Concepts

History

To understand where technology is going, it is helpful to know where it has been.

  • Disney and the Future of TV

    TV is moving from a world where distribution dictates business models to one where business models need to fit the jobs consumers want done. That is the best way to understand Disney’s latest announcement.


  • Where Warren’s Wrong

    Senator Warren’s proposal about how to regulate tech is wrong about history, the source of tech giant’s power, and the fundamental nature of technology itself. That doesn’t mean there aren’t real problems — and potential solutions — though.


  • AWS, MongoDB, and the Economic Realities of Open Source

    Amazon’s latest offering highlights the economic challenges facing open source companies — and Amazon should pay attention.


  • Antitrust, the App Store, and Apple

    Apple’s case before the Supreme Court is about standing; Apple has a strong case. That, though, doesn’t mean the App Store isn’t a monopoly — and that Apple isn’t increasingly predicated on rent-seeking.


  • The Experience Economy

    SAP’s acquisition of Qualtrics shows how the shift in technology has changed business; it is a perfect example of using the Internet to one’s advantage.


  • IBM’s Old Playbook

    IBM has bought Red Hat in an attempt to recreate its success in the 90s; it’s not clear, though, that the company or the market is the same.


  • Paul Allen Passes Away, Photoshop on iPad Announced, The App Store and Incumbents

    Paul Allen helped create Microsoft, but it didn’t define him. Then, Photoshop for the iPad is announced; it has a chance because it’s from a big company.


  • Intel and the Danger of Integration

    Intel is in an increasingly bad position in part because it has been captive to its integrated model. Or, you could simply say they were disrupted.


  • Morris Chang Retires; Apple, Microsoft, Facebook Follow-Up; Who Gets to Be on the Steam Store?

    Morris Change, the founder of TSMC, is one of the most important tech figures in history. Then, follow-up on Microsoft-GitHub, Apple and the App Store, and Facebook and the New York Times. Plus, why Valve is getting platform control right.


  • Snap Mania and Metamarkets; John Perry Barlow Dies; Barlow, Disney, and Streaming

    When it comes to struggling companies like Snap, bullishness is all relative — and there’s a big red flag in their earnings. Then, John Perry Barlow passed away: his influence was immense, even on surprising entities like Disney.