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Latest Podcast

Concepts

Differentiation

  • HomePod Goes on Sale, The Smartphone and the End of History, The Success of the Nintendo Switch

    The HomePod goes on sale tomorrow — finally — and it’s still not clear whether or not Apple is ready to move beyond the smartphone; the success of the Nintendo Switch suggests the world isn’t waiting.

  • 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.

  • Snapchat’s Redesign, Spiegel’s New (Old) Vision, Tencent and Spotify

    Snap has a more cogent vision than the one it presented in its S-1; the problem is it might be too late. Tencent, meanwhile, fresh off its Snap investment has picked up a piece of Spotify.

  • Stitch Fix and the Senate

    Stitch Fix is a perfectly fine company that is a big startup success, in part because it paid attention to costs. It is very problematic that the Senate is threatening that, and potentially entrenching incumbents.

  • Disney to Buy 21st Century Fox?, Two Strategies for Content Companies, Netflix and ESPN

    Disney may buy portions of 21st Century Fox; it is a deal that makes a lot of sense for both sides, particularly when you consider how the industry has been fundamentally changed.

  • Apple at Its Best

    Apple’s original competitive advantage — the integration of hardware and software — is more durable than disruption theory would suggest.

  • Google’s Search for the Sweet Spot

    Google’s hardware event shows the company’s commitment both to devices and to artificial intelligence; just doing what you are good at, though, is not always enough.

  • Google’s HTC Deal, HTC — and Google’s — Motivations, Apple Watch and Apple Memory

    Google has made a rather odd deal with HTC — basically an acquihire. What are the two company’s motivations? Then, Apple Watch news and reviews, and a smartphone-related acquisition that is actually more important than Google’s.

  • Disney Shifts to Streaming, Disney Versus Netflix, ESPN

    Disney is making big changes — finally. What will be fascinating to watch is if the company is willing to fully embrace the Internet and its own brand and become an aggregator.

  • Apple and the Oak Tree

    Apple’s business, thanks to Services, is growing ever stronger, even as Apple loses the model — and the product — that made the company what it is today.