from the when-all-you-have-is-$160-billion dept.
AudioGuy writes:
"Adrian Perica is a very busy man. Over the past 18 months, the mergers and acquisitions chief at Apple has been scouring the globe looking for deals, snatching up everything from search engines and data analytics to mapping software and motion tracking chips.
A source tells The Chronicle that Perica met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in Cupertino last spring at around the same time analysts suggested Apple acquire the electric car giant.
The newspaper has also learned that Apple is heavily exploring medical devices, specifically sensor technology that can help predict heart attacks. Led by Tomlinson Holman, a renowned audio engineer who invented THX and 10.2 surround sound, Apple is exploring ways to predict heart attacks by studying the sound blood makes at it flows through arteries.
Taken together, Apple's potential forays into automobiles and medical devices, two industries worlds away from consumer electronics, underscore the company's deep desire to move away from iPhones and iPads and take big risks.
Good grief. Is the 'iTesla next in the 'i' line?"
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Random2 on Wednesday February 19 2014, @07:43PM
It's not like this is a new concept, see 3M, Procter & Gamble (before they sold pringles), or the Japaneze Zaibatsu (Mitsubishi, Yamaha....).
It's a question of how well Apple can execute. Can they find ways to make money in these dissimilar markets? Will they try to use their 'cult following' tactics in those areas? They certainly have the money to be trying new things and I'd personally consider them stupid if they only tried to maintain the status quo. Keeping current lines stable while expanding is a far, far better strategy.
If only I registered 3 users earlier....
(Score: 5, Funny) by mrbluze on Wednesday February 19 2014, @07:51PM
But what's the difference between an Apple and a Lemon?
Do it yourself, 'cause no one else will do it yourself.
(Score: 5, Funny) by JeanCroix on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:16PM
(Score: 3, Funny) by ragequit on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:17PM
The above views are fabricated for your reading pleasure.
(Score: 4, Funny) by mrclisdue on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:38PM
Apples have rounded corners.
cheers,
(Score: 5, Insightful) by edIII on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:29PM
I'm more worried about the toxic culture at Apple with respect to privacy and the consumers absolute and inviolable right to actual property ownership.
As long as I need to expend a single iota of effort to jailbreak an Apple device to enjoy property ownership and peaceful enjoyment, I have no interest in Apple products.
I for one hope they stay the hell away from anything to do with medicine.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 20 2014, @03:00AM
What privacy issues are you concerned about from Apple? They have a much better track record than their competitors.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:40PM
Buying Tesla would be full on retard mode.
I'd say it's about a 50-50 chance whether Tesla is around in 20 years. If they are around, they'll probably be a major automaker, but there are plenty of ways to fizzle out.
Meanwhile Apple's day to day operations are focused on prospects which are doable within the next 10 years.
If you tie these two things together, chances are good that one is going to be a millstone around the neck of the other.
Most conglomerates were formed decades ago when the theory was that having diverse business units meant that profitability among different units would be uncorrelated, producing more stable average earnings in aggregate. These days that's considered a bit passé since current theory emphasizes focus on core competencies and leaves investors to diversify their own portfolios if that's what they want. There's some merit to both theories, but as I said, the old one is out of fashion.
(Score: 1) by githaron on Thursday February 20 2014, @03:23AM
If a company gets too focused, they will probably be the best at what they do but will not be well suited to create interesting and useful combination of technologies. They will also likely die when trends shift significantly. If a company is too diverse you get a "Jack of all trades, master of none" situation.
(Score: 5, Funny) by osiguru on Wednesday February 19 2014, @07:50PM
I'd bet that they will only come in ultra-cool-sounding sub-arctic-unobtanium-oxide-gloss white, and the windshield glass will self destruct in a dust storm. When the interior wet, the interior will change colors. From white to red.
Egads!
(Score: 2, Funny) by Dopefish on Wednesday February 19 2014, @07:58PM
I also bet the AppleCare warranty won't be cheap by any means.
(Score: 3, Funny) by osiguru on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:01PM
Yeah, an Applecare warranty will be rotten to the core for those 1stgeneration iCars.
And the salespersons will likely be seedy characters too. The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree.
One bad apple...
*ahem, probably should just stop here*
(Score: 4, Informative) by tbuddy on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:02PM
You don't need a warranty with Apple products. You buy new every time there is a new release.
(Score: 1) by LAngeOliver on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:04PM
Can't wait to get my first refurbished electric car with a slightly used engine, a new battery and a new exterior body.
Decode your health [biogeniq.ca]
(Score: 5, Funny) by snick on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:04PM
The non-removable batteries are going to really drive turnover.
