Amazon is showing off drones, and may even be flying airplanes. Are we sure this is a retail company?
November 2015
Google and the Shift From Web to Apps, Indexing App-Only Content, Streaming Apps
Phase one of the shift from web to apps was a problem for Google, but a solvable one. Phase two, though, is much more of an existential threat.
Google Hires Diane Greene, Google the Cloud Company?
Google is signaling that it is getting serious about the cloud, so success is certain. Or is it? What actually matters in building an adjacent business for a different kind of market?
Exponent Podcast: Fashion in PC Gaming
On Exponent, the weekly podcast I host with James Allworth, we discuss PC Gaming and the fascinating way in which it monetizes, leading to a wide-ranging discussion about how business has changed because of the Internet. Listen to it here.
Adele Won’t Stream 25, Windowing Versus Piracy
Adele won’t stream her new album, and I think that makes a ton of sense. Monetizing IP might be hard, but I don’t think it’s necessarily hostile to your fans. Plus, what really ended piracy and what will be the biggest conflict in IP-related industries in the future.
“Selling Feelings” Follow-up, Match.com’s IPO and Tinder, The Sean Rad Interview
Follow-up on my piece about Selling Feelings, and then an analysis of the Match.com IPO, and Tinder in particular. Plus, why I think Sean Rad is getting a bit of a bad rap for his disastrous interview.
Selling Feelings
Distribution being free may have ruined old business models, but it allows businesses to get much closer to their customers and make money by meeting needs.
Marriott Acquires Starwood, Online Travel Agents and Aggregation, Surviving as an Incumbent
The impact of the Internet continues to reverberate: in this case, there is a clear link between Aggregation Theory and the tie-up between Marriott and Starwood.
Amazon Opens Physical Bookstore, The iPad Pro’s Half Launch
Amazon’s physical bookstore is first and foremost an experiment. However, it’s worth considering how it fits into Amazon’s measurement of success. Then, the iPad Pro launched, but not its accessories. It’s part of a worrying trend.
Sequoia Scouts, Fidelity Cuts Value of Unicorns
Sequoia has been funding pre-angel investors called Scouts: the point isn’t to make money, but to gather information and build relationships. Then, Fidelity is marking down startups: is the sky falling?