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Apple never got data in the original deal, either. They just proxied tiles and search requests. That story is cool, but it's missing at least an additional plo
by puzzle 8y ago
Apple never got data in the original deal, either. They just proxied tiles and search requests.
That story is cool, but it's missing at least an additional plot twist that "people familiar with Google's thinking" cautiously chose not to mention. I doubt the Apple side would bring it up. Hopefully in ten years someone will write a memoir about those crazy days.
I disagree that this was a major strategic mistake for Google; they had no other realistic choice. A bit of that was informed by the experience with the built-in Maps AND Youtube apps written in Cupertino. The article talks about features and data, but there are other realities to contend with. Of course, Apple had its hands tied by earlier events and choices, too. Things were already on a collision course by the time the negotiations started.
- JadeNB 8y ago> That story is cool, but it's missing at least an additional plot twist that "people familiar with Google's thinking" cautiously chose not to mention. I doubt the Apple side would bring it up. Hopefully in ten years someone will write a memoir about those crazy days. This sounds definitive. Is it a conjecture, or do you know something that you're not mentioning (or possibly it is widely known and just I don't know it …)?
- puzzle 8y agoLike the other poster, I was at Google during those days, but I do not want to say too much. I never dealt with Apple myself, but I knew people who did, for both Maps and YouTube. None of them were particularly delighted. The All Things D article is nice when it comes to drama and gossip, but omits details behind words such as "there were a number of issues". Those twists might be mundane or boring for a good story, but made the divorce even more inevitable. The relationship was doomed to fail.
- JadeNB 8y agoThank you for the clarification.
- sievebrain 8y agoI worked at Google on maps during those times. There was a lot going on that isn't public and some bad behaviour by Apple, Jobs very much saw Apple as the dominant partner and didn't treat the maps guys well at all. It was a very difficult relationship in which Apple was unwilling to compromise or negotiate, not even to get what they wanted.