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Apple - Beats
Apple - Beats

Apple - Beats

S1
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50
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Dec 11, 2017

Acquired crosses the half-century mark with an instant classic: Apple's 2014 purchase of Beats, its largest acquisition ever. If you knew Beats as just another headphone company, think again—the history on this one will keep your heads ringin'.

SoundJam (iTunes)
SoundJam (iTunes)

SoundJam (iTunes)

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38
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May 31, 2017

Ben & David revisit the birth of the digital music revolution and Steve Jobs' "digital hub" strategy, with Apple's 2000 acquisition of the Mac music player SoundJam MP, which would go on to become iTunes. We relive the 90's with brushed metal interfaces, music visualizers and of course, software sold in (physical) boxes.

P.A. Semi + AuthenTec
P.A. Semi + AuthenTec

P.A. Semi + AuthenTec

S1
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30
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Jan 24, 2017

Ben & David venture into the semiconductor world, analyzing two hallmark Apple acquisitions: P.A. Semi and AuthenTec, both of which would go on to form the basis of core Apple product features in the "A" series of processors and TouchID sensors. Was Cupertino smart to bring these components in-house? Is there more value realized in the whole of Apple's products than the sum of its parts? We investigate! (Spoiler alert: um, yeah. :)

NeXT (Live show at the GeekWire Summit)
NeXT (Live show at the GeekWire Summit)

NeXT (Live show at the GeekWire Summit)

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23
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Oct 23, 2016

Ben & David broadcast live from the 2016 GeekWire Summit covering one of the all-time greats, Apple's 1996 acquisition of NeXT. This episode has it all: the Steve Jobs hero story, Apple, I.M. Pei, Ross Perot, Aaron Sorkin, Nobel Laureates and... Gil Amelio? Does NeXT rank atop the best acquisitions ever? Our own heroes cast their votes.

Siri
Siri

Siri

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5
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Dec 14, 2015

In the last episode of 2015, Ben and David discuss Apple's acquisition of Siri. Notable topics include:

  • The founding of Siri by Dag Kittlau, Adam Cheyer, and Chris Brigham.
  • Scott Forstall on the Apple side, and the end of his time at the company.
  • The other Apple acquisitions around Siri, including Topsy, Novauris Technologies, OttoCat.
  • Cue, Spotsetter, VocalIQ, and Perceptio.
  • The team Apple built around Siri post-acquisition, including Alex Acero from Microsoft Research.
  • Speculation on the future of voice and its role in everyday computing.