Report: Steve Jobs actually thought HDTVs were a terrible idea

According to a new book by former Wall Street Journal reporter Yukari Iwatani Kane entitled "Haunted Empire: Apple After Steve Jobs," Apple founder Steve Jobs reportedly told his top executives that HDTVs were a terrible idea due to razor thin margins and incredibly infrequent user upgrades.

Jobs made the comments at a 2010 meeting with his "Top 100" employees, about a year before his death.

During the meeting, Jobs was asked if the company was planning on joining the saturated HDTV market, moving beyond their 'hobby' Apple TV set-top streamer. Jobs responded bluntly, "no" and then continued on to say "TV is a terrible business. They don't turn over and the margins suck."

The tech visionary's alleged answers are in complete contrast with what Jobs told his authorized biographer, Walter Isaacson, as the author wrote the "Steve Jobs" biography in 2011. Jobs said in the biography that Apple had "cracked" the code for HDTV, and that the device would be advanced and sync with all of your other iGadgets.

Despite Apple's significant clout in the tech world, HDTVs continue to see falling revenues and profits, with established players even dropping out of the market.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 17 Mar 2014 22:01

jookycola

Of course he did. ever get the feeling anything he didn't think of first...or a technology he couldn't figure a way to steal and make it sound like apple owns it sucks according to Steve jobs. the iPhone is his legacy and the last thing he created and Apple would like to make you all think they created cell phones and dominate. but established phone makers stepped up rolled Apple. and all Steve Jobs could do is sue the competition because he couldn't get a grasp of the phone market and dominate like he wanted to. Like a crybaby having a temper tantrum on the floor he viciously wen after anyone that that dared to build a better phone. I'm glad he's dead.

18.3.2014 21:05 #1

DarthMopar

Not a fan of Apple products, but the "I'm glad he's dead" comment is uncalled for. I hope no one says the same about you or your loved ones when/if they pass due to a debilitating disease.

19.3.2014 02:28 #2

Jemborg

Was he right then? I thought HDTVs were the standard now... in the western world.

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

19.3.2014 10:04 #3

bhetrick

Originally posted by Jemborg: Was he right then? I thought HDTVs were the standard now... in the western world. Well, I think the article title is a small bit misleading.

The article's not about Steve Job thinking hdtv as being a bad idea.

It's about some questioning if Apple should get in to manufacturing hdtvs and Steve Jobs' reply was it was a bad idea.

19.3.2014 13:01 #4

Jemborg

Ah.

Thanks Bhetrick.

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

20.3.2014 09:57 #5

maitland

"TV is a terrible business. They don't turn over and the margins suck."

^^Yeah, steve jobs was only into making expensive, disposable electronics. He would never want to make something that lasts. What a chode.

21.3.2014 18:26 #6

Tarsellis

Originally posted by jookycola: Of course he did. ever get the feeling anything he didn't think of first...or a technology he couldn't figure a way to steal and make it sound like apple owns it sucks according to Steve jobs. the iPhone is his legacy and the last thing he created and Apple would like to make you all think they created cell phones and dominate. but established phone makers stepped up rolled Apple. and all Steve Jobs could do is sue the competition because he couldn't get a grasp of the phone market and dominate like he wanted to. Like a crybaby having a temper tantrum on the floor he viciously wen after anyone that that dared to build a better phone. I'm glad he's dead. Sorry, can't say that CrApple or Jobs invented the iPhone. He polished and marketed it. And I will admit did a good job of it. But was a "thief" (according to his copyright lawyer practices), not an inventor.

On a side note, he was a business genius (those words literally hurt to say), and he was correct. Getting into the HDTV production market would have been a disaster. The margins are terrible if you're not part of the cartel, and individual units don't create new sales. They sold (sell) services and software, and only used hardware to lock you into their sales platform. Said S&S is where profit margins lie.

<edit, grammar fix>

22.3.2014 14:21 #7

xtago

The only thing apple invented was an digital shop that you used a device to access.

The all devices have all been invented before apple.

23.3.2014 06:47 #8

ren97

Steve Jobs envisioned the consumer connected phone and tablet in 1983. There is no question that he thought of it. Also they stole a lot of ideas in the desktop world early on, that is very true. But ape doesn't steal ideas anymore they are the ones being copied. There design of both hardware and software.

"History cannot repeat itself if we refuese to allow it" ~veo

23.3.2014 13:02 #9

xboxdvl2

Originally posted by ren97: Steve Jobs envisioned the consumer connected phone and tablet in 1983. There is no question that he thought of it. Also they stole a lot of ideas in the desktop world early on, that is very true. But ape doesn't steal ideas anymore they are the ones being copied. There design of both hardware and software. i thought chinese companies had already made and sold tablets locally before steve jobs and apple even began production on them, also mobile phones weren't invented by steve jobs.
The idea of software on phones wasn't even invented by steve jobs as we had an nec (i think) 3G phone back in 2003 that had software and full video camera long before apple phones came out.
ideas are only good if you can make them work and if someone else had same idea and made and marketted a product before you without knowledge of your idea then you have stolen it.

custom built gaming pc from early 2010,ps2 with 15 games all original,ps3 500gbs with 5 games all original,yamaha amp and 5.1channel surround sound speakers,46inch sony lcd smart tv.

23.3.2014 16:22 #10

ren97

The article is about the iphone not mobile phones. There was nothing like the iphone in 1983. Apple was a pioneer in the tablet r and d very early on as well. Honestly the comments on Afterdawn have no substance anymore. Trolls and and flamers. I'm done reading and commenting on articles.

23.3.2014 17:55 #11

xboxdvl2

Originally posted by ren97: The article is about the iphone not mobile phones. There was nothing like the iphone in 1983. Apple was a pioneer in the tablet r and d very early on as well. Honestly the comments on Afterdawn have no substance anymore. Trolls and and flamers. I'm done reading and commenting on articles. actually the article is about steves jobs opinion on hdtv.

custom built gaming pc from early 2010,ps2 with 15 games all original,ps3 500gbs with 5 games all original,yamaha amp and 5.1channel surround sound speakers,46inch sony lcd smart tv.

24.3.2014 01:53 #12

ren97

Holy fucking shit, like I said.

"History cannot repeat itself if we refuese to allow it" ~veo

24.3.2014 02:04 #13

Jemborg

Originally posted by ren97: The article is about the iphone not mobile phones. There was nothing like the iphone in 1983. Apple was a pioneer in the tablet r and d very early on as well. Honestly the comments on Afterdawn have no substance anymore. Trolls and and flamers. I'm done reading and commenting on articles. I don't mean to sound mean but I DO remember touch tablets before Apple produced them... YEARS before.

I won't argue that they did a good job (at the time) of it... that's not flaming, is it?

Its a lot easier being righteous than right.

24.3.2014 04:58 #14

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