An overview of Niantic’s new developer platform, and an interview with Niantic founder John Hanke about the company’s history and future
Ben Thompson
Microsoft Build, Thick Versus Thin, AI Platforms
Microsoft’s Build keynote was impressive in its clarity; it also emphasized that the thin client model one, mostly.
Snap Revenue Warning, Snap’s Direct Response Bifurcation, Broader Takeaways
Snap’s revenue warning, and a closer examination of past earnings, point to a business that is much more driven by brand advertising than it is by direct response
Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery is a company that makes a lot of sense, both because of its content and also its strategy, which treats streaming as an additional channel, not a reason-for-being.
An Interview with Eric Seufert About the Post-ATT Landscape
An interview with Eric Seufert about the post-ATT landscape, including Facebook, Shopify, Google, YouTube, Apple, and the future of ad agencies.
Disney Earnings, Disney and Linear TV, Disney+ Ads
Disney’s earnings raise the question as to whether the company is over-investing in streaming; I don’t think so, and I also think ads will help.
Musk, Twitter, and Bots; Bot Experience; Bot Science
Elon Musk may be trying to renegotiate his Twitter deal by citing bots; all available evidence suggests that Twitter’s number is not only accurate, but conservative.
Google I/O; “Near Me”, Competition, and Innovation; Pixel and Fitbit
This year’s Google I/O built on last year’s focus in a way that lends credence to Google’s longer-term goals. Plus, Pixel hardware and the problem of design by regulation.
An Interview with Coda Founder (and Bundle Expert) Shishir Mehrotra
An interview with Coda founder Shishir Mehrotra about documents, go-to-market, and competing with Microsoft, plus bundling, Spotify, and Passport.
Shopify Follow-up, Shopify Audiences, Unity Earnings
Shopify Audiences looks a lot like the ad product they need to build; then, Unity has a big miss, but is adamant it is a one-time problem.