> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nearmedia.co/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # SMBs or Amazon, HomePod Is Dead, iOS Privacy Screens - URL: https://www.nearmedia.co/smbs-vs-amazon-hopepod-is-dead-ios-privacy-screens-appear/ - Published: 2021-03-15T14:27:13.000Z - Updated: 2021-03-17T20:38:44.000Z - Author: Greg Sterling - Tags: News ### People Want to Support SMBs but Buy from Amazon Amazon technically lost share as e-commerce expanded in 2020 but it was the big winner during COVID lockdowns. Despite its anti-union bias and potential antitrust violations, Americans mostly like and are loyal to Amazon. New survey [data](https://www.getconvey.com/resource/ebook-amazons-momentum-2021/?ref=nearmedia.co) finds 42% of consumers buy the majority of their goods on Amazon. Americans have a neutral (29%) or positive view (52%) of Amazon's impact on retail, with fast-free shipping and reliable delivery being the top reasons people shop there. The survey found that while 95% want to support small retailers most buy from Amazon for reasons like lower prices and shipping reliability. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2021/03/Screen-Shot-2021-03-15-at-6.44.12-AM.png) Convey Amazon consumer survey 2021 **Our take:** - Most US consumers trust and are very happy with Amazon. It will take a lot to change that because the Amazon UX is so strong + Prime. - The heart/head-wallet divide above has been shown in other surveys. Majorities want to support SMBs but Amazon inertia is profound. - SMB retailers need to improve digital UXs and build more trust with consumers. BOPIS is one way to compete, overcoming shipping fears. ### Apple Ditches HomePod, Smart Speaker Growth Flat Apple has decided to [abandon the HomePod smart speaker](https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/12/apple-discontinues-original-homepod-will-focus-on-mini/?ref=nearmedia.co) ($299) in favor of the cheaper and more popular HomePod Mini ($99). I own multiple Google Home and Amazon Echo smart devices and one HomePod. It has the best sound of all but more limited assistant functionality. It also has only 1% of the US market according Edison research (.[pdf](http://www.edisonresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/The-Infinite-Dial-2021.pdf?ref=nearmedia.co)). The smart speaker base is now estimated to be around 94 million, less than [previous estimates](https://marketingland.com/survey-reports-118-million-smart-speakers-in-u-s-but-the-expectation-of-future-demand-is-way-down-254937?ref=nearmedia.co) which had put it over 100 million. Growth now appears to be relatively flat. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2021/03/Screen-Shot-2021-03-15-at-6.08.23-AM.png) Edison Research "The Infinite Dial 2021" **Our take:** - The first Amazon Echo was introduced in 2014; it was partly responsible for creating the hype around voice search adoption. - Smart speakers still see relatively narrow use cases: music, news and podcast listening. Less common are utilitarian uses (e.g., search, commerce). - Smart speakers/displays continue to have channel potential but "skills" have failed to break-through and deliver value to consumers. ### iOS Opt-in Privacy Screens Start to Appear The image below is the first Apple opt-in privacy notification I've seen. I clicked from an email to the Macy's app and got this screen. Macy's has discretion over a small part of the message: "We use your data to suggest products we think you'll love." I didn't "allow." The big unknown facing mobile app publishers and advertisers is: what percentage of the audience will say "yes"? Facebook has [begun testing a separate screen](https://www.nearmedia.co/foot-traffic-outlook-facebook-counters-apple-prompt-big-tech-promote-bobs/) asking users to embrace ad tracking. Surveys are so far inconclusive; some suggest [a majority will decline](https://blog.tapresearch.com/2021/02/03/facebook-user-tracking-poll/?ref=nearmedia.co) and other data argue [people may be open](https://searchengineland.com/apple-idfa-consent-roughly-60-of-consumers-open-to-persuasion-to-allow-tracking-340390?ref=nearmedia.co) to tracking with the right value exchange. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2021/03/Screen-Shot-2021-03-14-at-11.46.57-PM.png) **Our take:** - This is really the first (simple) privacy tool consumers can control. We believe a majority will embrace it. - Facebook has cynically argued that denying tracking will harm SMBs, although Apple is also marketing privacy as a differentiator. - The Feds will be compelled to take up national privacy legislation soon. Apple’s consent-to-tracking may compel an opt-in approach. ## Short Takes - Survey: **Nearly 80% of SMBs** [**still suffering** from COVID fallout](https://www.alignable.com/forum/alignable-nearly-half-of-smbs-are-optimistic-about-bidens-new?ref=nearmedia.co). - [Giving SMBs options](https://www.wsj.com/articles/with-shopify-small-businesses-strike-back-at-amazon-11615611603?ref=nearmedia.co), **Shopify** **as counterweight to Amazon**. - Is **Amazon Fresh the** [**future** of the grocery business](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-11/amazon-quietly-began-building-a-grocery-chain-during-pandemic??ref=nearmedia.co)? - **Is profit from Amazon ads** about to [surpass AWS](https://www.ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2021/3/14/do-amazon-ads-bring-in-more-cash-than-aws?ref=nearmedia.co)? - **Google can't dismiss $5B suit** [alleging data collection](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-13/google-must-face-suit-over-snooping-on-incognito-browsing?ref=nearmedia.co) while incognito. - **Google [accuses](https://blog.google/products/news/google-commitment-supporting-journalism/?ref=nearmedia.co) MSFT of "naked opportunism**" for news media collective-bargaining support. - After [raising](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/14/stripe-valued-at-95-billion-in-600-million-funding-round.html?ref=nearmedia.co) $600 million, **Stripe worth $95 billion**. - Sleep-aid: **IKEA [turns](https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/11/business/ikea-catalog-audio-version/?ref=nearmedia.co) print catalog** into a 4-hour podcast. - **Mom deepfakes teens' images** to [oust them](https://www.engadget.com/woman-creates-deepfakes-for-cheerleader-daughter-215024991.html?ref=nearmedia.co) from cheerleading squad. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2021/02/near_memo_banner.png)](https://nearmedia.co/memo?ref=nearmedia.co) Please let us know what you think. Email [gsterling@nearmedia.co](mailto: gsterling@nearmedia.co) with suggestions and recommendations.