(Score: 3, Funny) by gull on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:46PM
"you're driving it wrong" - s. jobs
(Score: 5, Funny) by martyb on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:57PM
osiguru (1148) wrote:
Yes, but when the first iCar catches fire, will people start calling it the iCarus [wikipedia.org]?
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 1) by osiguru on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:49PM
Touche!
But will it be branded like the good ol' Pontiac iFirebird?
(Score: 1) by hemocyanin on Thursday February 20 2014, @01:44AM
*eyeroll* *groan*
But that's what you wanted isn't it?
(Score: 3, Funny) by lajos on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:14PM
"the windshield glass will self destruct in a dust storm"
Nah. You'll just have to stick them in one of those ugly plastic protective cases.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by SyntaxError on Wednesday February 19 2014, @07:55PM
Imagine how much the apple branded car charging cable will cost? Maybe they'll make it only work with apple branded electricity.
(Score: 5, Funny) by jcd on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:13PM
Also, no stress relief for the cable, it'll wear out as fast as my laptop charger did.
Wait, did I just admit I have a macbook? It runs Arch, I swear to god.
"What good's an honest soldier if he can be ordered to behave like a terrorist?"
(Score: 3, Funny) by animal on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:23PM
Yeah and when something goes wrong Apple would reply "you weren't holding in right. Here have these free fur dice to hang on your mirror"
(Score: 3, Funny) by BsAtHome on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:46PM
Haven't you heard the rumours that Apple is negotiating a deal with Quantum Mechanics to have electrons with an Apple-signature charge? The next generation of Apple products will only run on iElectricity with iElectrons. There is a good chance that iPhotons will follow in the deal and require new iEyes.
(Score: 0, Troll) by tbuddy on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:00PM
I was waiting for some three day old news for the authentic slashdot feel. Now if I can get some editing bad enough to enrage the grammar Nazis I'll feel right at home.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by mmcmonster on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:11PM
When I put my order in for my Tesla a couple months ago, the rep mentioned that they don't have deep iPod integration because Apple required a per-instance licensing fee that Tesla wasn't interested in paying.
I hope Apple doesn't purchase Tesla. Elon Musk seems to march by his own drum, and I would hate to see that change.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by VLM on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:33PM
"Elon Musk seems to march by his own drum, and I would hate to see that change."
Some folks think the coolest thing he's done is his car, but I kind of like his SpaceX rockets. I would imagine a couple billion cash would send him to Mars... literally.
I'm not so cool about the other way around. What would Apple owned iSpaceX look like?
(Score: 4, Insightful) by mcgrew on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:48PM
Why would it have "deep iPod integration" since everybody is using their phones to store music? Who has an iPod these days? All it needs is bluetooth and USB and it's good to go. Also, why in the world would they only support one product from one company? That would be insane.
mcgrewbooks.com mcgrew.info nooze.org
(Score: 2, Interesting) by mmcmonster on Wednesday February 19 2014, @11:23PM
Look up BMW Apps to get an idea. Not a great thing, but something that can be done with a little integration.
That being said, Tesla has it's own phone apps that do well enough without having to pay tax to either Apple or Google.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by theluggage on Wednesday February 19 2014, @11:33PM
I do believe that Apple make some sort of phone thingy (iCall? iBlower? iTelephone? - something like that) that uses the same connector as the iPod Touch, and that it does more than music. "Deep integration" could mean wheel-mounted controls, information display on the dashboard, integration with Maps/GPS and other apps. Locking the iPhone touch screen while you're actually moving, so you're not tempted to fiddle, would be a good idea, too. Yes - I know you can do some remote control with standard Bluetooth, but last time I tried it was fairly limited.
If you wanted to do such "deep integration" then iPod/iPhone would be easier than catering for multiple flavours of Android and multitude of music player Apps (does anybody use the stock Android music player?) - anyway, offering an iPhone-specific option shouldn't preclude offering USB and Bluetooth as well.
The other possibility would be using iOS or Android as the OS for the built-in entertainment system.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by unimatrix on Wednesday February 19 2014, @11:27PM
Probably not next year, but definitely in 2016 we'll be looking at a new car. Mine is 10 years old, 150k miles and hers will be about half that. Previously I had a condo/loft which meant no option to do electric charging, but now married with a house out in the suburbs and electric is an option. Not only an option, but an interesting one because I work from the house 3 days a week and her daily commute is less than 20 miles a day round trip.
