The Information

The Information’s 411 — Earnings and Learnings

By Tom Dotan · May 1, 2020 4:18pm PDT · 1 comment

Alex walks us through the first quarter earnings for Snap, Twitter and Facebook to see how they fared at the onset of the pandemic. We break down why Snap ended up posting a surprisingly strong quarter, powered by its growing direct response ad business. Alex walks us through the first quarter earnings for Snap, Twitter and Facebook to see how they...

The Information’s 411 — Let’s Not Go Out To The Movies

By Tom Dotan · Apr 24, 2020 1:59pm PDT

Tom and Jessica Toonkel talk about the chaotic world of the movie industry as theaters remain shuttered. We discuss what it will take to get people to again feel comfortable going to theaters and whether the movie industry will finally change from its hard set ways of not making new releases available to rent at home. Tom and Jessica Toonkel talk about the chaotic world of the movie industry as theaters remain...

The Information’s 411 — Pimp My Zoom

By Tom Dotan · Apr 20, 2020 12:15pm PDT · 1 comment

Nick Wingfield walks us through the ways Silicon Valley execs—and the rest of us—can upgrade their working-from-home video conference technology. Nick Wingfield walks us through the ways Silicon Valley execs—and the rest of us—can...

The Information’s 411 — How Viruses Affect Hosts

By Tom Dotan · Apr 16, 2020 11:01am PDT

The Information’s 411 — How Viruses Affect Hosts

By Tom Dotan · Apr 16, 2020 11:01am PDT

Cory joins to talk about the layoffs at Opendoor. We also discuss how Brian Chesky is leading Airbnb through this bleak period in the company's business and if it stands a chance of going public this year. Cory joins to talk about the layoffs at Opendoor. We also discuss how Brian Chesky is leading...

The Information’s 411 — Tangled Up in Azure

By Tom Dotan · Apr 10, 2020 5:05pm PDT · 2 comments

Kevin talks about the problems that Microsoft's Azure has had providing service to its customers. While the work-from-home era has complicated things, the real story is that the issues cropped up long before the pandemic. Kevin talks about the problems that Microsoft's Azure has had providing service to its...

The Information’s 411 — Mind Your Zs and Qs

By Tom Dotan · Apr 3, 2020 4:36pm PDT

Zoe breaks down the new strange world of video conference etiquette. We discuss how the new remote lifestyle has raised questions about the proper way to interact over video chat. And she explains why an etiquette coach said you technically don't have to wear pants when you're on a Zoom conference (or any video conference for that... Zoe breaks down the new strange world of video conference etiquette. We discuss how the new...

The Information’s 411 — Apple’s Remote Control

By Tom Dotan · Apr 1, 2020 6:22pm PDT

Nick Bastone dives into the way Apple has tried to manage the work-from-home era, where employees have to keep secret products under wraps while working in a non-secretive location. They've also had to deal with the challenges of employees staying put in the U.S., unable to travel to China and oversee manufacturing, even as China's... Nick Bastone dives into the way Apple has tried to manage the work-from-home era, where employees...

The Information’s 411 — Are You There, Pod? It’s Me, Spotify

By Tom Dotan · Mar 27, 2020 4:29pm PDT · 1 comment

The Information’s 411 — Are You There, Pod? It’s Me, Spotify

By Tom Dotan · Mar 27, 2020 4:29pm PDT · 1 comment

Jessica Toonkel talks about why Spotify decided to go on a spending spree to get into the podcasting business. In the past year the company has made a number of expensive acquisitions, buying podcasting production companies and tech platforms in an effort to build its ad revenue. We discuss how this can pay off for the company, and how long it... Jessica Toonkel talks about why Spotify decided to go on a spending spree to get into the...

Is Amazon Too Essential?

By Tom Dotan · Mar 25, 2020 5:05pm PDT

Priya dives into how Amazon has become one of the central services holding things together as large swaths of the country lives under stay-at-home orders. We also discuss whether Amazon's increasing role as a utility servicing the nation will change the way people view the company—and what it means for regulatory efforts. Priya dives into how Amazon has become one of the central services holding things together as...

The Information’s 411 — There’s Hope, There’s Hope, There’s Light

By Tom Dotan · Mar 20, 2020 1:30pm PDT

We talked to Shai Oster, our Hong Kong bureau chief, who spent most of the past few weeks in New York as the coronavirus threatened from China—and has now returned to Hong Kong. He gives us a look at what life looks like after the quarantine ends and people attempt to return to normal. And why people in Hong Kong at appalled at how U.S.... We talked to Shai Oster, our Hong Kong bureau chief, who spent most of the past few weeks in New...

