In an inconvenient bit of timing Dropbox announced they were leaving AWS just as I was singing its praises; in fact the storage company’s decision reinforces the benefits AWS provides. Then, why Amazon’s move into logistics makes sense, and how it might play out.
The Amazon Tax
Amazon is building a lot of businesses that look like AWS: taxes on major industries that work to everyone’s benefit. The reason, though, is that AWS is a lot like Amazon itself.
Microsoft Earnings, Microsoft Acquires Xamarin, Microsoft Discontinues Android App Bridge
A long-delayed analysis of Microsoft’s most-recent earnings, which gives color to the company’s recent acquisition of Xamarin, and why the future is looking bright.
Apple-FBI Follow-up; Xiaomi, Samsung, LG and High-End Android, Spotify Moves to Google’s Cloud
First some follow-up on Apple versus the FBI, then a discussion about how high-end Android is a distinct market, and how that impacts new phones from Xiaomi, Samsung, and LG. Finally, why Spotify’s move to Google makes sense.
The Big 5 Year in Review: Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook
A year-end review of tech’s five most important companies.
Slack and the State of Technology at the End of 2015
Slack has announced the Slack Platform. It’s an obvious move, but it’s the obviousness that indicates what a huge opportunity it is
Google and the Shift From Web to Apps, Indexing App-Only Content, Streaming Apps
Phase one of the shift from web to apps was a problem for Google, but a solvable one. Phase two, though, is much more of an existential threat.
Google Hires Diane Greene, Google the Cloud Company?
Google is signaling that it is getting serious about the cloud, so success is certain. Or is it? What actually matters in building an adjacent business for a different kind of market?
Microsoft’s OneDrive Debacle, Google One Take Two, Google Developing Smartphone Chips?
Microsoft’s OneDrive team unceremoniously ended its unlimited storage offer, scoring an own goal in the process. How did this screw-up happen? Then, Google is re-launching its Android One program in India — should the program even exist? Or, for that matter, should a special Android chip?
Amazon’s Transformation, Continued; Microsoft’s Transformation…and Threat
As predicted last quarter, AWS is increasingly the engine driving Amazon’s financial results. However, there is evidence the e-commerce side is changing as well. Then, Microsoft has completely changed itself over the last few years, but the company is not out of the woods just yet.