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http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=513
CNet goes one-on-one with Jobs
By ron carlson, Insanely Great Mac
June 5th 2002
Perhaps you didn''t know it, but it''s an MPEG4 world and Apple''s leading the charge
On Monday, we reported that Apple was prepping a release and that the company''s
marketing machine was lining up interviews for iCEO Steve Jobs. As you know Cupertino
has announced eMacs for the people and the release of QT6. Now the other shoe has
fallen -- CNet has posted a Q&A with Steve Jobs and its a fairly good read.
In the interview, Jobs talks about Apple''s vision for streamed digital content and
the company''s long-term leadership. He repeatedly emphasizes open standards and how
this differs significantly from the proprietary, closed approaches being followed by
Real and M$, which won''t adopt MPEG4 and instead insist on pushing "Corona" -- its
own vision for the future.
With everyone of consequence in streamed media intending to go with MPEG4 -- sans M$
-- it can finally be hoped that Redmond now has enough rope and the misguided will to
use it to hang themselves. I don''t wish the market to be less one competitor. I
merely wish that all competitors base their efforts on open standards.
On the subject of the MPEGLA licensing morass, Jobs said he believes that all
remaining issues will be cleared up before Jaguar, which will include final QT6 code,
ships "this summer."
It is widely rumored that Apple is pushing to release Jaguar at Macworld New York or
be close enough to release to announce a ship date. This leaves Cupertino and MPEGLA
only a few weeks to work out their differences.
Whatever the outcome, it''s quite likely that Apple will not get its wish for
royalty-free distribution of MPEG4. Eighteen companies hold claim to at least part of
this standard and several are holding out for cash for their "contribution."
Whether or not these holdouts deserve payment is irrelevant. What is relevant is
whether or not this technology -- an "open standard" -- can dominate and sweep
proprietary products from the field as is: addled with egregious licensing
requirements such as user-based royalty fees, data collection on users and per-unit
product fees. Personally I feel the holdouts should name their price -- a lump sum
payment -- and let the world move on. Greed however will likely dictate harsher terms
than reason demands.
Education and more
Apple''s numero uno also speaks about the eMac, education, retail strategy and
uber-nemesis Dell. For the full interview, click here.
Post your comments at:
http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=513
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