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

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/2

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 podca

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

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.te

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 Jou

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 ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/10/04/★-google-announces-pixel-2-smartphones/ Techmeme: http://www.techmeme.com/171004/p30#a171004p30 Home Devices: Tech Narratives ($): http

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-lo

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): 

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.technarrative

As per tradition, this week's Question of the Week episode is a deep dive on Apple's September 2017 event, which happened this morning. Jan was there in person, while Aaron followed along remotely, and in keeping with our usual format we discuss the announcements largely in the order in which they were made, starting with the tribute to Steve Jobs and discussion of the new Apple Park campus, as well as an update on the retail business, and moving into a discussion of the Apple Watch, Apple TV, and iPhone product announcements. Here are some links relevant to today's discussion: Apple press releases: • Watch: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2017/09/apple-watch-series-3-features-built-in-cellular-and-more/ • TV: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2017/09/apple-tv-4k-brings-home-the-magic-of-cinema-with-4k-and-hdr/ • iPhone 8: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2017/09/iphone-8-and-iphone-8-plus-a-new-generation-of-iphone/ • iPhone X: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2017/09/the-future-is-here-iphone-x/ You can also fin

This week's News Roundup episode covers four major topics. We kick off with a discussion of the Roku IPO filing and the launch of the Roku movie channel, and the implications of the company's increasingly ad- centric business model. Secondly, we discuss various streaming partnerships including T-Mobile giving away Netflix, Spotify bundling Hulu into its student subscriptions in the US, and Disney moving away from Netflix. Third is a discussion of Amazon's search for a second headquarters, and we finish up with a brief chat about the Equifax hack. The show notes below include links to all these stories on Tech Narratives and original sources as appropriate. News stories we covered: • Roku IPO and channel: Jan's takes on Tech Narratives: https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/01/★-roku-files-to-go-public-loses-money-sees-ads-as-core-of-future-business-model/ (free post) https://www.technarratives.com/2017/09/06/roku-launches-its-own-channel-showing-ad-supported-movies/ (paywall) Roku S-1 filing: https://www

As with our last Question of the Week episode, this one is an interview rather than a discussion between Aaron and Jan. This time around, Jan talks to Mark Bergen, who is the Alphabet and Google beat reporter at Bloomberg, and previously did the same job at Recode. As such, he's one of the most knowledgeable people out there about what's going on both at Google and the broader set of Alphabet companies, and has lots of interesting thoughts about all of them. We talk about the Alphabet structure and how that's working out for the company, some of the other bets including Google Fiber, Verily, Calico, and DeepMind, as well as the non-core parts of Google itself like the enterprise cloud business. We also talk through some of the recent political flak Google is taking from both sides of the aisle and what the company's prospects are long term. Here are some links relevant to today's discussion: • Mark's articles on Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/ATAlg7b7W-Q/mark-bergen • Mark on Twitter: https://t

This week Aaron was traveling and so you get a solo episode from Jan again, with five news items from this week. First up is Fitbit's announcement of its Ionic smartwatch, which will be available in October. Second is Uber's new CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and what he means for the company. Third is Google's surprise announcement of ARCore, its response to Apple's ARKit developer tools for augmented reality apps on the smartphone. Fourth is another Google story, this time its intent to comply with the European Commission's order for changes to its Google Shopping service in Europe. And lastly, the announcement by Amazon and Microsoft that their two voice assistants will work together starting later this year. The show notes below include links to all these stories on Tech Narratives and original sources as appropriate. News stories we covered: • Fitbit Ionic: Jan's take on Tech Narratives: https://www.technarratives.com/2017/08/28/★-fitbit-pre-announces-fitbit-ionic-its-second-smartwatch-due-in-october/ Fitbit

This is our News Roundup episode for the week, and as usual we discuss a few of the week's big news stories. First up is Samsung's launch of the Note8 device, the successor to last year's ill-fated Note7, which took place this week in New York City. Jan attended in person and shares some of his thoughts, but we also talk about some of the other ins and outs of the device and how it might do. Secondly, we talk about Amazon's very rapid progress in closing its Whole Foods acquisition and the immediate benefits customers of Whole Foods will see when the deal closes next week. Lastly, we discuss this week's New York Times report about the Apple car project, Project Titan, and some of the details that emerged from that story. The show notes below include links to all these stories on Tech Narratives and original sources as appropriate. News stories we covered: • Samsung Note8: Jan's take on Tech Narratives ($): https://www.technarratives.com/2017/08/23/samsung-announces-pricey-note8-with-dual-cameras-confirms-s