The Information’s 411 — Gimme Shelter

By Tom Dotan · Mar 18, 2020 1:09pm PDT

For the next few weeks, as the country and the world grapples with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, we're bringing you an extra podcast in the middle of the week, looking at the impact on tech. In the first episode, Cory explains why Airbnb decided last week to offer full refunds to guests whose stays had to be cancelled. It put the... For the next few weeks, as the country and the world grapples with the effects of the coronavirus...

The Information’s 411 — Bear Market Necessities

By Tom Dotan · Mar 13, 2020 4:32pm PDT · 2 comments

The Information’s 411 — Bear Market Necessities

By Tom Dotan · Mar 13, 2020 4:32pm PDT · 2 comments

Martin talks about the effects of the market downturn in response to the global pandemic. We discuss which companies are the most affected—in particular why Slack, Uber and Lyft have fared so poorly. Martin also looks back at the 2008 financial crisis and explains why the recent downturn is in fact very reminiscent of what took place 12... Martin talks about the effects of the market downturn in response to the global pandemic. We...

The Information’s 411 — When the VCs Start to Worry

By Tom Dotan · Mar 6, 2020 3:47pm PST

Kate talks about the messages that VCs are giving to their porfolio companies about the steps they should take to prepare for the impact of the coronavirus. Some are saying companies should back off on hiring for the time being and make sure they have enough cash to last them through a market downturn. Plus, we explore the idea that some new... Kate talks about the messages that VCs are giving to their porfolio companies about the steps...

The Information’s 411 — What About Bobs?

By Tom Dotan · Feb 28, 2020 4:13pm PST

Jessica and Tom give their analysis of Disney's surprise CEO shakeup this week. The decision to name parks chief Bob Chapek the new CEO took many in the industry by surprise. Equally surprising was Bob Iger's decision to elevate himself from CEO to executive chairman, with Chapek reporting to him. We looked into other times when CEOs... Jessica and Tom give their analysis of Disney's surprise CEO shakeup this week. The decision...

The Information’s 411—Little Boxes Made of Ticky-Tack

By Tom Dotan · Feb 21, 2020 3:15pm PST · 1 comment

This week something a little different: Cory interviews New York Times reporter Conor Dougherty about his new book on the California housing crisis. Conor explains the role that tech has played in worsening the housing crisis. They discuss how effective big tech companies like Apple and Google have been in providing some relief. And Conor... This week something a little different: Cory interviews New York Times reporter Conor Dougherty...

The Information’s 411 — Old Time Roku Roll

By Tom Dotan · Feb 14, 2020 3:42pm PST

The Information’s 411 — Old Time Roku Roll

By Tom Dotan · Feb 14, 2020 3:42pm PST

In this episode Jessica and Tom take a long look at Roku and how it's interacting with media companies. In recent years, Roku has been pushing to make more money from the media companies that have apps on Roku devices. That spilled out into public view with the Fox dustup before the Super Bowl. Jessica and Tom discuss what's been going... In this episode Jessica and Tom take a long look at Roku and how it's interacting with media...

The Information’s 411 — Self-Driving for Dollars

By Tom Dotan · Feb 7, 2020 4:01pm PST · 1 comment

Amir goes deep on the companies that have invested the most in self-driving car technology over the past decade. We talked about advances in self-driving technology and where it is today. A big chunk of the more than $16 billion invested has come from the top three companies, each of which has a different strategy. Amir also explains why he... Amir goes deep on the companies that have invested the most in self-driving car technology over...

The Information’s 411 — Facebook and the Republocrats

By Tom Dotan · Jan 31, 2020 3:24pm PST

Chris Stern joins to discuss the relationship between Facebook and both political parties. In the last few years the Republicans have emerged as the company's closest allies in DC, while the Democrats have ramped up their harsh rhetoric against it. It's partly an ideological divide, as some Republicans have embraced the mindset that... Chris Stern joins to discuss the relationship between Facebook and both political parties. In the...

The Information’s 411 — Initial Private Offering

By Tom Dotan · Jan 24, 2020 3:25pm PST

This week we took a behind-the-scenes look at IPOs, and how companies try to get banks to become clients in order to win the account. Kevin Dugan and Priya explained the story of ZScaler, which tried to get a collection of customers in the banking syndicate that underwrites the IPO. It’s not an uncommon occurrence these days. And it raises... This week we took a behind-the-scenes look at IPOs, and how companies try to get banks to become...

The Information’s 411 — Drummond’s Base

By Tom Dotan · Jan 17, 2020 4:42pm PST

The Information’s 411 — Drummond’s Base

By Tom Dotan · Jan 17, 2020 4:42pm PST

We dove deep on the story of David Drummond at Google. The company’s chief legal officer recently announced he was retiring, following the lead of co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin’s decision to step aside, But his departure re-opened some old wounds with former partners at Google’s venture arm GV. Nick got the backstory... We dove deep on the story of David Drummond at Google. The company’s chief legal officer...