Acquisitions that make sense involve network effects; that is why the long-term future of antitrust is about network analysis (not that it will affect this deal). Plus, John Mackey’s pragmatic fit with Amazon.
Amazon’s New Customer
The key to understanding Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods is to understand that Amazon didn’t buy a retailer: the company bought a customer.
Amazon Echo Show, Siri Speaker, Echo Look
Echo Show is a naturally evolution of the Echo and Amazon’s goal to own the house. Siri speaker, meanwhile, is locked into iPhone thinking. Plus, the Echo Look’s focus on selfies highlights the decline in offline retail.
Twitter Earnings, Twitter’s Video Push, Amazon Earnings
Twitter’s earnings were encouraging when it comes to user growth, but the company’s focus on video is a disappointment. Then, Amazon’s earnings were mixed: AWS has competition, but e-commerce is dominant.
Microsoft, eBay, and Tencent Invest in Flipkart; The Indian E-Commerce Market; Lyft Raises $500 Million
Microsoft, eBay, and Tencent are investing in Flipkart: the opportunity is just too big to miss out on, even if Amazon looks ever stronger. It’s the same reason investors are putting more money into Lyft.
Amazon Shutters Quidsi, Amazon and CPG Companies, Amazon and Wal-Mart
Amazon is shutting down Quidsi, and taking the fight for CPG goods to Wal-Mart.
DistroKid, The “Publisher’s Right”, Shopify Results
Distrokid is small, but it’s a powerful example of the how distribution is not a value-add, the implications of which European publishers have yet to learn. It’s a lesson that doesn’t just apply to media, either.
Planet of the Apps, #DeleteUber, Amazon Earnings
“Planet of the Apps” is probably not nearly as big a deal as its being made out to be, why #DeleteUber was uniquely dangerous for Uber, and Amazon’s ongoing shift to being a service business.
The State of Technology at the End of 2016
The annual Stratechery review of the state of technology, and call to build products that unlock human potential
Why Apple Shouldn’t Buy Netflix, Amazon Earnings
A follow-up to yesterday’s weekly article that Apple Should Buy Netflix, then a look at Amazon’s earnings.