http://www.macnn.com/articles/06/08/30/google..apple.speculation/
Google+Apple speculation sends ripples
updated 01:20 pm EDT, Wed August 30, 2006
Google + Apple speculation
As MacNN reported yesterday evening, Google's CEO and Chairman Eric Schmidt was elected to Apple’s board of directors at their meeting yesterday. This appointment reportedly sent ripples through the tech industry according to a report by Electronista: "Though the alliance is strictly informal, both companies have technology and services the other could use to great advantage, challenging Microsoft's own efforts at media consolidation through its upcoming Zune player and store." These reports surface as several technology industry analysts see the appointment as a huge step for Apple, including industry pundit Om Malik who opinies about the possibilities of iTunes becoming part of Google's software pack or Toolbar.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2000
i don't know why...
...anyone thinks this is a huge deal. So the guy's on Apple's board now, big whoop. It doesn't necessarily portend any joint ventures, preferential treatment of the Mac platform by Google, or anything like that.
For example, Bill Campbell, who has very close ties to Intuit (IIRC he's former CEO and current COB), is also on Apple's board and has been for years. But Quicken for the Mac is a t***- It -still- doesn't have 100% feature parity with the Windows version, and if that wasn't bad enough, the (just-released!) latest version for the Mac isn't even a universal binary!
~Philly