Google Co-Founder Accuses Jobs of 'Rewriting History' of iPhone and Android

[SiMPLEGuy]

Bad form?

Should Apple have dug deeper and figured that the Android OS started in '05 could lead to a Google phone and not let a their top exec join the BOD? Did Apple really not know? Was it just good corporate espionage for Schmidt to join the board of a future competitor?

 

[NT1440]

The first iPhone was basically an iPod that made phone calls. The iPod was around since 2001. Who's to say Apple didn't start developing the iPhone along with the iPod.

...Steve Jobs himself.

The iphone was the offspring of a tablet project that "steve decided" () would work great as a touch screen phone.

 

[sportsfan]

The fact is opera has been making great mobile browsers for years, good browsers were available on smartphones.

Android was purchased by Google in 2005 - so, verification that Google has been working on mobile platform for a good number of years.

The iPhone reminds me of the SE P900 - Big touch screen, no physical keyboard ( as an option - it could be removed )... SE doesn't complain about Apple copying them. It is also fact that Steve jobs rather liked the design of the P800/900.

The fact is, all companies copy each other, including Apple. Steve Jobs should be a little less whinny.

Who's to say Apple wasn't working on the iPhone back in 2003?

 

[angevil]

I have been ″planning″ flying cars since I was a kid. So if ANYONE dares to make them before me, better watch out!

Conclusions: Google sucks. Google is evil. Competition is healthy, though. Go, Apple!

 

[redbotsoftware]

Jobs is right, as usual.

"Well we were working on one..."

Well, when Apple came out with one - you know ACTUALLY PRODUCED IT and made it available to the world - then the game changed. Apple had created a phone unlike any other. That was Google's time to say "hey we'll play too", and try to keep up with Apple, or to stay out. "How long they've been working on it" is not pertinent anymore.

A very important point to note, which is missing in this story is what the early concepts of the Android phone looked like before iPhone. They looked like a blackberry. Much smaller screen, and a fixed keyboard. No multitouch.

 

[jayducharme]

I wonder how all this ties in with Jobs' statement that "Google's 'Don't Be Evil' mantra is *********"?

 

[Stella]

Who's to say Apple wasn't working on the iPhone back in 2003?

We don't. But since no one has proof - what does it matter.

Likewise, who is to say Google weren't working on its own smartphone platform before deciding to buy Android?

Since there's no proof - its pure speculation.

Incidentally, the tablet idea came first before the iPhone.

 

[SeattleMoose]

Larry, would you like cheese with your whine?

boo hoo hoo, I am only am worth hundreds of millions......

 

[Consultant]

Actually, yes Google bought Android in 2005, but did not make a tangible product for years.

But somehow, after iPhone was introduced, Google suddenly had the "great and innovative" ideas of making Android look like the iPhone.

Good job Google. Why don't you show some working examples BEFORE the iPhone was introduced?

 

[saving107]

what I like is how they keep the partnership

They put up with each other for the kids (consumers).

 

[Consultant]

Play nice boys. Competition is good for the consumer.

For years, there is plenty of competition between

Nokia
Motorola
Windows Mobile
Palm
Samsung
etc.

Surely that results in the innovations we see in the market place today.
They are soooo competitive that before the iPhone, all those phones require long manuals to use advanced functions.

 

[pika2000]

Google, why are you bitching about Apple? Can't you see the bigger problem? Your idea of cloud based apps are going to be killed with wireless carriers imposing draconian caps. I wish Apple and Google realize that the enemy is not each other, but the wireless carriers. This bickering is a waste of time while pretty much all Android phones in the US (sans the Nexus One) and the iPhone are provider-locked. All their ideas of apps (video chat, streaming video, etc) are being killed off slowly by the wireless carriers.

 

[nagromme]

Incidentally, the tablet idea came first before the iPhone.

Exactly. Due credit is due to Apple’s beloved but premature Newton!

Who's to say Apple wasn't working on the iPhone back in 2003?

I can’t find the link, but I think we’ve learned that Apple’s/Jobs’ iPhone R&D went WAY back, starting with a mobile Safari tablet project, which lived many different lifetimes before becoming the iPhone and iPod Touch.

 

[NT1440]

Actually, yes Google bought Android in 2005, but did not make a tangible product for years.

But somehow, after iPhone was introduced, Google suddenly had the "great and innovative" ideas of making Android look like the iPhone.

Good job Google. Why don't you show some working examples BEFORE the iPhone was introduced?

The pic in this thread shows android 6 months AFTER the iphone was introduced and it still looked exactly like a blackberry wanna be.

That said, of course it was smart of Google to move towards the iphone style as it really did change the cell phone and developer world. I love iOS, but Android is definitely a great product for those who don't want/need the benefits of living in the Apple ecosystem.

