Former head of Android Andy Rubin leaves Google to start tech hardware incubator

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2015
Google's former head of Android, and most recently robotics chief, Andy Rubin on Thursday announced he is leaving the company to start an incubator focusing on technology hardware products.

Rubin


The news was first relayed by The Wall Street Journal, which reported Rubin is moving on from Google to help hardware startups get off the ground, an area of expertise for the Android cofounder.

"I want to wish Andy all the best with what's next," said Google CEO Larry Page. "With Android he created something truly remarkable--with a billion plus happy users. Thank you."

Starting out at Google as head of Android, Rubin switched positions to take on the Internet giant's robotics division in 2013. In the intervening months, Google has invested heavily in the sector, expanding its portfolio of technology through research and acquisitions like noted military contractor Boston Dynamics.

Citing sources familiar, a subsequent report from The Information claims Rubin's departure involved the structure of his team at Google, for which he was supposedly seeking a "different arrangement."

Prior to joining Google and building out the Android operating system, Rubin worked at Apple from 1989 to 1992. Following his stint in Cupertino, he moved to General Magic before cofounding Danger, maker of the then-popular Sidekick smartphone. Rubin split off to cofound Android, Inc., which was purchased by Google in 2005.

Replacing Rubin at Google's robotics arm will be James Kuffner, who will move up the ranks to take over the division.
«13

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 48
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,718member
    Magic Cap Dos
  • Reply 1 of 48
    dimmokdimmok Posts: 359member

    Head Copy Artist himself...mother fuckers be jumping ship after the big screen iPhones came out...hahahha

  • Reply 3 of 48

    Half-baked.

  • Reply 4 of 48
    iqatedoiqatedo Posts: 1,822member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post



    Citing sources familiar, a subsequent report from The Information claims Rubin's departure involved the structure of his team at Google, for which he was supposedly seeking a "different arrangement."

     

     

    So, not just a case of 'onwards and upwards' then...

  • Reply 5 of 48
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,053member

    Look like Google will pay up Oracle soon for the copied code. So this guys jumps ship before getting fired.

  • Reply 6 of 48

    Obviously, Sundar Pichai & Andy Rubin couldn't get along ....

     

    :smokey:

  • Reply 7 of 48
    sockrolidsockrolid Posts: 2,789member

    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post



    "... a subsequent report from The Information claims Rubin's departure involved the structure of his team at Google ..."

     

    As in "We just bought Boston Dynamics.  Get lost, Andy."

  • Reply 9 of 48
    Originally Posted by GTR View Post


     

    Watching the Rifftrax for that right now. 

     

    “Hey, come back for more people!”

    “Eat me!”

  • Reply 10 of 48
    iOS copier good luck
  • Reply 11 of 48
    realisticrealistic Posts: 1,154member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by GTR View Post




    Very appropriate, lol.

  • Reply 12 of 48



    I guess the robots thing did not workout so well for Andy since Sundar took Android away from him.

     

    Projects gathering dust in Google Labs?

    1.  Self driving cars.

    2.  Google Glass.

    3.  Robots from Boston Dynamics.

     

    With Andy gone, Google should look to innovate in search and advertising.  

  • Reply 13 of 48
    jungmarkjungmark Posts: 6,926member
    Cue the "Google is doomed because an exec left" articles. Oh wait, that only works with Apple.
  • Reply 14 of 48
    "I want to wish Andy all the best with what's next," said Google CEO Larry Page. "With Android he created something truly remarkable--with a billion plus happy users. Thank you."

    They estimated that number by taking the amount of fragmentation, and assuming each device sold to exactly one customer, and came up with one billion users. The happiness of the users was measured by how much time their devices sat at the bottom of sock drawers.
  • Reply 15 of 48
    mubailimubaili Posts: 453member
    well for the past two years Google basically just pay him to stay with Google, same situation as the way Apple pay Scott Forstall to stay put. And where is Scott Forstall anyway? One thing I do like Scott Forstall is he loyalty to Apple and to the late SJ. He has kept absolutely silence since he was forced out of Google. Back to Rubin, maybe Samsung would be calling?
  • Reply 16 of 48
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleSauce007 View Post

     

    With Andy gone, Google should look to innovate in search and advertising.  


    Couldn't agree more.

     

    It seems that Facebook could be starting to be a threat to Google's advertising dollars. And wait till flush-with-cash-and-valuation Alibaba goes after them in the US, while simultaneously getting into search in China (where Google is not allowed to compete). Google should perhaps be doing more to build a wall around its core business instead of wasting time with zero-margin nonsense.

  • Reply 17 of 48
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post

     

    Couldn't agree more.

     

    It seems that Facebook could be starting to be a threat to Google's advertising dollars. And wait till flush-with-cash-and-valuation Alibaba goes after them in the US, while simultaneously getting into search in China (where Google is not allowed to compete). Google should perhaps be doing more to build a wall around its core business instead of wasting time with zero-margin nonsense.


     

    You don't think Android helps generate data for Google's core business?

  • Reply 18 of 48
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,718member
    sog35 wrote: »
    Let me guess. Hes going to make a watch next.

    1st class copiest.

    Wasn't he into robots?
  • Reply 19 of 48
    Wow. That is one of their biggest high-level departures. Rubin was supposed to be core to leading their robotics development. Huge! Huge! Huge!
  • Reply 20 of 48
    matrix07matrix07 Posts: 1,993member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by sog35 View Post



    Let me guess. Hes going to make a watch next.



    1st class copiest.



    No. Wearable computers. ;)

Sign In or Register to comment.