Prompt Cast
The Journey of Steve Jobs and the Acquisition of NeXT by Apple
TLDR Steve Jobs resigns from Apple and starts NeXT, a top-secret organization that eventually launches the NeXT computer. Apple struggles to create a next generation operating system and acquires NeXT, leading to the development of products like OS X, the iPhone, and the iPad.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Pilot is a startup-focused accounting firm that takes care of all financial needs for companies, allowing them to focus on what makes their product better.
05:36
Steve Jobs is working on a top secret project at Apple to create an affordable workstation computer that combines the power of a workstation with the affordability of a personal computer, but he is struggling and loses the support of the CEO and board, leading him to eventually resign and start a new company to pursue his vision.
11:18
Steve Jobs resigns from Apple and starts a new computer company, taking several employees with him, which leads to a lawsuit from Apple accusing him of stealing trade secrets and breaching his fiduciary duty.
16:54
Steve Jobs starts a top-secret, controlled organization called NeXT, which aims to target education and create powerful computers, and receives a $20 million investment from Ross Perot, leading to the eventual launch of the NeXT computer at a gala event.
22:19
The NeXT computer has impressive specs, including a networked design, a 256 megabyte magneto optical drive, and an advanced operating system that is years ahead of its competition.
27:39
Next pivots to becoming a software company, separating out their operating system and selling it to other computer manufacturers, and they release WebObjects, one of the first Internet application servers, which is still in use today.
32:41
Apple is struggling to create a next generation operating system and eventually decides to buy Next, which is not a home run financially, but brings Steve Jobs back to Apple as the interim CEO.
38:11
Apple's acquisition of Next and integration of its technologies, including the Next Step operating system, played a crucial role in the development of products like OS X, the iPhone, and the iPad.
43:29
Apple's acquisition of Next was primarily a people acquisition, as they recognized the value of bringing Steve Jobs back to the company.
48:43
Next had a fighting chance to go public and become profitable as a software-only business, but ultimately got acquired by Apple.
53:50
Originality in the tech industry is not about being the first to do something, but rather about creating a product that works, solves a need, and delights users.
58:51
The acquisition of NeXT by Apple was the best and most valuable acquisition of all time, resulting in a trillion dollars in revenue and the integration of NeXT's technology into every product Apple ships today.
01:03:57
DJI, the drone company, hires the winners of their robot wars competition, resulting in over a thousand PhDs working on computer vision and machine understanding, which is integrated into their products like the Mavic Pro drone.
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Technology
Business
