Quick note at the beginning: The Smithsonian will be projecting a Saturn V rocket on the side of the Washington Monument as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the moon landing. See http://www.parabolicarc.com/2019/07/09/smithsonian-project-saturn-rocket-washington-monument/.

 

As a follow-up to last week's discussion of Microsoft making changes to their partner program, we now discuss the reversal of that policy. The bigger discussion we want to have is around your long-term relationship with Microsoft specifically and vendors generally. One big lesson is that you shouldn't be angry because Microsoft is moving in a different direction. Another is that you have to decide whether your long-term trajectory is the same as Microsoft (or any other vendor, for that matter).

Related story: https://www.channele2e.com/channel-partners/program/microsoft-backs-down-abandons-partner-program-changes/

 

Next up . . . Google admits they’re listening to us. We are SHOCKED . . . (not). See https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/google-admits-to-listening-in-on-private-conversations-via-assistant/story/364104.html.

Two interesting points here. One: We all ignore the license agreements, but we've matured to a point where companies can be a lot more open about this. Two: While we might not have anything to hide, privacy is about simply expecting that no one else is tuning in. And of course, one more nod to digital ethics.

Is this something you can use to start a client-facing conversation?

. . . that leads into . . .

Startup "Superhuman" is doing cool, automated things with email. And that includes GPS tracking and other tools that people may not realize they are giving up just because they open email.

See https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jul/12/superhuman-offers-users-a-shortcut-to-empty-inbox-nirvana.

Dave notes that we hold start-ups and smaller companies to a different standard that big companies like Google.