“It was long overdue: Eric Schmidt (Google’s CEO) finally resigned from Apple’s Board of Directors. Usually, these resignations are handled in the smoothest of ways: Thanks for the distinguished service and the like. This time, Steve Jobs issued a pointed statement: ‘Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple’s core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric’s effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest,'” Jean-Louis Gassée and Frederic Filloux report for CBSNews.com.
“The first thing to notice is ‘more.’ Indeed, the reason we all think Eric Schmidt’s resignation was overdue is two years old, almost: it’s called Android, Google’s smartphone OS, directly competing with Apple’s iPhone OS. In 2007, it isn’t clear yet that smartphones are the next PC, only bigger, the iPhone just starts shipping. But, a year later, in 2008, the competitive picture is now sharply drawn. Android is the most dangerous competitor for the most important component of Apple’s present and future profit streams, the iPhone ecosystem,” Gassée and Filloux write. “So, what is the ‘more’ that broke the cross-directorship? Without a doubt: Google’s Chrome OS, with a strong dash of Google Apps.”
Gassée and Filloux write, “A new Microsoft attacking both iPhones and Macs. And, unlike Microsoft, with free software. That’s what Apple sees in Google.”
Much more in the full article – recommended – here.
Begun the Google Wars have.
as the saying goes, “keep your friends close and your enemies closer”
May the OS be with us !
How does Google make any money if they give their IP away?
I only wished that I liked Google apps more.
Overdue, but at least its done now.
Google=Ugly Interface.
Am I the only one to wonder if Be Inc’s CEO (Jean-Louis Gassée) has become a CBS reporter now?
Times must be tough
Waaaaaaay too much hype. They may not be Apple’s BFF but they’re a far cry from “bad guys”.
Google needs to be destroyed. I warned you punks from the moment Android was announced how much of a threat they were, only to be told that Google is Apple’s friend and all is well. No, Google is an enemy worse than Microsoft.
I still can’t believe they let Eric Schmidt remain a mole for so long. Apple and its board must have been inflicted with the same disease as the MDN commenters who told us that Android doesn’t compete with the iPhone.
What complete rubbish.
Google and Apple will continue working together to dismantle Microsoft….
Google at the low commodity priced end and Apple at the profitable end. Everything they do will be geared to open standards and making sure Microsoft can never ever call a shot again.
R2, you have an agenda, clearly.
As a Microsoft troll you can dream of us dividing Apple and Google to Microsoft’s advantage. Never.
@ silverhawk–
They make money from ad revenue.
And the stuff they give away (Android, Chrome OS)? That give them mindshare and marketshare, which keeps them relevant, in order to make more ad revenue.
“Begun the Google Wars have”
You’ve captured the cheesiness of this made up story perfectly. LOL. Brilliant.
@Kelly Mitchell … I spotted Jean Louie’s name right away also. Weird.
I believe that Google is primarily a threat to MobileMe at the moment. I tell people now that they can pay for MobileMe of they really like giving Apple money, or use Google’s apps and services, which are arguably more extensive and useful, for free.
Google will win.
Apple is worried. Real competition is about to unfold.
Chrome is superior in speed to safari.
Android is gonna explod!
Chrome OS? Wait and see!!!
If Jean-Louis Gassée was worth anything, he would be working for Microsoft now.
Who is he to talk? The company was going out of business when he was there.
@theloniousMac,
A threat to MobileMe? Really? You look at devices like the new T-Mobile myTouch 3G, the HTC Hero and Creative Zii Egg and the only threat you see is to MobileMe? LMAO!
I don’t know what it will take before you open your eyes. Maybe when we see Chrome/Android running on tablets and MIDs that compete with the iTab?
@theloniousMac,
Arguably, you don’t know what MobileMe is.
As soon as Google announced Chrome OS, I knew it was not for netbooks. Netbooks are dead. Intel and Microsoft are killing them. Chrome OS is for tablet computing. I love Apple and OS X but I seriously think in the long run, Chrome OS based tablets will rule. The only chance Apple has to compete is to use the App store on their device and hopefully lock people in enough that they won’t want to leave. But that philosophy hurt Apple before. Openness always wins in the end.
Bring on the competition… Google or anyone else.
Because the rubbish competition that exists is unhealthy to everyone except Apple and its customers…
I read the article – a lot of sour grapes from Gasse.
Wrong wrong wrong. Microsloth still has the MONOPOLY funding all these POS products to simply win these markets. Thats the real enemy.
@ Pete: Has Jean-Louis Gassée ever worked for a company whose fortunes didn’t head south while he was there? Hmm Apple (between Jobs), Be (RIP), and (beleaguered) Palm.
So long CBS, it was nice while it lasted.
a couple of other related topics that may skew the Apple-Google competition: Android is open source and free. Google has no obligation to tune the hardware-software harmony that Apple does. Google’s OS has to flex to a variety of hardware configurations and manufacturers. Good luck with that, regardless of how deep their pockets and programming bench are. Apple ostensibly has patents on a bunch of interface and OS things that look quite similar to Android’s interface. Let the IP/patent wars begin.
This should be interesting. Certainly good for the consumer.
dd
Microsoft is on the decline. And they’re slow and stupid. There will come a day when you wish they were still Apple’s top competitor.
Android and Windows Mobile are the perfect case studies to analyze and see the bigger threat to Apple. When Steve Jobs spoke of being five years ahead of the smartphone competition, he was talking about WinMo and he was dead right. It’s 2009 and MS still hasn’t gotten their act together. But he didn’t see Android coming and Google is knocking on Cupertino’s door TODAY!
Next I see exactly what jocknerd does, and that’s Google stepping in with an “open” platform alternative to the iTab. Microsoft will be caught with their pants down but Google is preparing for the tablet revolution as we speak.
iPhone / iPod touch / iTab. These products are the future of Apple and Google is declaring war on all of them.
All I can say to those cheering the dissolution of the informal alliance between Google and Apple is, what would you replace the free Maps application with? Does Mapquest even come close to the power options available in Google Maps?
PS: Mapquest 4 Mobile is instantly useless for directions outside the USA since there’s not setting to show distances in kilometers instead of miles. Haven’t explored enough to find its other limitations, but they also have no public transit or pedestrian walking modes.
“Who is he to talk? The company was going out of business when he was there.”
Try again.
Gassee was head of the Macintosh division from the time Jobs left in 1985. After that, Apple saw explosive growth and marketshare. Frankly. it was after Gassee left in 1990 that Apple started going downhill.
Chrome Plated Androids or whatever
Not sure how any of that is competition
What “thing” will they run on ?
BC
The biggest news item here isn’t anything to do with Apple or Google but that Gassée is now reporting “news!”
Well, perhaps he should have been doing that from Day 1, instead of trying to actually do tech.
Because Gassée had a say in this article, I will completely ignore it, meaning there are no Apple or Google wars. Heck, I knew this already but the title caught my eye. And Gassée explains it! Noteworthy also that he’s now living in Paris! I guess he went back to being a farmer amongst VCs.
You are overreacting: as if Android was so good.
And it is not beloved by many…
Android = Linux = The Same Popular Appeal of an Anti-Social Nerd = None At All
Really think that Jobs and most Apple’s top executives haven’t done their math when allowing Eric to stay on their board? Come on? And yes, the war-gene has so much born into the mind of the US-cultured mind, that people now talk less about their ‘dream’ for whatever (for better pls) it may come before us. Pathetic us.
I regret he left.. I don’t know what “War” you guys are talking about.. sounds like overreacting.. Google is an awesome software company and I hope this does not influence their choice of supported platforms.