If he does indeed see it this way, then he’s going to be a loser. Only someone who completely fails to follow what Google says and does could believe that the Nexus One is a ‘competitive challenge’ to Apple. Compared to the iPhone, its pants. So obviously that’s not what Google is doing. Its also contrary to what Google says its doing – which is breaking up the stranglehold of the wireless carriers. Apple is not doing it – Steve hasn’t changed the game there, he’s played along with the incumbents, albeit from a position with considerably more clout than say Nokia. He’s still playing the game though, Google aims to change that game.

Let’s not forget that the SJ quote was from an internal Apple “town hall” meeting with employees, where Jobs answered employee questions. Perhaps Jobs was trying to focus employees on the competitive challenge from Google. He’s been a successful motivator in such circumstances, circling the wagons and rallying the troops, dating back to the first Mac in the 1980′s.

Only a thinker who doesn’t put customers first could entertain such notions as seriously considering that a ‘competitor’ could ‘kill’ a product. Sorry Steve, I really hate to break this to you, but its customers that kill products, not ‘competitors’. Its only your customers Steve that can kill your products, not Google. Duh!