Fintech
Stripe Outperforms a Mixed Market
As Stripe gears up for an IPO on the horizon, it’s signaling a strong position, including lots of cash, and top-line growth. We break down its recent annual letter.
Pro Features
Is Mapping Getting More Accurate?
Google has improved its device orientation standard. This takes form in the Fused Orientation Provider (FOP) API used by developers who build mapping functionality in their apps using Google’s underlying mapping technology.
eCommerce
TikTok Boosts eCommerce with Computer Vision
Shoppable content continues to be an ongoing effort at TikTok, which mostly sits under its TikTok Shop program. It recently advanced these efforts with automated product tagging.
Paypal
PayPal Launches ‘Tap-to-Pay’ on iPhone for SMBs
PayPal has announced its latest move in democratizing mobile payments to SMBs. It has enabled Tap-to-Pay functionality for Venmo and Zettle iOS apps.
Pro Features
Google Will Call Your Airline and Wait on Hold for You
Google recently revealed that it will place calls to businesses on your behalf. Meant as a time-saving tool, it will wait on hold for you, then call you when your spot in line finally reaches a live agent.
Pro Features
How Do SMBs Feel About Apple Vision Pro?
Will enterprises buy into Apple Vision Pro? We examine a recent survey that takes large and small businesses’ temperature on AVP and immersive marketing opportunities.
Pro Features
Vodafone and vcita Make SMBs Go Vroom
Vodafone recently announced that it will integrate a new app into its SMB-focused software suite in Europe. In partnership with SMB SaaS leader vcita, the deal will bring the latter’s features and functionality to Vodaphone’s SMB customers.
Instagram
Instagram Plots Course in Social Mapping
Instagram this week revealed its plans to develop a social mapping function. Similar on some levels to Snap Map, the idea is to array social signals on a map.
Pro Features
Yelp Demonstrates Investment in Platform Trust & Safety
In an ongoing effort to provide more transparency on how its local search and reviews engine works, Yelp today released its annual Trust & Safety
app
TikTok: Coming to a Vision Pro Near You
TikTok this week became one of the relatively few companies to develop a Vision Pro app. What does that mean and how does it reflect the current stage of Vision Pro’s lifecycle?
Augmented reality
Can Augmodo Bring Local Search to Store Shelves?
A two-decade-old ambition in local search has been to find out exactly what’s on the shelf at nearby stores. Seattle-based Augmodo may have a novel solution to this longstanding challenge.
Pro Features
Can Vizio Accelerate Walmart’s Retail Media Play?
Walmart has acquired consumer electronics hardware brand Vizio, bringing the increasingly lauded and once-budget brand – most known for its televisions – under the Walmart umbrella. We examine.
Pro Features
Are We Seeing a Backlash to Content Subscriptions?
One of the things that’s defined the last decade in the tech and media worlds is the rise of content subscriptions – everything from news paywalls to streaming services. But has this gone overboard? Are we seeing a backlash?
agency
Finding Growth Markets: A Conversation with SearchMas
The media and tech worlds are filled with hidden stories about founder journeys, go-to-market wins and pivots. As analysts and industry watchers, we’re fortunate to get an inside look at some of those stories, which we recently did with Search Mas.
Adobe
Adobe Express: Now with More TikTok
There’s now another place where you can create TikTok videos: Adobe Express. Creation workflows for the viral app are directly integrated into the ubiquitous design software, the companies announced today.
agency
Yahoo Reengineers Content and Agency Efforts
Yahoo announced that it has appointed former Twitch, Spotify, and Apple executive Jeff Rossi to oversee the company’s agency efforts. Rossi brings 20 years of experience in strategic marketing and agency partnerships for these iconic brands and several others.
Apple Vision Pro
Will Enterprise Device Management Boost Vision Pro Adoption?
Apple will include Vision Pro in the existing device management process, which likely incited a sigh of relief among IT departments throughout the land. They can now manage Vision Pro in the same workflows that they use to handle iPhones, iPads, Macs.
Pro Features
TikTok Balances Ethos & Evolution
TikTok continues to twist around and take shape as it tries to define itself at still-early stages of its product lifecycle. We look at its balancing act of maintaining ethos while evolving.
Apple
Vision Pro Launch Day: Previewing Apple’s Future
What is Apple Vision Pro? Who’s it meant for? And how does it fit into Apple’s future-proofing plan for its hardware business? We go deep on the device’s role in a signature Apple product lifecycle.
Pro Features
When Will a Super App Finally Emerge in the West?
One of the anomalies of the tech and media worlds over the past decade is that a super app hasn’t emerged in the West. But is that shifting? We examine recent market events that signal a changing tide.