After a couple of weeks off for the Question of the Week episode, we have an interview with Mary Jo Foley, a reporter who's been covering Microsoft pretty much exclusively for 20 years, and who's one of the most knowledgeable and respected journalists on the Microsoft beat. We talk through the state of Microsoft and the various transitions and cultural shifts it's going through at the moment, whether things really are changing at Microsoft, how, and why. But we also talk through some more topical items about Microsoft including the recent Consumer Reports controversy over the Surface line, layoffs in the sales team, and the launch of Windows 10 S. Thank you very much to Mary Jo for joining us, and we hope our listeners find this interview interesting. We're hoping to do more of this kind of thing going forward with our Question of the Week episode, so if you have suggestions for people we should interview, let us know! Here are some links relevant to today's discussion: • All About Microsoft, Mary Jo's blog

Aaron's back, and so we're back to our usual back and forth format, this time around three major topics. First up, we talk about the belated launch of the Essential Phone from Andy Rubin's company, and the reviews which came out on Friday. Secondly, we discuss recent reports about the Apple Watch, including the possibility of an imminent LTE version and suggestions that Apple is talking to health insurer Aetna about subsidizing devices for its members. Lastly, we talk original video content, in the context of Netflix's hiring of Shonda Rhimes and Apple's reported $1 billion investment this year in originals. The show notes below include links to all these stories on Tech Narratives and original sources as appropriate. News stories we covered: • Essential Phone: Jan's take on reviews: https://www.technarratives.com/2017/08/18/essential-phone-reviews-highlight-challenge-of-android-differentiation/ Techmeme roundup of reviews: http://www.techmeme.com/170818/p5#a170818p5 • Apple Watch: Jan's piece on LTE rep

With Aaron away, this is a solo episode of the News Roundup by Jan. Because there's only one of us talking, there are more topics than usual on this week's episode: six, to be precise. These are: the controversial Google memo; Uber board shenanigans; Netflix and Disney's announcements this week; Facebook's new Watch tab; Consumer Reports' decision to withdraw its recommendation of two Surface models from Microsoft; and the conclusion of the recent SoundCloud funding saga. The show notes below include links to all these stories on Tech Narratives and original sources as appropriate. News stories we covered: • Google Memo: Two pieces from Jan: https://www.technarratives.com/2017/08/07/google-employee-pens-memo-arguing-against-diversity-initiatives/ https://www.technarratives.com/2017/08/11/google-cancels-diversity-town-hall-over-harassment-and-threats/ Business Insider on the cancelation of the Town Hall: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-cancels-diversity-town-hall-2017-8 Motherboard's original reporti

This week's News Roundup episode features a discussion of GoPro and Fitbit earnings, how they're similar and how they're different; Bloomberg's reporting on potential Facebook hardware for the home; iPhone details emerging from the HomePod firmware leak; and a discussion of recent numbers on market share and shipments in the smartphone, tablet, and wearables markets. As usual, we spend a few minutes on each topic, with each of us chiming in. The show notes below include links to all these stories on Tech Narratives and original sources as appropriate. News stories we covered: • GoPro and Fitbit earnings: 1. GoPro earnings release: https://investor.gopro.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2017/GoPro-Announces-Second-Quarter-2017-Results/default.aspx 2. Jan's take: https://www.technarratives.com/2017/08/03/gopro-recovery-continues-in-q2-but-still-losing-money-well-off-past-highs/ 3. Fitbit earnings release: https://investor.fitbit.com/press/press-releases/press-release-details/2017/Fitbit-Reports-353M

We're back with another deep dive, this time around our quarterly review of Apple's earnings for the June 2017 quarter, Apple's fiscal Q3. We talk through three sets of things: the numbers announced for the quarter, the guidance offered for next quarter, and additional comments on topics like China, augmented reality, autonomy, and original video content. We dive into the performance of Apple's various business lines, both in terms of what's been happening and what we expect to happen going forward, and quite a bit more. Here are some links relevant to today's discussion: • Apple's earnings press release: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2017/08/apple-reports-third-quarter-results/ • Jan's take for Tech Narratives: https://www.technarratives.com/2017/08/01/★-apple-reports-accelerating-growth-first-ipad-unit-growth-in-four-years/ Jan also mentioned the new Tech Narratives Podcast, which you can find on SoundCloud (https://soundcloud.com/user-500920953), iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/tech-narrati