To me it will be interesting to see what Chevy does with the Volt's technology and whether it comes down in price or gets incorporated into other models. As it stands right now I can get a Cruse Eco that's 40MPH+ for half the price of a Volt let alone a Tesla. Unless Gas suddenly went to $15 a gallon I doubt that I'd ever make up the $20k difference over the life of the car. And it's that fact that keeps me from going electric right now.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by TrumpetPower! on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:12PM
When a company strays as radically far afield as Apple is doing, it's a sign of desperation, or boredom, or something equally deadly.
Apple has lots of money and lots of well-entrenched products to keep it going for a long time; just look at Google or Microsoft or IBM.
But this is definitely a mid-life crisis for Apple, and a sign that their days as the cool kids are over. They're growing up, in the sense of a flabby pencil-necked geek in his 40s or 50s starts going to the gym and hitting up all the 20-something women there.
Cheers,
b&
All but God can prove this sentence true.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by SpallsHurgenson on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:49PM
They have no Steve Jobs to provide them direction and - as importantly - stop them from wandering down every path. There's no vision at Apple anymore. It's increasingly becoming a company fixated on profits, where growth is more important than the actual product.
There were a lot of things not to like about Steve Jobs - not least was his obsession with form over function - but he knew what he wanted Apple to be and made sure it moved in that direction. Apple is beginning to flounder like too many other tech companies. Perhaps in a few years they will invite John Scully back as CEO; it wouldn't surprise me.
(Score: 5, Informative) by furiousoyster on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:27PM
The Tesla meeting happened nearly a year ago, and nothing has come of it. It seems a bit premature to say that Apple has drifted radically far afield, don't you think?
(Score: 2, Insightful) by AlbertMaurice on Wednesday February 19 2014, @10:54PM
And considering that they have VERY deep pockets they will get sued from here to eternity by every dumbo who totals their Tesla or has a heart attack while using their tech.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by jcd on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:17PM
I really hope they don't do this, I've been rooting for Tesla since I heard about them. I really think they have a chance to get something done, a few isolated fires notwithstanding. If Apple buys them, prepare for more of the same super-corp mentality that ruined Apple for many of us.
"What good's an honest soldier if he can be ordered to behave like a terrorist?"
(Score: 5, Interesting) by WildWombat on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:21PM
I don't really see Apple being able to bring anything to the table in the automotive industry. There really isn't much overlap between the skill set that Apple has and the set of skills needed in the auto industry. The only place that Apple could really bring something to the table would be in the display/gps/radio/entertainment system, which is really just a sliver of what it takes to build a modern car on an industrial scale. If Apple really wants to get into that space I think they'd be better off doing so as a supplier, sort of the way some upscale cars market their 'premium' Bose sound systems. Eg, the new Lexus FU-4000 now with built in Apple Navigation and Entertainment system... Even there though I don't know if the return would be really worth the investment.
Medical sensor devices though I can sort of see. Medical devices are expensive as hell to start with so nice fat margins. The health sensor type devices they seem to be looking at would integrate well with the iPhone and iWatch and could lock more people into their device ecosystem. Apple also has the sort of talent necessary to do a good job, both in design and production, of these sorts of devices. I'd expect it could work out for them rather nicely.
Cheers,
WW
(Score: 4, Interesting) by VLM on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:40PM
Product orientation is one way to look at it, but I'm even more mystified by biz structure.
So a place that designs disposable goods and has the Chinese build them is going to take over a durable goods manufacturing plant full of robots?
It would be like watching Walmart pivot into aerospace turbopump manufacturing. Yeah that'll fit right in. McNuggets, space shuttle main engine primary fuel turbopumps, and happy meals.
I agree with you totally on the med-ish devices. Why the fitbit isn't already the iFitbit and its glossy little scale too, is a mystery to me.
(Score: 1) by Anonymous Couuard on Thursday February 20 2014, @04:53AM
> Walmart ... McNuggets,.... happy meals.
I think your analogy just hit a piece of debris in the middle of the road and burst in to flames.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by PapayaSF on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:45PM
This, thank you. Cars are a mature technology, and it'll be a long time before electric cars are the sort of mass-market product Apple would even consider producing. Talks with Tesla are probably about iOS integration and maybe battery tech, but beyond that it's just silly speculation.
But medical devices are a different story. Apple can leverage their strengths, cutting-edge technology, and abilities to sell lots of things that cost 1-4 figures (not a few things that cost nearly six figures), and disrupt another industry.
(Score: 5, Funny) by pablo_max on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:23PM
Just what we all need. Driving made simple. Only one peddle and no reverse gear.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by mmcmonster on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:34PM
If you've never been in a Tesla, you'd be surprised.
There are two peddles (accelerate and stop). But no ignition switch or even a start/off button. The car just starts up when you open the door. Also, your gear switch only has Forward/Reverse/Neutral. No gears to change.
