One of the most interesting aspects of the tech world — particularly among the big five tech companies — is that each year brings forth fiercer competition.
To any insider, this might appear blatantly obvious. Yet even to a tech layperson, it's pretty easy to spot the race if you just take a look around your living room.
DON'T MISS: Amazon just announced October Prime Big Deal Days — here are the top deals to look for
Apple (AAPL) -) is constantly trying to outdo Samsung (SSNLF) -), for example, by making its camera just a little better each year. Amazon (AMZN) -) and Netflix (NFLX) -) are locked into a fierce in streaming wars, which Apple jumps into every now and again. Amazon finds itself in a battle on another front with Google (GOOGL) -), the fight for your smart speakers.
Officially, the five biggest tech companies are Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta (META) -), and Microsoft (MSFT) -), but it's easy to see how that frontier is constantly expanding; the lines get blurred more often than not, depending on which race to which destination you're talking about.
Competition can be so tough, at times, that top companies are constantly vying for top talent at other firms. The brightest minds and the most insightful visionaries tend to all collect at a handful of companies, and this is especially the case with top engineers and creatives working on new products to outdo one another.
Take, for instance, recent reports of former Microsoft Product Chief Panos Panay, who abruptly left the company on Monday. Within hours, Bloomberg and others were reporting that he'd jumped to join Amazon. This is noteworthy, since Panay had been working on Microsoft's surface tablet, and Amazon is due to hold a technology and hardware event on September 20.
Microsoft product head departs in convenient timing
Panos posted his maneuver on X, formerly Twitter, on the morning of September 18. The post has since gotten over one million views.
"After 19 incredible years at Microsoft, I've decided to turn the page and write the next chapter. I’m forever grateful for my time at Microsoft and the amazing people I had the honor to make products with," Panos wrote.
After 19 incredible years at Microsoft, I've decided to turn the page and write the next chapter. I’m forever grateful for my time at Microsoft and the amazing people I had the honor to make products with.
— Panos Panay (@panos_panay) September 18, 2023
Hours after the news broke, Bloomberg reported that Amazon would be "hiring Microsoft Corp.’s product chief to run the division responsible for the voice-activated Alexa assistant and Echo smart speakers, according to people familiar with the situation."
Equally notable: Amazon’s head of hardware, Dave Limp, is slotted to retire by the end of 2023, paving the way for a potentially high-powered job for Panos to slide into with enough time to learn the ropes.
"Thank you, Panos, for your impact on our products, culture, company, and industry over the past two decades," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in an emailed statement. "I’m grateful for your leadership, support, and all you’ve done for Microsoft and our customers and partners."
While Amazon has not yet confirmed the news that Panos will be joining its growing league of hardware wizkids, its annual hardware event is slotted to take place on September 20 on its Arlington, VA campus.
Amazon is set to unveil a variety of new tech. We aren't sure what exactly it plans to announce, though there is speculation it could be one, some, or all of the following:
- A new Echo speaker with Alexa-enabled technology
- A new smart display
- New Fire TV streaming devices
- New smart home accessories
- New Kindle e-reader(s) with improved capabilities or features
- A new Fire tablet
- A new Fire TV
- Improved or new Echo ear buds
- New Alexa skills, specifically with AI capabilities (technically, this would be software)
Amazon's event will start at 11:00 am ET on Wednesday, but unlike Apple's Wanderlust event on Sept. 12, it's not going to be streamable.
