Google is unique in that their business was built on being the best. The company, though, benefited from the open web. That is not the case in mobile.
Condé Nast, Hearst Form Joint Venture; Stripe Atlas; An Interview with Stripe CEO Patrick Collison
This Daily Update is about Stripe Atlas, but first a detour to discuss an interesting partnership between Condé Nast and Hearst. Then, and interview with Stripe founder and CEO Patrick Collison.
Netflix Goes Global, iPhone Worry
Netflix’s surprising announcement that the company was extending its service to nearly every country on earth was impressive in its execution, what it said about the company’s strategy, and it raised interesting points about Aggregation Theory and Netflix’s future opportunities. Plus, there is a lot of smoke when it comes to worries about the iPhone.
Star Wars Grosses >$500 million, Disney: Cable or Content?, Goldman Sachs Recants on Microsoft
Star Wars has significantly exceeded expectations, yet Disney’s stock is down. The question is what matters: content, or cable networks? I argue it is the former, and that Disney’s future is bright.
Craig Federighi on Swift, Taylor Swift’s 1989 on Apple Music
John Gruber’s interview with Craig Federighi is an excellent opportunity to explore exactly why Swift is such a big deal. Then, Taylor Swift has an exclusive with Apple Music for the video of her 1989 concert.
Adele Won’t Stream 25, Windowing Versus Piracy
Adele won’t stream her new album, and I think that makes a ton of sense. Monetizing IP might be hard, but I don’t think it’s necessarily hostile to your fans. Plus, what really ended piracy and what will be the biggest conflict in IP-related industries in the future.
Selling Feelings
Distribution being free may have ruined old business models, but it allows businesses to get much closer to their customers and make money by meeting needs.
TensorFlow and Monetizing Intellectual Property
Google has said repeatedly that machine learning is key to their future. Why, then, did they open source the secret sauce? Is it a mistake, or are there lessons to be learned for IP creators everywhere.
YouTube Red, Yahoo Stumbles
YouTube Red doesn’t make much sense at first glance, but there might be something there if Google goes all in. Plus, the sad end of Yahoo.
China O2O and Unit Economics; The Fallout — Or Not — Of a Chinese Internet Crash; Uber, Postmates, Shyp, Instacart
The Wall Street Journal says China’s O2O industry may be crashing, something that comes as little surprise to many observers. However, does that mean Silicon Valley should be worried? Plus, how to think about Uber, Postmates, Shyp, and Instacart