Google doesn’t have a leadership problem, it’s just getting old. Plus, another EC investigation, and why Amazon’s advertising business is well-placed.
2021
Pandemic Progress
Marc Andreessen has changed his tone over the past year; there is a cynical interpretation, but I think the shift is justified.
Stripe Tax, Stripe Identity, Stripe’s Missed Opportunity
Stripe launched two new products: one makes perfect sense, while the other feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.
Shop Pay on Google and Facebook, Shopify’s Evolution, The E-Commerce Shift
The announcement that Shop Pay is available to any merchant on Facebook and Google marks an evolution in both e-commerce and Shopify itself
The Cicilline Salvo
A package of new proposed laws for regulating tech companies are in part a negotiating ploy, but also an indicator of change.
Starfield, an Xbox Exclusive; Xbox Cloud Gaming; New Consumer Paradigms
Microsoft’s E3 announcement give more shape to its cloud gaming ambitions, and highlight how difficult new consumers paradigms are today.
Apple and Creators; Fanhouse and a Middle Way; Pragmatism and Conversions
Apple is receiving objections from the creator economy about its share, but it is likely that creators will have to accepts Apple’s terms as they are.
ShazamKit and Weather, iOS 15’s New Privacy Approach, Mail Privacy Protection and Newsletters
Apple and Microsoft have similar approaches to developers, and iOS 15’s approach to privacy is better than iOS 14.
Integrated Apple and App Store Risk
WWDC highlighted how Apple’s differentiation is based on integration; the company ought not risk that differentiation for exploitive App Store policies.
Passport Update, F8 Refresh, Trump Ends Blog
F8 was all about developers, and there is reason to believe that Facebook is serious about building a real platform, particularly on messaging.