Beyond Devices Podcast

Jan's taking on a new full-time job and stepping away from his role as an independent analyst, which means we're taking a bit of a break from the podcast after this episode, and will post less frequent episodes in future. With that context, we're in a contemplative mood and decided to make this episode a discussion about the state of the tech industry. We tackle a few distinct themes: the power of incrementalism in the face of a bias towards big inventions; the maturity of key markets and the market structures that's driving us to; changing competitive dynamics and the increasing power of a few big players; and the role that regulation might play in the future of the industry and changing all that.

The show notes below include links to some of the things we mentioned on today's episode.

• Jan's blog post about his job change: https://medium.com/beyond-devices/seventeen-years-an-analyst-a5e9d215b48c

• Jan's last Techpinions post, on the state of the tech industry: https://techpinions.com/some-thoughts-on-the-state-of-the-tech-market/51643

• Vivint Smart Home website: https://www.vivint.com

You can also find the Beyond Devices Podcast on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-devices-podcast/id1002197313), in the Overcast app (https://overcast.fm/itunes1002197313/beyond-devices-podcast), or in your podcast app of choice.

As ever, we welcome your feedback via Twitter (@jandawson / @aaronmiller), the website (podcast.beyonddevic.es), or email ([email protected]).

We're back on our normal schedule for this week's News Roundup episode, and back to covering three distinct topics. This week those are: Snap's disappointing earnings and the proposed changes to the product and strategy there; Twitter's broader rollout of the 280 character limit and criticism over its use of user verification, and Aaron and Jan's first impressions of the iPhone X, which we've both been using for a few days now.

The show notes below include links for the various stories we covered on today's episode.

News stories we covered:

• Snap Earnings Release: https://investor.snap.com/news-releases/2017/11-07-2017-211621749

• Jan's Snap analysis: https://techpinions.com/snapchats-strategic-failure/51554

• The Hard Thing About Hard Things – Ben Horowitz (Amazon affiliate link): http://amzn.to/2yoTsAV

• Business Insider on Snap redesign plans: http://www.businessinsider.com/snapchat-redesign-planned-for-december-4-2017-11

• Twitter 280 blog post: https://blog.twitter.com/official/en_us/topics/product/2017/tweetingmadeeasier.html

• Jony Ive Wallpaper interview: https://www.wallpaper.com/design/jony-ive-apple-park

You can also find the Beyond Devices Podcast on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-devices-podcast/id1002197313), in the Overcast app (https://overcast.fm/itunes1002197313/beyond-devices-podcast), or in your podcast app of choice.

As ever, we welcome your feedback via Twitter (@jandawson / @aaronmiller), the website (podcast.beyonddevic.es), or email ([email protected]).

We're a couple of days late with this episode – Jan was traveling late last week, but we still wanted to cover Apple earnings, so we recorded first thing on Monday morning, and should still have another episode later this week. Apple earnings are the major focus for this episode, as we go through the various reporting segments in order of size by revenue. But we also spend a few minutes towards the end of the episode talking about Facebook's earnings.

The show notes below include links for the various stories we covered on today's episode.

News stories we covered:

• Apple Earnings Release:

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2017/11/apple-reports-fourth-quarter-results/

• Facebook Earnings release:

https://s21.q4cdn.com/399680738/files/doc_financials/2017/Q3/Q3'17-Earnings-Release.pdf

You can also find the Beyond Devices Podcast on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-devices-podcast/id1002197313), in the Overcast app (https://overcast.fm/itunes1002197313/beyond-devices-podcast), or in your podcast app of choice.

As ever, we welcome your feedback via Twitter (@jandawson / @aaronmiller), the website (podcast.beyonddevic.es), or email ([email protected]).

This week's episode is entirely devoted to Q3 2017 earnings reports which were released this week from four big companies: Amazon, Alphabet, Twitter, and Microsoft. We talk through the highlights of each company's earnings, the strengths and weaknesses (and warning signs) and the broader competitive landscape around these companies. We'll likely do a deep dive on Apple earnings among other things in our next episode.

The show notes below include links to all these stories on Tech Narratives and original sources as appropriate.

News stories we covered:

• Amazon earnings release:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=97664&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2311817

• Alphabet earnings release:

https://abc.xyz/investor/pdf/2017Q3_alphabet_earnings_release.pdf

• Twitter earnings release:

http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/AMDA-2F526X/3731695548x0x961121/3D6E4631-9478-453F-A813-8DAB496307A1/Q3_17_Shareholder_Letter.pdf

• Microsoft earnings release:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Investor/earnings/FY-2018-Q1/press-release-webcast..

