Microsoft Archives - Techspansive

Episode 131. TikTok shares its Pulse, Fortnite goes free in the cloud, and T-Mobile brings 5G home

As we await the role of advertising in post-Musk Twitter, we talk about the implications of TikTok matchmaking advertisers and stars and sharing ad revenue with TikTok Pulse. Meanwhile, pandemic breakout Cameo is cutting back. Next, Microsoft and Epic Games are teaming up to bring Fortnite back to iOS and other major platforms via a free tier of Game Pass. We discuss the implications for cloud gaming and the free-to-play model. Finally, we look at how T-Mobile is putting 5G to the test with its new fixed wireless broadband service and whether it can pull off the same level of disruption as it has in mobile.

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they dig deep into tech news in every episode of Techspansive!

Episode 123. nVidia and Intel chase cars, Google chases PCs, and we chase our Uber rider ratings

We check in on Nvidia’s earnings and progress in gaming and data center applications and other sources of growth and discuss announcements from Intel’s Investor Day, where the CPU giant announced its intent for a stronger push into automotive. Plus, we look at Chrome OS Flex as the latest incursion of Google onto the PC as both it and Microsoft bring Android apps to Windows. Finally, we check out the new Uber feature that allows you to break down your ratings and find that we’ve been model rideshare customers… mostly.

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they dig deep into tech news in every episode of Techspansive!

Episode 122. The iPhone takes payments, CEO shakeups at Peloton and Arm, and Microsoft’s blizzard of app store promises

Closing the loop on Apple Pay, Apple announces that it will enable the iPhone to take contactless credit card payments. We look at who could benefit as progress against the pandemic continues. Plus, the company adds to its measures to prevent AirTags-based stalking. Next, we look at the CEO transitions following the financial fortunes at Peloton and Arm’s breakup with Nvidia, discussing the path forward for those companies. Finally, we look at Microsoft doubling down on its disruptive app store principles as it seeks to cut off scrutiny into its acquisition of Activision Blizzard as Big Tech monopoly evaluation evolves

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they dig deep into tech news in every episode of Techspansive!

Episode 118. Meta and Microsoft meet in the metaverse, Netflix content gets phone-friendlier, and Twitter sings the Blues

Coming on the heels of Meta and Microsoft announcing competing visions for the metaverse, the two Big Tech companies have announced plans to collaborate. We discuss why the collaboration makes sense, at least for now. Plus, we weigh in on how Netflix’s new mobile games and TikTok-like kids programming is better leveraging its evolving IP for mobile, a platform Amazon is also targeting with a new video-sharing feature. Finally, Twitter Blue hits the U.S. at last. We discuss its value and what we see as a major marketing miss by the company in building its subscription business.

Episode 117. Why Macs are cars, Microsoft out-metaverses Meta, and American digital services exit Chin

We discuss Apple’s take on why the perpetually exposed iPhone must remain closed to sideloaded apps while the Mac is open to them. At Microsoft Ignite, the software giant shoots back at just-minted Meta with its own plans to deliver the metaverse to businesses and consumers. We discuss the implications of Microsoft’s metaverse play as well as its new app, Microsoft Loop, which takes on Google Workspace with a dynamic collaboration layer in Teams. Finally, we look at the latest American companies and digital properties to leave the Chinese market, citing compliance challenges, and the ripple effect on the splintering internet.

Episode 114. Microsoft raises the Surfaces, Twitter tips toward creator compensation, and China’s crypto ban

We take a detailed look at Microsoft’s new Surface offerings, including the Surface Laptop Studio that replaces the Surface Book, and the Surface Duo 2, the beefed-up cameras of which are poised to make the dual-screened phone competitive with flagships. Plus, social media networks TikTok and Facebook are hoping to improve search results by doing a deal with Google. Finally, Shawn weighs in on what China’s crypto ban means for the country and other economies.

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they dig deep into tech news in every episode of Techspansive!

Episode 112. Facebook weaves into Wayfarers, Amazon delivers telehealth, tuition and TVs, and Google hawks hybrid hardware

In this episode, we start out assessing Facebook’s stylish but functionally modest smart glasses developed with Ray-Ban. Next, we look at Amazon’s many recent moves, including expanding Amazon Care, equipping more Whole Foods for cashierless checkout, offering college tuition for its 750,000 hourly workers, releasing new smart TVs, and updating its Luna streaming game service.

Episode 106. Live. From the cloud. It’s Windows! Plus, Netflix is getting game and Twitter sinks its fleets

We discuss what impact Microsoft easing cloud access to Windows could have on security and the PC market. Meanwhile, Netflix’ huge app installed base could provide an advantage as it jumps into the streaming game market. Finally, we look at why Twitter ended its experiment with ephemeral content via fleets.

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they dig deep into tech news in every episode of Techspansive!

Episode 104. Facebook pwns the FTC, Instagram vs. TikTok, and teaming up against Teams

As Facebook’s court win against the FTC dredges up limitaitons of antitrust laws, Instagram chases TikTok, which is chasing YouTube. Meanwhile, in less entertaining applications, Salesforce, now armed with Slack, may be driving an alliance with Amazon and Dropbox to take on rival Microsoft as Windows 11 integrates Teams.

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they dig deep into tech news in every episode of Techspansive!

Episode 103. Microsoft opens the Windows, Mozilla lets you donate your privacy to science, and Google gets FLoCblocked

Windows 11 goes beyond a makeover to challenge Apple. Meanwhile, Mozilla and others are providing new options for privacy choices as Google tries to bake up a new post-cookie future.

Join Shawn DuBravac of Avrio Institute and Ross Rubin of Reticle Research as they dig deep into tech news in every episode of Techspansive!