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Google CEO Joins Apple's Board

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the inquiring-minds-wanna-know dept.

Phooey42 writes "AppleInsider is reporting that Google's CEO, Eric Schmidt, has been approved to join Apple's board of directors, bringing the board's total head-count up to eight. From the article, 'Schmidt also sits on Google's board of directors and Princeton University's board of trustees. He joins other Apple board members that include: former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore Jr.; President and CEO of Harwinton Capital, Jerry York; Chairman and CEO of Genentech, Arthur Levinson; Chairman and CEO J. Crew, Millard Drexler; Chairman and former CEO of Intuit, Bill Campbell, former CFO of Apple, Fred Anderson; and Apple CEO, Steve Jobs.'"

5 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. Good for Google, good for Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting
    The summary may as well have linked to the actual press release.

    I like GigaOM's take:
    Even though Google is being overtly aggressive about online video market, it is trying to leverage its advertising network more than download sales. Is it too hard to imagine - watch the video on Google Video, and download it on iTunes store? Both parties win? iTunes being included as part of Google software pack, or part of Google Toolbar? Google driving music-related searchers to iTunes store?

    Google must be paying handsomely for those searches emanating out of Safari browser (about 3% of the total market) and a soft alliance could help balance the books. In other words, Google gets paid for referring customers to the iTunes music/video store.

    I also hope this translates into more Mac-friendliness from Google: "it did take Google a little while to let Safari users log into Gmail, for instance, and it did take Google Earth a little while to come out for the Mac".
  2. Great news. by jcr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If Schmidt were still at Sun, they might have some hope of long-term survival. Kudos to Apple for getting him on the board.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  3. Al Gore by mqduck · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Al Gore is on the board at Apple? Wasn't there an article recently about how Apple was one of the least environmentally-friendly tech companies?

    --
    Property is theft.
    1. Re:Al Gore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Recycling is important, Apple is flush with cash and rides on the image of a modern, innovative, user-friendly company. It should be recycling more, but doesn't.

      Through taxes, I pay for Hazardous Waste Disposal pickups that happen several times a year. They accept computers and will take care of the "recycling" part.

      Why should I have to pay TWICE for this service (once in taxes, and once in the price of a new PC)?

  4. No surprise that Dvorak thinks this is possible by tyrione · · Score: 2, Interesting

    NeXT and SUN do not have fond ties. Steve in his own words, "SUN is no Apple." If you think Steve is going to let someone else fuck up the momentum he has created you need to check yourself into an asylum.