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The Broken Promises of Substack
Substack promised independence, but has evolved into another platform playing the same game as everyone else. The crab always becomes a crab.
IMAX is a Superbrand
Superbrands create and control key technology allowing them to break the common laws of branding and put themselves forward. Here's how IMAX put an intro in front of every movie.
Can Markets Regulate Themselves?
Sometimes, governments regulate markets. And sometimes, market participants regulate themselves. The outcome can be surprisingly different; thankfully, we have several examples that can serve as case studies.
Ads and the Privacy Panic
There's an ongoing moral panic about targeted ads expressed in the "surveillance capitalism" term that has little to do with reality.
Recent Articles
Why Arc is The Best Browser
Arc reinvented web browsing for the modern Internet. And I’m very thankful.
Can Markets Regulate Themselves?
Sometimes, governments regulate markets. And sometimes, market participants regulate themselves. The outcome can be surprisingly different; thankfully, we have several examples that can serve as case studies.
Why Execution Eats Ideas For Lunch
Most people tend to overvalue ideas and undervalue execution. In my experience, that holds even for many people in the tech industry. Yet it couldn’t have been further from the truth. Let me tell you about a product that allowed you to easily create and manage your own relational databases together with your team members. It’s not Airtable but their early competitor.
The Unsettling Battle Between Media and Technology
There’s a lot of antagonism between the media and tech. But most of it is produced by a small minority of people with outsized voices, so it doesn’t exactly reflect reality.
The Unstoppable EU and The Immovable Apple
Apple is hell-bent on standing its ground against any attempts to limit their control over the AppStore. As a result, they might see governments worldwide legislating their product experience, and the result will likely be far worse both for them and their users.
Why AI Doomerism is Flawed and Misguided
The Internet favors simple opinions, meaning we're stuck between AI dommers and e/acc people. And yet the most urgent and interesting questions relate not to its potential capacity to kill us all, but rather mundane things.
Communicating with Numbers
If you can find a figure that makes your business more appealing than competitors, you should run with it.
Does Blogging Even Work?
Blogging is still the most reliable way of broadcasting your thoughts without being at the whims of someone’s algorithm.
Why Superhuman Is Worth $30
I pay $30 a month for my email client. And I think it’s worth it because it’s excellent and there aren’t many alternatives, unfortunately.
Uber is Good, Actually
A conventional taxi is similar to a tourist-trap restaurant that you will never visit again. Uber leverages technology to become an arbiter between you and the collective of drivers so they can provide a better service.
Basecamp is a Contrarian Marketing Operation
Basecamp is well-known not because of its product but because its founders heavily leverage marketing and communications, eventually turning into contrarian marketing machines producing edgy posts and starting crusades just to get everyone’s attention.
Web Apps Are Better Than No Apps
There’s a certain community in tech that’s very vocal about their preference toward native apps. I share that sentiment, yet sometimes people take this idea too religiously. Unfortunately, the actual choice is about having an app or not, and I'd rather take something over nothing.
Sorry, But Google Meet Is Better Than Zoom
It seems that we're finally getting out of this weird period of collective gaslighting where people tried to convince everyone Zoom was the best conference app out there.
Finalist: A Simpler To-do App
Finalist is built for people who liked keeping all their tasks in Apple Notes but wanted it just a bit more structured.
Omnivore Review: An Underrated Read-Later App
I sometimes see people using Pocket, Instapaper, or Safari’s Reading List even though all of them have been practically abandoned and the first two definitely don’t deserve a subscription. I reviewed Readwise Reader and Matter earlier, but they only work properly if you pay. It’s not for everyone, so I wanted to tell you about Omnivore, a rapidly-developed read-later app.
What Is Elon Musk
I’m a bit tired of how people let their existing opinion on Elon paint their entire image of him yet I myself struggle to define his actions.
I Wish Bear Hadn’t Wasted Years
Bear emerged as the flagship notes app, but then lost its lead because of technical debt. I doubt their latest update makes them competitive right now.
You Can Compete By Being Competent
Perfect your execution. This is the part you fully control. It won’t save you when the results aren’t there, but it can help sustain the relationship while you wait for them.
