Breaking News: Remembering Be Incorporated - A Startup Whose Fate Was Decided by Steve Jobs
In a shocking turn of events, former Apple executive Jean-Louis Gassée co-founded Be Incorporated in 1990 with the ambitious goal of disrupting Silicon Valley. The startup's innovative approach to creating a new operating system and complementary hardware would eventually lead to its demise at the hands of none other than Steve Jobs.
Timeline of Events
1990: Gassée and fellow Apple executive Steve Sakoman begin developing a prototype desktop computer just one day after Gassée leaves Apple.
1995: BeOS, the operating system developed by Be Incorporated, is released to the public. It was designed as a media OS, capable of handling digital media with ease.
Immediate Impact
The release of BeOS sent shockwaves through the tech industry, with many praising its innovative features such as support for analog and digital audio, 32-bit color graphics, virtual desktops (known as workspaces), and later browser support. However, the operating system's reliance on PowerPC-based processors would ultimately prove to be a major obstacle.
Background Context
Be Incorporated's two-pronged approach to achieving Silicon Valley dominance centered around BeOS and the BeBox computer. The company aimed to create a seamless user experience by integrating its operating system with custom-designed hardware. This approach was seen as a bold move, but it ultimately failed to gain significant traction in the market.
What Happens Next
The fate of Be Incorporated was sealed when Steve Jobs, who had left Apple in 1985, returned to the company in 1997. As part of his efforts to revitalize Apple's product lineup, Jobs acquired NeXT, a company founded by Gassée after he left Be Incorporated. The acquisition marked the end of Be Incorporated as an independent entity, and its technology was eventually absorbed into Apple's own products.
As we look back on the legacy of Be Incorporated, it is clear that the startup's innovative approach to creating a media OS had a lasting impact on the tech industry. While its fate may have been decided by Steve Jobs, the lessons learned from Be Incorporated continue to shape the way companies develop and market their products today.
*This story is developing. Information compiled from Techradar reporting.*
