The GDPR will hurt Google and Facebook; it will hurt their competitors far more, which means the position of the two biggest digital ad companies will actually be strengthened. Then, why data portability won’t help build the next social network.
Daily Update
Archive of Daily Emails for Stratechery Members
The iPhone 8 Price Rise, The Cellular Apple Watch, Apple TV 4K and Disney
The iPhone 8 price raise was unexpected and a reminder of how much Apple values margin. Then, the cellular Apple Watch was the real glimpse of the future, and why no one should be surprised Disney didn’t make a deal with Apple.
Amazon Studios Shifts Strategy, Spotify and Hulu, Facebook to Spend $1 Billion on Video
Amazon Studios is shifting its strategy, which rationalizes Prime Video; the big winner is Netflix. Then, Spotify makes a smart move with Hulu, while Facebook is resorting to brute force in video.
Amazon’s Second Headquarters, Amazon’s Internal Primitives, Facebook and Political Ads
Amazon is uniquely capable of having a second headquarters, and don’t be surprised if politics influences the choice of location. Then, Facebook should learn from Amazon about picking battles. Plus, a brief preview of Apple’s iPhone event.
The Platform Paradox, Voice Assistants Vulnerable?, Facebook and Russian Ads
Aggregators have value not only because they benefit consumers but also because they enable new businesses. Then, voice assistant vulnerability shows how focusing on the user experience can backfire; Facebook is arguably the best example.
Alexa and Cortana, Apple Moves Siri, Tim Cook’s Blindspot
Alexa and Cortana’s partnership makes sense when you consider the company’s business models, goals, and partnership impetus (and it shows why Apple and Google won’t come along). Then, why Siri’s reorganization won’t help much.
Google and The New America Foundation, Google’s Monopoly, Google’s Stupidity
Google allegedly had a think tank team fired for suggesting the company was a monopoly; it was a stupid action that makes the case.
ARCore, Google’s Benefit to Apple, AR’s Killer App and Apple’s Business Model
Google announced ARCore, which is basically copying ARKit (and abandoning Project Tango). The company that stands to benefit the most from the news is actually Apple.
Uber CEO Follow-up, BuzzFeed Adds Banner Ads, Google Offers Cheaper Networking
Who wanted Dara Khosrowshahi as Uber CEO? Then, BuzzFeed is making the right move in adding ads, and why Google’s seemingly innocuous decision to offer cheaper networking is so interesting.
Disney Follow-up, The Re-Bundlers, Medium Claps
Disney is approaching streaming from a different place than its competitors, and the Conservation of Attractive Profits explains why its past success works against it.