Quibi — and Shopify! — explain why TikTok is so successful. As always, though, the TikTok story is complicated by the Chinese connection.
Instagram to Hide Likes, Instagram and Influence Marketing, Practical Impacts
Instagram is removing likes, because it says it cares about user welfare. Is that the reason, or is Instagram finally taking on influencer marketing?
Beachheads and Obstacles
Facebook and Amazon had events on the same day for Oculus and Alexa. Both are driven by lessons from the mobile era, but Amazon seems to have learned more than Facebook.
The Snap Partner Summit, Snap’s Announcements, Vision Versus Execution
Snap’s announcements at its Partner Summit signaled a new strategy that makes a lot of sense. The company, though, needs to show that it can execute.
Apple’s Errors
Apple’s management made three errors that led to the restatement of revenue; those errors, though, suggest that the company’s business is in better shape than it appears.
Google Cloud Changes CEOs, Layers of Surprise (or Not), The VMWare Analogy
Google Cloud has a new CEO: the news is a surprise at first glance, but may make more sense than it seems. To understand why, look at VMWare, outgoing Google Cloud CEO Diane Greene’s most famous startup.
The Experience Economy
SAP’s acquisition of Qualtrics shows how the shift in technology has changed business; it is a perfect example of using the Internet to one’s advantage.
Apple Centricity, Watch Tentposts, Apple’s Philosophy and Managing Time
An overview of the WWDC keynote, including Apple’s transition away from touch, how the Apple Watch is reaching its potential, and why Apple’s approach to screen time is so refreshing.
Olympics Ratings, P&G and Olympics Advertising, Total Audience Advertising
Olympic Ratings are down, but less than expected! Unfortunately for NBC, so is revenue. That, though, is expected: sports and its advertisers remain interconnected. Then, at least NBC finally figured out how to manage multiple mediums.
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.