Smartphone consolidation continues: Apple’s iPhone continues to gain share in the high end of the smartphone market while consumers get fewer options for affordable or entry-level 5G devices.
Is Apple the next advertising titan? Apple committed to developing its ad business in 2022, but it faces stiff opposition from other Big Tech giants.
We look at 2022’s biggest tech flexes that changed the landscape of business or left us scratching our heads. The year saw Tesla’s CEO buying Twitter, Google exiting games, Amazon bringing back the dead, and TikTok expanding into various other segments.
2022’s outages increased and took longer to resolve: Wired and wireless networks continue to be under duress as Big Tech, streaming services, and cloud gaming proliferate while legacy infrastructure and overloaded systems buckled.
US government intensifies stance against TikTok: A permanent ban from government devices could push the public sector to further remove TikTok from devices. But some fear the service is too big to fail.
Why Apple profits by complying with regulations: Alternative app stores could be coming to iPhones and iPads, allowing Apple to cash in on developer verification.
Bipartisan bill seeks to outlaw TikTok in US: Given the app’s popularity, though, is this the hill most politicians want to die on?
Netflix looks to score big in gaming: Streamer increases platform offerings in hopes of luring mobile gamers as subscribers.
Meta expands footprint of its virtual avatars: Digital designer clothing shop looks to open for business in Asia-Pacific as online personas expand to WhatsApp.
European Commission probes Broadcom’s VMware acquisition: Investigations could derail consolidation and spur the UK’s CMA and the US' FTC to undertake their own antitrust queries, possibly delaying the merger.
Samsung’s savvy supply chain strategy: Lower component costs for locally sourced parts result in higher profit margins, giving Samsung an advantage over competitors struggling to diversify supply chains.
Turns out creators like consistency: YouTube Shorts’ new revenue-sharing program begins in February, but creators and publishers are already lining up.
Microsoft’s attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard in what could essentially create a video game monopoly has many, including the Federal Trade Commission, keeping a close eye on the gaming industry. The $68.7 billion acquisition would give Microsoft a leadership position with franchises like Call of Duty, Candy Crush Saga, World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch.
FTC’s biggest antitrust test: Successfully blocking Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard could define Lina Khan’s tenure in the FTC. A legal skirmish with Big Tech will be long and expensive.
Waze is the latest victim of Big Tech’s austerity: Google Maps and Waze are too similar to be separate, so Google is integrating them. This could mean dominating the mapping app segment at the cost of consumer choice.
Government resistance against TikTok intensifies: The list of states banning TikTok on government devices keeps growing. Could intensifying scrutiny lead to an all-out US TikTok ban?
The dark side of Lensa: The popular app collects user images to create highly polished digital avatars, but there are serious concerns on privacy, copyright infringement, and the creation of NSFW content.
McDonald’s wants more customers to order via app: The fast-food chain is offering a chance to win free McDonald’s for life with every mobile order as it seeks to increase loyalty and grow sales.
Consumers’ brand loyalty is declining: We share insights from our recent report on how retailers can create successful loyalty programs that retain increasingly price-conscious consumers.