Steve Jobs vowed to 'destroy' Google Android, called it a 'stolen product'
Steve Jobs said he would spend his "last dying breath" fighting Google's Android mobile operating system because he viewed it as a "stolen product," according to an upcoming biography on the Apple co-founder.
The Associated Press excerpted Jobs' words after obtaining a copy of the book "Steve Jobs," written by noted biographer and former Time executive Walter Isaacson, ahead of its Oct. 24 release date. Though other biographies on the enigmatic entrepreneur have appeared in the past, the book is unique in that it is the only one to be officially authorized by Jobs himself.
According to the report, Isaacson writes about an "expletive-laced rant" that Jobs made to him about Android after the introduction of one particular HTC phone in January 2010.
"I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple's $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong," Jobs reportedly said. "I'm going to destroy Android, because it's a stolen product. I'm willing to go thermonuclear war on this."
Though Apple has yet to take head-to-head legal action against Google, the company has thus far seen some success in its intellectual property fight against Android vendors. In July, the International Trade Commission issued an initial ruling that HTC had violated two of Apple's inventions. The iPhone maker has also won injunctions against Samsung's Android-based Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in Germany and Australia.
The book also recounts a subsequent meeting between Jobs and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt at a café in Palo Alto, Calif. At the meeting, Jobs said he wasn't interested in settling with Google and its partners
"I don't want your money. If you offer me $5 billion, I won't want it. I've got plenty of money. I want you to stop using our ideas in Android, that's all I want," Jobs told Schmidt, according to the book.
That meeting may have taken place in March 2010, as Jobs and Schmidt were photographed meeting for coffee in Palo Alto on March 26, before reportedly agreeing to go somewhere "more private" to continue their conversation.
Schmidt had previously served on Apple's board of directors, but he resigned in 2009 after increased competition between the companies made his continued presence a potential conflict of interest.
The Huffington Post has also obtained a copy of the book and reports that Jobs' long-time rival Bill Gates found him "weirdly flawed as a human being," saying that he was fascinated by his tendency to be "either in the mode of saying you were shit or trying to seduce you."
For his part, Jobs viewed Gates as "basically unimaginative," noting that he "has never invented anything?He just shamelessly ripped off other people's ideas."
The publication also recounted Jobs' first meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama. According to the book, Jobs told the president that he was "headed for a one-term presidency." Nevertheless, the two kept in touch, with Jobs even offering to help create Obama's ads for the 2012 campaign. The report noted, however, that Jobs had said Obama's focus on the reasons that things can't get done "infuriates" him.
Isaacson, who is due to appear in an interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday, has said that Jobs regretted delaying surgery for 9 months while he tried out alternative therapies. Jobs had initially balked at the treatment because he didn't want his body to be "violated in that way."
The book will also include details of the final months of Jobs' life, including specifics about his resignation as CEO of the company he helped found. Just weeks before his death, Jobs revealed in an interview with Isaacson that he had agreed to the authorized biography so that his children could know him better.
"I wasn't always there for them, and I wanted them to know why and to understand what I did," he said.
Jobs passed away on Oct. 5 due to complications from a long battle with cancer. Apple, widely considered as his greatest legacy, held a company-wide celebration for Jobs on Wednesday. A private memorial was also held for him on Sunday, with a number of notable businesspeople, politicians and celebrities in attendance.
The Associated Press excerpted Jobs' words after obtaining a copy of the book "Steve Jobs," written by noted biographer and former Time executive Walter Isaacson, ahead of its Oct. 24 release date. Though other biographies on the enigmatic entrepreneur have appeared in the past, the book is unique in that it is the only one to be officially authorized by Jobs himself.
According to the report, Isaacson writes about an "expletive-laced rant" that Jobs made to him about Android after the introduction of one particular HTC phone in January 2010.
"I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple's $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong," Jobs reportedly said. "I'm going to destroy Android, because it's a stolen product. I'm willing to go thermonuclear war on this."
Though Apple has yet to take head-to-head legal action against Google, the company has thus far seen some success in its intellectual property fight against Android vendors. In July, the International Trade Commission issued an initial ruling that HTC had violated two of Apple's inventions. The iPhone maker has also won injunctions against Samsung's Android-based Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in Germany and Australia.
