The Above Avalon Daily Update Recap (3Q21 Edition)

I publish exclusive daily updates all about Apple throughout the week. The updates contain my perspective and analysis on Apple’s business, product and financial strategy, and competitive relationships with a range of companies. The updates have become widely read and influential in the world of Apple and tech and are ideally suited to executives, investors, project managers, and hobbyists. When combined with the periodic articles and podcast episodes, which are accessible to everyone, the updates provide the full Above Avalon experience throughout the week.

During the third quarter of 2021 (July to September), 48 Above Avalon daily updates were published, chronicling both noteworthy industry and Apple-specific stories as well as my Apple research. The major themes discussed during the quarter included:

• Developments in the App Store regulatory space (South Korea, Japan, Epic Games Vs. Apple trial).

• Apple TV / paid video streaming industry developments. 

• Apple unveiling its Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) detection plan and the resulting fallout.

• Project Titan leadership changes and developments in the EV space.

The Above Avalon Daily Update Recap (3Q21 Edition) goes over these major themes and the corresponding daily updates.

(To access the following updates, become a member and then request access to the daily updates archive found in Slack.)

Developments in the App Store Regulatory Space (South Korea, Japan, Epic Games Vs. Apple trial)

After years of discussion and debate regarding Apple’s handling of the App Store, there was notable movement on the App Store legal and regulatory fronts. During 3Q, Apple notched two App Store victories in U.S. courts, South Korea rushed an anti-App Store bill through, and Apple began to loosen its grip on some of the more controversial App Store guidelines.

• Apple Settles Class-Action Suit from U.S. Developers, Why Settle Now?, The iOS Developer Divide (Aug 30, 2021)

• Thoughts on the Epic Games vs. Apple Ruling (Sep 13, 2021)

• Peloton Earnings, South Korea Passes App Store Payments Bill, Apple Acquires Primephonic (Aug 31, 2021)

• More on South Korea's App Store Payment Bill, Thinking Through Alternative In-App Payments, Unintended Consequences of App Store Changes (Sep 1, 2021)

• Sonos 3Q21 Earnings, Anti-App Store Legislation Introduced in Senate, The Bill’s Privacy and Security Exemption (Aug 12, 2021)

• Apple Makes Concession Regarding Reader Apps, Reader Apps vs. Multiplatform Apps, The Strategy Behind Apple’s App Store Changes (Sep 2, 2021)

Apple TV / Paid Video Streaming Industry Developments

The paid video streaming industry continues to intrigue as it expands and evolves. There were a number of noteworthy events and developments during 3Q including Netflix’s move into gaming, a “Ted Lasso” bonanza, and the Netflix vs. Disney dynamic. I also went over my estimate for the number of Apple TV+ subscribers.

• Netflix Moving Forward with Gaming, Entertainment Bundles Will Win, This Time Is Different for Games (Jul 15, 2021)

• Netflix 2Q21 Earnings, Netflix Is Feeling Competitive Pressure, Netflix’s Video Gaming Strategy (Jul 21, 2021)

• Apple’s Return to the Office Brouhaha, Apple Searching for Hollywood Hub, The Ted Lasso Effect (Jul 20, 2021)

• Disney Earnings, Disney Will Surpass Netflix, Roku Earnings (Aug 23, 2021)

• Disney Warns of Messy Disney+ Subscriber Trends, Estimating the Number of Apple TV+ Subscribers, Revisiting Apple’s Paid Subscriptions Tally (Sep 27, 2021)

• EU’s Vestager Threatens Apple, Video Streaming Box Market Shares, Peacock Signs Universal Deal (Jul 7, 2021)

• Apple and the NFL, Disney’s Black Widow Opening Weekend, A Laptop Revival (Jul 12, 2021)

• The Apple TV Debate Rages On, Apple’s Home Strategy, Smart Homes and Ecosystems (Aug 11, 2021)

Apple Unveiling Its Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) Detection Plan and the Resulting Fallout

In August, Apple lit a firestorm of a debate by announcing a plan to combat child sexual abuse. The plan ended up drawing into question a number of philosophical questions as to Apple’s role in society and the company’s reason for being.

• Apple Announces Expanded Protections for Children, Thoughts on Apple’s CSAM Detection, Apple CSAM and the Slippery Slope (Aug 9, 2021)

• Apple Head of Privacy Talks CSAM Detection, CSAM Detection FUD, Apple and the Privacy High Ground (Aug 10, 2021)

• Apple Releases Security Threat Model Review of CSAM Detection, Apple Doing Damage Control, Genuine Pushback to Apple’s CSAM Detection (Aug 16, 2021)

• Apple Delays Child Safety Features, An Update Regarding Apple’s Rumored Self-Driving Car Facility in Arizona, Apple Continues Hiring Car HW Talent (Sep 7, 2021)

Project Titan leadership changes

Apple’e electric car project continued to move forward with a major leadership change as Apple Watch software chief Kevin Lynch replaced Doug Field as Titan head.

• Doug Field Leaves Apple for Ford, Project Titan’s Trajectory and Leadership, Silicon Valley vs. Detroit (Sep 8, 2021)

• Apple’s Kevin Lynch Joins Project Titan, Apple Car Implications, Apple Watch Implications (Jul 19, 2021)

• Tesla Earnings, Elon Musk Goes After Apple Again, Musk Steps Away from Earnings Calls (Jul 27, 2021)

• Follow the Tech Capex, Apple’s Reliance on Chinese Suppliers Increases, Foxconn Moving Forward With Car Factories in U.S. (Aug 18, 2021)

A few additional updates published between July to September stood out to me.

• The Amazon Event, Amazon’s Play for Neighborhoods, Amazon Astro (Sep 29, 2021)

• Square Acquires Afterpay, Square vs. Apple, The Future of Credit (Aug 3, 2021)

• Apple’s Services Journey, A Different Way of Thinking of Apple One, Apple Services Evolution (Jul 13, 2021)

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