You can also find the Beyond Devices Podcast on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-devices-podcast/id1002197313), in the Overcast app (https://overcast.fm/itunes1002197313/beyond-devices-podcast), or in your podcast app of choice.

As ever, we welcome your feedback via Twitter (@jandawson / @aaronmiller), the website (podcast.beyonddevic.es), or email ([email protected]).

On this week's News Roundup, we kick things off with Samsung's Developer Conference and the announcements the company made there, which were more strategic and big picture in nature than most of its hardware announcements. Secondly, we talk about the reviews for Google's Pixel 2 smartphones, which were published this week and were a surprisingly mixed bag, especially with regard to the displays on the larger phones. Third, we cover Netflix's earnings, which kicked of the Q3 earnings season earlier this week, and lastly we talk about the two big sets of iPhone supply and sales rumors currently floating around.

The show notes below include links to all these stories on Tech Narratives and original sources as appropriate.

News stories we covered:

• Samsung Developer Conference:

Jan's piece on Techpinions:

https://techpinions.com/samsung-aims-for-connected-thinking-at-developer-conference/51364

Samsung press releases:

http://www.samsungmobilepress.com/sdc2017

• Pixel 2 Reviews:

Techmeme roundup:

https://www.techmeme.com/171017/p8#a171017p8

Debunking piece:

https://hackernoon.com/debunking-misinformation-about-the-pixel-2-xls-display-6fa4dfbdd304

• Netflix earnings:

https://ir.netflix.com/results.cfm.

The piece I wrote about shutting down Tech Narratives (and about my other work) is here: https://medium.com/beyond-devices/making-some-changes-26a42ee196c1

You can also find the Beyond Devices Podcast on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-devices-podcast/id1002197313), in the Overcast app (https://overcast.fm/itunes1002197313/beyond-devices-podcast), or in your podcast app of choice.

As ever, we welcome your feedback via Twitter (@jandawson / @aaronmiller), the website (podcast.beyonddevic.es), or email ([email protected]).

This week's episode kicks off with a discussion of Netflix's price increases, and the context and reason for those. Next, we do a deep dive on Google's event this week and all that it announced, from new Pixel phones to new members of the Home family and a few other products also unveiled. Lastly, we talk about the other event that happened on Wednesday this week, the launch of the first voice-enabled speaker from Sonos.

The show notes below include links to all these stories on Tech Narratives and original sources as appropriate.

News stories we covered:

• Oculus:

Jan's Take on Tech Narratives ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/10/11/★-oculus-announces-199-standalone-headset-other-hardware-and-software-news/

Oculus: https://www.oculus.com/blog/pioneering-the-frontier-of-vr-introducing-oculus-go-plus-santa-cruz-updates/

• Apple/Spielberg:

Jan's Take on Tech Narratives ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/10/10/apple-signs-deal-for-reboot-of-spielbergs-1980s-series-amazing-stories/

Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-signs-content-deal-with-steven-spielberg-1507656455

• Movies Anywhere:

Jan's Take on Tech Narratives ($):

https://www.technarratives.com/2017/10/12/disney-warner-sony-21st-cf-universal-join-movies-anywhere-digital-locker-service/

Variety: http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/movies-anywhere-launches-with-joint-studio-backing-1202587915/

• Snapchat Context Cards:

Jan's Take on Tech Narratives ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/10/10/★-snapchat-adds-context-cards-for-ride-sharing-restaurant-booking-other-services/

Snap: https://www.snap.com/en-US/news/post/introducing-context-cards/

Jan's Techpinions piece: https://techpinions.com/google-and-the-disintermediation-of-search/51316

• Twitter Abuse:

Jan's Takes on Tech Narratives ($):

https://www.technarratives.com/2017/10/12/twitter-demonstrates-its-inconsistency-in-policing-abuse-again/

https://www.technarratives.com/2017/10/13/prominent-women-launch-twitter-boycott-on-friday-over-abuse-issues/

TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/12/twitter-breaks-silence-on-mcgowan-suspension/

USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/10/12/rose-mcgowans-harvey-weinstein-tweets-got-her-suspended-fromsome-women-and-men-pledge-boycott-twitte/760130001/

You can also find the Beyond Devices Podcast on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-devices-podcast/id1002197313), in the Overcast app (https://overcast.fm/itunes1002197313/beyond-devices-podcast), or in your podcast app of choice.

