Google CEO Larry Page thinks Jobs' Android rage was just "for show"

posted by Michael H.

Apr 04, 2012, 12:11 PM

Google CEO Larry Page thinks Jobs' Android rage was just "for show"

It's not very often that Google CEO Larry Page does a sit-down interview and gives insight to the vision of Google, so when it happens, we tend to take notice, especially when he's talking about competition, Apple, Android and so many more interesting things.

Quite a bit of the interview with Bloomberg Businessweek centered on Google's strategy, the idea that the company is a search company and the budding Google+ network, all of which is interesting, but not exactly mobile related, so we just want to cover a small portion of that. A couple things we found interesting are that Page doesn't really believe that Google is a "search company", and he also has no illusion that Google+ can become the largest social network around, which Page says is "not realistic". Rather than Google being a "search company" (or advertising company as would be more accurate, though never mentioned in the interview), Page argues that Google is "about using large-scale kind of technology: technology advancements to help people, to make people’s lives better, to make community better." We don't expect many media companies to see Google that way, because it's easier for most to boil down the business to being a "search company" despite other products, but if Google sees itself that way, it seems like a good thing to us.

Now for the goods that we care about: mobile. Unfortunately, Page didn't really have much to say on the topic of the Motorola acquisition and the plans moving forward with the company. He did say that he is "really excited for the opportunity to arrive", adding that getting a new Android device is like being "a kid on Christmas". That section of the interview was actually more interesting simply for the way it seemed that Page was genuinely excited about mobile devices and the possibilities afforded by them. Assuming Bloomberg was quoting him directly, it seemed as though he got so excited that he began stumbling over his words trying to explain how much his life "has changed" because of mobile devices.

One specific topic regarding Motorola that Page did get into was in patents, saying that although Google owns many of its own patents now, it has never "asserted those against anybody". Then, he took a not so veiled swipe at Apple in saying that Google has "somehow been successful without suing other people over intellectual property."

Speaking directly about Apple, Page said that he had spoken to Steve Jobs near the end of his life when Jobs was quite sick and Page took away some "interesting insights about how to run a company". He also took away an idea that Jobs' anger over Android was "for show". This is certainly not the picture painted by other sources, notably Walter Isaacson in his biography of Jobs, but Page believes that Jobs' anger over Android wasn't real, but a way to create "an obvious competitor and rally around that." Whether that's true or not Page wants to be seen as taking the high road, saying that he doesn't like looking to competitors, but wants to "shoot higher" to "what’s possible and how to make the world better."

It's definitely an interesting look into Larry Page and how he sees his company. Whether real or a product of a good PR team, you definitely get the sense that Page is genuinely focused on running a company where the main focus is not to maximize profits in order to appease shareholders, but to run a company and create products that help people. The products may not always succeed, but that sounds like a pretty admirable aim to have, and as long as the company stay successful, shareholders probably won't mind too much.

source: Bloomberg Businessweek

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25 Comments

19. PAPINYC

Posts: 2315; Member since: Jul 30, 2011

I disagree, I think Stevie was truly bitter, scared and emotionally borderline.

posted on Apr 04, 2012, 4:44 PM 5

7. netizen

Posts: 73; Member since: Oct 31, 2011

Google effectivley pulled out of China, the fastest growing market in the world over moral issues with China. Google gives away the android operating system. It's pretty clear Google is not all about profits. Google and Apple are polar opposites in every aspect. Apple is reliable and easy to use for even the most technically challenged. Their number one priority is making money, always has been and they are the best at getting the most profit possible out of their products. Google on the other hand tries to push the envelope of technology which does make their devices less reliable than Apple because they are able to do so much more. Google obviously weighs in moral issues in it's business decisions. You will never see Apple pulling out of China for any reason. It's all about the bottom line at Apple and that is how they became the most valuable company in the world. Two very different companies with very different goals.....

posted on Apr 04, 2012, 3:47 PM 3

9. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

Wow, Google pulled out of China? LOL, that sounds like a porn movie....

posted on Apr 04, 2012, 3:52 PM 2

21. taco50

Posts: 5506; Member since: Oct 08, 2009

Yea google isn't about profits/sarcasm Google has not pulled out of China and android phones are being sold there now.

posted on Apr 05, 2012, 12:52 AM 1

6. networkdood

Google has made my life better - my providing me with a 1c high end Android phone and the ability to get tons of free music, apps, books, etc. By saving all of that money, I can now afford our awesome high gas prices. I feel bad for iphone users: Small phone. Almost everything they want for the phone is NOT free. No widgets. No ICS....lol

posted on Apr 04, 2012, 3:41 PM 3

18. biophone

Posts: 1994; Member since: Jun 15, 2011

The horror! Make it stop networkdoo. I can't imagine how much their lives must suck. If only you good android folk could teach these brainless fools the error of their ways.

posted on Apr 04, 2012, 4:19 PM 1

20. taco50

Umm android users don't have ICS either lol

posted on Apr 05, 2012, 12:51 AM 1

23. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

ive had it since december.

posted on Apr 05, 2012, 10:48 AM 1

24. atheisticemetic

Posts: 377; Member since: Dec 18, 2011

well there are smart android users who can root a phone with ease ;) you're stuck with the Incompetent Operating System (IOS)

posted on Apr 05, 2012, 12:46 PM 1

25. taco50

If you were smart you wouldn't be using android.

posted on Apr 05, 2012, 3:19 PM 0

5. eaxvac

Posts: 328; Member since: Jan 15, 2012

the googlightning stranger!

posted on Apr 04, 2012, 2:46 PM 1

3. DroidSU

Posts: 3; Member since: Apr 04, 2012

Thats exactly what Google is doing. They are "shooting higher" and looking past everyones expectations. Google is going to make us raise our eyesbrows constantly in the next five years.

posted on Apr 04, 2012, 12:59 PM 6

2. JeffdaBeat unregistered

Honestly, it makes sense. Although I wouldn't say that Jobs didn't feel like Android copied parts of iOS, I don't think he was as livid as folks may think. Creating that start contrast between the two almost forces people to be loyal to one or the other. Sure there are some folks out there that are ambivalent...but if you talk to even non-technie folks, they usually have a side. Honestly, it helped both sides making things so devicive. Look at American politics nowadays as proof. Only with this competition, both companies and users benefit. American Poltics...well...not so much.

posted on Apr 04, 2012, 12:55 PM 4

4. Whateverman

Posts: 3295; Member since: May 17, 2009

Wait!!! What???...you buzzed the fro! Damn...Damn...Damn! (RIP to Ester Rolle and Jeff's bad a$$ fro!) JK, you look very stealthy my brother, I like it.