Business

Sweet Valley High

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Google boss Eric Schmidt says the company’s chilly relationship with Apple is getting warmer.

Schmidt, who spoke to reporters on Thursday at the annual Allen & Co. powwow for media and tech heavy hitters, said the two companies have grown closer over the past year and are in “constant business discussions on a long list of issues.”

The two tech titans used to be tight — so much so that Schmidt sat on Apple’s board. But the relationship soured as competition grew. Google’s mobile ambitions, in particular the launch of its Android operating system, put it in direct competition with Apple’s iPhone.

The two have gone on to fight over a host of issues, including Apple’s decision to boot Google’s mapping service from its mobile devices last year — a move that backfired on Apple when problems poured in about its map service.

When asked about Google’s ongoing rivalry with Apple, Schmidt immediately responded by joking about Apple’s map mishap, saying, “We have a nice maps application.”

Just around that time Apple CEO Tim Cook and Eddy Cue, senior vice president of Internet software and services, walked by Schmidt’s annual press conference.

Schmidt flashed a mystery mobile device that he wouldn’t discuss, but it appeared to be the upcoming Moto X smartphone — white with sleek curves and what looked like a carbon fiber shell.

The phone will be the flagship device from Google’s Motorola Mobility, which it acquired last year.

Schmidt spoke about a host of topics that affected the company, ranging from Samsung’s dominance in smartphones to YouTube.

One of the biggest issues for Google is its reliance on global telco companies, which are in turn trying to cope with a 50 percent increase in demand for bandwidth, along with government price caps.

“There are a number of countries where telcos are under severe economic pressure, and we are critically reliant on them,” said Schmidt.

Google’s YouTube and Netflix eat up huge amounts of bandwidth.

Asked about driverless cars, Schmidt said not to expect them anytime soon.

Schmidt explained Google has met with all the car companies, but they “are not quite ready for broad distribution. This is years not decades.”

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Last man to leave the Duchin Lounge, a popular watering hole: ICM’s down-to-earth boss Chris Silbermann, who met Pinterest CEO Ben Silbermann. The two joked about their shared surname.

Who wasn’t in the bar? New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and his partner, Diana Taylor. They wanted to stay fresh for the sessions, we hear.

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In the lobby lounge were hedge fund chief Morris Mark of Mark Asset Management and Zynga chairman Mark Pincus. The two chatted about NFL licensing, poker and the economy.