iPhone, iPod Innovator Leaves Apple for Greener Projects
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Tony Fadell, a major force behind the iPod, is leaving Apple for the green tech industry. Meanwhile, Greenpeace releases a report calling data centers, such as the one built to support the Apple iPad, major contributors to global warming.
Tony Fadell, who is said to have contributed greatly to the creation of the
Apple iPod and iPhone, is officially leaving Apple after a nine-year
collaboration with CEO Steve Jobs.
According to The New York Times,
Fadell had an idea for a hard-drive-based digital music player in 1990s, which
he approached RealNetworks with. After clashing with Rob Glaser, RealNetworks' chief
executive, Fadell instead brought the idea to Apple in 2001.
The success of the iPod and the iTunes store can hardly be overstated. On Feb.
25, Apple
celebrated its 10 billionth song download-which happened to be Johnny
Cash's "Guess Things Happen That Way"-and awarded the happy
downloader with a $10,000 iTunes gift card.
Fadell stepped down as senior vice president of Apple's iPod division in
November 2008, becoming instead an adviser to Jobs. In a statement
announcing the transition, Fadell's wife Danielle Lambert was said to be
leaving her position as Apple's vice president of human resources, to
"devote more time to their young family," and Mark Papermaster, an IBM
veteran, was named Apple's senior vice president of Devices Hardware and
Engineering in Fadell's place.
According to Channel Web, the timing of
Fadell's departure was because a deadline had been reached. "Fadell was
tied to Apple until March 24 as part of an employment agreement disclosed in an
Apple Securities and Exchange Commission filing," the site reported.
Under the agreement, Fadell is expected to receive a payout of nearly $9
million in salary and Apple stock.
Fadell told the Times that he's planning
to turn his attention to green technology.
"My primary focus will be helping the environment by working with consumer
green-tech companies," he said. "I'm determined to tell my kids and
grandkids amazing stories beyond my iPod and iPhone ones."
With data centers-such as the one Apple built to offer cloud computing services
for the iPad-being
named as major contributors to global warming, let's hope Fadell brings as
many industry-changing ideas to his new ventures as he did to his tenure at
Apple.
