Sarah is a veteran technology journalist and long-time observer of the I.T. industry. In addition to passionately writing up major industry moves, she has a record of impactful advocacy. She has a unique depth of experience having worked in banking, retail and in the software. This experience has provided her with a deep understanding of the challenges and innovations that are defining today’s digital landscape.
From the moment she joined TechCrunch in August 2011, Sarah has quickly emerged as one of the leading voices in technology journalism. Prior to coming on board to TechCrunch, she worked for over three years at ReadWriteWeb. There, she honed her artistry reporting and writing about the latest changes in technology and innovation. She’s already proven her commitment to the field by taking the stage at our recent TC Sessions AI event. This year’s event was held in Berkeley, California, on June 5.
The subject of Sarah’s recent reporting touches on Apple’s controversial App Store policies that continue to fuel controversy among developers. Apple is coming under fire for its unusual policy. Now developers need to ask for permission first before they’re allowed to link users to decide how to pay. Either way, this eminently sensible policy has met with a firestorm of opposition. They’re concerned that it inhibits developers from offering consumers more flexible payment terms for virtual items and subscription services.
Epic Games and Spotify took the spotlight on Friday by submitting updated versions of their apps to Apple’s App Review. This is a big deal for both companies. These recent, long-awaited updates are a direct response to all the worries that Apple’s harsh payment rules have caused. Apple had first announced that developers would be able to link to their own websites, allowing users to find third-party payment options. Unfortunately, it has recently come to light that this is not the case. Developers need to go through an often long and costly approval process.
Sarah followed Apple’s policies deeply. Her other notable takeaway was that both companies are now focusing more on delivering exclusive benefits to their subscribers. Subscribers receive 15 free service hours each month. If they want additional, they can just very simply buy more hours. This model is a positive sign of a growing shift among tech companies to offer greater flexibility and user value.
Sarah is exploring all the ways the tech industry is being transformed from the outside in. We are extremely fortunate to have her insights, which are critical for understanding the ways corporate policies harm developers and consumers alike. Her background in I.T. across various sectors uniquely positions her to dissect these complex issues and share them with a broad audience.
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