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 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.
Text Messaging in the United States; Google Earnings; Google, Facebook, and GDPR
An anecdote about permanence and file systems, an explanation of how the U.S. text messaging market is unique, then an overview of Google’s earnings and why GDPR might be having an effect.
Facebook and Virtual Reality Follow-up, Tim Cook’s Speech on Privacy, What About China?
More on Facebook, virtual and augmented reality, and it’s long-term strategic play. Then, Tim Cook gave a remarkable speech on privacy; how much does Apple’s stance matter?
Data Factories Follow-Up, Amazon’s Pay Raise, Amazon Makes Hay
Follow-up to Data Factories, then Amazon’s pay raise, which is of course good for workers and also, unsurprisingly, good for Amazon.
Data Factories
Facebook and Google and other advertising businesses are data factories, and regulation will be most effective if it lets users look inside
The iPhone XR Delay, India, and China; Discriminatory Job Ads on Facebook; EU Versus Internet Follow-Up
More follow-up on the iPhone, then how discriminatory job ads on Facebook demonstrate how to police bad behavior on platforms with zero marginal costs. Plus, follow-up on The European Union Versus the Internet.
San Francisco and Scooters, Skip’s Strategic Moat, Santa Monica and Scooters
San Francisco has decreed which scooters should win, and acquiesce to regulators appears to be top of the list. Plus, why the differences between scooters and ride-sharing should result in very different strategies.
Uber Loses in New York City, The Modern Medallion?, Driver Pay Floors
New York City has enacted a moratorium and pay floor on ride-sharing services. Uber may be losing its political power, and the effects could be wide-ranging.
Facebook Lenses
Facebook was down dramatically after its last earnings; to decide if it is justified it is worth looking at the company through many different lenses, both financial and strategic.