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Latest Podcast

Concepts

Incentives

  • The Aggregator Paradox

    Google is winning with AMP and blocking ads in Chrome: both seem bad, but aren’t they actually good for consumers? That is the paradox of aggregation.

  • Twitter Earnings; The End of TellApart; Direct Versus Brand Marketing, and Size

    Twitter’s earnings were both less and more impressive than they appeared; plus, a lesson I have learned about direct versus brand advertising, and what it means for both Twitter and Snap.

  • Snap Earnings, Fox Signs Deal for Thursday NFL Football, The Sports Linchpin and Snap et al.

    Snap had strong results that build on progress made last quarter; the company is looking less like Twitter, at least for now. Then, FOX spends on football, even as the Sports Linchpin weakens.

  • Apple Follow-Up, Apple Earnings, Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai Steps Down

    Is Apple setting itself up for disruption, or will its integration lead to more markets? Its earnings offer evidence in both directions, and worrisome China results. Then, Kazuo Hirai steps down after setting Sony on the only sustainable path.

  • Apple’s Middle Age

    For Apple, hitting middle age means a strategy primarily focused on monetizing its existing customers. It makes sense, but one wonders what happens next.

  • Google Earnings, Amazon Earnings

    Google gives greater clarity to its acquisition costs, and cloud continues to grow. Amazon, though, still has a big lead, funding the rest of the company (still).

  • Facebook Earnings, Microsoft Earnings

    Amazon Health was not about the health insurance industry, but about Amazon. Then, Facebook’s earnings were stronger than most appreciate (and as predicted), while Microsoft’s hybrid strategy continues to pay off.

  • More on the Switch, Apple Music and the HomePod, Songwriter Royalties Increase

    More on the Nintendo Switch, and how Apple Music is more strategic than I appreciated. Then, Spotify hits another obstacle — is the streaming service an acquisition target?

  • Amazon Go and the Future

    Amazon Go exemplifies how Amazon is building its monopoly in three ways: horizontally, vertically, and financially. Plus, why automation is worth being optimistic about.

  • Snapchat’s Engagement Numbers, Apple’s Tax Repatriation, The Shift to a Territorial Tax System

    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.