An interview with Patreon CEO Jack Conte and Memberful CEO Drew Strojny on the occasion of Patreon acquiring Memberful, the membership software used by Stratechery. This Daily Update is free for everyone.
Apple’s Map Reset; CarPlay, Waze, and Google Maps; Disney Acquisition of 21st Century Fox Approved
Apple Maps is getting a reset; what is more encouraging is the company inviting competition. Then, Disney gets approval for its purchase of 21st Century Fox, and it raises questions about the entire process.
Amazon Acquires PillPack, PillPack’s Alignment With Amazon, The Walmart Miss
Amazon’s acquisition of PillPack makes a lot of sense for both companies, and it’s hard to argue that consumers won’t be the ultimate beneficiaries.
Disney Ups Bid for 21st Century Fox, Disney’s Choice, AT&T to Acquire AppNexus?
The AT&T-Time Warner decision that I has set off a chain reaction with an uncertain ending: Comcast and Disney are competing for 21st Century Fox, and AT&T may be getting into digital advertising.
AT&T, Time Warner, and the Need for Neutrality
It is no surprise that a judge allowed the AT&T-Time Warner acquisition to proceed given the government’s poor case; the question is if a better case could have been made. What is ultimately needed, though, are new laws.
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.
Microsoft to Buy GitHub, A Win for GitHub, Facebook’s Data-Sharing Deals with Device Makers
Microsoft is reportedly buying GitHub, which makes a lot of sense for both Microsoft and GitHub, and all GitHub users. Then, why the latest Facebook scandal is probably overblown.
Adobe Buys Magento, Podcast News, ZTE Deal Reportedly Reached
Adobe reached the logical endpoint of its digital ad build-out, but was the journey worth it? Then, news from the podcast world, and the potential resolution of the ZTE ban.
Platforms Versus Aggregators, What About Amazon?, Walmart Buys Flipkart
Tech’s two philosophies are also about the difference between platforms and aggregators, but even that has its own divisions. Amazon falls on both sides of the divide. Plus, why Walmart’s Flipkart purchase makes no sense.
T-Mobile to Acquire Sprint, Microsoft’s Earnings
T-Mobile is acquiring Sprint. The deal makes a lot of sense, particularly in the context of 5G — will regulators look forward or backward? Then, Microsoft continues to own the CIO relationship.