Apple defends the App Store, with has genuine benefits, rather unconvincingly. Then, an illuminating interview about Apple’s App Store motivations.
May 2019
AMD Launches 7nm Chips, Sony Partners with Microsoft, Apple and AWS
AMD leapfrogs Intel thanks to modularity, Sony partners with Microsoft thanks to scale, and Apple balances both.
Airbnb Eliminates Guest Fees, Airbnb’s Initial Advantage, Airbnb’s Delay
Airbnb is eliminating fees for guests, a change that is both overdue and also additional evidence that the company has been moving too slowly to secure its Aggregator position.
Exponent Podcast: An Intra-west Debate
On Exponent, the weekly podcast I host with James Allworth, we discuss China, Leverage, and Values. Listen to it here.
The Problem with “Aggregation Theory”, Demand at Scale, Supplier Power and Value
A response to The Problem with Ben Thompson’s ‘Aggregation Theory’, and why the Internet really is different (this Daily Update is freely accessible)
Huawei Loses ARM, More on Values (and Facebook), Qualcomm Loses to FTC
Huawei loses its partnership with ARM, then why the question of values was a criticism of the U.S. too (and Facebook’s arguments against regulation). Plus, the FTC wins against Qualcomm
China, Leverage, and Values
If there is a new tech cold war, it is one with shots fired over a decade ago, largely by China. The questions going forward are about both leverage and values.
Google and Huawei, Android and Huawei, The U.S. Impact
Google is pulling Android support from Huawei, which won’t make a difference in China but will have an impact internationally. Then, why Apple has the most to lose.
Uber’s Rocky IPO, What Went Wrong, The Perils of Private
What went wrong with Uber’s IPO, and why the trend to stay private longer is problematic for everyone involved.
Disney Takes Full Control of Hulu, Disney’s Organization, The Streaming Struggle
Disney has acquired control of Hulu, and has structured itself to take full advantage. Other streaming services, though, are not nearly as well-positioned.