Steve Jobs pegged 2011 as the year for a 'Holy War with Google,' court docs reveal

posted by Daniel P. / Apr 02, 2014, 8:48 AM

Steve Jobs pegged 2011 as the year for a 'Holy War with Google,' court docs reveal

Remember that "thermonuclear war" that Steve Jobs wanted to unleash on Android, irked by what was according to him a copycat approach for Google's mobile OS strategy? Well, he didn't just want to release the wrath of the atom on Google, but actually go jihad against Android, as Samsung's lawyers are trying to prove before the jury in the trial with Apple.

The proof was unearthed in an email chain between Steve Jobs and Apple's top 100 head honchos. The emails were sent ahead of a corporate retreat in 2010, when Android was well into its mobile OS crusade. As you can see below, Apple's CEO at the time declared 2011 the year of the "Holy war with Google," indicating that a theme in the discussions will be how to avoid slacking, and block Google and Microsoft, which were deemed "further along on the technology," but not really there yet.

Samsung lawyers use these 2010 Steve Jobs emails as proof that the lawsuit is going after Android

Jobs was apparently fully aware that Apple might hang onto successful products for too long, as every innovative company ends up doing at some point. One of the strategies suggested was to "tie all of our products together, so we further lock customers in our ecosystem," which Apple has undoubtedly mastered to do unobtrusively. The trial continues, so we can't wait for more insider observations on the Great Mobile Race to leak out.

source: WSJ

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22 Comments

1. XperiaFanZone

Posts: 2277; Member since: Sep 21, 2012

Jihadists?

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 8:52 AM 6

20. Ashoaib

Posts: 3269; Member since: Nov 15, 2013

"tie all of our products together, so we further lock customers in our ecosystem".. this tying up stretegy made me break up away from apple last year, one of the reason

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 12:53 PM 3

2. CX3NT3_713

Posts: 2348; Member since: Apr 18, 2011

If you can't beat them,, sue the chit out of them.....i hope Samsung wins this.. Not a fanboy.. Just love competition!!!

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 8:55 AM 20

5. express77 unregistered

same here. respect steve jobs and apple but hate patent trolling limiting competition.

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 8:59 AM 7

7. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

It isn't patent trolling. It is pure unadulterated business. Steve had the $ to fund a thermonuclear jihad, and he did it. Welcome to life in the corporatocracy - where consumers are basically serfs who exist to fund the corporation. And the ego of the corporation's executives.

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 9:09 AM 7

10. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

exactly, and it has been happening for a while since the days of deregulation...I mean, look at who Obama bailed out...the homeowners? Nope. Look at what Iceland did after it had its financial crisis...they created a new govt, a new Constitution and kicked out the perpetrators...

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 9:52 AM 2

11. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

Unfortunately, Samsung is going to lose - hopefully, not too badly...

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 9:53 AM 2

12. Finalflash

Posts: 4062; Member since: Jul 23, 2013

Not really, as time goes on more and more people learn about these trials and most people seem to be siding against Apple. The first jury was largely biased by the one guy who held a patent and was all "patent office can never be wrong". Then the patent office started invalidating Apple's crap, and now Samsung have some pretty good publicity going forward as Apple's nuclear war against Android becomes more public knowledge.

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 10:04 AM 3

13. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

Oh, I agree, I meant they will lose at the trial - but, as I have said on G+, it will not be the end of APPLE - totally agree that these trials will backfire on APPLE, and have been - especially from those outside of the U.S.

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 10:12 AM 2

3. umlguy

Posts: 16; Member since: Nov 28, 2012

And this is the main reason that Apple is part of the evil empire. They don't want to simply compete, they want to try and throttle competition in court. In the end a losing proposition that really only helps the law firms!

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 8:58 AM 8

4. Antimio

Posts: 313; Member since: Nov 11, 2013

Popcorn for me please.

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 8:59 AM 6

6. mturby unregistered

LOCK CUSTOMERS? Fku apple...

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 9:04 AM 7

8. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

Holy war with Google....not Samsung... Thats exactly the point many of as are trying to make. They are going after Google any way they can. Like MS and their license fees. That only a few Android OEMs stood up to. And it was a stale mate with Moto and MS.....both being found guilty of using the other stuff. I wouldnt be surprised if the lawsuits with Samsung also didnt start until around 2011...

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 9:12 AM 1

9. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

aka, go to court and sue them....Jobs was just another corporate scumbag and it is sad that lots of Americans worship the guy - 'beware of false idols'....

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 9:51 AM 8

14. androiphone20

Posts: 1654; Member since: Jul 10, 2013

"Locking in customers" This has been around for quite a long time now, Samsung just seeks to throw in Google into the equation to even out the situation. Samsung will do all it takes to get this whole sheet going at snail pace, this time around Andy f**kin Rubin is going about it too so it just goes without saying. This kind of explains the cross licensing deal between Samesung and Google earlier this year, yea that really wasn't about amping up innovation as much as it was about going after Apple. They already knew that when it came to this Android would be sort of the only way to bail them out. It's funny some time ago Samsung had to investigate why people returned its tabs at Best Buy only to discover people saying "I thought it was an ipad".

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 10:29 AM 2

15. tedkord

Posts: 17131; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

A cross licensing deal with Google is still a more honorable business strategy than taking advantage of a busted patent system and competing in the courtroom. And anyone who bought a tablet with a big SAMSUNG logo on it thinking it was an iPad is probably too dumb to own a tablet.

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 11:02 AM 7

17. androiphone20

Posts: 1654; Member since: Jul 10, 2013

Or maybe the average consumer didn't go as far as to mind the branding back then, all that mattered was getting an ipad and there it was an ipad knockoff. Please allow me to call it the goophone strategy that was being pulled off by...you know who

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 11:39 AM 0

19. PBXtech

Posts: 1032; Member since: Oct 21, 2013

Samsung is not even close to doing what Goophone does. That's a major stretch to put those two in the same boat.

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 12:29 PM 3

18. The13thKing

Posts: 849; Member since: Feb 26, 2014

I thought it was an ipad? with a huge SAMSUNG logo on it and plenty on the box? wow bro.. the hell did you say now? lol

posted on Apr 02, 2014, 11:39 AM 3

21. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

I make that mistake all the time when buying monitors and HDTV's... And no one is going after Apple....they are....defending themselves.....against....Apple. Why do you think Moto never went after MS about whatever MS was guilty of using? Check the lawsuit history about that and that will tell a better picture.