Quick Bytes – Dec 15th: Apple Launches Podcast Analytics

A look at the most interesting startup and business-related news stories of the week.

Net neutrality fallout

Quick Byte

The reactions are in – they’re not pretty and they certainly don’t just come from the tech and startup industry. Not ones to shy away from controversy, Vice have teamed up with Motherboard to announce the build of a community internet that doesn’t rely on ISPs. And a handful of states, California included, mobilized to say that they will try to reverse the decision or write their own regulations to combat any potential ISP tyranny.

The Full Story

The United States is about to go to war with itself over net neutrality.

In the hours after the Trump administration scrapped rules that required internet providers to treat all web traffic equally, a handful of states mobilized in a bid to reverse the decision by the Federal Communications Commission in court — or perhaps write their own new regulations as a replacement.. Read the Full Article Here

Apple launches podcast analytics

Quick Byte

A collective sigh of relief can be heard in many circles today after Apple launched its promised podcast analytics into beta. The analytics tracks unique devices but serves the data up as aggregate listener trends. Data includes total time listened, time per device, average consumption, devices subscribed, top countries, and more. Bring on the spreadsheets!

The Full Story

At WWDC this year, Apple announced it would soon offer its own podcast analytics service for show creators who publish on Apple Podcasts. Today, that service has launched into beta, offering podcasters the ability to track unique devices and playback metrics for their podcasts, including when listeners drop off in the middle of a show. Read the Full Article Here

Whole Foods move good for startup deliveries

Quick Byte

America is the home of the e-commerce delivered good and that’s set to grow even further with Amazon’s Whole Foods acquisition. While initially viewed as a blow to startups like Shipt, grocery chains across the country are employing these services as they battle the giant in the war of delivered food. Shipt is expecting about $1 billion in revenue as grocery chains invest in what companies are experimenting with as the next big thing for delivery services.

The Full Story

When Amazon.com Inc. acquired Whole Foods as part of its attack on the supermarket industry, it looked like a crushing blow for grocery-delivery startups like Shipt Inc.and Instacart Inc. Read the Full Article Here

ICO refund following SEC investigation

Quick Byte

The tumultuous world that is Bitcoin continues to deliver in the latest statement from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC said that the sale of tokens of Munchee Inc constituted unregistered securities and they issued this list of questions that both main street investors and market professionals need to be asking. 

The Full Story

The world’s social media platforms and financial markets are abuzz about cryptocurrencies and “initial coin offerings” (ICOs).  There are tales of fortunes made and dreamed to be made.  We are hearing the familiar refrain, “this time is different.” Read the Full Article Here