Important Note
Tech Narratives was a subscription website, which offered expert commentary on the day's top tech news from Jan Dawson, along with various other features, for $10/month. As of Monday October 16, 2017, it will no longer be updated. An archive of past content will remain available for the time being. I've written more about this change in the post immediately below, and also here.
2017 – the year to get excited about smartphones again (Dec 22, 2016)
It’s been fascinating to watch Xiaomi get so much credit for its innovation with screens here – as a concept it’s been rumored for months if not years that this edge-to-edge screen is something Apple has been working on, though Xiaomi is one of the first to execute it in a production device. It’s worth noting, though, that Xiaomi’s sales will be a tiny fraction of Apple’s when its version launches – this is a hollow victory at best.
via 2017 – the year to get excited about smartphones again
Apple Music: Platform? Promoter? Both. – The New York Times (Dec 22, 2016)
Competition in the streaming music market is tough – everyone is offering roughly the same catalogs for roughly the same monthly price. So competition happens at the margins – in recommendations, user interfaces, and exclusive content, which is the subject of this interview with Apple Music execs.
via Apple Music: Platform? Promoter? Both. – The New York Times
New MacBook Pros Fail to Earn Consumer Reports Recommendation – Consumer Reports (Dec 22, 2016)
For all the complaining about how the new MacBooks weren’t truly worthy of the Pro designation, it’s been largely a matter of opinion, and one I’ve argued doesn’t matter nearly as much as it used to. But if this is a verifiable performance issue with the new MBPs, that’s a concern – I’ve seen pretty variable battery life on my review unit. But see also this iMore piece that questions some of the findings, and this later 9to5Mac piece which follows up with some additional data.
via New MacBook Pros Fail to Earn Consumer Reports Recommendation – Consumer Reports
Twitter app bug inflated video ad metrics by as much as 35% – Business Insider (Dec 22, 2016)
Facebook and not Twitter has mostly been in the news for misstating its metrics, but it’s clear that the latter isn’t immune. Although Facebook’s confessions have been embarrassing, it hasn’t had to refund advertisers, but it appears Twitter has, though only over a brief period due to a technical glitch.
via Twitter app bug inflated video ad metrics by as much as 35% – Business Insider
Uber moves self-driving cars to Arizona after SF setback – Financial Times (Dec 22, 2016)
Once San Francisco shut the Uber self-driving experiment down for flouting regulations, it was inevitable that it would move elsewhere. Arizona’s governor has courted autonomous driving trials, and is using the incident as a way to score points against neighbor California. But it’s worth remembering these are just 16 cars, and California was merely seeking oversight, not to block Uber here.
via Uber moves self-driving cars to Arizona after SF setback
Government requests for Facebook user data up 27 percent in first half of 2016 | TechCrunch (Dec 22, 2016)
As more and more communication takes place on online platforms, law enforcement agencies will inevitably shift their data gathering to those platforms too, and we’re seeing this play out here. The more data these platforms have on us, of course, the more meaningful that is, and Facebook is a treasure trove.
via Government requests for Facebook user data up 27 percent in first half of 2016 | TechCrunch
Nokia sues Apple for infringing patents, industry back on war footing | Reuters (Dec 22, 2016)
Apple and Nokia have a long history as competitors in the smartphone market, but since Nokia’s sale of its phone business to Microsoft, the relationship has changed. It appears Apple now wants to renegotiate terms, and Nokia doesn’t. This will probably end in a settlement of some kind, perhaps court-facilitated.
via Nokia sues Apple for infringing patents, industry back on war footing | Reuters
Uber stops San Francisco self-driving pilot as DMV revoked registrations | TechCrunch (Dec 22, 2016)
This seemed inevitable, and you have to wonder what Uber was trying to prove here. Uber’s cavalier attitude towards regulation has generally served it well, but I’ve felt ever since this imbroglio started that this was a step too far – fighting the taxi lobby is one thing, but rejecting oversight of potentially dangerous technology is quite another.
via Uber stops San Francisco self-driving pilot as DMV revoked registrations | TechCrunch
Apple’s Search for Better iPhone Screens Leads to Japan’s Rice Fields – Bloomberg (Dec 22, 2016)
Reporting has suggested for some time now that Apple will be seeking to use OLED for in at least some of its 2017 iPhone models. The challenge is that OLED displays are in high demand and short supply, so supply constraints might be an issue.
