon be moving from your phone to your fridge by Lulu Chang – Digital Trends, May 16, 2017.
If you haven't been able to check out Bixby yet because you're not the owner of a Samsung Galaxy S8, you can try out the virtual assistant another way.

Ford just used Wi-Fi for the first time to update its cars' software by Brett Williams – Mashable, May 19, 2017.
Some of Ford's SYNC 3-enabled cars are finally getting an update to match the rest of the connected car ecosystem.

Healthcare

GAO points to IoT safety and security concerns in healthcare by Evan Sweeney – FierceHealthcare, May 17, 2017.
Information security, data privacy, and safety are among the key challenges facing internet of things (IoT) integration in the healthcare industry.

Non-Contact Respiratory Rate Sensor Built into a Cotton T-Shirt by Editors – medGadget, May 19, 2017.
At the Université Laval in Quebec City, Canada, researchers have developed a respiration sensor built into a t-shirt that can be sampled by a nearby radio device.

Apple Watch is learning to track your blood sugar, report says by Megan Wollerton – CNET, May 19, 2017.
Apple CEO Tim Cook is testing out a glucose monitor for the Apple Watch, according to a report.

Engage users for mobile healthcare app success by Matt Kuhrt – FierceHealthcare, May 19, 2017.
Designing a successful healthcare app requires more than a problem to solve and a programming team.

Report: IoT in healthcare will top $163B by 2020 by Bill Siwicki – mobihealthnews, May 12, 2017.
The Internet of Things has the potential to provide significant financial value for healthcare providers and payers over the next three years, a new study from consulting firm Accenture found.

Agribusiness

Ibotta mobile app campaign huge success for beef industry by Staff – Feedstuffs, May 16, 2017.
Federation of State Beef Councils reserve fund investment generates multiple benefits.

How Digital Technology Is Changing Farming in Africa by Ndubuisi Ekekwe – Harvard Business Review, May 18, 2017.
Entrepreneurs can now deliver solutions to small-size African farms at cost models that farmers can afford.

Sports, Media, and Entertainment

MLB brings its popular At Bat app to VR by Ben Popper – The Verge, May 19, 2017.
Stream games and check stats in a fully immersive environment

Ignition 2017: Learn how the future of sports media is being turned on its head by Daniel Jason, May 18, 2017.
The sports media landscape is changing rapidly—and it isn’t just the screen that viewers use to consume sports.

Facebook and MLB partner to bring live-streamed games to the social network by Sarah Perez – TechCrunch, May 18, 2017.
Facebook and the MLB announced a new live-streaming partnership that will bring 20 live, regular season games to the social network, beginning with May 19^th’s Rockies vs Reds game.

Politics and Policy

FCC votes to begin overturning net neutrality rules by Rachel Kaser – The Next Web, May 18, 2017.
The Federal Communications Commission voted in favor of a plan to repeal Title II net neutrality rules, in a 2-1 vote along party lines.

Banking and Financial Services

THE MOBILE P2P PAYMENTS REPORT: Why it's more important than ever for companies to monetize mobile P2P by Jaime Toplin – Business Insider, May 19, 2017.
A new report from BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, examines what’s driving the shift to mobile P2P and explains why companies need to find a way to capitalize on it quickly.

SoFi CEO Mike Cagney Wants To Replace Your Bank–And Your Financial Advisor by Ainsley Harris – Fast Company, May 16, 2017.
Today the fintech unicorn introduces wealth management. Next up: credit cards, checking accounts, and more.

Digital Accessibility

Aira raises $12M for software that combines AI, AR, and human agents to help the blind by Staff, mobihealthnews, May 17, 2017.
San Diego-based Aira has raised $12 million to continue developing its smart glasses that combine AI and remote human agents to help blind and low-vision people navigate the world.

New Apple Ads Show How Accessible Tech Helps People Living With Disabilities by Jeff Beer – Fast Company, May 18, 2017.
The brand’s “Designed for Everyone” campaign marks Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

The incredible ways people with disabilities customize their tech to thrive by Katie Dupere – Mashable, May 17, 2017.
Apple spotlights how accessible tech helps people with disabilities thrive

Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, etc.

Why Apple Is Watching Google’s AI Progress Carefully by Mark Sullivan – Fast Company, May 19, 2017.
It all still comes down to the battle for time on the user’s phone screen throughout the day.

Catch up on Google's plans for VR in under 3 minutes by Staff – Engadget, May 19, 2017.
During day two of Google I/O 2017, the company detailed its plans for both AR and VR.

Spotify buys AI startup Niland to develop its music personalization and recommendations by Jon Russell – TechCrunch, May 18, 2017.
Spotify has made its fourth acquisition of the year: AI startup Niland has joined its ranks.

If You Want to Glimpse the Power of AI, Play These Games by Paul Sarconi – WIRED, May 19, 2017.
Google's AI experiments lets you play Pictionary with a computer, or make art with AI.

Chrome is coming to augmented reality and Google Daydream by Lucas Matney – TechCrunch, May 18, 2017.
At Google I/O today the company chatted a bit about what’s next for Daydream as it preps the next update, codenamed “2.0 Euphrates.” The big highlight is that Google will be building a version of Chrome especially for use inside virtual reality.

Security

Seven things we learned about WannaCry - CNET  by Ian Sherr – CNET, May 19, 2017.
The cyberattack is one of the worst of its kind in history, disrupting businesses, hospitals and government agencies. Here's everything we know so far.

LastPass will store two-factor codes alongside your passwords by staff – Engadget, May 19, 2017.
Keeping track of a list of secure passwords across your myriad accounts and services is a nightmare, but it's necessary for the future we live in. LastPass, the password management app, wants to make it a little more convenient on mobile.

BrandPost: Do wearables increase cyber risk for business? By Brandpost – CSO Online, May 18, 2017.
During the past year, security concerns associated with Internet of Things (IoT) devices have come into sharper focus. Yet the security issues associated with one IoT sector – wearable devices – remain quite blurred.

The Best Cybersecurity Investment You Can Make Is Better Training by Dante Disparte – Harvard Business Review, May 16, 2017.
As the scale and complexity of the cyber threat landscape is revealed, so too is the general lack of cybersecurity readiness in organizations, even those that spend hundreds of millions of dollars on state-of-the-art technology.