On the newest episode of Exponent, the podcast I co-host with James Allworth: We discuss Xiaomi’s ambition to own the home, why we’re frustrated with patents, why the West is unfair to the developing world, and what makes China unique. Links Jordan Lewis: Exponent Bingo – Twitter Ben Thompson: Xiaomi’s Ambition – Stratechery Ben Thompson: […]
Podcast: Exponent Episode 028 – Squirrel!
On the newest episode of Exponent, the podcast I co-host with James Allworth: We discuss the recent App Store controversy and how a person – or company’s – greatest strength is also their greatest weakness. Plus a special 2nd recording about the Harvard business school professor and the Chinese restaurant. Links Cabel Sasser: Transmit iOS […]
Podcast: Exponent 026 – GROW GROW GROW FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT
On the newest episode of Exponent, the podcast I co-host with James Allworth: We briefly discuss my belief in the Internet opportunity for content creators, and then dive in to the recent Uber controversy. Links Publishers and the Smiling Curve: Ben Thompson – Stratechery Differentiation and Value Capture in the Internet Age: Ben Thompson – […]
Podcast: Exponent Episode 024 – A Celebratory Goblet of Champagne
On the newest episode of Exponent, the podcast I co-host with James Allworth: In this week’s episode… The idea for Exponent was hatched when Ben and James were arguing about Ben’s article What Clayton Christensen Got Wrong a year ago. In this episode, we finally reach a resolution to the question about how Apple escapes […]
Podcast: Exponent Episode 022 – Peak Google, Monologue Edition
On the newest episode of Exponent, the podcast I co-host with James Allworth: In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss Ben’s article “Peak Google” and the future of advertising. Links Ben Thompson: Peak Google – Stratechery Benedict Evans: The Irrelevance of Microsoft – Ben-Evans.com Peter Kriss: The Value of Customer Experience, Quantified – Harvard […]
Podcast: Exponent Episode 020 – I Want You to Be Wrong
On the newest episode of Exponent, the podcast I co-host with James Allworth: In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss the problems with Ello’s business model, James’ discomfort with Facebook, and why Social Networks always have ads. We also talk about incentives and something surprising Ben learned from the notorious Episode 18. Links Ben […]
Podcast: Exponent Episode 018 – Agree to Disagree
On the newest episode of Exponent, the podcast I co-host with James Allworth: In this week’s episode Ben explains why he has changed his mind about Apple Watch. James is not convinced. We go on for a while. Links Ben Thompson: What I Got Wrong About Apple Watch – Stratechery John Gruber: Apple Watch: Initial […]
How Tim Cook Might Have Introduced Apple Watch, and Exponent Episode 017: Let’s End it There
In 2010, John Gruber wrote an article for Macworld called This is How Apple Rolls: They take something small, simple, and painstakingly well considered. They ruthlessly cut features to derive the absolute minimum core product they can start with. They polish those features to a shiny intensity. At an anticipated media event, Apple reveals this […]
Podcast: Exponent Episode 016 – Naked People
On the newest episode of Exponent, the podcast I co-host with James Allworth: In this week’s episode we discuss James’ first ever trip to Burning Man, ugliness in modern culture and on the Internet, the new divide in politics, and ultimately why we have hope for the future. Links Grover Norquist: My First Burning Man: […]
Podcast: Exponent Episode 015 – Consoles and Disruption
On the newest episode of Exponent, the podcast I co-host with James Allworth: In this week’s episode we discuss whether or not consoles will be disrupted. This episode was recorded a week ago (immediately after last week’s episode), before Ben wrote his pieces Games and Good Enough and Games and New Market Disruption. Links Ben […]