Facebook earnings demonstrated the power of its auction-based direct-response model; what makes it different from Google is Zuckerberg’s drive.
April 2020
Shopify Shop, Shopify’s Reason to Exist, Google’s Earnings
Shopify launched the Shop.app, which is not only a poor experience but also makes no sense strategically. Then, Google’s earnings show how big tech is going to get even stronger.
The Anti-Amazon Alliance
Google Shopping is changing its model, suggesting Google is joining the Anti-Amazon Alliance; 3rd-party merchants should do the same.
More on Apple and Google, Germany Versus Apple, Facebook’s Surveys
More evidence that Apple and Google are dictating terms to governments; then, it is possible that Facebook’s approach to discovering outbreaks has the most promise.
Capability and Policy Revisited; Isolation and Surveillance; Netflix’s Earnings
Once tech companies have the capability to do what government’s tell them to, they are increasingly willing to comply; that is not a good sign for increased surveillance. Then, Netflix is cautious about its huge earnings.
Facebook Invests in Jio Platforms, The Building of Jio, Understanding the Deal
Jio showed how the best way to serve the poor is to create a market for them, not simply give them charity like Facebook tried to do with Free Basics. That is why it makes sense for them to work together.
How Tech Can Build
Marc Andreessen has written (another) seminal essay: It’s Time to Build. What does that mean for tech and venture capital?
The iPhone SE, Accounting for the iPhone SE, New iPhones
The new iPhone SE inspires a revisit to Apple’s low-end strategy, which may simply be a matter of accounting. Then, Apple may be launching new iPhones despite the coronavirus.
The NBA and Microsoft
The NBA and Microsoft are announcing a new partnership. The news, some brief analysis, and an interview.
The NBA and Microsoft, and An Interview with Adam Silver and Satya Nadella
Microsoft and the NBA are announcing a new partnership; then, an interview NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella