“Tony Fadell, former employee of General Magic and Phillips, envisioned a brand new MP3 player. Unlike the bulky flash memory based MP3 players from Rio and other companies, Fadell wanted to deliver a small hard drive based player that was linked with a content delivery system, where users could legally attain downloaded music. The first company he pitched it to in 2000 was RealNetworks, where the CEO, Rob Glaser, was already in control of a large content delivery system through Real’s premium radio and television channels. Real could not rationalize going through the trouble of releasing an accessory to their already profitable system, and would be caught off guard when the iTunes Music Store was opened. Fadell also approached Phillips, which also rebuffed him,” Braeburn reports.
“Out of desperation, Fadell turned to Apple, which years before had sworn off consumer electronics with their unsuccessful Pippin and Newton. The executives at Apple were very enthusiastic (unbeknowst to Fadell, Apple had bought the rights to SoundJam MP months before) about implementing Fadell’s plan at Apple. He was hired in early 2001 and was given a development team of around thirty people and given a deadline of a year to release a successful product,” Braeburn reports.
Full article here.
Bet good old Glaser has kicked himself in the pants a few times over this one. But I am really glad that nobody really picked up the ball before Apple. No vision. They would have not come near to the integrated beauty of the iPod-iTunes-ITMS Trifecta.
Wow. First Post. What do I get?
Yeah, Rob Glaser, get back in your hole.
You opted out. You lost. get over yourself.
would
Rob must’ve been too busy with his donut holes…
The link to the full article does not seem to be working. It takes me to this page again! 🙁
Nice circular link to the story.
here it is…
<a href=”http://osviews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=4259″>
Njoy
HERE!!
Please fix the link!
Fix the link please
richIP
I don’t see the story in that link?
there’s a comment below the article itself to the effect “not enuf credit to Pixo — interface design.”
According the the Wikipedia, “Pixo” had a bunch of refugees from the Newton group (iPod uses ARM proc – just like Newton)
just FYI
can’t wait for that tablet wireless video thing to hit RSN
Glaser must feel like the record company exec who passed on the Beatles. And now he’s getting his just desserts (doughnuts, of course). Or, what’s technically the correct phrase, just deserts (as in abandonment – by customers in this case.)
I did some poking around macsurfer.com, I found antoher article
This article is also about the history of the iPod.
http://braeburn.ath.cx/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
CL
sorry…
it’s me again
you will need to scroll down a bit to see the link.
CL
Please Glazer didnt have a clue then, and he doesnt have a clue now, he probably doesnt even know tahts the same guy, let alone remember him.
the real url is here:
http://braeburn.ath.cx/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
“Wow. First Post. What do I get” – Jack Arends
A kick in the nuts, dumbass!
I met Fadell, he graduated from my HS and came back to talk to us
Great guy, carries a PSP…but likes his iPod more (60 gig ipod photo when I met him)
Glazer must feel like the IBM exec who gave up MS DOS to M$. ha ha ha.