As ever, we welcome your feedback via Twitter (@jandawson / @aaronmiller), the website (podcast.beyonddevic.es), or email ([email protected]).

This week's episode kicks off with a discussion of Netflix's price increases, and the context and reason for those. Next, we do a deep dive on Google's event this week and all that it announced, from new Pixel phones to new members of the Home family and a few other products also unveiled. Lastly, we talk about the other event that happened on Wednesday this week, the launch of the first voice-enabled speaker from Sonos.

The show notes below include links to all these stories on Tech Narratives and original sources as appropriate.

News stories we covered:

• Netflix Price Increases:

Tech Narratives (free post): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/10/05/★-netflix-to-raise-prices-for-two-of-three-tiers-of-service/

Mashable: http://mashable.com/2017/10/05/netflix-raising-prices-again/

• Google Launch:

Pixel Phones:

Tech Narratives ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/10/04/★-google-announces-pixel-2-smartphones/

Techmeme: http://www.techmeme.com/171004/p30#a171004p30

Home Devices:

Tech Narratives ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/10/04/★-google-announces-larger-and-smaller-home-devices-new-software-features/

Techmeme: http://www.techmeme.com/171004/p30#a171004p30

Other Announcements:

Tech Narratives ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/10/04/google-launches-premium-chromebook-earbuds-ai-powered-camera/

Techmeme: http://www.techmeme.com/171004/p21#a171004p21

Jan's Techpinions column: https://techpinions.com/google-is-clearly-serious-about-hardware-but-not-about-selling-phones/51272

• Sonos Event:

Tech Narratives (free post): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/10/04/★-sonos-launches-first-voice-speaker-adds-alexa-support-for-older-devices/

Sonos: http://press-us.sonos.com/159680-sonos-unveils-smart-speaker-with-support-for-multiple-voice-services

You can also find the Beyond Devices Podcast on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-devices-podcast/id1002197313), in the Overcast app (https://overcast.fm/itunes1002197313/beyond-devices-podcast), or in your podcast app of choice.

As ever, we welcome your feedback via Twitter (@jandawson / @aaronmiller), the website (podcast.beyonddevic.es), or email ([email protected]).

Aaron is traveling this week, so this is a solo episode from Jan, which means it covers a little more ground than usual. We kick things off with the Amazon event this week and how to think about the announcements made there. Secondly, Jan talks about Twitter's test of a 280-character limit for tweets, whether it's a good idea, and what else it should be doing as well (or instead). Thirdly, we touch on a theme in the news this week, which is ecosystem wars between Amazon, Apple, and Google, and a variety of movements that were signaled by the various players over the last few days. Fourth, Jan talks about recent developments in Google's EU Shopping case, and lastly he shares his thoughts on next week's Google hardware event, and what we might see there.

The show notes below include links to all these stories on Tech Narratives and original sources as appropriate.

News stories we covered:

• Amazon Event:

Tech Narratives ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/27/★-amazon-matures-echo-line-updates-and-lowers-price-on-fire-tv/

Amazon: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsconsumer&nyo=0

Jan's Techpinions column: https://techpinions.com/amazon-matures-its-echo-lineup/51196

• Twitter 280:

Tech Narratives ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/26/★-twitter-tests-expanding-limit-to-280-characters-in-most-languages/

Twitter: https://blog.twitter.com/official/en_us/topics/product/2017/Giving-you-more-characters-to-express-yourself.html

• Ecosystem Wars:

Apple/Google:

Tech Narratives ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/25/★-apple-switches-search-back-end-for-safari-and-siri-to-google-from-bing/

TechCrunch:https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/25/apple-switches-from-bing-to-google-for-siri-web-search-results-on-ios-and-spotlight-on-mac/

Apple/Amazon:

Tech Narratives ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/26/amazon-begins-selling-apple-tv-hardware-again/

TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/26/the-apple-tv-is-back-on-amazon/

Amazon/Google:

Tech Narratives (free post): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/27/google-pulls-youtube-from-amazons-echo-show-device/

The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/26/16371292/google-youtube-amazon-echo-show

• Google Shopping:

Tech Narratives ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/27/google-officially-begins-rolling-out-european-shopping-search-changes/

WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-rolls-out-search-shopping-ad-changes-in-europe-1506528301

You can also find the Beyond Devices Podcast on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-devices-podcast/id1002197313), in the Overcast app (https://overcast.fm/itunes1002197313/beyond-devices-podcast), or in your podcast app of choice.

