FBI has Orlando shooter’s phone; now what? (USA Today)
As investigators look into the motivations and connections of Orlando gunman Omar Mateen, the case raises the specter of another legal battle between a tech giant and the U.S. government over access to a cellphone. It was just three months ago that the 43-day legal fight between the FBI and Apple ended.
Microsoft’s LinkedIn buy escalates cloud wars (USA Today)
Microsoft’s deal to buy LinkedIn just lit up the cloud wars. The giant maker of Windows software missed out on the consumer technology boom. Under CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft is reaching for riches in the “cloud,” doubling down on software and services delivered over the Internet on a variety of platforms and devices.
Why It’s So Hard to Target Consumers Accurately Across Devices and Channels (Ad Week)
Audience targeting is no longer simply about reaching the right person with the right message at the right time. As consumers use more devices and operate across more channels, marketers now need to consider device, channel, context and behavior. And they need to reach people with the pinpoint accuracy.
Here’s how Apple plans to protect privacy and still compete on AI (Recode)
A theory has taken hold in tech: Apple’s devotion to privacy will handicap it during the next major wave of computing, where artificial intelligence like voice interaction, personal assistants and automation take center stage. Apple’s response: It won’t handicap us, because we can do both.
CBS, Nielsen Put New Face on Ad Effectiveness (Broadcasting & Cable)
CBS, working with units of Nielsen, has found a way to test TV commercials using neuroscience that shows which commercials will result in sales. A five-month study compared a combination of EEG, biometric and facial coding responses to retail purchase data and found a meaningful relationship.
Apple to Offer App Developers Access to Siri and iMessage (NY Times)
In an effort to keep developers happily writing apps for its software, as well as to reinvigorate its products, Apple will allow access to two of its crown jewels, hoping to spur creativity. Third-party developers write the apps that make an iPhone or a Mac more useful and personal.
Appeals Court Upholds Net Neutrality Rules (Hollywood Reporter)
The DC Circuit Court denied a petition brought by telecoms challenging the FCC’s recently enacted net neutrality rules. The decision was eagerly awaited for its potential to shape the way that consumers access content on the internet. Without strong net neutrality rules, content providers fear that telecoms would charge for “fast lanes.”
Snapchat will start showing ads between your friends’ stories (Verge)
Snapchat has always been a perfect example of the Silicon Valley mantra of growth first, monetization later. And now, four years after the app’s launch and with users watching eight billion videos every day, the company is focusing harder than ever on revenue, launching a clutch of new products for advertisers.
Lawmaker: Broadband Privacy Proposal Violates Provider Rights (Media Post)
Jeff Flake, a Republican senator from Arizona, is urging FCC Chair Tom Wheeler to back away from “onerous” privacy rules that would require broadband providers to obtain consumers’ opt-in consent before using data about their Web-surfing activity for ad targeting. Flake argues that the rules would violate ISPs’ free speech rights.
Is VR The New 3D TV? Marketers, Excited — The Public … (Media Post- Commentary)
Some interesting research gave a glimpse into consumer attitudes toward virtual reality, and it could be taken either of two ways. The optimist could come away that travel and entertainment were the primary opportunities. The less optimistic reader might have been more tempted to conclude that the public just is not as excited.
Access to Mobile Tech Is Key to Digital Equality in Underserved Communities (Inside Sources- Commentary)
The bottom line is this: We have a digital equality issue in the U.S., and as a result, we certainly should not suppress innovative ideas or business models from companies that stand to help bridge this gap. Regulators, special interest groups, companies, and consumers should all be encouraging these types of innovative ideas.
Symons: FCC Focusing On TV Band Repack (TV News Check)
Work is proceeding apace on a computer program that will calculate when stations have to move to their new channels in the TV band repacking that will follow the incentive auction. There will be ample opportunities for broadcasters and other stakeholders to vet the program this summer and suggest changes.
Wireless Carriers See Threat From FCC Rules (The Hill)
They claim proposed privacy rules could hurt their ability to compete with the likes of Facebook and Google. The regulatory push comes at a time when Verizon and AT&T are working aggressively to sell ads that accompany their growing array of video products.