Billionaires Steve Jobs and Eric Schmidt are good friends at a coffee
Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple and Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google met at Calafia in the Town and Country shopping center in Palo Alto.
Apparently they were having a nice cup of coffee along with a – most likely – interesting conversation.
Steve Jobs on the left and Eric Schmidt on the right
After all, Schmidt used to be on Apple’s board. But ever since he stepped down (and actually before he did), the growing animosity between the two formerly close companies has been apparent.
Gizmodo’s tipster saw them and snapped these shots, and noted that the cafe is owned and operated by former Google chef Charlie Ayers. Overheard from the conversation were two lines by Jobs. Enthusiastically, “They’re going to see it all eventually so who cares how they get it.” Which seemed to be about web content, said the tipster. And, “Let’s go discuss this somewhere more private,” after they noticed the crowd gathering around. Brian Lam from Gizmodo thinks that was probably a wise move. Schmidt was very quiet, listening, and Jobs was doing a lot of the talking. What do you make of the body language? And what’s that black thing on the table? No, it’s not an iPad. It’s a menu. Tipster says the first thing he looked for was an iPad, and that isn’t it.
Steve Jobs on the left and Eric Schmidt on the right
On August 3rd, 2009 Apple released this announcement:
Apple today announced that Dr. Eric Schmidt, chief executive officer of Google, is resigning from Apple’s Board of Directors, a position he has held since August 2006.
“Eric has been an excellent Board member for Apple, investing his valuable time, talent, passion and wisdom to help make Apple successful,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple’s core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric’s effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest. Therefore, we have mutually decided that now is the right time for Eric to resign his position on Apple’s Board.”
Shortly afterward Google provided with the following statement from Schmidt:
I have very much enjoyed my time on the Apple Board. It’s a fantastic company. But as Apple explained today we’ve agreed it makes sense for me to step down now.
Steve Jobs car
Images: Gizmodo