As ever, we welcome your feedback via Twitter (@jandawson / @aaronmiller), the website (podcast.beyonddevic.es), or email ([email protected]).

This week's News Roundup episode focused on three news stories. We kicked things off with a discussion of Nest's biggest set of announcements in recent memories and what it means for the smart home market. Next, we discussed the various reviews that came out for Apple's new products this week. And lastly, we talked through Google's investment in / acquisition of part of HTC's smartphone business. 

The show notes below include links to all these stories on Tech Narratives and original sources as appropriate.

News stories we covered:

• Nest Launch:

Tech Narratives ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/20/★-nest-introduces-first-new-hardware-categories-in-years-enters-security-market/

Nest: https://nest.com/press/nest-expands-into-home-security/

• Apple Reviews:

iPhone: Tech Narratives ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/19/iphone-8-reviews-suggest-great-cameras-nice-but-familiar-design-great-performance/ Techmeme: http://www.techmeme.com/170919/p6#a170919p6

Apple Watch: Tech Narratives (free): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/20/★-apple-watch-lte-reviews-mostly-positive-but-some-note-ltewifi-issues/  Techmeme: http://www.techmeme.com/170920/p8#a170920p8

Apple TV 4K: Tech Narratives ($):  https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/21/apple-tv-4k-reviews-mostly-positive-note-high-price-some-bemoan-details/

Techmeme: http://www.techmeme.com/170921/p6#a170921p6

Hodinkee Apple Watch review: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/apple-watch-series-3-edition-review

• Google-HTC:

Tech Narratives (free): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/21/★-google-and-htc-announce-1-1-billion-acquihire-and-patent-licensing-deal/

HTC: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/google-and-htc-announce-us11-billion-cooperation-agreement-300523328.html

You can also find the Beyond Devices Podcast on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-devices-podcast/id1002197313), in the Overcast app (https://overcast.fm/itunes1002197313/beyond-devices-podcast), or in your podcast app of choice.

As ever, we welcome your feedback via Twitter (@jandawson / @aaronmiller), the website (podcast.beyonddevic.es), or email ([email protected]).

This week's news was rather dominated by Apple, but we did still find some other things to talk about in our News Roundup episode. We kick things off with news that Facebook (as well as Google and Twitter) has been offering advertisers the option of targeting users by some pretty unpleasant terms including several antisemitic ones. Secondly, we talk about news from NBC that Amazon is looking at buying several less-watched TV channels from big traditional TV companies that are looking to offload them. And we couldn't help but cover some of the Apple news that emerged later in the week, both related and unrelated to Tuesday's announcements. 

The show notes below include links to all these stories on Tech Narratives and original sources as appropriate.

News stories we covered:

• Facebook, Google, and Twitter Ad Targeting:

A good roundup from Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-14/facebook-removes-advertiser-ability-to-target-jew-haters

Tech Narratives take ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/15/facebook-announces-ad-targeting-changes-in-response-to-racist-keywords/

Talking Points Memo article: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/facebooks-heading-toward-a-bruising-run-in-with-the-russia-probe

• Amazon Buying Channels:

Jan's Tech Narratives piece ($):

https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/15/★-amazon-is-reportedly-looking-to-buy-lower-profile-channels-from-tv-companies/

NBC News story: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/amazon-hungry-it-s-coming-your-cable-channels-n801781

• Apple Roundup:

Jan's Tech Narratives piece on other announcements (free post): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/13/various-additional-details-about-apples-announcements-dribble-out/

Jan's Tech Narratives piece on cookie blocking ($):

https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/14/apples-new-safari-cookie-blocking-angers-major-advertising-trade-groups/

Adweek piece on open letter from ad groups: http://www.adweek.com/digital/every-major-advertising-group-is-blasting-apple-for-blocking-cookies-in-the-safari-browser/

9to5Mac piece on Safari cookies: https://9to5mac.com/2017/09/15/what-are-cookies-how-do-cookies-work/

You can also find the Beyond Devices Podcast on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-devices-podcast/id1002197313), in the Overcast app (https://overcast.fm/itunes1002197313/beyond-devices-podcast), or in your podcast app of choice.

As ever, we welcome your feedback via Twitter (@jandawson / @aaronmiller), the website (podcast.beyonddevic.es), or email ([email protected]).