via Apple’s Search for Better iPhone Screens Leads to Japan’s Rice Fields – Bloomberg
Behind the scenes at Faraday Future, an electric carmaker on the brink of collapse – The Verge (Dec 22, 2016)
A pretty damning take on Faraday Future and its current financial situation, ahead of a big launch at CES early next month. It’s hard to avoid the sense that both Faraday Future and its largest investor LeEco are struggling with the results of over-ambitious expansion plans.
via Behind the scenes at Faraday Future, an electric carmaker on the brink of collapse – The Verge
Honda, Alphabet’s Waymo in talks over self-driving technology | Reuters (Dec 22, 2016)
Google (now Waymo) partnered with Fiat Chrysler some time ago to use Chrysler Pacifica minivans for testing autonomous technology. This second partnership suggests some momentum, though it’s not yet clear how this fits in with Honda’s in-house autonomous R&D efforts.
via Honda, Alphabet’s Waymo in talks over self-driving technology | Reuters
Uber’s Drive Into India Relies on Raw Recruits – WSJ (Dec 22, 2016)
There’s been so much focus on Uber in China, which is obviously a massive market for ride-sharing, and where Uber has ultimately had to concede defeat. But there are interesting challenges with regard to expansion into other emerging markets like India.
via Uber’s Drive Into India Relies on Raw Recruits – WSJ
America’s Big 5 tech companies increase patent filings, Microsoft holds lead in AI technologies – IPWatchdog.com | Patents & Patent Law (Dec 22, 2016)
Interesting and valuable analysis. But clearly an oversimplification to make patents held the arbiter of a “lead” in AI. Ultimately, whether you lead in AI comes down to the customer benefit you drive from it, not the patents themselves.
Pokémon Go arrives on the Apple Watch | TechCrunch (Dec 22, 2016)
This Watch app was announced way back in September, so it’s been a long time coming. But it looks really solid and is cleverly integrated into the Activity app too. Stuff like this is what the Watch needs to make a success of its App Store, which so far has been a little underwhelming.
via Pokémon Go arrives on the Apple Watch | TechCrunch
Is Amazon Europe’s Next Top Model? – Bloomberg (Dec 21, 2016)
A big part of Amazon’s recent success is its continuing ability to work its magic in retail segments that had once been considered off limits to an pure-play e-tailer, with clothing and fashion in particular one of the most far-fetched. This article cites its competitiveness in this segment in Europe.
via Is Amazon Europe’s Next Top Model? – Bloomberg
Uber to Your Friends and Snap Along the Way! (Dec 21, 2016)
Uber announced two new features – making a friend rather than a place your destination for rides, and a filter integration with Snapchat. Uber has always been open to partnerships, with Spotify and Facebook previous partners – it’s an interesting way to expand its reach and also keep people in the app longer.
via Uber to Your Friends and Snap Along the Way!
How One Huge American Retailer Ignored the Internet and Won – Bloomberg (Dec 21, 2016)
The prevailing narrative is rightly that Amazon is taking on all comers and winning when it comes to share of retail and especially share of growth in e-commerce. That trend is undeniable. But it’s interesting to read about TJ Maxx and Marshalls apparently being somewhat immune to these trends.
via How One Huge American Retailer Ignored the Internet and Won – Bloomberg
Disney-ABC to Produce Snapchat Original Series | Variety (Dec 21, 2016)
One of the biggest challenges facing Snap as it approaches an IPO is providing advertisers with the products and tools they need to make markedly bigger investments on the platform. Getting more professionally produced video content onboard is one way to go about that, and I’m betting this won’t be the last of these deals.
via Disney-ABC Snapchat Shows: ‘The Bachelor’ Watch Party Aftershow | Variety
Google Lowered 2015 Taxes by $3.6 Billion Using ‘Dutch Sandwich’ – Bloomberg (Dec 21, 2016)
Alphabet and Amazon continue to be the highest-profile examples of US companies seeking to minimize their overseas tax burdens, and of course the EU has already taken action against Apple in this regard. A US tax holiday in 2017 could start to change this narrative, but until then it’s likely to continue to draw unwanted attention.
via Google Lowered 2015 Taxes by $3.6 Billion Using ‘Dutch Sandwich’ – Bloomberg
Super Mario Run breaks records with 40 million downloads in its first 4 days | TechCrunch (Dec 21, 2016)
The numbers are huge, as expected – that’s a lot of downloads, but it’s worth remembering that this was a free download of a game with lots of nostalgia value. Unlike Pokemon Go, this year’s other big Nintendo-backed mobile game, Super Mario Run has eschewed the standard IAP business model, and reviews have been terrible as a result. What really matters is paying users and regular users after the initial hype dies down.
via Super Mario Run breaks records with 40 million downloads in its first 4 days | TechCrunch