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Concepts

Platforms

  • Platforms Versus Aggregators, What About Amazon?, Walmart Buys Flipkart

    Tech’s two philosophies are also about the difference between platforms and aggregators, but even that has its own divisions. Amazon falls on both sides of the divide. Plus, why Walmart’s Flipkart purchase makes no sense.

  • Tech’s Two Philosophies

    Google and Facebook represent one philosophy, and Microsoft and Apple represent another; tech needs both, but ultimately platforms are more important than aggregators.

  • What Was Facebook Thinking?, Facebook’s Platform Folly, Does This Mean Regulation?

    The answer to “What Was Facebook Thinking” may be less about strategy and more about not understanding the type of company Facebook was meant to be. Plus, why regulation probably isn’t imminent.

  • The Dropbox Comp

    Dropbox has filed its S-1, but comparisons with Box, Atlassian, and Slack demonstrate how difficult it is to tell just how good its business is.

  • More on Chrome and AMP, The Case Against Google, Decentralization and Paradigm Shifts

    More on Chrome and AMP, and what The Case Against Google gets wrong about Microsoft. Then, why decentralized networks are aggregator kryptonite.

  • The Pollyannish Assumption

    Moderating user-generated content is hard: it is easier, though, with a realistic understanding that the Internet reflects humanity — it is capable of both good and evil.

  • 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.

  • The News Revenue Hub and Donations, Patreon’s Update, How Big is Patreon’s Market?

    It might be the case that donations are the best match for local news, but other content creators still need to build a business. Patreon’s new update will help them do it, the only question is how many of them there are.

  • Faceless Publishers

    The missing piece when it comes to the future of media are faceless publishers. Vox Media’s deal with The Ringer shows the way.

  • Boring Google

    Google’s I/O was exactly what you would expect from Google, and that’s a great sign for the company.