10 Tech Things You Need To Know This Morning

Steve Ballmer's sudden departure from Microsoft was "neither planned nor as smooth as portrayed."

The choice facing Ballmer's successor is: double-down on Windows and Office, or keep spending (burning) cash trying to develop new lines of business.

Paul Krugman says the teachings of a 14th-century Islamic philosopher can help us understand Steve Ballmer's ouster. "Desert tribesmen, he argued, always have more courage and social cohesion than settled, civilized folk, so every once in a while they will sweep in and conquer lands whose rulers have become corrupt and complacent. They create a new dynasty — and, over time, become corrupt and complacent themselves, ready to be overrun by a new set of barbarians."

VC Chris Dixon makes an interesting point about Microsoft, even if he does ignore anti-trust issues: "In 2004, Microsoft could have bought all Internet companies except Google for <$32B. Instead they issued a dividend."

Running an ad tech business still requires hiring a lot of people – "armies of account managers, analysts, and client-support staff."

Facebook is getting out of the business of selling physical gifts online. It's strange to think Facebook was in the business of selling physical gifts online, isn't it?

Google now requires Android developers sell virtual goods using only Google's payment tools. That's a shot at several well-funded payments startups.

Tesla is outselling Porsche, Volvo and Land Rover in California.

Ted Sarandos is the Netflix executive responsible for an original content strategy that is turning Hollywood upside-down.

We published the unauthorized biography of Marissa Mayer on Saturday morning.