Sour Grapes department: former webOS investor bashes Android

posted by Alan F. / Dec 15, 2012, 5:54 AM

Sour Grapes department: former webOS investor bashes Android

Roger McNamee's name might sound familiar to some of you who remember back to the days when the Palm Pre and webOS stunned the smartphone world at CES 2009. Working at Elevation Partners, Mc Namee's company made big investments in Palm, trying to keep the company afloat until the tremendous sales of the "iPhone-killer," the Palm Pre, would turn things around. That was the plan, anyway. Of course, as we now know, the Pre never sold well at all and it was the Motorola DROID that became the challenger to Apple's iconic smartphone.

McNamee, as you might expect, is not enamored with Android. In a recent interview, the Venture Capitalist says that Google's open source OS "is the equivalent of having a motor scooter at the Indianapolis 500." He also points out that despite the large lead Android has over iOS in terms of volume, it is Apple that is grabbing the vast majority of profits in the industry. McNamee also says that Google needs to be careful to make sure that Samsung's success with Android doesn't lessen Google's connection with Android, or else in other's minds Samsung will be Android and Android will be Samsung.

"There is nothing wrong with Android as a product except that it does not do much. It is the equivalent of having a motor scooter at the Indianapolis 500."

"I am really frustrated when I look at Microsoft or Yahoo or even Google, remarkably enough, because it feels to me they are not trying to innovate. You hear not just Marissa Mayer, but the last couple generations of management at Yahoo have said that we’re going to buy our growth. At Microsoft, the same thing. They’re still so dedicated to Windows, that even though they own Skype and Xbox, two great platforms for the mobile market which could easily get them growing again, for whatever reason they seemed afraid to abandon the past."

"Apple showed that a large company can not only innovate, it can transform and really rebuild markets."

"...way too early to write off Google. But I watch what they have done with Android and I’m flabbergasted because their market share in units is so high but look at the profit share. Apple’s profit share is 75 or 80% because Android has been managed essentially to make it a profitless prosperity. Right now, if Google is not careful, Android will be Samsung or Samsung will be Android."-Roger McNamee, Elevation Partners

You can check out the whole interview that McNamee gave Bloomberg by clicking on the video below. "Android does not do much," says the investor. Is this just the sour grapes talking?

source: Bloomberg

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72 Comments

1. Hammerfest

Posts: 384; Member since: May 12, 2012

u mad bro?

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 6:12 AM 26

23. loyals

Posts: 129; Member since: Nov 10, 2012

there is a lot of truth which u r not seeing . apple did transform and rebuild markets like tablets with IPAD and proper operating system for a phone with IPHONE. but android is not innovating but following . all the tablets n phones are derived from iphones/ipads . there's a lot of news about google glasses but sony has made it before n showed many times from past 4-5 years n so again its not completely google's. so where's the new innovation from google? u should really ask yourself that then u have the right to call him that.

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 9:59 AM 3

28. willard12 unregistered

All ipads/iPhones are derived from other tablets and phones. Name one, just 1, thing created from Apple. Everything they are suing over they took/stole from another company. Scroll bounce and slide to unlock are copies. Pull down notifications and answering a call with a message are copies. Their biggest marketing campaigns the last two years come from Siri (bought from Nuance) and 3 year old panorama photos. How it works in this industry is simple....Android tries to implement facial unlock, Apple patents it.

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 11:01 AM 22

55. loyals

Posts: 129; Member since: Nov 10, 2012

the faicial unlock is already been implemented by apple RnD long time back. so they patented it .so lets not divert the toptic to patents here. the thing is apple is the first successful tablet n it showed others that the market has scope so as usual others just made thiers and followed .

posted on Dec 16, 2012, 12:27 AM 0

69. willard12 unregistered

Good. So, you can't name even 1 thing created by Apple. I haven't seen facial unlock on any iOS device. Apple takes the ideas of others and makes them popular. They are able to do because Apple has it's on culture of "loyal" followers that will take anything they do and make it popular. This is how products that can't even transfer a file via Bluetooth, support a micro SD card, or use a widget can be seen by some as "innovative." IOS can't do things feature phones were doing 10 years ago and uses the same rows of icons it always has and you say "android does not innovate." I will refer you back to my previous challenge, name 1, just 1, any 1 thing created by apple. Thanks.

posted on Dec 16, 2012, 6:25 PM 0

34. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

If you can sit here and say Android is not innovating, Google is not innovating.....I dont think you know what innovation is.

