Facebook has pre-emptively built a tool for censoring content in China even as the Chinese government is talking about “fake news”. Then, a note of thanks from me to you.
Apple Earnings, The End of Google Fiber
Apple reports solid earnings with good news for the iPhone, while Google pulls the plug on Fiber.
Uber-Didi Follow-up, SalesForce Buys Quip
More on Uber and Didi, and why the evaluation of this deal depends on the lens you use. Then, why Salesforce bought Quip, and what that says about both enterprise startups and Salesforce versus Microsoft.
Didi Acquires Uber China, Why Uber China Was Doomed, Was Uber China Worth It?
Didi has acquired Uber China. This Update goes through the history of ride-sharing in China, why Uber China was doomed, and evaluates whether Uber China was worth the investment.
Snapchat’s Facebook Moment, China Cracks Down on Apps and Social Networks
A quick follow-up on Tesla, where Elon Musk continues to demonstrate how not to win the battle over self-driving cars. Then, Snapchat is getting the Facebook treatment, some of it legitimate, and some of it not, and China is cracking down on apps and social networks
Apple, Didi, and Occam’s Razor; Uber in China
Apple investing $1 billion in Didi could signify all kinds of things, but only one explanation makes sense. The big loser, though, is Uber.
Apple’s Run, Apple Earnings and the iPhone Upgrade Cycle, The iPhone in China
Apple had an amazing run, but now there are very real questions about the iPhone, in no small part because Apple itself doesn’t seem sure what is going on.
Josh Horwitz: Uber in China, What Uber Got Right, Is Second Place Winning?
Ben is on vacation; in a guest post, Josh Horwitz explores Uber in China. What did they get right that so many other Western companies get wrong, and is it sustainable? What if they are only ever second place?
Xiaomi’s Struggles, Samsung Hardware Rumors
Xiaomi is struggling to justify its valuation; in fact there have been signs for a long time that their valuation was unrealistic all along. Plus, Samsung returns to hardware differentiation.
Meituan-Dianping Merge in China, Facebook Messenger’s Business Model, Facebook and Teens
China’s O2O market is in the consolidation phase, and the competition is fierce. That, though, helps highlight why an advertising business model is sometimes so attractive, like, for example, the one that Facebook has. Plus, why the “Facebook has a problem with teens” narrative really isn’t a big deal