Acquisitions that make sense involve network effects; that is why the long-term future of antitrust is about network analysis (not that it will affect this deal). Plus, John Mackey’s pragmatic fit with Amazon.
2017
Amazon’s New Customer
The key to understanding Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods is to understand that Amazon didn’t buy a retailer: the company bought a customer.
Exponent Podcast: Podcasting and Centralization
On Exponent, the weekly podcast I host with James Allworth, we discuss Podcasts, Analytics, and Centralization. Listen to it here.
The News Revenue Hub and Donations, Patreon’s Update, How Big is Patreon’s Market?
It might be the case that donations are the best match for local news, but other content creators still need to build a business. Patreon’s new update will help them do it, the only question is how many of them there are.
RIP Charles P. Thacker, E3 and the Importance of Clarity, Nintendo’s Differentiation
Charles Thacker invented modern computers and demonstrated how to think differently. Then, E3 is demonstrating the importance of clarity, and Nintendo is the surprising example of the benefits
Podcasts, Analytics, and Centralization
The answer to podcast monetization is not analytics: it it true centralization, and it seems unlikely that Apple has it in them.
The Uber Endgame, Unchanging Uber, Uber Justice
The Uber endgame has arrived, and the events of last week showed what should happen — even if they might not. Plus, Kalanick’s fatal flaw and broader questions for all of tech.
Exponent Podcast: Fruitful Clapping
On Exponent, the weekly podcast I host with James Allworth, we discuss Apple’s Strengths and Weaknesses. Listen to it here.
Apple’s Business Model, Privacy, and Developers; Chip Industry Structure; Stripe Sigma
Apple’s business model lets the company sell privacy, but privacy shouldn’t compromise the business model. Plus, why developers can (still) deepen Apple’s moat, and how the chip, payments, and even publishing industry are similar.
Apple’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Both Apple’s strengths and weaknesses were on full display at its annual WWDC keynote; the HomePod is a perfect example.