Month: February 2017

LMAC Sucks

~ michael_msft ~ Leave a comment

Sign the Change.org petition please.

I’ll tell you all later about my personal GNR tale.

Till then :: https://www.change.org/p/lamc-productions-refund-all-guns-n-roses-singapore-concertgoers

Greed vs Value Creation

~ michael_msft ~ Leave a comment

It’s a struggle sometimes for sure but lately it just feels like most of what is going on in the valley is straight up greed.

https://twitter.com/arrington/status/836345845477851136

I am not a huge Arrington fan but I think he makes a point. Is this a cyclical thing? Is there too much capital around? Is the Trump era to blame?

I tend to think it is more related to the pressure cooker of expectations around always having to have that big exit and making everyone rich versus building cool shit. I know there is a fine line. And I am not saying that I don’t want to make money but there is a difference in my opinion.

Uber as of late just feels like greed. Let’s treat employees like shit, let’s skirt the law and let’s steal stuff to win it all because they are changing the world? It’s too much. You can’t demolish everything in your path and still keep telling your customers that we should trust you ferrying our wive’s and children around. Enough already. I honestly hope Google takes them to the cleaners.

Snap. Who knows on this one but the way they are doing things feels to me like just wanting to cash out versus build something for the long haul. Again, I could be all wrong and this is the technique they are using to get enough money to defend their turf and build something amazing. Only time will tell. I could be all wrong. With Facebook I bought on the dip and held. That’s worked out okay so far. Not sure I would with Snap.

WeWork. Is this really a revolution or is it a modern day real estate play with co-working throw in to be cool? No one knows yet but the Softbank deal feels like greed to me. Let’s see what they do.

I used to miss the valley but I am not sure I could survive there. I am not that greedy to be honest. Interesting times.

I am glad I live in Singapore.

Roku

~ michael_msft ~ Leave a comment

I gotta admit I am shocked this company is still going. Mostly cause google and Apple can’t seem to get their shit together and no one else in the space has a credible offering.

From term sheet:

Scoop: Roku is in advanced discussions to raise at least $200 million in new funding at a post-money valuation of approximately $1.5 billion, according to sources familiar with the situation. The company received a term sheet this week. The round will be led by U.S.-based investors, one source says, but “not standard Silicon Valley venture firms.” The total raise could go above $200 million because a portion of the deal may include secondary sales by existing investors.

Based in Los Gatos, Calif., Roku makes connected TV hardware. The startup has raised $210 million in funding so far from investors including News Corp, Fidelity Investments, Menlo Ventures, Hearst Ventures, Viacom, Fox Networks, and Netflix.

Roku competes in a crowded market; Google, Amazon, Apple and the cable providers all offer their own connected TV products. The company is known as “Switzerland” in the market – a neutral player — because it doesn’t have its own content to push users toward. A Roku representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment this morning.

As of late Apple TV hasn’t gone anywhere but it’s still the best for me as an iOS and iTunes user. We shall see when Amazon hits Singapore if they will offer a compelling reason for me to go Prime and I hear good things about the fire stick.

Regardless – Roku continues on.

Uber’s month from hell!

~ michael_msft ~ 2 Comments

And now the investors are piling on :: https://shift.newco.co/an-open-letter-to-the-uber-board-and-investors-2dc0c48c3a7#.wro1quz15

#deleteUber

Then the latest on all the sexual harassment

Adding the recode link :: http://www.recode.net/2017/2/23/14717432/waymo-otto-uber-anthony-levandowski-lawsuit

And now :: https://medium.com/waymo/a-note-on-our-lawsuit-against-otto-and-uber-86f4f98902a1#.j81e8os6u

We found that six weeks before his resignation this former employee, Anthony Levandowski, downloaded over 14,000 highly confidential and proprietary design files for Waymo’s various hardware systems, including designs of Waymo’s LiDAR and circuit board. To gain access to Waymo’s design server, Mr. Levandowski searched for and installed specialized software onto his company-issued laptop. Once inside, he downloaded 9.7 GB of Waymo’s highly confidential files and trade secrets, including blueprints, design files and testing documentation. Then he connected an external drive to the laptop. Mr. Levandowski then wiped and reformatted the laptop in an attempt to erase forensic fingerprints.

Wow. Not even a professional hijacking. Just straight up stealing and trying to cover it up.

Guessing Alphabet has plenty of cash and an axe to grind. Seems to me it’s time for the CEO to step down and let an adult run the company before it is too late.