In a post I wrote last February titled End of the Honeymoon for Apple and Google, I said:
Celebrity marriages are hard to maintain and often end in very messy, very public divorces. But for the moment at least, Apple and Google are still together. Eric Schmidt still sits on Apple's board, but now recuses himself from mobile phone discussions at board meetings. Presumably he'll need to start doing the same when the subjects of online productivity applications—or photo applications for that matter—come up.
The news this morning: Dr. Eric Schmidt Resigns from Apple's Board of Directors:
"Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple's core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric's effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest. Therefore, we have mutually decided that now is the right time for Eric to resign his position on Apple's Board." —Steve Jobs
This marks a sad turning point in the relationship between the world's two most innovative companies. I'm sure Jennifer Aniston, er, Steve Ballmer is pleased.
