Facebook is in trouble — again — for Russian ads about the election; figuring out how to deal with them requires first understanding that Facebook, like Google, is a Super-Aggregator. It faces zero transaction costs in all parts of its business.
September 2017
Exponent Podcast: The Watch, The Phone, The Beatles
On Exponent, the weekly podcast I host with James Allworth, we discuss The Lessons and Questions of the iPhone X and the iPhone 8. Listen to it here.
The iPhone 8 Price Rise, The Cellular Apple Watch, Apple TV 4K and Disney
The iPhone 8 price raise was unexpected and a reminder of how much Apple values margin. Then, the cellular Apple Watch was the real glimpse of the future, and why no one should be surprised Disney didn’t make a deal with Apple.
The Lessons and Questions of the iPhone X and the iPhone 8
The iPhone X is a quintessential Apple product, because it is the best; is there a market for iPhone 8?
Amazon Studios Shifts Strategy, Spotify and Hulu, Facebook to Spend $1 Billion on Video
Amazon Studios is shifting its strategy, which rationalizes Prime Video; the big winner is Netflix. Then, Spotify makes a smart move with Hulu, while Facebook is resorting to brute force in video.
Amazon’s Second Headquarters, Amazon’s Internal Primitives, Facebook and Political Ads
Amazon is uniquely capable of having a second headquarters, and don’t be surprised if politics influences the choice of location. Then, Facebook should learn from Amazon about picking battles. Plus, a brief preview of Apple’s iPhone event.
Exponent Podcast: There Is No Going Back
On Exponent, the weekly podcast I host with James Allworth, we discuss Everything is Changing; So Should Antitrust. Listen to it here.
The Platform Paradox, Voice Assistants Vulnerable?, Facebook and Russian Ads
Aggregators have value not only because they benefit consumers but also because they enable new businesses. Then, voice assistant vulnerability shows how focusing on the user experience can backfire; Facebook is arguably the best example.
Everything is Changing; So Should Antitrust
WPP is dealing with not only a changing advertising industry but a changing world, thanks to the Internet. Antitrust needs to change as well.
Alexa and Cortana, Apple Moves Siri, Tim Cook’s Blindspot
Alexa and Cortana’s partnership makes sense when you consider the company’s business models, goals, and partnership impetus (and it shows why Apple and Google won’t come along). Then, why Siri’s reorganization won’t help much.