In July 2006, a two-year-old company received the offer of a lifetime: a $1 billion acquisition offer from Yahoo. While its board was ready to accept the offer, its founder and CEO instantly dismissed the offer. “I don’t know what I could do with the money,” the CEO said. “I’d just start another social networking… Continue reading Snapchat and the Logic of Turning Down $3 Billion
Category: Blog
My Thoughts on BlackBerry’s Dismal Future on CNBC [VIDEO]
It’s no secret that I am a bear on BlackBerry. Maybe that’s why we let the fireworks fly while on CNBC today. On CNBC’s Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo, I fought with John Spallanzani of GFI Group on whether Fairfax would be able to raise the billions needed to take the company private and the… Continue reading My Thoughts on BlackBerry’s Dismal Future on CNBC [VIDEO]
The PandoDaily Problem: Why the AllThingsD Team Needs to Avoid Tech Investors
By early next year, two high-quality technology news publications are going to make their debut. And if the owners of these publications are smart, they will turn their backs on the tech investors that are likely lining up outside their doors. As some of you may have heard, Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher, two of… Continue reading The PandoDaily Problem: Why the AllThingsD Team Needs to Avoid Tech Investors
Microsoft & Nokia Can Carve a Niche in Mobile, But Wearables Is the Next Battleground
Microsoft + Nokia still has room to grow in the smartphone market, but perhaps the software giant should focus on the future of mobile: wearables. Originally, I intended to write a thought piece bashing the Microsoft-Nokia deal. On the surface, Windows Phone feels much like BlackBerry, whose moves I correctly predicted were too little, too… Continue reading Microsoft & Nokia Can Carve a Niche in Mobile, But Wearables Is the Next Battleground
The Tech Community Must Invest More In San Francisco
Several years ago, when Square was just eight people, I was invited by Jack Dorsey to his loft in SOMA to meet the team and get a sneak peek at the Square device. After I interviewed Dorsey, he took me up to his roof and showed me his neighborhood. He specifically pointed out the outdoor… Continue reading The Tech Community Must Invest More In San Francisco
What Will It Take For Us to Get Angry?
Edward Snowden, The Guardian and The Washington Post know how to keep a story in the news. Instead of dumping all of their leaked documents to the public, they are slowly releasing information on PRISM, the NSA and more to the press in waves. Drip. Drip. Drip. Brilliant strategy by Snowden on these leaks: Drip,… Continue reading What Will It Take For Us to Get Angry?
Man of Steel Review: An Invincible Alien Gets Humanized
I have avoided spoilers in this review. I was lucky enough to be at the San Francisco premiere of Man of Steel, Dan Snyder’s take on one of the world’s most iconic characters. Is it the next Batman Begins or is it a Green Lantern? The story for Man of Steel follows the basic tenants… Continue reading Man of Steel Review: An Invincible Alien Gets Humanized
NSA’s PRISM: This Isn’t Over, So Can We Please Breathe Before We Jump to Conclusions?
The dropped a bombshell last night — the government is spying on you! And it’s in cahoots with the world’s most popular Internet companies to do it! If that isn’t a recipe for a shitstorm, I don’t know what is. But are Google, Yahoo, AOL, Facebook and the other tech giants willingly sending the NSA… Continue reading NSA’s PRISM: This Isn’t Over, So Can We Please Breathe Before We Jump to Conclusions?
Bay to Breakers, Through the Eyes of Google Glass
I decided to wear Google Glass to Bay to Breakers, San Francisco’s annual “What kind of ridiculous and/or slutty costume can I wear?” race/celebration. This is part of my month-long experiment to wear Google Glass as often and as long as possible to see A) how people react, B) how my habits change and C)… Continue reading Bay to Breakers, Through the Eyes of Google Glass
Is Apple’s Tim Cook on the Money with Changing U.S. Tax Laws? My Thoughts on CNBC [VIDEO]
I dropped by CNBC this afternoon to discuss an issue that will dominate the headlines this week — a proposal by Apple CEO Tim Cook to simplify the tax laws regarding the repatriation of corporate cash. Currently, Apple has more than $100 billion sitting overseas ($1.7 trillion is doing the same from the top 1000… Continue reading Is Apple’s Tim Cook on the Money with Changing U.S. Tax Laws? My Thoughts on CNBC [VIDEO]