Concepts

Product-Market Fit

  • Dropbox Kills Carousel and Mailbox, Facebook Kills Creative Labs

    Dropbox finally focuses on business, while Facebook realizes it’s a big company now.


  • Microsoft’s OneDrive Debacle, Google One Take Two, Google Developing Smartphone Chips?

    Microsoft’s OneDrive team unceremoniously ended its unlimited storage offer, scoring an own goal in the process. How did this screw-up happen? Then, Google is re-launching its Android One program in India — should the program even exist? Or, for that matter, should a special Android chip?


  • Android > Chrome, LinkedIn’s Business Model Beats

    Android is reportedly going to subsume Chrome OS; I’m bummed but it’s probably the right decision (and no, that doesn’t mean iOS and OS X will merge). Plus, LinkedIn had another strong quarter, and their smart business model deserves the credit. Is there a lesson for Twitter and other consumer companies?


  • Dropbox Paper, Dropbox’s Missed Opportunities, Google Apps Stagnation

    Dropbox just announced a major new product, Paper. However, I think it is far too little far too later. Meanwhile, Google is using pricing gimmicks for Apps, which speaks to how little the core product has evolved.


  • The Facebook Epoch

    First came the PC, and on top of the PC the Internet. Then, mobile, but what will rule mobile?


  • The iPhone 6S, The End of the iPhone 5C, The iPhone Upgrade Program

    The iPhone 6S is an impressive upgrade, particularly 3D Touch. The iPhone, though, has far deeper advantages: first, in China where its status remains unchallenged, and also in developed markets where Apple is commoditizing carriers.


  • UberPool Follow-Up, Google Bans Interstitial App-Install Ads, Instagram Allows Multiple Photo Sizes

    More on UberPool, including the inevitability of self-driving cars, Uber’s competitors, and whether or not Uber needs mass transit. Then, Google’s ban on interstitial app install ads may be a bit arbitrary, but does that matter? Plus a must-read article that ties Instagram’s photo sizes to Twitter’s 140 characters.


  • Meetup Information; LinkedIn Beats, Slumps; Samsung’s Shift Continues; Sony’s Specialization

    LinkedIn and Samsung both had negative reactions to their earnings, but both are in the middle of a shift to a better position going forward; Sony’s results were worse on an absolute basis but better received because they’ve already gone through the hard work of focusing on what works. Plus, meetup information for Chicago, New York,…


  • Airbnb’s Externalities, Sharing and Culture, PayPal Acquires Xoom

    Yesterday’s discussion of Airbnb was in part focused on the broader implications of the sharing economy. Truthfully, though, Airbnb deserves more attention for its externalities — it is in many ways more radical than Uber. It’s also not clear it will work in every culture. Then, a brief discussion of Paypal and Xoom and how different…


  • Summer Update, Slack Strong, The Dropbox Cautionary Tale

    Slack has more numbers out, and while from a certain perspective the company still seems small, a step back reveals just how significant the opportunity is. Still, nothing is guaranteed, and Dropbox happens to offer a very useful cautionary tale.