The reason why AlphaGo is such a big deal is, I suspect, related to why it is that Google is selling Boston Dynamics.
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 […]
The Week in Daily Updates (Week 2)
The main page content on Stratechery is free for all readers, but I also offer the Daily Update via email and RSS for $10 per month/$100 per year.1 This is a selection of items that were sent out in this week’s Daily Updates. To sign up, visit the Membership page Was Google+ A Success? (Posted […]
How Google Can Steal Facebook’s Candy
I wrote a piece on Bloomberg View about Facebook’s vulnerability when it comes to their chief money-maker: app-install ads. Facebook runs the risk of becoming the second option for the sorts of advertisers that are currently its best customers. Facebook has made several acquisitions that will help them gain more insight into in-app behavior, most […]
The Week in Daily Updates (Week 1)
The content on Stratechery is free for all readers, but I also offer the Daily Update via email and RSS for $10 per month/$100 per year.1 This is a selection of items that were sent out in this week’s Daily Updates. To sign up, visit the Membership page Twitter Launches Ad Network (Posted on Monday, […]
The Technology Behind Android TV
Here is an interesting follow-up to my piece yesterday about the various tech giants’ Black Box Strategy. From GigaOM, on The Technology Behind Android TV: To understand Google’s new take on smart TVs, it’s worth considering how consumers experience apps on smart TVs and connected devices today. On most devices, app makers have autonomy (for […]
Why Targeting Increases the Value of Ads
I’ve written previously that “Targeting information is the new scarcity in advertising.” The Information has a perfect example of exactly that: Mobile app developers that rely on highly targeted ad campaigns to bring in new business are facing rising rates and inventory shortages as they compete to reach a small group of desirable, free-spending customers. […]
Microsoft v Microsoft
In his first column for the New York Times, Farhad Manjoo advocated relying on Apple, Google, and Amazon: When you decide what to use, you’ve got to play every tech giant against the other, to make every tech decision as if you were a cad — sample every firm’s best features and never overcommit to […]
The Best Analogy for Chromebooks are iPads
In response to yesterday’s post about Chromebooks and the Cost of Complexity, Vance McAlister passed along this great post of his that nailed what is so appealing about ChromeOS: The true value in ChromeOS is what it DOESN’T have. Critics say “a Macbook or Windows laptop will give you the same Chrome browser, plus a […]
Scroogled
Microsoft is selling Scroogled gear. From The Verge: Microsoft’s anti-Google “Scroogled” campaign has been quietly attempting to convince consumers to avoid Google services for the past few months, but it’s back today with a vengeance. Microsoft has dedicated an entire section of its online store to selling anti-Google mugs, hats, t-shirts, and hoodies. The prices […]