Apple's Schiller 'unfollows' Tony Fadell and Nest after Google acquisition
Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller "unfollowed" the Twitter accounts of Tony Fadell and his company Nest Labs just days after the "smart home" product firm was purchased by Google.
Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller unveils the redesigned Mac Pro.
Schiller, who follows 114 people on Twitter and posts to the service about four to five times a month, removed Fadell and Nest from his list on Friday. It can be speculated that the move is a result of Fadell's decision to sell his company to Google for $3.2 billion, thus granting the Android maker exclusive access to its smart home hardware and software assets.
Fadell, who many call "the godfather of the iPod" due to his work on the iconic music player, cofounded Nest Labs alongside former Apple engineer Matt Rogers. Nest has subsequently made a number of hires from Apple's ranks, including former director of iPod software Bryan James and former chief patent counsel Chip Lutton, Jr..
As a company, Nest's ties with Apple run deep. The firm's first product, the Nest Learning Thermostat, was initially launched as an Apple Store exclusive in 2012 and the current second-generation device is one of the few third-party accessories sold through Apple's retail network. Nest introduced its second smart home product, the Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide detector, in October 2013.
It is unclear how Google's acquisition of Nest will affect ties with Apple. The Internet search giant promised the operation would run as somewhat of a separate entity, with CEO Larry Page describing the relationship as somewhere between YouTube and Motorola.
Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller unveils the redesigned Mac Pro.
Schiller, who follows 114 people on Twitter and posts to the service about four to five times a month, removed Fadell and Nest from his list on Friday. It can be speculated that the move is a result of Fadell's decision to sell his company to Google for $3.2 billion, thus granting the Android maker exclusive access to its smart home hardware and software assets.
Fadell, who many call "the godfather of the iPod" due to his work on the iconic music player, cofounded Nest Labs alongside former Apple engineer Matt Rogers. Nest has subsequently made a number of hires from Apple's ranks, including former director of iPod software Bryan James and former chief patent counsel Chip Lutton, Jr..
As a company, Nest's ties with Apple run deep. The firm's first product, the Nest Learning Thermostat, was initially launched as an Apple Store exclusive in 2012 and the current second-generation device is one of the few third-party accessories sold through Apple's retail network. Nest introduced its second smart home product, the Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide detector, in October 2013.
It is unclear how Google's acquisition of Nest will affect ties with Apple. The Internet search giant promised the operation would run as somewhat of a separate entity, with CEO Larry Page describing the relationship as somewhere between YouTube and Motorola.
Comments
Can't unfollow someone, my ass!
Because they didn't need them. Apple's engineering and design team are among the best in the world. Nest wouldn't bring anything to the table that they don't already have. While I have a Nest thermostat, I am not surprised in the least bit that they didn't buy them.
More on topic...who cares that he unfollowed him? In the grand scheme of things going on with Apple, who Phil Schiller follows on Twitter isn't even on the list of what anyone should care about.
Nest had to sell its soul to Google which had already invested in the company in order to survive. I think the thermostat and smoke detector products will likely die a slow death.
Nest probably has some talented engineers and designers. If the history Be Incorporated is any indication, the engineers who came from Apple will gradually gravitate back to Apple within a few years.
Time will tell.
You know, just because a worthless "story" that tangentially involves Apple appears on The Verge, does not mean it's worth copying.
Come on. This is really weak.
This is the most missed point of this whole Nest conversation. I haven't seen it reported by any major outlets. It's kind of annoying but it's par for the course.
Really, AppleInsider?
You know, just because a worthless "story" that tangentially involves Apple appears on The Verge, does not mean it's worth copying.
Come on. This is really weak.
Yeah, pretty lame. Sounds like the media trying to make something out of nothing.
3 billion dollars!!! I would drop Apple and iPhone in an instant and use a Google Chromebook and an Android phone (although I'd hate it) for that kind of money. Yes, I can be bought. Well done TF for suckering Google into paying you 3 bill.
http://www.businessinsider.com/fred-bould-nest-roku-gopro-2014-1
Apple loyalists will he hesitant to buy this product. As will the regular community as Google spying is something that's out of hand
If Apple wanted Nest they could have bought it a long time ago yet they didn't