Google and Apple’s relationship has been rocky and everyone knows that after the launch of the Android platform the two companies have become arch rivals. Most of the animosity can be traced to the late Steve Jobs, who declared war by calling Google’s Android a copy of their iOS platform. Later Apple replaced Google Maps with its own Map App, but unfortunately it did not work and brought a lot of headaches for the company. In fact, as a result of the severe criticism CEO of Apple, Tim Cook himself had to come out with an apology. However, things were not like that forever, as back in 2006 the Executive Chairman of Google, Eric Schmidt was on the board of directors of Apple and it was during that period the iOS device maker launched iPhone with YouTube and Google Maps. Nevertheless, now it seems that the two companies are once again getting friendlier with each other. While talking to Reuters at the annual Allen & Co conference in Sun Valley, Schmidt said that Apple and Google were having “lots and lots” of meetings.
“Schmidt did not provide details about the nature of the meetings during comments to reporters at the annual Allen and Co media conference in Sun Valley, Idaho on Thursday. He noted that Google Chief Business Officer Nikesh Arora, who joined him at the press briefing, was leading many of the discussions.” Schmidt also said that, “The two companies are in “constant business discussions on a long list of issues.”
However, both the companies did not reveal anything related to discussions in the meetings and Bloomberg’s report from the conference also does not give any hints about what Google and Apple were up to in the meetings.
“Moments later, Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook walked by, prompting Nikesh Arora, Google’s chief business officer, to shout out: “Tim, everybody here wants to take your picture!” Cook complied, without saying anything.” Schmidt said, “We got Tim to smile. Always a good thing.”
Bloomberg reported that Schmidt said he has “a lot of respect for Apple.”
The rivalry between Google and Apple is expected to increase with the passage of time, as Schmidt and company are now looking to roll out the first Motorola Mobility smartphone, the Moto X. Google is also looking to spend a hefty amount to promote the upcoming smartphone that will be designed by customers.
Apple was not the only company with which Google is trying to be friendlier at the annual Allen and Co media conference, as the Mountain View-based company was also looking to have affable relation with Hollywood. Schmidt made a start with a bold statement in which he said that “The industry would like us to edit the web and literally delete sites, and that goes counter to our philosophy.” Then, he pointed out the steps that YouTube and Google have taken to eradicated piracy.
“It is an absolute fact that there are pirate sites and we’ve done things to reduce the amount of people who use them,” Schmidt said […] According to Arora, Google has shut down 82,000 AdSense users who have infringed on content owners’ rights in some way […]
Because of these and other efforts, YouTube senior VP Salar Kamangar says that Google’s relationship with studios and labels is “completely different” than it was four or five years ago.
“Completely different,” Schmidt immediately echoed.
A few minutes after that cofounder of Miramax Harvey Weinstein arrived at the conference and stunned everyone by saying that “Google doesn’t steal, they’re a great company,” when asked whether Google had taken steps to improve its relation with Hollywood. He said, “I hope so … if they have with the studios, that’s good enough for me.”
Source: 9to5Google
Photo: Subagya3
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