In a world of megapixels, 5G speed, and a smartphone in nearly every hand, who would've predicted that the buzz at the recent Mobile World Congress show centered on a Nokia device that is more dumb than smart? What's up there? We asked Scott Smith, director of digital and mobile solutions at Moxie. Scott went hands on with that device and all the other tech. He came back to explain what it all means for marketers.

Retail is the most fascinating industry when it comes to changes brought by mobile use and new channels. But Simon, the world's largest real estate company, still sees nearly three billion annual shopper visits. Patrick Flanagan, VP of Digital Marketing & Strategy, says that mobile actually works to the advantage of many brick and mortars. And he has lots to say to marketers about beacons (they are disappointing him), Amazon's impact, and what will make this year's holiday season different than any other.

First, we had neither understanding nor budget for mobile. Then a device ended up in every hand and brands had no choice but to learn how to market through mobile phones. SapientRazorfish's Jeremy Lockhorn, hardly the king of hype, sees 2017 as the year that what we all do is just called marketing. And he sees changes driven by context, voice, and those ever-increasing consumer expectations. 

Monday morning quarterbacking is mostly around the Falcons' foolish abandonment of the running game in the fourth quarter, leading to more Patriots history. Jeff focuses instead on the spots run and opportunities missed to engage with more than 100 million viewers who had mobile phone in hand.

The quick reaction would be for advertisers to stay away from news given the proliferation of fake news and the shifting consumption patterns of consumers. But local news is still desired and there are brand opportunities amidst the shifting sands. NewsON CEO Louis Gump, a pioneer who led wireless efforts at The Weather Channel and CNN, tells us what to expect in 2017 and where marketers should be spending money and time.

A wrap-up of the holiday season and mobile, and a look at what was smart and not at CES is included in this first episode of 2017. Why wasn't there more personalization? How many of the 20,000 products at CES were "innovative" or "revolutionary"? Why is it so important to not chase shiny objects? Answers are here. 

As if the publishing business hasn't had enough to tackle, we can now throw in fake news and major shifts in viewing patterns. 30-year publishing vet Ned Newhouse says that advertisers and CMOs need to do better. And he offers concrete ways for things to change in 2017

Many brands raced to get to the app stores, but they didn’t build appealing apps. Now what? In this episode, Possible Mobile’s CEO Ben Reubenstein shares insights into how he and his team have paired with JetBlue, the PGA Tour, and others to create compelling, relevant and useful app experiences. Should we be bringing more apps to market in 2017, should many go away, and how can you save your app from user disinterest? Does every brand need an app? If not, which ones do?

Hank Wasiak (@hankwasiak) belongs in any marketing hall of fame. He has seen and done it all, but still works to get brands into the hearts of consumers. Hank shares invaluable wisdom in this episode, including the idea that while mobile is the "new front door", it's unwise to think "mobile only" is a good strategy. He tells us that mobile users don't love us yet, and that we are just filling their spaces and screens. And he tells us what needs to happen to change that.

Thom Kennon's thumbs aren't fat, but he admits to have unintentionally clicked on mobile ads. The truth is that we all have. The international marketer and teacher says the system is broken, and he offers solutions. Kennon, formerly of Wunderman and Y&R, shares his experiences and insights in the hopes of a better 2017.