Snap’s engagement numbers are a reminder that it is first and foremost a chat app; that’s not great for advertising. Then, explaining the changes in the U.S. tax system through the lens of Apple, which is claiming credit that may not be entirely deserved.
Facebook’s Motivations
The impact of Facebook’s News Feed changes on the media is far less interesting than what the changes — and their stated purpose — say about Facebook itself.
Vulnerabilities, Philosophies, and Ad-Blockers; Intel’s Response; The Advantage of Serverless
Follow-up on Meltdown and Spectre, Intel’s obfuscation, and why serverless is better.
Patreon Reverses Itself, The Patreon Backstory and the Reality of Fees, Patreon’s Mistake
Patreon recently changed its fee structure — and then changed it back. The problem is rooted in Patreon’s history and it its misunderstanding of the value chain in which it operates.
Disney and Fox
Disney’s rumored acquisition of 21st Century Fox is all about competing with Netflix; whether or not that is a good thing depends on your frame of reference.
Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash, TL;DR: The Bitcoin Paradox, Uber-Softbank Deal
Bitcoin versus Bitcoin Cash looks like a pump-and-dump deal; that, though underscores the paradox underlying Bitcoin’s value. Then, Uber and Softbank reach a deal that will reflect the fact Uber didn’t kill Lyft.
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.
Microsoft’s Monopoly Hangover
There are striking similarities between Microsoft today and IBM in the Lou Gerstner era, but today’s IBM should be a warning to Redmond.
Apple’s China Problem
Apple had mixed earnings: most of the world was great, but China was bad again. The reason is that in China WeChat matters more than iOS.
Alphabet Earnings; Revisiting Peak Google, Again; How Mobile Helps Google
Google had another stellar quarter; was Peak Google wrong, or did I just underestimate mobile?