Stratechery launched on March 25, 2013 with the post Welcome to Stratechery. While I had somewhat prepopulated the blog with old content (including a piece on the original iPad and a research paper on Apple and the Innovator’s Dilemma), the vast majority of my 203 posts and linked-list items came after that date. Here’s a […]
2013
Christmas Gifts and the Meaning of Design
Gifts are a funny thing. A year ago, for Christmas 2012, my wife “gave” me an iPad mini. I use quotes because I actually bought it; supply was constrained, and when we got a notification that there were models in stock, I quickly dashed over to my local Apple Store1 and picked one up. It […]
The China Mobile iPhone is specific to China Mobile
The China Mobile iPhone deal is official. From Apple’s press release： Apple® and China Mobile today announced they have entered into a multi-year agreement to bring iPhone® to the world’s largest mobile network. As part of the agreement, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c will be available from China Mobile’s expansive network of retail stores as […]
Misunderstood
Apple just posted their holiday iPhone commercial: This is what I’m talking about. It’s not about specs, it’s not about thinness, it’s about what those physical properties make possible for real people. Now please do the same for the iPad (which has always been harder to advertise). Previously: Whither Liberal Arts link The Magical iPad […]
Subsidization and Saturation
Thanks to AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, subsidies are once again in the news: AT&T’s top executive says the era of big subsidies for devices is coming to an end, as wireless operators can no longer afford to fund a constant smartphone upgrade cycle. Speaking at an investor conference in New York City on Tuesday, AT&T […]
Instagram Direct, Twitter DMs, and the Social/Communications Map
Instagram today announced Instagram Direct. From the Instagram blog:1 From a photo of your daily coffee to a sunrise shared from the top of a mountain hike, every Instagram moment contains something you find special—something you broadcast to your followers when you tap “share.” There are, however, moments in our lives that we want to […]
Intel’s Missed "Opportunity"
Last week CNET ran an article about the first IPAD – you know, the one made by Intel. Unfortunately, the introduction ruins the entire piece: The iPad is universally known as one of the most coveted consumer electronics devices on the market. But have you heard of the IPAD? That would be Intel’s botched attempt […]
Promotion in the App Store
Two interesting articles last week, better together. First came TheInformation’s1 maiden piece about How Apple Gives Some Apps an Edge (subscription required): Being featured [in the App Store] can be a developer’s jackpot. Developers say that it could cost them between $100,000 and $300,000 in marketing to buy as many downloads as they receive from […]
China Mobile Adds the iPhone Follow-up
I received some really interesting feedback from several readers to yesterday’s piece about China Mobile finally adding the iPhone: China Mobile may not need its own iPhone. I updated yesterday’s post with this point, but in case you missed it, Naren Balaji pointed out this Forbes post: Apple AAPL new iPhone 5s and 5c support […]
Apple, China Mobile Sign Deal to Offer iPhone
From the WSJ China Mobile Ltd. has signed a long-awaited deal with Apple Inc. to offer iPhones on its network, a person familiar with the situation said, an arrangement that would give the U.S. technology giant a big boost in the world’s largest mobile market. The rollout of iPhones on the world’s largest mobile carrier […]