NY Times: Real CEO Glaser was close to having 'iPod' befor...

[MacBytes]

Category: Opinion/Interviews
Link: NY Times: Real CEO Glaser was close to having \'iPod\' before Apple, but let it \'slip through his fingers\' (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20040425155842)
Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)

Approved by Mudbug

[the_mole1314]

And after they didn't get the iPod to open up, they then mudsling. Great job Real, acting just like your big brother Microsoft.

[Flowbee]

And after they didn't get the iPod to open up, they then mudsling. Great job Real, acting just like your big brother Microsoft.

Did you even bother to read the article?? It's a very postive profile of Steve Jobs and the success of the iPod.

Here's the section that pertains to Real:

BY contrast, Apple says it developed the iPod in just six months, faster than any major product in the company's history. The hand-held device, which contains more computing power than an early Macintosh, was put together starting in 2001 by hardware designers led by Tony Fadell, a young engineer who had worked at the Apple spinoff General Magic, at Philips Electronics and briefly at RealNetworks, led by Rob Glaser, who has developed the Rhapsody music service.

In the late 1990's, Mr. Fadell tried to start his own Silicon Valley company, Fuse, designing consumer electronics products, including some related to digital music. When Fuse failed to get financing, he went to Apple, first as a contractor in February 2001, and then in April that year as the senior director of the iPod and other special projects.

He would eventually build a 35-member team of engineers from Apple and other companies. Using a version of a microprocessor that powers most cellphones, the group brought the iPod together rapidly by relying on software licensed from a small start-up, Pixo, a cellphone software company founded by Paul Mercer, another former Apple engineer.

Since Mr. Jobs returned to Apple, he has increasingly insisted that the company speak with just the voices of top executives, so Mr. Fadell was not permitted to comment for this article. But Mr. Fadell's decision to go to Apple instead of staying at RealNetworks may come to be regarded as a turning point in the digital music battle.

RealNetworks had been trying to develop consumer electronics products based on the company's RealPlayer software program. Mr. Fadell, however, lasted only six weeks at the company because, his friends said, he did not see eye to eye with Mr. Glaser, the chief executive. As a result, several former Apple employees suggested, Mr. Glaser might have allowed an iPod-like hit product to slip through his fingers.

[neonart]

Even if Real would have released something like the iPod there would be problems only a company like Apple can solve.

1. Killer Aesthetics. Only Apple.
2. Simple Connectivity. Only Apple (even with PCs)
3. Great Software beyond the device. Only Apple (even on PCs)
4. Market Push. Only Apple (even when people jeered the iPod and the Mini at first)

[nsb3000]

Even if Real would have released something like the iPod there would be problems only a company like Apple can solve.

1. Killer Aesthetics. Only Apple.
2. Simple Connectivity. Only Apple (even with PCs)
3. Great Software beyond the device. Only Apple (even on PCs)
4. Market Push. Only Apple (even when people jeered the iPod and the Mini at first)

Remember, Steve Jobs himself is listed as one of the inventors of the iPod..it is really unclear the differing hiring this one employee made.

[shadowfax]

Did you even bother to read the article?? It's a very postive profile of Steve Jobs and the success of the iPod.

Here's the section that pertains to Real:i think he's talking about the unbelievably stupid, hateful things glaser has been saying about jobs lately. this article certainly mentions glaser in particular because of this recent article. so the question, then, is, did you read the article, or just quote it in your post? :p

[Flowbee]

so the question, then, is, did you read the article, or just quote it in your post? :p

No, I didn't read it. I just picked out a few paragraphs at random and copied them. I figured it would make about as much sense as most of *your* posts. :p

[shadowfax]

No, I didn't read it. I just picked out a few paragraphs at random and copied them. I figured it would make about as much sense as most of *your* posts. :pit's good to know i am such a benchmark for quality on this great site!

[the_mole1314]

Yes, I read it, but it was based on the whole "WE could have had the iPod" crap.