News and Notes Roundup - 1/4/2016

Happy New Year, dear readers! It’s the first Monday of the year (ouch, right?) and with it your inaugural weekly News & Notes Roundup for 2016!

It’s that time of the year when we make resolutions for leading better lives, making healthier choices, and making greater differences in the world. Here’s a list of 9 apps that can help you keep those resolutions. Or, you can simply ditch the resolutions and avoid disappointment.

Tech News:

• For big data collection to succeed, we need better cybersecurity
• If a government is trying to hack your data, Microsoft will let you know
• General Motors placed a $500 million bet on Lyft to develop autonomous cars
• Less than one percent of PCs will be ready to run virtual reality in 2016
• Mark Zuckerberg’s resolution: build an AI butler for home and work
• Amazon has its eyes set on India
• Windows 10’s adoption rate is incredible, as is Microsoft’s Store usage
• Make sure you don’t put the answers to your security questions on Facebook
• AI is entering our daily lives, like it or not

Tech4Dem:

• A young Nigerian woman built an app to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates
• Google plans to train 2 million Android developers in India as it boosts internet access via Project Loon
• WeChat looks to invest $3.5 million in African startups and innovators
• ICYMI last week: Politwoops is back!
• Facebook’s Free Basics program is facing an uphill battle
• Smartphones can greatly reduce the impact of Africa’s second-leading cause of fatalities

Mobile News:

• Apple faces a suit claiming that iOS9 slowed down the iPhone 4S, possibly forcing device upgrades
• WhatsApp went down briefly, sending users into a New Year’s Eve panic
• Samsung’s Galaxy S7 will reportedly come in two sizes
• Apple’s going to buy OLED displays from Samsung and LG for iPhone production
• AT&T says sayonara to 2-year contracts