Apple’s case before the Supreme Court is about standing; Apple has a strong case. That, though, doesn’t mean the App Store isn’t a monopoly — and that Apple isn’t increasingly predicated on rent-seeking.
Happy Thanksgiving, Tencent Earnings, Fox Sports MLB Deal
Happy Thanksgiving! Tencent’s earnings and impressive diversification, and the impact on Apple, plus why MLB’s new deal with Fox shows that sports are as valuable as ever.
Apple’s Earnings; Apple, Tencent, and China; iPad Pro Reviews
Apple’s earnings point towards a disappointing quarter, and there are also clouds on the “services narrative” horizon, particularly in China. Then, Apple’s (ongoing) mistake with the iPad.
IBM-Red Hat Follow-up, Microsoft’s Earnings, Amazon’s Earnings
More on IBM and Red Hat, then Microsoft and Amazon’s earnings.
The Problem with Facebook and Virtual Reality
Virtual reality has always been destined to be less important than augmented reality, and Facebook taking a stake has never made much sense.
Xbox All Access Pass, The Eighth-Generation of Consoles, Console Subscriptions: Now and the Future
Microsoft is announcing a new subscription plan for Xbox that includes the console; it is modest for now, but could be a bigger deal in the future.
Fortnite’s Bad Bug, Epic’s Complaint, The Downside of Open
Fortnite has a bad bug, and while the company is being blamed for circumventing the Play Store, Android’s design is a big part of the problem.
Fortnite Skips Google Play, Netflix Explores Bypassing iTunes, Big Names and Long Tails
Fortnite is skipping out on Google Play, and Netflix is trying to get out of the App Store. That’s not great for Apple and Google, but the effort is hardly a surprise.
Tencent’s Profit Drops, China Freezes Game Approvals, The Tencent Behemoth
Tencent’s profit dropped, in part because the Chinese government has stopped approving games. Plus, why Tencent’s approach to the games industry makes sense in China, even if Facebook’s model may be more attractive.
Scooter Follow-up, Microsoft and the Xbox, Spotify Signs Indie Acts
Scooter follow-up, then why the future of gaming may be very good for Microsoft. Plus, why Spotify’s new distribution agreements are not a big deal for now, but point to a positive future.