Tue. 06/15 – Automattic Acquires Day One

Jun 15, 2021 16m

AI Summary Available

Get the full experience! Sign up to access transcripts, personalized summaries, and more features.

Automattic acquires the popular iOS and iPad OS journaling app, Day One. Everybody wants a piece of Stripe. Stripe wants to be the “Stripe for Identity” all by itself. With HBO vanquished, now Netflix wants to become Disney faster than Disney can become Netflix. And could I interest you in an NFT of the entire World Wide Web?

Sponsors:

Links:

WordPress.com owner Automattic acquires journaling app Day One (Tech Crunch)
U.S. Supreme Court revives LinkedIn bid to shield personal data (Reuters)
Investors Clamor for a Bigger Piece of Payments Company Stripe (Wall Street Journal)
Stripe goes beyond payments with Stripe Identity to provide AI-based ID verification for transactions and much more (Tech Crunch)
Amazon brings cashierless tech to full-size grocery store for first time at new Seattle-area location (Geek Wire)
Netflix Has a Plan to Sell You Toys, T-Shirts and Concert Tickets (Bloomberg)
Web inventor Berners-Lee to auction original code as NFT (Financial Times)

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AI-Generated Summary

Automattic Acquires Day One

In today's tech digest, it was announced that Automattic, the parent company of WordPress, has acquired the popular journaling app Day One, which boasts over 15 million downloads. The acquisition intriguingly complements Automattic's growing suite of online writing tools, which also includes Tumblr and WordPress.com. Day One stands out for its privacy features, offering end-to-end encryption for journal entries. Post-acquisition, users will be able to publish entries to WordPress.com or Tumblr and import content directly from these platforms to Day One. This move positions Automattic to further tap into personal journaling trends while prioritizing privacy.

LinkedIn vs. IQ Labs Legal Dispute

In a significant ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has revived LinkedIn's battle against IQ Labs, which has been scraping public profile data from LinkedIn users. The court's decision sends the case back to the federal appeals court for further consideration under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, allowing LinkedIn another opportunity to prevent data scraping that it argues compromises user privacy. This case highlights the ongoing tensions in the tech industry over user data rights and implies important precedents for how public information can be used by rivals.

Stripe's Growing Influence and New Ventures

Stripe's stature in the private startup arena continues to soar, highlighted by its sizeable share buyouts from thrilling investors including Shopify and Sequoia Capital. The latest push for investment points to Stripe's rapid growth during the pandemic and its recent valuation of a staggering $95 billion. On the innovation front, Stripe has introduced 'Stripe Identity', a new product enabling businesses to conduct AI-driven identity verification, reinforcing its mission to enhance its offerings beyond mere payment processing. This strategic pivot could set the tone for how identity is verified in the digital realm.

Netflix's Expansion Strategies

In a bold pivot, Netflix is working to transition from a subscription-only model to a broader entertainment company that includes consumer products, podcasts, and video games. This shift comes as Netflix faces stiff competition from Disney, with a keen desire to create enduring franchises to keep its content relevant between seasons. Current initiatives involve spin-offs and collaborations aimed at developing merchandise that keeps shows at the forefront of viewers' minds. The pressure to adapt signifies Netflix's recognition that long-term user growth is at risk and they must find new revenue streams beyond streaming.

The Tim Berners-Lee NFT Auction

Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, is auctioning the original source code as an NFT. This auction represents a significant moment, not only for Berners-Lee but for the NFT space as a whole, marking a potential expansion into unique digital artifacts beyond art and sports memorabilia. The auction proceeds are aimed at aiding charitable initiatives, and Berners-Lee’s aim is to spotlight the digital origin of the web amid contemporary discussions about privacy and data ownership.