What was interesting about Facebook’s iOS 14 announcement was not what it said about the IDFA, but what it didn’t say about Apple’s broader policies.
Apple-Epic Follow-up, A Brief History of Epic Games, Apple’s Hammer
Apple is reverting to form, trying to control everything. It is also threatening all of Epic’s business, not simply Fortnite.
Apple, Epic, and the App Store
The App Store is not one thing: it is installation, payments, and customer management; the further Apple gets from iOS, the worse its actions are for users and developers.
Qualcomm Wins on Appeal, The Opinion, Apple’s Foresight
Qualcomm won its appeal against the FTC; most of the opinion’s narrow arguments make sense, but look differently when considered holistically.
Antitrust Politics
Analyzing the politics of the antitrust hearing featuring the CEOs of Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook.
The Antitrust Hearing, The Role of Congress, CEO Questions
Congress is exactly where discussions about tech and society should be happening. Then, a list of questions for every tech CEO.
Slack Files Antitrust Complaint Against Microsoft; Tying in the U.S. and E.U.; Microsoft Concerns, Then and Now
Slack has filed an antitrust complaint against Microsoft, and the tying allegations may have legs. Still, the fact the complaint exists is a bearish signal.
Apple’s New Reality; Apple’s Transition Strategy; Apple v. Developers, Continued
How Apple’s moat was built, the parallels to the Intel transition, and more developer tension.
Apple’s Response to Hey, Hey’s Response to Apple, Hey’s Limited Antitrust Options
Apple and Hey go back and forth, but probably not to court.
Xscale and ARM in the Cloud, Hey Versus Apple, Apple’s IAP Campaign
Follow-up on Apple, ARM, and Intel, then unpacking the Hey dispute with Apple, and the possibility that Apple is doubling-down on Services by squeezing developers.