More Intrigue from The Google/Apple War

By: Nate Nelson (Contributing Writer)

The most talked-about pair in the tech world is Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who were recently seen conversing over coffee at an upscale cafe in Palo Alto, California. Optimistic observers saw it as an apparent step toward repairing a sharp rift that had appeared in recent months between the two tech companies. More cynical commentators questioned what seems to be an obvious setup: why use public outdoor tables unless they wanted to be seen together? (The photos are courtesy of Gizmodo, in case the large watermark did not give it away.)

None of gawkers or picture-takers overheard enough of the conversation to make sense of what was going on, but some quotes from Jobs have surfaced. According to reports, he spoke about web content, saying: “They’re going to see it all eventually, so who cares how they get it?” Then, in the face of a gathering crowd, Jobs requested a change of location: “Let’s go discuss this somewhere more private.” On the way to his Mercedes-Benz SL 55 AMG, Jobs was heard to mutter: “Just wait until the mind control programming finally kicks in, you mouth-breathers.” (Just kidding on the last one.)

Apple and Google have been chummy in years past, with Schmidt sitting on Apple’s Board of Directors until last year. The tension between the companies is reported to have begun after Google broke a rumored gentleman’s handshake agreement by designing functions of the Nexus One to operate too much like the iPhone. Reports of disparaging comments from Jobs and ugly personal rumors have elevated the perceived rift to “World War III” status, according to one source alleged to be familiar with both companies.

This past week another round was fired in what may go down in history as the Ultimate Computer Nerd War: Google threw its considerable weight behind Adobe’s Flash player, bundling it with downloads of their Chrome browser. Apple’s iPhone and iPad do not support Flash, which has been a point of criticism aimed at the devices. For their part, Apple has filed a lawsuit against HTC – a close partner of Google and developer of the Nexus One – for violating several patents relating to the iPhone.

Whether the coffee man-date between Jobs and Schmidt leads to a cessation or an acceleration of hostilities will remain to be seen. What does seem to be at stake is nothing less than the future of the Internet, according to at least one industry analyst. Apple has already been accused of creating a “walled garden” with their iPhone and iPad, where all games and content need to be approved by Apple and accessed through their App Store. By rejecting the near-ubiquitous Flash player for their mobile devices and supporting the upcoming HTML5, Apple is perceived as trying to control how the Internet develops by deciding what technologies it will support on its devices.

Although Google may have declared their allegiance with Flash, they maintain they will still back HTML5. In the meantime, Google is rumored to be partnering with electronics manufacturers to create tablets that would take a page (and likely momentum) from the iPad.

As if their coffee dates weren’t awkward enough. Stay tuned for more info as pertinent salvos are fired.

(via Wired, AppleInsider)