Facebook is coming out with its own cryptocurrency; the implementation details are less interesting than the opportunity in payments generally, and why Facebook is uniquely placed.
Daily Update
Archive of Daily Emails for Stratechery Members
Apple Earnings, Google Earnings, Amazon Earnings
Apple, Google, and Amazon’s earnings all showed fundamental weaknesses in the consumer market; perhaps these companies are not all-powerful.
Microsoft and Slack Follow-up, F8, Facebook versus Snapchat
How Microsoft Teams differs from Slack, then Facebook’s F8 keynote is nominally about privacy-focused social networking, but is in fact about competing with Snapchat (again!).
Microsoft Earnings, Microsoft’s Growth Opportunities, Facebook Earnings
Microsoft is a trillion dollar company, and has more growth opportunities than ever; Facebook, meanwhile, remains firmly in control of its own destiny when it comes to driving revenue growth in the long run.
Twitter Earnings, Snap Earnings, Escaping the Duopoly
Twitter and Snap both had encouraging earnings, for reasons that were both similar and also unique to each company and their history. Perhaps there is hope for consumer tech companies after all — and maybe Facebook and Google aren’t so bad.
Uber Questions Follow-up, Luminary Launches, Luminary’s Broken Rung
More on why giving information to investors often helps companies, then why Luminary, a new service for podcasters, is probably not going to succeed. Building bundles is hard!
Apple-Qualcomm Follow-up, The PS5, Jeff Bezos’ Letter to Shareholders
More on Apple-Qualcomm, then Sony releases details about their next-generation console, and Jeff Bezos’ annual letter to shareholders has a decidedly different tone.
Apple Settles With Qualcomm, Intel Exits Modems, Apple’s Miscalculation
Apple settled its lawsuit with Qualcomm, while Intel exited cellular modems: how are these event connected? Then, why Apple miscalculated in its decision to sue Qualcomm.
Disney and the Value of the Consumer Relationship, Disney’s Consolidation of Hulu, Comcast and AT&T
Follow-up on Disney and the Future of TV, including why Disney as a whole will gain so much from Disney+. Then, AT&T sells out of Hulu, and Comcast probably will too, and why Comcast appears in better shape.
Alexa’s Human Listeners, New Questions, Disney’s Presentation
Why Bloomberg’s article about Alexa was both scare-mongering and a missed opportunity, plus why Disney’s 2015 plummet in the stock market was a blessing in disguise.