The New York Times managed to get some time with Steve Jobs yesterday after his keynote, and there were some interesting remarks in the interview from Jobs. Apparently his mother never taught him that if he didn’t have anything nice to say, not to say anything at all.
First up was the Amazon Kindle (review). This is portable reading device designed by Amazon that is able to download digital books without ever needing to be connected to a computer. Amazon can’t even keep the device in stock, but Jobs said that:
It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore. Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore.
Then he went on to talk about the Google Android (review) mobile operating system which is expected to be released later this year. Interestingly enough Apple has worked with Google to provide specialized services on the iPhone, such as mapping and YouTube videos, but that didn’t hold Jobs back from expressing his true feelings:
Having created a phone its a lot harder than it looks. We’ll see how good their software is and we’ll see how consumers like it and how quickly it is adopted. I actually think Google has achieved their goal without Android, and I now think Android hurts them more than it helps them. It’s just going to divide them and people who want to be their partners.
The thing is that Google isn’t actually creating phones, instead they are developing the software to run on the phones. It’s likely that there will be dozens of different devices running Android when it is released, and that will help speed up the adoption rate. Particularly if they are more affordable than the iPhone.
I can’t wait to see what the future holds for both Kindle and Android, and to see just how accurate Jobs’ predictions are.
New York Times [via Gizmodo]
Thanks to “Google” for the tip!
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Tags: Gadgets, Software, Amazon, Apple, Google Android, iPhone
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Wow, what a douche.
Hope he enjoys his laptop being a flop.
I don’t think the laptop will be a flop, but I’m skeptical as to how many people would really want to sacrifice not having a CD/DVD drive built-in.
What about that irreplaceable battery? even 5 hours doesn’t cut it for me. my Dell XPS 1210 provides 4.5 hours and I carry 2 batteries and use them both everyday.
back on topic, he is clearly a manner-less person. I feel sorry for his family (especially the wife)
The fact that he’s taking the time to attack Android means he views it as a threat, and rightly so.
I’d gladly adopt a phone that I can actually use however I’d like, with whatever provider I’d like.
Also only one USB Port, no Firewire, no Ethernet, $1800, etc.
[tinynibbles.com]
Might want to check that out. Although she does seem kind of rude too.
Another example of Jobs’ reality distortion field ? 40% read less than one book a year means that 60% read MORE than a book a year. Not that “people don’t read anymore”. He’s obviously trying to minimize the importance of Amazon’s kindle.
I think he knows that there are few companies out there that have the influence to design something that is so well accepted, and Google is just that company. The fact that they already have an SDK available has to really keep Jobs up at night biting his nails.
There are too many things, as you pointed out, that don’t justify the $1800 pricetag. And I did see that article/video of the girl asking Jobs for a picture. I’m not really surprised that he did that though, because from what I’ve heard he’s not all that friendly.
That’s a good observation, and Jobs will of course do anything he can to minimize the attention given to products that aren’t their own. I’m still a little shocked that he brought the Kindle into the conversation when Apple doesn’t offer a competing product.