Almost all the controls are on the touch screen. The only physical buttons not on the steering wheel (if I recall correctly) are for hazard lights and to open the glove compartment. (Personally don't like that, BTW. Tactile feedback is useful when trying to make simple changes while driving. Presumably most common changes can be made by the buttons on the steering wheel.)
Not sure how Apple would be able to minimize on that.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by tftp on Thursday February 20 2014, @12:59AM
Prius has the same controls, except that it has the on/off button (a good thing!) and it has lots of buttons on the steering wheel. There are touch controls on the MFD, but they are optional and you do not need to hit them when you drive.
I prefer to have the on/off button because there should be a clear difference between being in the car and operating the car. You can even give the mechanical key to someone to open your car, but he won't be able to drive it.
But, in the end, all those improvements are irrelevant. The only important measure of a car is how well it can transport you and your belongings from point A to point B. You can glue an AI to a golf cart, and it would look cool, but the golf cart will not become a viable long range car.
One of my friends mentioned to me that I may want to replace my Prius with Tesla... but I really see no point in going EV. My gas expenses are microscopic, I cannot even measure them without a spreadsheet. A Tesla will never pay for itself - neither in my case, nor in many other. It's just an added risk with no reward. It may be a good 17th car in the garage of a billionaire, driven around the block once a month. But it is not a practical car. In do not want to even think about charging the car every night, I have other things to do. I want a car that I can jump into and drive from San Diego to Seattle. A Prius can do it. That's reliable. Everything else is a glorified golf cart for sunny days.
(Score: 1) by computermachine on Wednesday February 19 2014, @10:13PM
Every iCar will come equipped with Time Machine!
(Score: 3, Interesting) by tomtomtom on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:30PM
This immediately made me think of the Sinclair C5 [wikipedia.org]. The parallels are already there I suppose with Elon Musk having founded PayPal but Sinclair's name was very closely associated with making computers in the same way Apple is today. The C5 became a bit of a joke and was widely regarded as a commercial failure.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Castout on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:31PM
If Apple did buy Tesla... Imagine the mixing Automotive & Tech fanboy camps. I'll grab the popcorn!
"Think outside the box but park between the lines!" - Castout
(Score: 2, Interesting) by crutchy on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:34PM
this sounds more like something google would normally do
maybe apple is feeling a bit left out at the moment
(Score: 4, Funny) by gallondr00nk on Wednesday February 19 2014, @08:52PM
I opened this thread expecting to see amusing cheap shots, and I wasn't disappointed. Good work, SN.
Two more:
1: You won't be able to open the bonnet (or hood) on an iCar.
2: Instead of telltales, warning lights etc., the dashboard will have just one light marked "return to Genius Bay".
(Score: 3, Funny) by mrcoolbp on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:12PM
I hope no one starts asking for iphone analogies to explain problems with their iCar.
(Score:1^½, Radical)
(Score: 3, Funny) by VLM on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:45PM
DMCA violation to open the hood.
Remember Knight Rider from the 80s. There's a show that made no sense at all unless you were an 8 year old boy, in which case it made perfect sense.
I'm thinking the iTesla has Siri replace Kitt as the talking car... Car commercials with the Hoff. I am speechless now.
(Score: 1) by bacon on Thursday February 20 2014, @04:06AM
Non issue. Just avoid driving it in that way.
(Score: 5, Funny) by SMI on Wednesday February 19 2014, @09:14PM
iHopeNot.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by lubricus on Wednesday February 19 2014, @10:20PM
Apple might have been interested in buying Tesla a year ago when it's market cap was much lower (can't remember exactly, but it was around 10 Billion).
What's more likely is that they'll collaborate on a new battery factory. They'll both benefit: Apple will bring the capital, Tesla the battery technology.
... sorry about the typos
(Score: 2) by lubricus on Friday February 21 2014, @07:35AM
More specifically, Tesla likes to raise capital by selling new shares when the stock price is high.
My prediction is that within the next two weeks or so, Tesla will release news that they are selling a few billion dollars in new shares, most of which will be bought by Apple, (but some by Elon himself, he seems to like to do that), and the capital will be used to build the new "giga" plant, which will produce batteries for Tesla and Apple. Apple will thus join the ranks of ... I think it was Toyota and BMW as stakeholders in Tesla.
... sorry about the typos
(Score: 1) by kc99 on Friday February 21 2014, @12:41AM
I realize that this crowd loves to hate Apple, but do we really need such overtly biased statements in the summaries? I would love to see SN adopt a policy of presenting only neutral summaries, and let the biases and opinions come out in the comments.