10 Apple rumors that never happened
Apple buys Tesla
We've heard speculation Apple tried to buy Tesla. This chatter was based on meetings between Tesla CEO, Elon Musk and Apple's M&A chief, Adrian Perica. We don't really know if this was a takeover attempt, or if they met to discuss advancements in battery technology. Apple has not acquired Tesla.
Apple and Jay-Z form label
Don't tell Dre but way back in 2008 there was some speculation Apple and rapper Jay-Z planned to create their own label. Mainstream media repeated the claims. It never happened. Apple did set up the Beats shop with rapper, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine and Jay-Z did launch his own Tidal music service.
Apple to buy Waze
Expectation Apple would acquire mapping and navigation app, Waze, was confounded when Google bought it first. This doesn't mean Apple didn't try – just that the purchase never took place as the crowdsourced mapping firm went for the biggest numbers it could find.
Apple television
The rumor that won't quite die, the Apple–branded television may never see the light of day. It's true Apple has definite interest in television (of which we all expect more next year) but is the time really right for a premium product in a price-conscious market? What can Apple add with a big TV it can't bring with a set-top box? For whatever reason we've seen no Apple television yet.
Blu-ray for Macs
Despite the rumors, Apple never put "big bag of hurt" Blu-ray inside Macs, though it did introduce support for recording via external Blu-ray drives inside its pro-video products.
Apple buys Twitter
Just six years ago rumors claiming Apple planned to acquire Twitter were all the rage. These became so deeply ingrained in the psyche of the Mac Web people even put a $700 million price tag on the deal. It never took place and Twitter remains independent from the iEmpire.
Apple ships Netbook
Despite Apple executives frequently dismissing the entire netbook category, claims the company intended introducing a netbook of its own echoed across the first half of 2009. Instead it utterly destroyed the netbook industry when it launched the iPad.
The Liquidmetal iPhone
Squeezed like toothpaste from a tube or printed by the most sophisticated 3D printing technology the implications of Liquidmetal use in iPhones has attracted hundreds of meters of speculation from all and sundry (including myself). However, right now the only thing we know of made with the alloy wad the SIM removal tool that shipped with the 3GS. Apple regularly renews its exclusive license for the technology, so it's not so hard to imagine it uses the metal alloy, but keeps it quiet just where.
Stripey iPods
ThinkSecret in December 2003, said it had confirmed that "Apple will announce the new pocket-size iPods in a number of capacities and in various colors, including stripes," the site claimed. Prices were expected to fall to $100. Apple did ship the colored iPod nano, but the price was $250, just fifty bucks less than standard pricing.
The 'failed' iPhone
Apple's never had it easy with iPhone. Since day one the company has faced intense criticism and cutthroat competition. Palm's then boss, Ed Colligan, pointed out: "We've learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone. PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They're not going to just walk in." They got it wrong and Apple's now the world's leading smartphone brand.
I hope you've enjoyed this small sampling of failed speculations. We'd love to read more, so if you can recall any please note them down in comments below.
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Posted by: Kris Murray <krismurray@gmail.com>
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