 

[Xian Zhu Xuande]

Wah. You were working on a trashy RIM-lookalike ho-hum. Android was inspired through and through by the iPhone. I don't really care—competition drives the whole market to new heights and we all benefit—but if you're going to copy someone (and wow, Google, you've become great at that lately), don't try to pretend you're the key innovator.

 

[iLunar]

We don't. But since no one has proof - what does it matter.

Likewise, who is to say Google weren't working on its own smartphone platform before deciding to buy Android?

Since there's no proof - its pure speculation.

Incidentally, the tablet idea came first before the iPhone.

Like you say, who knows what goes on in those labs. So Larry Page's quote is even stupider on further analysis.

Eric Schmidt clearly stole insider knowledge from Apple while being on the Board of Directors.

 

[mytdave]

are you sure?

I don't really care who was first to think of getting into the phone biz. It very well could be Larry rewriting history here - when did Apple start developing their iPhone before it actually shipped? 2003 maybe?

What we do know for sure is that Apple shipped an actual product first, and completely changed the game in the smartphone industry. The entire interface, form & function seems to have been defined by Apple, and therefore anything following after becomes a 'me too' product, basically copying what Apple's done. So you can understand if SJ gets a little defensive about others ripping ideas from iPhone, much like MS did with the Mac.

What's different this time around is that it appears no company is using illegal business tactics to get ahead. A little ruthless at times maybe, but overall just plain good old fashioned competition. I think both Android and iPhone are swell platforms, and for the good of all of us, I hope they continue to be competitors along with others, to where nobody will come to dominate the market.

 

[elpenguino]

Tune in next week when the boys debate Jacob vs. Edward...

 

[davyreins]

pre-iPhone Android prototype

Wow, I think that pre-iPhone Android prototype looks horrendous.

 

[Stella]

Like you say, who knows what goes on those labs. So Larry Pages' quote is even stupider on further analysis.

Eric Schmidt clearly stole insider knowledge from Apple while being on the Board of Directors.

I want to know: Why did Apple even let Schmidt sit on the board of directors? Apple knew Google had purchased Android. So, it seems Apple were a bit dumb.

Google did have inside knowledge and used that knowledge. Why don't Apple sue then?

People always complain about Apple being copied by other companies, but strangely, they keep quiet when Apple does the copying itself :-\

The Google / Apple arguments are getting tiresome. Both should ****.

 

[ouimetnick]

I have a bad feeling that Apple Fanboy and Android fanboys are going to get into an argument in this thread. There will be name calling, and fanboys defending companies. Just remember its just a phone. Its just a company, not a religion. Its just two guys.Companies copy each other. Google has done it, and so have Apple. Its the way companies work. Its funny to see people defending a brand so much though. I'll just grab popcorn and watch this thread.

 

[dyler]

What a bunch of crap

This guy is full of crap, there is no way google would be where they are with Android without the iphone, people would be running around with blackberry type devices without the iphone, Apple has been working on the iphone for years before 2007, Google purchased Android in 2005 and Apple had been working on their touch interface since the early 2000's and then iphone in about 2003 or so. These Google founders are a couple of douche bags and they are the one's trying to rewrite history, Schmidt had a very close relationship with Jobs before he was on the board and saw the iphone prototype and said **** we have to transform Android into this to compete, this google founder is full of crap.

 

[pubwvj]

Wait a cotton pickin' minute... Page wants to date Google's phone involvement from when they started thinking about it and wants Apple to date their involvement from when Apple started selling iPhones. Get real. Apple started first, entered the market first and Google's Android is a poor followup has-been wanna-be.

 

[ouimetnick]

This guy is full of crap, there is no way google would be where they are with Android without the iphone, people would be running around with blackberry type devices without the iphone, Apple has been working on the iphone for years before 2007, Google purchased Android in 2005 and Apple had been working on their touch interface since the early 2000's and then iphone in about 2003 or so. These Google founders are a couple of douche bags and they are the one's trying to rewrite history, Schmidt had a very close relationship with Jobs before he was on the board and saw the iphone prototype and said **** we have to transform Android into this to compete, this google founder is full of crap.

Sources? Sounds like an Apple fanboy to me. I'm not saying anything to be on anyones side, because its one guys word agains another guy's word. The rest is pure speculation

 

[KnightWRX]

You guys realize that the only ones making these stories into big deals is the tech media and those of us that buy right into it right?

Seriously, its not like he went to a major newspaper and ran the story, he was at a convention and just dropped some info which a reporter realized could be made into a big nonstory.

How to turn a simple well known fact to all into a 2000 page thread on MR.

Arn is laughing all the way to the bank.

Everyone knows LG was first to market with a full touch screen phone. Everyone knows Symbian and J2ME came years before the iPhone SDK. Everyone knows about Opera Mini and Opera Mobile being here before Safari Mobile. Everyone knows Google purchased Android in 2005, way before iPhone or Eric Schmidt at Apple.

Do we need yet another argument about iPhone changing anything besides the way you hold your phone ?