How To Recognize Grifters
Serious people list facts. Grifters list tags that can elevate their social status.
Facebook Went Meta, But Google Isn’t Alphabet
Google called itself Alphabet for corporate reporting purposes, Facebook rebranded to Meta because their business had changed.
Ads and the Privacy Panic
There's an ongoing moral panic about targeted ads expressed in the "surveillance capitalism" term that has little to do with reality.
The PR Flywheel: What It Can And Can’t Do For Your Business
People often think that PR and communications alone can help them achieve their goals and end up surprised when it doesn’t move the needle as much as they wanted. In fact, it’s a bit more complicated. PR is only a part of the virtuous circle.
You Can't Work On An iPad
Modern iPads are marvelous machines. But their software is too limited and unrealiable for them to replace your computer despite over a decade of innovation.
Why Algorithmic Feeds Can Be Good
People like to say they prefer chronological feeds to algorithmic ones. The actual problem is we rarely see good algorithms built to help us and not drive engagement. But I’d love to see a social network giving me tools to catch up on the people I care about.
Why Micropayments Don’t Work And People Hate Paywalls
Customers want micropayments but they're a bad option for news organizations. What they should do instead is provide us with better paywalls.
Touch the Glass: Finding a Better Home for Your Photos
The painful journey of photographers looking to find the best avenue to post their photos online and the lock-in exacerbated by subscriptions.
How to Use Virtual Backgrounds for Meetings in a Non-Cringe Way
Virtual backgrounds might look goofy but if you use them right you can definitely improve your picture without spending $5000 on a DSLR and a shelf full of books to be your background.
Raindrop Review: Better Bookmarks For Twitter And YouTube
Twitter, YouTube, and many other services have built-in bookmarks and playlists encouraging you to save content for later. I encourage you to try using a third-party service instead of them. Raindrop is a great alternative.
How to Read Newsletters In An App
Your email app isn't the best way to read newsletters. Especially if you're subscribed to dozens of them. Try a separate app for this.
Some Controversial Things I Believe
Just a few things I believe that a lot of people seemingly find controversial.
How to Start Your Blog
Running your own blog helps you keep an online journal of your life and thoughts that doesn't depend on unreliable tech platforms like Facebook or Twitter. But this process is still needlessly complicated and certainly not user-friendly for regular people.
A Better Way to Keep Organize Your Tasks
Sharing my approach to categorizing tasks inside your task manager so you will not forget anything and will understand what you have to work on at any moment.
How to Run A Remote Team
I’ve been working remotely for 8+ years and now running a team distributed at least across 5 countries. It’s challenging but it’s also very likely the best work environment that can help you attract talented people no matter where they live.
The PARA Method To Organize Your Work And Life
The PARA method is the most universal productivity technic. It’s very flexible and can be recreated in any app, whether it’s Notion, Workflowy, Apple Notes, Things 3, Roam Research, Evernote, or Todoist.
How to Work Remotely and Stay Sane
I’ve been working remotely for nine years now. I wouldn’t say it’s everyone’s future. There are pros and cons. For me personally, the advantages far outweigh the problems. If you ended up in a remote work arrangement, you might find these tips helpful.
Switch to a Modern Read-Later App Already
Read–later apps are simultaneously popular and outdated. A lot of people use them. They’re now embedded right in our browsers and there's a couple of age-old names, but if you’re still using any of these options you should reconsider.
How Would Anti-Instagram Look Like?
Reading all those discussions about the updates to Instagram and how people are becoming disillusioned with the app, I began thinking: what would an ideal anti-Instagram service look like?
Crypto Preachers vs Crypto Skeptics
Social networks incentivize people to take on radical positions as that brings engagement and followers. Yet in most areas, a reasonable centrist take is usually the right one (there are exceptions of course). Crypto is certainly one of the most divisive topics both on Twitter and in real life.
How to Get Media to Cover Your Fundraising
Five years ago announcing your funding round was quite a reliable option to get coverage in the press but it all changed. We ran dozens of announcements in recent months, so I wanted to give you a step-by-step tutorial on how to secure placements for your fundraising in the media.