Netflix turned in another quarter of disappointing earnings (as expected); the company’s planned foray into gaming, meanwhile, highlights how digital businesses are different.
Philosophy and Power; Advertising, Targeting, and Tracking; The Real Winners
Advertising is on the verge of substantial changes, which will primarily benefit Apple and Google. Is it worth the tradeoff?
Instagram’s Evolution
Instagram’s shift away from being a photo-sharing app is very much inline with the service’s continuous evolution.
Shopify Lowers Developer Fees, Scaling Digital Suppliers, The Power of App Stores
Shopify is lowering fees for developers, which makes sense given it is operating an app store, the Internet’s most powerful business model.
The Lightness of Windows
The Windows 11 announcement was fun and interesting, but there is a reason that Windows is no longer the center of Microsoft’s business.
Amazon Buys MGM, The Streaming Opportunity, Anti-Monopoly vs. Antitrust
Amazon’s purchase of MGM makes sense strategically, but also points to bigger ambitions; it also highlights how a lot of antitrust talk is actually anti-monopoly.
Snap Partner Summit, Spectacles AR, Scan and Minis
Snap’s Partner Summits continue to provide compelling looks into what Snap is building today, and how it connects to the future.
Distribution and Demand
Distribution on the Internet is free; what matters is controlling demand. AT&T and Verizon didn’t understand the distinction.
Market-Making on the Internet
More and more opportunities on the web come from market marking, not for advertisers, but for real goods and services paid for with real money.
Fearing Spotify?, Apple’s Earnings, Margins and Chips
Why I’m not worried about Spotify, plus Apple’s earnings, including why the M1 might be helping margins.