Twitter is caught in three paradoxes that make the company nearly impossible to sell, even if that is exactly what needs to happen
The Audacity of Copying Well
Instagram copied Snapchat, and that’s a good thing: differentiation is about far more than features, and this is Facebook’s best shot at holding off Snapchat.
Softbank Buys ARM; Taylor, Kanye, Kim, and Twitter
Softbank is buying ARM, which is interesting in its implications for both companies, but probably not that big of a deal for the industry. Then, what the latest Taylor Swift-Kanye West episode says about Twitter.
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
Snapchat’s Advertising API, Snapchat Versus Facebook, Offline Tracking
The biggest news of the week was likely Snapchat’s announcement of an advertising API: how was it introduced, what is it, and how will it affect Facebook? Plus, Snapchat joins Facebook and Google in tracking brick-and-mortar visits.
Facebook Earnings, Facebook and New Market Disruption, Facebook’s Share Reclassification
In a market where it’s peers have been struggling Facebook crushed it again, proving out The Facebook Epoch. However, could the company’s potential be even greater than that? Plus why the company’s share reclassification makes me uncomfortable.
Facebook, Phones, and Phonebooks
There are two types of social networks, and Facebook wants to be both. The problem is that the company already chose public sharing over private communication.
Snapchat Follow-up; WeChat, Facebook Messenger, and iMessage; Microsoft’s Bot Parade
Some follow-up on Snapchat, where it fits alongside Facebook Messenger and iMessage, then a discussion of where all the “bot” talk is coming from. Then, Microsoft jumped all in on bots: what does it mean, and what should they do next.
Snapchat’s Ladder
Snapchat is on the verge of conquering the toughest messaging market in the world: the United States. The way they did it is by laddering-up.
Sundar Pichai’s Greatest Achievement To-Date, The VR Era Begins, Facebook Versus Oculus
The Oculus Rift officially launches today, and will be followed soon by the HTC Vive and the Sony PlayStation VR. I’m optimistic about virtual reality, but I still don’t understand why Facebook is involved: the company should learn from Google and Android.