The book also recounts a subsequent meeting between Jobs and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt at a café in Palo Alto, Calif. At the meeting, Jobs said he wasn't interested in settling with Google and its partners
"I don't want your money. If you offer me $5 billion, I won't want it. I've got plenty of money. I want you to stop using our ideas in Android, that's all I want," Jobs told Schmidt, according to the book.
That meeting may have taken place in March 2010, as Jobs and Schmidt were photographed meeting for coffee in Palo Alto on March 26, before reportedly agreeing to go somewhere "more private" to continue their conversation.
Schmidt had previously served on Apple's board of directors, but he resigned in 2009 after increased competition between the companies made his continued presence a potential conflict of interest.
The Huffington Post has also obtained a copy of the book and reports that Jobs' long-time rival Bill Gates found him "weirdly flawed as a human being," saying that he was fascinated by his tendency to be "either in the mode of saying you were shit or trying to seduce you."
For his part, Jobs viewed Gates as "basically unimaginative," noting that he "has never invented anything?He just shamelessly ripped off other people's ideas."
The publication also recounted Jobs' first meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama. According to the book, Jobs told the president that he was "headed for a one-term presidency." Nevertheless, the two kept in touch, with Jobs even offering to help create Obama's ads for the 2012 campaign. The report noted, however, that Jobs had said Obama's focus on the reasons that things can't get done "infuriates" him.
Isaacson, who is due to appear in an interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday, has said that Jobs regretted delaying surgery for 9 months while he tried out alternative therapies. Jobs had initially balked at the treatment because he didn't want his body to be "violated in that way."
The book will also include details of the final months of Jobs' life, including specifics about his resignation as CEO of the company he helped found. Just weeks before his death, Jobs revealed in an interview with Isaacson that he had agreed to the authorized biography so that his children could know him better.
"I wasn't always there for them, and I wanted them to know why and to understand what I did," he said.
Jobs passed away on Oct. 5 due to complications from a long battle with cancer. Apple, widely considered as his greatest legacy, held a company-wide celebration for Jobs on Wednesday. A private memorial was also held for him on Sunday, with a number of notable businesspeople, politicians and celebrities in attendance.
Comments
Larry, it would be the biggest honor you could make.
I hope Larry and Oracle give Jobs this gift. Shut the fucking thing down.
This sounds insane on the surface, but since Google doesn't seem to want to mention Android during their earnings calls? it might not be an insane idea.
They're obviously never going to do it, but evidence suggests that if it WERE to happen, it wouldn't be financially irresponsible.
Hard to say.
"To the last, I will grapple with thee... from Hell's heart, I stab at thee! For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee!"
I hope Larry and Oracle give Jobs this gift. Shut the fucking thing down.
Oracle hasn't (to general knowledge anyway) stolen things from Apple. Google has stolen from Oracle in addition to Apple though, that's probably what you're thinking of.
-Steve Jobs
"Good artists copy great artists steal"
-Steve Jobs
There's a difference between taking an existing product, examining it for its strengths, and adapting them to your own product. This is what Jobs referred to. What Schmidt did was theft of trade secrets, something explicitly illegal in the US. He used his inside knowledge of Apple's in-development products to give his own company an advantage.
"Good artists copy great artists steal"
-Steve Jobs
he was quoting Pablo Picasso.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW0DUg63lqU
Steve Jobs, "Picasso had a saying.. he said, "Good artists copy great artists steal.""
he was quoting Pablo Picasso.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW0DUg63lqU
Because like maybe he agreed with it?
What's the difference between Apple innovating on the Xerox mouse and Google innovating on Apple's iPhone? More Patents filed now than then? Just sayin.....
A little knowledge of the history of Apple's relationship with Xerox during that time would help greatly at this point... but I can't be bothered...
A little knowledge of the history of Apple's relationship with Xerox during that time would help greatly at this point... but I can't be bothered...
Obviously.
Obviously.
Oh... and by the way... you're not even close...
What's the difference between Apple innovating on the Xerox mouse and Google innovating on Apple's iPhone? More Patents filed now than then? Just sayin.....
Simple. Xerox was actually compensated for the technology with Apple stock way back before they went public...stock that now would be worth a zillion dollars. Xerox still thought that they had been duped and finally filed suit in the late 80s....only to have to motion thrown out of court.
Google management has access to Apple secrets for a time and ended up making an iPhone clone that first tiptoed around the concept of using Apple patents (like multitouch) before finally saying "just screw it, they probably won't sue us!"
Oh... and by the way... you're not even close...
To what? Whatever.