Bitcoin is commonly characterized as an alternative currency, but actually the core concept has little to do with money. The potential as a protocol is massive, but only if everyone everywhere is connected to the network. 21 Inc. is trying to make that happen.
Medium the Network, Automattic Buys WooCommerce, Google and the Value of Identity
This Daily Update examines Medium’s seeming pivot towards being a network instead of a publisher, which is a contrast to WordPress.com’s latest move towards e-commerce. Finally, a brief examination of why identity matters.
Cisco’s Results — and Future, Tencent’s Advertising Shift
Today’s update discusses how Cisco has seemingly responded to the threat of software-based networking, but why the future is more cloudy than outgoing CEO John Chambers thinks. Then, Tencent is slowly diversifying their business model, and it’s a big opportunity.
The AWS IPO
AWS has long been a question mark when it comes to Amazon: it’s a good idea, and it makes money, but like it’s parent company, will it ever be profitable? The revelation that AWS is already very profitable indeed is a really big deal both for AWS but also for Amazon itself.
LinkedIn Misses, Sony’s Retreat
Good morning, The promised update to Stratechery is imminent — if all goes well, it will happen in the next 24 hours. I will include more details in tomorrow update, but the primary impact on subscribers is minimal. Specifically: Your Stratechery login will be your email address, not your old username The first time youSubscribe […]
Daily Update: Amazon, Microsoft, and Google Earnings
Good morning, The earnings onslaught continues. On to the update: Amazon Earnings Amazon’s management did a better job of avoiding income taxes this quarter: the company is back to its usual — and surely intentional — loss-making ways. From The Wall Street Journal: The Seattle company reported a loss despite rapidly rising sales, as itSubscribe […]
Daily Update: Facebook Earnings, Google Launches Project Fi
Good morning, Earnings season is here, plus a big(?) announcement from Google. On to the update: Facebook Earnings Facebook had another good quarter, and the stock is up…oh wait, just like last quarter the stock is down after-hours. Last quarter’s slide didn’t make sense at the time, and quickly reversed itself: as of yesterday’s closingSubscribe […]
Twitter and What Might Have Been
Twitter’s blog is generally a cheery place, with one big exception from 2012: the innocuously named Changes Coming in Version 1.1 of the Twitter API, and in particular, the section called “Changes to the Developer Rules of the Road” that attempted to put the kibosh on 3rd-party Twitter clients:1 If you are building a Twitter […]
Daily Update: Learning From the Economist, NYT Now to be Free
Good morning, I know many of you had the day off on Friday (Good Friday in the West, and Tomb-Sweeping Day here in Asia), but there was a Daily Update, so check it out in case you missed it. If you have any login issues, use this link; the promised rework of the membership systemSubscribe […]
Daily Update: Apple Watch’s Bad Messaging; On Meerkat, Periscope, and Bad Journalism
Good morning, There will be a new Exponent later today; James and I discussed BuzzFeed and the Brother Orange story as well as the Amazon Dash Button and Home Service. On to the longer-than-usual Daily Update. I got a little rant-y. Apple Watch’s Bad Messaging Speaking of podcasts, I was on John Gruber’s The TalkSubscribe […]