Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Google's Larry Page Claims Steve Jobs' War on Android Was 'For Show'

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,968
39,981



In a new interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Google co-founder and CEO Larry Page claims that Steve Jobs' war on Android was "for show", a move that served as a rallying point for Apple and its employees.
I think the Android differences were actually for show. I had a relationship with Steve. I wouldn't say I spent a lot of time with him over the years, but I saw him periodically. [...]

I think [the fury around Android] served their interests. For a lot of companies, it's useful for them to feel like they have an obvious competitor and to rally around that.
Click to expand...
Page goes on to claim that he believes companies should not be looking at their competitors and instead should simply be doing their best to improve the world.

apple_android_logos_400.jpg



Jobs had mentored Page and Sergey Brin in Google's early days, and Jobs reportedly requested a meeting with Page last year after Page took over as CEO. According to Page, the two discussed the business of running a company during that amicable meeting. But Jobs made clear in his authorized biography that he intended to "destroy Android", threatening to wage "thermonuclear war" in an attempt to bring down what he viewed as a stolen mobile platform.

At least publicly, Page suggests that Jobs' position was somewhat more nuanced, with the two able to maintain a relationship while Jobs' anger toward Android included a bit of posturing to keep the rapidly-growing competitor at the forefront of Apple's attention.

Article Link: Google's Larry Page Claims Steve Jobs' War on Android Was 'For Show'
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/04/04/googles-larry-page-claims-steve-jobs-war-on-android-was-for-show/
Steve hated Android with a fiery passion. That was NOT a show.
 
Last edited:
Sure Larry, sure...now if you could just lay off that crack pipe of yours...:rolleyes:

If SJ were alive he would NEVER consider any kind of settlement with you thieves. Too bad Tim Cook is not as principled.
 
Well, only Steve knew the truth and took it to the grave.
I'm not sure if I would trust Larry Page on this one.
Actually, it may be like the Apple - Microsoft relationship of apparent Love and Hate, when they were actually very good friends.

Should we expect an Oscar nomination for S.J.?
 
yeah, it definitely was not because Google was on Apple's Board the entire time the iPhone was being developed.
 
lol - seriously, LOL...
That's like someone robbing my house, then after i die saying "me and mike actually got on pretty well... That whole bit where he said he wanted to chop my nuts off and feed them to me... well, mike was like that, just a joker at heart"... Larry is a complete **** if i thinks anyone is going to do anything but LOL when they read this...
 
Pretty expensive marketing ploy, with some $500 million in legal fees, especially considering the effective audience it's reaching is minuscule compared to the number of people who own Android and Apple devices.
 
idkmybffjon said:
yeah, it definitely was not because Google was on Apple's Board the entire time the iPhone was being developed.
Click to expand...

I often wonder about that...

You know how secretive Apple is with the public... does that secrecy extend to their Board Members?

Do they get to come down into the secret labs and get their hands on unreleased products?

Lots of Apple's Board Members are from other companies.. not just Eric Schmidt. I'm sure the Board is busy with lots of executive-level stuff... not exactly new products.

Steve knew Google bought Android in 2005... I'm pretty sure Steve never said "Hey Eric... look at this!"

Maybe we'll find out in Schmidt's biography.
 
Page goes on to claim that he believes companies should not be looking at their competitors and instead should simply be doing their best to improve the world.
Click to expand...

Like, say, not changing your smartphone platform from a BlackBerry/Windows Mobile competitor to an iPhone competitor, just because the iPhone began gaining traction? Hey, wait a minute…
 
How convenient that Larry Page attributes a statement to someone who passed away and cannot address the validity of Page's statement. It's also interesting that Page makes this remark when it has become painfully obvious that Google has no coherent strategy with regard to Android - especially tablets. Google is slapping Android on practically everything - next will be your refrigerator - yet there is very little revenue to be had with this approach compared with Apple's.

Yes, Larry, how low can you go?
 
The Apple and Android logos side by side remind me of the comparison between OSX and Windows. One looks crisp, professional, and business like, where the other looks a bit childish and something you might find drawn in a 3rd grade art classroom.
 
too many larrys on this page.

not much of a news story really, what is this article going to change?
 
BRLawyer said:
Sure Larry, sure...now if you could just lay off that crack pipe of yours...:rolleyes:

If SJ were alive he would NEVER consider any kind of settlement with you thieves. Too bad Tim Cook is not as principled.
Click to expand...

Tim Cook is a better businessman than Steve. He doesn't let emotion interfere with his decisions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back