Alternative App Store… for Cars?

Since recently, I tried many different cars. Not because I like to switch cars but because during the COVID period, I frequently visited Jeju Island, where renting a car was essential due to the limited public transportation. This gave me the chance to drive a variety of models in Korea from the Hyundai Kona Electric to the Kia EV6, and even the lesser-known Renault SM3 Electric. Also after a few (unfortunate) accidents where I was always the victim (100%! 😅), I even got to experience higher range models like the Porsche, Range Rover, Benz etc. while my car was being repaired. But despite testing so many different cars, one thing remained constant: I never used the built-in navigation or media system. Most in-car navigation systems were outdated and inconvenient. I also couldn't access my media except using my phone (who […]

Laurent Pawlowski March 20

Journal

Alternative App Stores: The Post-DMA Opportunity

In the world of alternative app stores, all eyes have been on the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Last week marked the deadline for compliance by @Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store. However, predictably, no substantial changes have been made, and the status quo persists. While pressure from the European Commission or other governments may eventually force some movement like in Brazil recently, Google and Apple have historically found ways to implement half-measures that prolong their dominance. A prime example is Apple, which introduced a “core technology fee” on every download (among other dissuasive measures), making alternative app stores financially unviable for both the app store and the developers. Another example is Korea’s mandate requiring Play Store to allow third-party billing. Google complied "technically" by allowing and reducing its revenue share from 30% to 26% (!?), rendering third-party payment adoption […]

Laurent Pawlowski March 12

Journal

Can Elon Musk Really Make Games Great Again?

Can Elon Musk Really Make Games Great Again? Here’s My Two Cents. Elon Musk recently shared his vision of shaking up the gaming industry, arguing that big studios have too much control. His solution? Build a studio powered by AI.But if it succeeds, won’t it just become another mammoth studio, replicating the same industry dynamics we already see today?The real challenge for indie developers isn’t just competition, it’s the lack of resources and visibility:✅ High development costs✅ No organic traffic✅ No UA budgets✅ A discovery system that prioritizes revenue over quality1. Provide Free AI-Powered Tools for Indie DevelopersMany indie devs restrain their ideas due to limited resources. What if AI could change that?Imagine AI-powered art generators, monetization models, live-ops automation, AI-driven characters etc. all available for free (or in exchange for something simple, like X ads inside their games).This would […]

Laurent Pawlowski March 3

Journal

Takeaways for TikTok: Non-Target Audience Perspective

What I Learned From One Year on TikTok: A Non-Target Audience Perspective At the beginning of 2024, I made a decision: I was going to give TikTok a try. Not because I’m the typical target audience, and certainly not because anyone in my network was using it at the time (only 1 !). Instead, I wanted to understand this platform better—particularly how it can be leveraged for marketing.One year later, I’ve learned so much and have a few interesting things to share starting with my stats:Link to my channelVideos posted: ~80Total views: ~130kFollowers: ~1,300Likes: ~6000Top 3 video: 1. Tekken 8 cosplayer: 65k views, 5,5k likes2. Wifi rush Tango Gstar: 24k views, 200 likes3. Hyundae Avante N crash: 18k views, 73 likesHere are some key takeaways from this experiment:1. Content: I was expecting to see only teenage girls dancing, and there […]

Laurent Pawlowski February 3

Laurent Pawlowski