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Subscription Based OTT Services: Cancel Anytime

“Kevin Clarkson subscribed to CBS’s All Access streaming TV service shortly before the network’s “Star Trek” reboot premiered in September. He plans to cancel it soon after the season finale.” – WSJ Streaming service providers not only provide quality video
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Is Google too powerful now?

Google was recently slapped with a record-breaking €2.42bn fine for EU antitrust violations. The 7-year long investigation concluded that Google has been abusing its dominance of the search engine market in building its online shopping service, and therefore, putting those of
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Alphabet Drones to Deliver Burritos

Starting from this month, Google has started to test out sending meals using its droves to Virginia Tech. Without a e-commerce sector in its business, what is Google planning to do with this test? 這個月,Google開始小規模的嘗試用無人機配送餐點到Virginia Tech這所大學。Google沒有Amazon的電商佈局,跳下來玩這個,圖的是什麼? 我們認為,像Foodpanda這種模式,是做不起來的。線下吃重,不是問題;但是,到了每天餐期、負載最高、交通也更繁忙的時段,線下能否確保這一件事? 「服務品質與速度,不受需求爆量影響」 線上要auto-scaling,線下亦然。O2O的生意,如果offline那部分的科技含量太低,一定淪為血汗工廠。所以,如果Lab X的無人機,能直接把客戶的點餐拎進公寓的窗戶(當然啦,玻璃帷幕大樓恐怕就得上樓頂去取了)的話…..
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iPhone, Sigh-Phone?

Google-owner Alphabet passes Apple to become world’s most valuable company. 前些時日,才和朋友聊到蘋果在戰略思惟上之強項與弱項。在經營績效上,蘋果是個厲害的角色(Wal-Mart也是);但我從來都對蘋果沒有好感(我對Wal-Mart也是)。 谷歌字母公司全球市值最高企業 Google母公司字母(Alphabet)上季營收和獲利都超越預期,反映線上廣告銷售強勁,成本控管有成。 這是Google改採新架構、將主要搜尋和廣告業務部門(仍稱Google)從風險投資事業分開後,以母公司Alphabet為名公布的首份財報。去年第4季扣除支付給合作夥伴的營收成長19%至173億美元。淨利增加5%至49.2億美元,扣除一次性項目的每股盈餘為8.67美元。 就Google事業(含搜尋、Youtube、Android等)來說,第4季營收增長18%,全公司最大營收來源廣告收入成長近17%,至190.8億美元,點擊付費廣告數量成長31%。Google占集團營收99.3%。 這篇報導說,蘋果單季淨利就有184億美元,Alphabet要用四個季度才賺得到這麼多。但Alphabet市值現在就超越了蘋果,何以致之? MarketWatch的分析: (1) 成長腳步:蘋果上季營收僅增加1.7%(分析師還預期本季將會萎縮),Alphabet營收成長則有19%。 (2) 成長潛力:不僅iPhone,iPad和Mac銷售均萎縮,正在開發的產品也不成熟。反觀Alphabet對未來科技之投資,像是自駕車、Nest智慧家庭、光纖網路領域等,可望比起蘋果自駕車更早收穫投資回報 (3) 投資決策與績效:投資人看好Alphabet的大手筆投資,因為過去績效良好,YouTube就是個帶來大量行動廣告營收的例子。
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Cord-Cutters – The Nightmare for Cable Providers to Come ?

We been expecting cord-cutters for a while and have yet seen any moves. 剪線潮,喊很久,卻只聞樓梯響,不見人下來。 Cord-Cutting Might Not Be So Bad for Cable Companies Today, video is only about 40% of cable companies’ profits… For a typical cable operator, a 10%
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Patent Battles vs. Doing Business

Even in Europe and U.S, most patent wars ends up with a truce. There are two reasons, it’s only part of the overall business strategy and it’s usually too costly. 即便在歐美,絕大多數的專利訴訟,都是和解收場。主要原因有二: (1) 它不過是商戰整體策略之一,邊打仗做做樣子邊談生意,達到目標就該喊撤了; (2) 打專利訴訟連大公司都嫌貴,如果在美國,一個案子discovery程序還沒走完(更別提進入審判了)經常狂燒百萬美元。 Google and Microsoft have ended a long-running
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The Effectiveness of Start-Up Incubators and Accelerators

Building incubators or accelerators has become a thing in Taiwan. Even governments have allocated funds in the business. 近來在台灣,設育成中心或加速器,變成了顯學,連政府都挹注公部門的資源下來一起做。這二個同樣都屬於「幫早期的創業者長大」的概念,彼此該如何劃分,尚非本文重點;在此僅針對我們所觀察到的怪象,略作省思。 現在從北到南的育成中心,都在做些什麼? (1) 提供Co-working space,一定期間免租金 (2) 提供講師、相關課程 (3) 自己投資一點點資源或資金,再提供與投資人媒合的機會 至於那些「嘴砲打很大、小孩生不出、付錢辦領養」的「掛榜」育成,和三流補習班買考上建中台大的名單有什麼差別? 純粹丟人現眼,在此就不提了。 先檢討上述(1), (2), (3)三項。 〔問〕Co-working space有沒有用? 不能說完全沒有。但重不重要? 〔答〕當然不重要。蛤? 「我還以為創業育成中心主要就是在提供這個啊」? 好吧,大家都知道HP, Google, Apple都從小小的車庫起家,最後都成為國際巨擘。先找個免費或便宜的地方,大夥聚在一塊兒想清楚該做什麼、怎麼做、把該找的人找齊、湊一筆啟動資金… 創業的常態,從以前到現在都是這樣。在寸土寸金的台北市,從591找,月租一萬元以下還附冷氣的8坪10坪可以擠進五個人工作(不然你還肖想101的辦公室嗎)的小套房都有一千多間,新北市有近三千間,再往南就更不必提了。這種價格你如果找二個伙伴還租不起,也不必考慮創業了,連下個月吃飯都會成問題,對吧?
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Searching Legal Database (Part 1 – Abstract Thinking)

To be a well-rounded corporate lawyer, young lawyers need to excel at searching legal databases. But sometimes, even graduating from a first-tier law school doesn’t give you a head start at that. Why?
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