Why there is room for multiple winners in streaming, then Bill Simmons interviews Jack Dorsey. My takeaway is that Twitter is suffering from the Pollyannish Assumption.
Daily Update
Archive of Daily Emails for Stratechery Members
More on Apple and China (and Podcasts!), Apple and Duck Duck Go, WordPress Newspack
How much was Apple impacted by the arrest of Huawei’s CFO? Then, Apple’s agreement with DuckDuckGo and its connection with Google, and why WordPress Newspack is so exciting.
MongoDB Follow-up, AWS’ Incentives, Batteries: The iPhone’s Missing Miss
While there is reason to be concerned about the long-run future of VC-funded OSS, MongoDB is in pretty good shape thanks to its hosted service. Then, AWS and platform incentives, and why battery replacements may have hurt iPhone sales.
The Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Phenomenon, Ninja’s 2018, Facebook and the Human Condition
The connection between Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ninja, and Facebook’s scandals
CES and the Unification of Computing and Consumer Electronics, Google Assistant and Integration, The Modular Competition
Google Assistant has a structural advantage when it comes to the user experience of digital assistants, which should influence the strategies of Amazon and Apple.
Apple’s Errors Follow-up, Apple’s Services Pivot, Samsung Warns on Revenue
Apple’s Errors don’t preclude the idea that prices are too high; meanwhile, the company is meaningfully pivoting to services, at least in terms of content. Then, Samsung’s pain is Apple’s gain.
Facebook Stats, Facebook’s Data Sharing, Facebook Politics
The latest Facebook exposé in the New York Times raises questions as to why no one cared previously. The question today, though, is a political one.
Discord and Its Game Store, Fortnite and the Social Aspect of Gaming, Game Store Competition
Discord is the Slack of gaming; that is valuable, but has to be monetized indirectly. Plus, the social aspect of gaming, and how competition in PC gaming stores is good for everyone.
Tumblr’s App Store Ban, Tumblr’s NSFW Deadline, Verizon Writes Down Oath
Tumblr was first banned from the App Store, and then Tumblr banned NSFW content. Making sense of what happened requires understanding what is happening at Verizon.
Distinguishing Regulation, Is the Internet Different?, Reasons for Skepticism
Follow-up on The State of Technology in 2018: the different types of regulation, whether or not the Internet is different, and why consumer tech companies may be weaker than they seem.