U2's relationship with Apple

coolian2 · 12-22-2008, 10:11 PM

Just came across this article in my travels:

Quote:

Bono and Steve Jobs No Longer BFFs

What did Steve Jobs do to his old buddy Bono? The Irish rock star, once the Apple CEO's adoring buddy, is funding the most credible threat to the iPhone yet.

Bono is a founder of Elevation Partners, the Silicon Valley private-equity firm named after the U2 song. And Elevation just sank another $100 million into Palm, the troubled smartphone maker. Palm, which waited too long to switch its product lineup from electronic organizers to souped-up cell phones and whose Treo smartphone is showing its age, lost more than $500 million in the most recent quarter. Bono's firm now owns 39 percent of Palm.

He's also lassoed several former Apple executives into the Palm corral. Fred Anderson, a former Apple CFO and board member, is an investor at Elevation. Jon Rubinstein, a hardware executive who served as Jobs's right-hand man at Apple, resigned in 2006 — one day before the company's 30-year anniversary — and joined Palm a year ago. Rubinstein, the company's executive chairman, is working on a new family of devices that will compete with Apple's iPhone; the big unveiling is planned for the CES computer trade show next month.

The last CES was also the scene of the latest dig by Bono at Jobs. In January 2008, he appeared in a farewell video for Microsoft chairman Bill Gates. Later that month, he shilled for Michael Dell, the founder of the eponymous PC maker who once called for Jobs to shut down Apple and "return the money to shareholders." (Apple is now worth far more than Dell. Ha!)

And to think they were once so close. At an Apple event in 2003, Bono called Jobs "the Dalai Lamai of integration." One year later, Bono and Jobs introduced a U2-branded edition of the iPod. Jobs, who is rarely seen in public, attended a U2 concert in 2005, and Bono praised Apple as being "more creative than a lot of rock bands." In 2006, Bono promoted a red iPod for his Product (Red) charity scheme.

So what happened? The falling out has never been publicly explained, but I have a theory on what happened.

Apple's board of directors fingered Fred Anderson, the former Apple CFO, in a probe over stock-options backdating at Apple. In a public statement, Anderson blamed Jobs. Things got messy, and Anderson resigned from the board after reaching a settlement with the SEC.

At that point, Anderson was already at Elevation helping make Bono, whose net worth is estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars, even richer. So Jobs wasn't just messing with Bono's pal; he was messing with his pocketbook.

It hardly squares with the Irish rocker's saintly save-the-children image, does it?

Nerdfight: Bono and Steve Jobs No Longer BFFs

Does anyone else think this could cause some problems with the (Red) or ONE campaigns? It's enough to make me want to return my Macbook.

Also, what a stunning business move.

OrARoundabout · 12-22-2008, 10:29 PM

OH SNAP!

Bono and Steve Jobs, no longer BFF's?

First Heidi and Lauren...now this.

YouTube - U2 - Where Did It All Go Wrong

Where did it allllll go wrong, where did it all go wrong?

Very interesting article, BTW, thanks for sharing!

digitize · 12-22-2008, 10:32 PM

Bono should ally himself with Linus Torvalds and/or Richard Stallman.

rihannsu · 12-22-2008, 10:42 PM

This article is speculation and gossip. There has been no indication of any problems between Jobs and Bono that I can recall. The idea that they had a falling out just because Bono is associating with Gates and Dell is ridiculous. By the way didn't Jobs attend the tour closing party in Hawaii that Gates hosted? I wouldn't pay any attention to this at all. Also, even though Microsoft and Apple are competitors Microsoft bailed out Apple financially at one point many years ago with a ginormous loan and I think Bono even orchestrated a satellite appearance by Gates at the big MacWorld event several years back.

Dana

Rosebud · 12-22-2008, 11:05 PM

^Indeed Dana.

Also, I might add that both Microsoft and Apple are (RED) partners, and Bono has worked with both Jobs and Gates in a variety of ways (Jobs, by what the article cited, and Gates with the Gates Foundation, etc.). I really don't think any of this is indicative of a personal vendetta.

BonoIsMyMuse · 12-22-2008, 11:32 PM

Is Apple okay?

No spoken words · 12-23-2008, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonoismymuse

is apple okay?

ftw

GibsonGirl · 12-23-2008, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonoismymuse

is apple okay?

a++

david · 12-23-2008, 12:39 AM

Bono should create a real computer that has a real drink tray so I can stop using my computer's CDROM drive as a drink tray.

Rosebud · 12-23-2008, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david

Bono should create a real computer that has a real drink tray so I can stop using my computer's CDROM drive as a drink tray.

Nicley done.

coolian2 · 12-23-2008, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonoIsMyMuse

Is Apple okay?

/thread

Galeongirl · 12-23-2008, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonoIsMyMuse

Is Apple okay?

Not sure, let's ask Chris Matin.

elevated_u2_fan · 12-23-2008, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david

Bono should create a real computer that has a real drink tray so I can stop using my computer's CDROM drive as a drink tray.

I used to work in tech support when PCs were just starting to really take off (Windows 98

) and some guy was actually doing this...

That and a woman was using her mouse as a foot pedal... I shit you not.

U2Fanatic4ever · 12-23-2008, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonoIsMyMuse

Is Apple okay?

ha ha!

Cactus Annie · 12-23-2008, 12:58 PM

Fight fight

12-23-2008, 12:39 AM	#9
david Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid Premium Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: southern california Posts: 4,739 Local Time: 08:32 PM	Bono should create a real computer that has a real drink tray so I can stop using my computer's CDROM drive as a drink tray. __________________ The more of these I drink the more Bono makes sense.. - Bean from the KROQ Breakfast with U2.

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12-22-2008, 10:32 PM	#3
digitize Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 7,514 Local Time: 10:32 PM	Bono should ally himself with Linus Torvalds and/or Richard Stallman.

12-22-2008, 10:42 PM	#4
rihannsu Refugee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 1,310 Local Time: 11:32 PM	This article is speculation and gossip. There has been no indication of any problems between Jobs and Bono that I can recall. The idea that they had a falling out just because Bono is associating with Gates and Dell is ridiculous. By the way didn't Jobs attend the tour closing party in Hawaii that Gates hosted? I wouldn't pay any attention to this at all. Also, even though Microsoft and Apple are competitors Microsoft bailed out Apple financially at one point many years ago with a ginormous loan and I think Bono even orchestrated a satellite appearance by Gates at the big MacWorld event several years back. Dana

12-22-2008, 11:05 PM	#5
Rosebud Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: in the enchanted forest of dreams and wonderment...or else at my computer. Posts: 7,164 Local Time: 08:32 PM	^Indeed Dana. Also, I might add that both Microsoft and Apple are (RED) partners, and Bono has worked with both Jobs and Gates in a variety of ways (Jobs, by what the article cited, and Gates with the Gates Foundation, etc.). I really don't think any of this is indicative of a personal vendetta.

12-22-2008, 11:32 PM	#6
BonoIsMyMuse Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 5,221 Local Time: 11:32 PM	Is Apple okay?

12-23-2008, 12:58 PM	#15
Cactus Annie War Child Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bring on the razzle-dazzle Posts: 616 Local Time: 04:32 AM	Fight fight