Mobile & Wireless

According to Reuters, Google has made an offer to acquire Fitbit. The report explicitly states that there is no certainty that the offer will lead to a deal. But think about this… what could Google/Alphabet be thinking? Google’s existing wearable strategy is not working. Fitbit’s wearable strategy is not working. WearOS requires more processing power and battery life than can be had in a smartwatch, so the user experience is awful (and I’m being kind). Continue Reading →

Apple, Disney, WarnerMedia, and just about everyone who can configure a streaming server is getting into the direct-to-consumer (DTC) content business. In a couple of weeks, you’ll have so many options to pay for content à la carte, you won’t really know where to start. Wondering what all this will cost? Forget your calculator, you’re going to need a spreadsheet. Continue Reading →

Our new podcast, “Think About This with Shelly Palmer & Ross Martin” premieres today on the Westwood One Podcast Network. Subscribe at Apple Podcasts or literally anywhere podcasts can be found. The official press release says, “Hosted by visionary business adviser Shelly Palmer and Blackbird CEO Ross Martin, this podcast will challenge you to think Continue Reading →

Apple caved. Continue Reading →

According to a note from TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will release its version of smart glasses in the middle of 2020. I have no idea what they will be called. Continue Reading →

macOS Catalina is now available for most Mac owners. Do not rush. Actually, let me be a bit more forceful — Wait. Stop. Don’t. 32-Bit Apps Do Not Work in macOS Catalina Before you upgrade your Mac to macOS Catalina be sure the 32-bit apps you use for work have not been left behind by Continue Reading →

Uber has introduced Uber Works. A shift work matching app that hopes to efficiently connect workers with gigs that fit their schedules. The app is currently available in Chicago. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are about to dramatically change the world of on-demand car services. Viewed through that lens, Uber and Lyft’s current business models are doomed Continue Reading →

Microsoft is re-entering the smartphone market. At its Surface event in New York on Wednesday, the company announced a new lineup of hardware, including its return to the smartphone market, as well as new software. Here's what you need to know. Continue Reading →

When you look at the list of voice-voice-activated hardware Amazon announced this week, even those who are not paranoid have to stop and think. The standout “Think About This…” device is called Echo Frames, a pair of audio-only smart glasses. They will read you your notifications and offer optional support for Google Assistant. And, yes, Continue Reading →

Google got some good news from the European Union’s top court yesterday, “The Court concludes that, currently, there is no obligation under EU law, for a search engine operator who grants a request for de-referencing made by a data subject, as the case may be, to carry out such a de-referencing on all the versions Continue Reading →