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App Stores

  • Morris Chang Retires; Apple, Microsoft, Facebook Follow-Up; Who Gets to Be on the Steam Store?

    Morris Change, the founder of TSMC, is one of the most important tech figures in history. Then, follow-up on Microsoft-GitHub, Apple and the App Store, and Facebook and the New York Times. Plus, why Valve is getting platform control right.

  • The Cost of Developers

    Microsoft paid a lot for GitHub, because it had to pay directly for access to developers. It doesn’t have the leverage of users the way that Apple does on the App Store.

  • The Bill Gates Line

    Understanding the differences between aggregators and platforms matters for companies interacting with them and also regulators considering antitrust.

  • The Moat Map

    The Moat Map describes the correlation between the degree of supplier differentiation and the externalization (or internalization) of a company’s network effect.

  • Defining Aggregators

    Building on Aggregation Theory, this provides a precise definition of the characteristics of aggregators, and a classification system based on suppliers. Plus, how to think about aggregator regulation.

  • Apple’s Strengths and Weaknesses

    Both Apple’s strengths and weaknesses were on full display at its annual WWDC keynote; the HomePod is a perfect example.

  • Microsoft Build, iTunes on the Windows Store

    Satya Nadella sketched a new vision at Microsoft Build, but the company has yet to replace the Windows engine. Then, Microsoft (likely) compromises to get iTunes into the Windows Store.

  • Super Mario Run, Nintendo’s Bad Reviews, Apple’s App Store Failures

    Super Mario Run is a great game that is getting bad reviews that are ultimately Apple’s fault. The company needs to make the App Store much more developer-friendly

  • Disney to Buy Part of MLBAM; Netflix, Comcast, and Verizon; Spotify’s Fruitless Antitrust Griping

    Disney continues to invest in the future by buying part of MLBAM, while Comcast and Verizon settle into their roles as utilities. Plus, why Spotify’s antitrust complaints don’t make much sense, even if Apple isn’t being very fair.

  • Apple Makes Major Changes to App Store, The App Store and Apple’s Nature, Additional Notes

    Apple made major changes to the App Store; in this double Daily Article I explain why they’re a big deal but not yet perfect, and how that demonstrates the difficulty of change.