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 1:45 PM 14

45. XPERIA-KNIGHT unregistered

I litterally TRIED to listen to him and hear him out......but when i got to the part where he said "Apple showed that a large company can not only innovate, it can transform and really rebuild markets." I got disgusted and scrolled right on down here! Right then and there i knew he was no different from every other "blind" apple fan..... Wow..........it really is amazing how powerful denial is :(

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 5:55 PM 8

54. loyals

Posts: 129; Member since: Nov 10, 2012

eh wait...do u remember the first tablet that came out and made revolution in tablet industry ?? u r living in cave or u r just blind android fan .APPLE gave scope to a entire market called tablets n it started it. thats y its always ipads and other tablets . atleast they reinvented n rebuild the dead platform that was author meant to say here. i can see u r a blind android fan thats y u r not seeing the truth . and name 1 , just 1 platform google recently build a new market or atleast rebuild. pls dont say mobiles...the first mobile app for google was made by apple itself while they didnt even know how to make apps

posted on Dec 16, 2012, 12:12 AM 0

63. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

See, you make a mistake that many Apple fanboys do, not saying you are one.... A product doesnt have to sell alot or be popular to be innovative. Hybrid cars n trucks. Dont sell as much as others, but they are innovative. I never questioned the guy saying Apple transformeded and rebuilt the market. Thats true. We were talking about innovation. And you claiming Google doesnt. Compare Apple Maps to Google Maps and then tell me again Google doesnt innovate. Apple didnt start the tablet, smartphone market....they gave it a boost, jumped started it. You might have a case about the iPad, but not the smartphone. Before the iPhone, the 'it' smartphone to have was a Blackberry.

posted on Dec 16, 2012, 7:54 AM 0

56. loyals

Posts: 129; Member since: Nov 10, 2012

tell me what google has innovated in past 3 years. android idea itself is from apple when google was working with apple for iphone2g n impressed by the idea that mobiles should have proper operating system. what else bro?? google glasses is again from sony glasses....so please tell me if im miising any innvotions here

posted on Dec 16, 2012, 12:31 AM 0

58. groupsacc

Posts: 232; Member since: Feb 28, 2012

Android was bought and existed before iOS. More to the point, it all depends on one's definition of innovation. If you define innovation as merely stealing others ideas, then yes, Google and Apple are very innovative. If you define innovation as inventing something completely new, then no; Google is just a search-engine based company trying to generate revenue from multiple platforms, and Apple is just a copy-and-paste company wrapping up products in nice glittering wraps. There's no point arguing who's innovative and who's not, cus at the end of the day, our whole world is based on taking other's ideas and "evolutionising". Had Google not bought Android, we wouldn't be seeing the Android as it is today. Had Apple not seen Xerox Alto, there wouldn't be no McIntosh. Had Benz not invented gasoline-powered automobiles, there wouldn't be no Ferraris. The only reason why Droid fans do not respect Apple is because they hinder others innovations by initiating lawsuits using the very "innovation" they have stolen from others and improved upon.

posted on Dec 16, 2012, 2:25 AM 2

62. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

I already did in my first post in this article.....Google Now. Google Now was more in house developed vs Siri. Then Siri had to get updated to offer a feature that Google Now had out the gate. Like I said....if you dont think Google innovates....you dont know what innovation is. Remember, I never said Apple doesnt innovate. They do, IMO Apple just gets too much credit for too many things.

posted on Dec 16, 2012, 7:46 AM 0

67. CheapSocks

Posts: 21; Member since: Nov 07, 2012

google puts A LOT of effort into their products. Adding not just features, but enhances the the experience to a whole new level with each update. What has apple done since the release of ios? let's see, drop down notification, OOPS android had that first, multitasking, OOPS android first, panoram-OOPs, you get the point. And not only that, but android actually listens and accepts help from outside developers and letting them take charge every now and then.

posted on Dec 16, 2012, 2:27 PM 2

25. sats.mine2k4

Posts: 208; Member since: Aug 10, 2012

No...Hez just too frustrated, unable to compete.. i think the right word for him is down and out...

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 10:40 AM 8

48. .MISTER.H.

