[NewsPoster]

In an interview with hosts Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher for AllThingsD, Google Chariman Eric Schmidt called the market battle between iOS devices and the Android operating system "the defining fight in the industry today." He also called the ongoing smartphone patent wars "death," and that they were having a larger impact on small companies than large companies like Apple, Google, and Samsung.

Schmidt said in regards to smartphone sales that "we've not seen platform fights at this scale," he said. "The beneficiary is you guys. Prices are dropping rapidly. That's a wonderful value proposition." Regarding the omnipresent patent lawsuits, Schmidt said he couldn't talk about them because he didn't fully understand them, and the topic was too upsetting. He noted that there was frequent overlaps in the software industry, given the 200,000 patents covering products. He added that "I think this is ultimately bad, bad for innovation. It eliminates choices." When questioned about Apple's shift away from Google Maps, he said that Cupertino "should have kept with our maps. The fact of the matter is they decided a long time ago to do their own maps and we saw this coming with their acquisitions. I think Apple has learned that maps are hard. We invested hundred of millions of dollars in satellite work, airplane work, drive-by work, and we think we have the best product in the industry." On the topic of whether Google would create (or is created, or has created) an iOS 6-compatible mapping application, Schmidt said that "I don't want to pre-announce products, but I can tell you that were we to do that Apple would have to approve it." Schmidt stuck with a previous concept of a "Gang of Four" technology companies leading the industry. He said besides Apple and Google's contributions that "Facebook is attempting to become the world's communications hub; and Amazon is attempting to become the world's largest store." When asked why Microsoft wasn't on the list, making it a Gang of Five, Schmidt called it "a well-run company," but said "they don't make state-of-the-art products." [via AllThingsD]

[Bobfozz]

Eric is full of Schmidt.
He stole. He should admit it.
Yes, the customer wins when Second Place steals 1st place's stuff, they can charge whatever they want or give it away. They didn't see this coming.
Apple loses (not customer share) but a certain amount of validity. Right now we hear the cheapskate crybabies complaining that Apple has no right to HOLD ON to what they create.

Apple showed they could innovate, Schmidt is like post WWII Japan... copy and then complain Apple won't play ball.
If the patent wars is hurting the "little guy" he (Schmidt) should have thought about that before he became so high and mighty. Maybe the smaller companies should choose Android AND get $$$ support from Google too.

As to that old saw, "choice?????" WHY does the customer need choice? Is it in the Constitution? What he really means is the customer deserves whatever we give him (the same way he sees Apple!). If the customer really DESERVES choice than the customer might want a HYBRID of the two, right Eric?

Lying sack of Schmidt.

[JohnFromBeyond]

In the full interview, Schmidt says "the fact of the matter is they (Apple) decided a long time ago to do their own maps". Wait, didn't he tell us last week that they don't have a native Google Maps for iOS 6 because Google was surprised by Apple's decision to drop Google Maps (even though Apple announced it to the world in May)? You can't believe a word he says, he has zero integrity for being on Apple';s board and then backstabbing them.

Later in the interview he also stated that if he could be CEO of any company he would pick Apple. Why? Because they have more cash. That's a great reason Eric, who cares about innovation and quality state-of-the-art products... He only cares about getting the numbers up to generate cash, so what if Android is fragmented and full of crappy zombie apps and hardware that's obsolete after 6 months. Yet Apple still has more cash, I wonder why?

[Jubeikiwagami]

Google "Don't be EVIL" is a load of Sh!t!

[ck10003]

Last year I was at an Apple Store in NYC and saw Eric Schmidt using a BlackBerry. Pathetically true story.