AnandTech has Closed.
Summary of "AnandTech has Closed"
Short Summary:
This video discusses the closure of the popular tech website AnandTech, which has been a leading source of in-depth hardware reviews and analysis for over 27 years. The speaker, a former senior editor at AnandTech, shares his personal experiences working at the site and details the factors that led to its demise. He highlights the shift in the tech media landscape, the increasing pressure to monetize content, and the difficulties of maintaining a high level of technical detail in a market driven by consumer-focused content. The speaker also discusses the future of tech journalism and the importance of maintaining a focus on technical depth and research. He recommends Chips and Cheese as a potential alternative for readers seeking in-depth tech analysis.
Detailed Summary:
Section 1: Introduction and History
- The speaker introduces the video by announcing the closure of AnandTech, a website he worked at for 11-12 years.
- He shares a brief history of AnandTech, founded in 1997 by Anand Shimpy, and its reputation for providing detailed and technical reviews.
- He mentions the website's professionalism and its unique approach to tech journalism, including the tradition of wearing suits at events.
Section 2: The Sale and Transition to Perch
- The speaker explains that Anand Shimpy sold AnandTech in 2014-2015 to Perch, a publisher with a mix of B2B and B2C assets.
- He describes the initial transition, with Ryan Smith becoming editor-in-chief and the website being placed under the supervision of Tom's Hardware.
- He discusses the introduction of affiliate links and the shift towards more consumer-focused content.
Section 3: The Acquisition by Future PLC and the Decline
- The speaker explains that Perch was acquired by Future PLC, a large media organization, leading to new management and a further push towards consumer-focused content.
- He expresses his concerns about the corporate structure and the pressure to monetize content, which he believes led to a decline in the quality and depth of AnandTech's content.
- He mentions the impact of the pandemic and the loss of key personnel, which further contributed to the website's decline.
Section 4: The Speaker's Departure and the Future of AnandTech
- The speaker shares his decision to leave AnandTech in 2021, citing the increasing stress and lack of growth opportunities.
- He discusses the website's dwindling content output and the difficulty of maintaining a high level of technical detail in a market dominated by consumer-focused content.
- He predicts the closure of AnandTech and expresses his concerns about the future of tech journalism.
Section 5: Recommendations and Conclusion
- The speaker recommends Chips and Cheese as a potential alternative for readers seeking in-depth tech analysis.
- He highlights the importance of maintaining a focus on technical depth and research in tech journalism.
- He concludes the video by reflecting on the end of an era and the challenges facing tech media in the current landscape.
Notable Quotes:
- "It's an example of media that doesn't exist anymore."
- "The website itself, the hosting is paid up for another few months... whether that means the content will stay there, we're not sure."
- "It was around that time we started putting affiliate links in our articles... there was a push to refocus the content on not only the key areas that the website was known for, but also to push it down a more consumer-focused... affiliate sale driven... Google traffic driven audience."
- "I always wished I knew more about the corporate structure internally... I always wished I knew more what was going on or had the opportunity to affect what was going on."
- "The content outfit should have been kept... the ethos of being... very important... highly detailed Engineers type of engineering website... got lost because people didn't understand the vision."
- "Video seems to be where it's at... we just need to find a business model for Chips and Cheese that actually works and sustains."