Posts: 11; Member since: Dec 14, 2012

he's not mad, but he is mad! This guy has no knowledge and is talking jack, uneducated brainwashed cult!

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 6:37 PM 4

2. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

Odd comments about Apple and Android when the UI, OS of Android has changed alot vs iOS. Android doesnt do much? Compared to what, a PC? Cuz compared to iOS it does much more. Cant really say vs WP as I have never used WP. Hell, Google Now vs Siri was a no contest until Siri got updated to do similar to Google Now. Even then Google Now is leading the way. Android is the PC in the PC vs Mac wars. Look how that turned out.

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 6:20 AM 17

31. smartphone

Posts: 160; Member since: Oct 21, 2011

Just replace Apple with Google and android with IOS and this man speaks the truth. Apple had innovated some things but its no way leading in innovation department. The only thing I admire of Apple is their one year smartphone cycle in others companies there's always a beast coming out next month and the temptation never ends.

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 12:41 PM 8

3. MeoCao unregistered

I'm sure that this guy has invested heavily in Apple, so this is his money does the talking, not the man himself.

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 6:23 AM 12

4. Jay..Apple4Ever

Posts: 16; Member since: Dec 08, 2012

"I am really frustrated when I look at Microsoft or Yahoo or even Google, remarkably enough, because it feels to me they are not trying to innovate." Lol? Yahoo & MS are trying but Apple and Google are killing the competition. Not enough innovation? Have a look at google now.Blows everything else away. "android doesn't do much" Yeah it doesn't do much because people like this are stuck in the garden and scared to look out gate to actually try something innovative. I love apple just as much as the other guy but people who bash Android like this are clearly close minded #Perhaps a hair cut & New prescription glasses for this guy..clearly blinded :D

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 6:27 AM 10

5. wendygarett unregistered

Well that's true, besides Samsung, I don't see any other oem makes profit... They just playing the volume game... And that's dangerous in the future...

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 6:51 AM 2

49. .MISTER.H.

Posts: 11; Member since: Dec 14, 2012

Your avater represents a typical name for a Apple user!

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 6:48 PM 0

50. Commentator

Posts: 3722; Member since: Aug 16, 2011

Mareep?

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 6:51 PM 3

7. noim1

Posts: 297; Member since: May 15, 2012

Every1 knows who the Father of android really is & that's Google...ppl will not say Samsung is Android...they can say Samsung is the big Android OEM right NOW....and thats it....we know what we USE .....

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 7:01 AM 7

8. frydaexiii

Posts: 1476; Member since: Dec 01, 2011

lol, Is it opposite day or is this guy just butthurt? Also, Apple only rebuild markets because they have quite the substantial army of sheep to kick start the sales of every piece of crap they release. Sad to say, Samsung might be going that way too, but at least they're still pulling out new stuff everytime and not stalling like Apple is right now yet.

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 7:02 AM 9

9. soshi

Posts: 154; Member since: Mar 08, 2012

comment that really far from reality. maybe he always use apple map that make him not only lost in navigation but also in perception. google not innovate? seriously? Btw, idon't need his definition on innovation when all he can do is talking while google keep launching product that no one can think before

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 7:05 AM 5

14. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

He woulda been better off comparing Android to WebOS. Might have had a lil more credibilty, especially since a former WebOS guy now works for Google and worked on the UI changes in Android.

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 8:34 AM 0

15. roscuthiii

Posts: 2383; Member since: Jul 18, 2010

Looks like sour grapes makes for a bitter 'whine'.

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 8:37 AM 7

18. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

Yup, that was my thought as well. Just another 1%-er all pissed off because a bet he made didn't pan out. BTW, he knew the bet was risky going in. Can't stand the heat? Get out of the kitchen. Motor scooter.... Hahaha!

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 8:54 AM 1

16. predator93

Posts: 122; Member since: Aug 28, 2012

As a customer, if a company makes less profits its better. More people will buy an iphone or any other phone if its 100 - 200 dollars cheaper than what it is right now.

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 8:51 AM 0

17. TheRetroReplay

Posts: 256; Member since: Mar 20, 2012

That guy is an @$$ Android does more than iOS and has changed quite a bit over the years but I think he's got his head shoved too far up his rear end to see that Apple doesn't innovate, only steal other's ideas and sue.

posted on Dec 15, 2012, 8:51 AM 5

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