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Tony Fadell Profile
Tony Fadell

@tfadell

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iPod, iPhone, Nest, Investor & NY Times bestselling Author #BUILD

Joined February 2009
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
Happy 21st birthday iPod!!! You’re now legal drinking age! I’ll toast to that… 🍻😂
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
1/5 Today is the 15th year anniversary of the #iPhone shipping- WOW! Reflecting back on my time with #Apple and working on 18 generations of the #iPod and the first three generations of the #iPhone is truly special. The nostalgia is real.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Most people (and companies) need a near-death experience before they can really change.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
These plastic models are truly the first iPods. Around May or June of 2001, we 3D printed & machined these prototypes of the first gen iPod during the mechanical & industrial design process. They were just shells, but they were important.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
I thought building the iPod, iPhone & Nest was hard. Never realized writing a book would be harder. #BUILD launches May 2022. @harpercollins @harperbusiness @PenguinUKbooks #adviceencyclopedia #coverreveal Pre-Orders & Email Updates📚:
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
5 years
I remember the day when Steve called me to the Board Room to personally sign a $4B purchase order for Samsung Flash for the Nano. “Are you sure we are ordering the right stuff? It’s going to work, right?” It was the biggest single order Apple had ever placed at the time.
@EghosaO
Eghosa Omoigui
5 years
@tfadell the same strategy around the iphone and nand memory. I remember the long nights in late '05 negotiating that deal with TimC, JeffW & occasionally SJ. Ballsy and sheer genius.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
I want to do something special to say thank you to everyone who has supported BUILD, so I am giving away a FREE signed copy of the book. Simply tag a friend to enter. Tag as many as you want! We will announce the winner Wednesday Jan 25. Good luck everyone!
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Some advice in the new year - ask yourself where you want to go, who you want to work with, what you want to learn, and who you want to become. From there, hopefully, you’ll start to understand how to build what you want to build.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
7 years
Hysterical! Great to see humor during these distressing times...
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
“In Q1 alone, Meta’s Metaverse/Reality Labs operated at a loss of $2.96 billion, and last year, Reality Labs lost over $10 billion.” The iPhone didn’t even cost $3B to build, let alone $13B… F& @k the Metaverse!
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Learn by doing.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
I'm so proud of Matt + Harry who I've mentored over the years. They've put what they've learned at Apple & Nest to use on a problem that matters. Today is the starting line, I'm sure a lot will evolve and change with @Mill , but I am so excited for them. Onward!
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
I’ve launched many products in my life. But this is different. The iPod & iPhone & Nest were created by thousands of people. But the advice in #BUILD is from me. The thoughts are from me. The stories are from me. And I dreaded that we couldn’t software update it! #BUILDlaunchday
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
7 years
Triple your donation. Send your receipts to me too. I'll match to $25k. Thanks @sacca for taking the lead!
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
The first step in BUILDING something great is belief in yourself. 📹 @lexfridman
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
5 years
Companies Create the Most Plastic Trash: 1) Coca Cola 2) Pepsi 3) Nestle 4) Danone 5) Mondelez 6) 7-Eleven 7) Procter & Gamble 8) Unilever 9) Perfetti can Melle (Mentos) 10) Mars 11) Colgate 12) McDonald’s 13) Bimbo …
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
The story you’re telling shapes the thing you’re making.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
You asked, so here it is #iPhone team group shot 📱 ✨ (Left to right: Schiller, Fadell, Ive, Jobs, Forstall, Cue) What a dream team! 👏
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
5 years
The real reason why iPod & iPhone were successful was based on the market timing & the complete ground up design (HW+SW) That said, I pushed to ship the 1st iPod in <10 months. Long timelines are the death of daring projects inside (struggling) companies. We even surprised SJ!
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
Nothing like opening the box for your own book!! Now I have a real copy too!! #Build
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
This is my invitation to the announcement of the first iPod. Love that little “hint: it’s not a Mac.” #BUILD #BUILDtreasurechest #Buildbook Launch is May 3rd 🙌🏻
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Today, I'm excited and proud to introduce @Ledger Stax- a product that is the next step in managing and safely storing all digital value. This is what premium crypto security feels like. Learn more here:
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
3 years
Coincidentally, 20 years ago today, Stan Ng (Marketing), Jeff Robbin (iTunes) & I pitched Steve Jobs the P68 Dulcimer project. 8 months later that project became the iPod. Apple launched its revolutionary OS X 20 years ago What a day it was!
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
9 years
Hysterical! Maybe Trump Should Just Borrow Obama’s Campaign Logo http://t.co/Opn9JNnBKB http://t.co/6ZkznDVohf
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
This conversation truly could’ve kept going… @lexfridman thank you for having me on. Really enjoyed getting to do this in person in ATX too! See you again soon! 🙏 #BUILD #Buildbook
@lexfridman
Lex Fridman
2 years
Here's my conversation with Tony Fadell ( @tfadell ), co-creator of the iPhone, iPod, and Nest. Tony is a legendary designer, engineer, leader, and a great human being who built some of the most incredible and impactful technologies in history. This was fun.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Solving a problem is only half the equation. You have to make sure people understand there is a problem to be solved.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
7 years
Update: So far 168 donations totaling $52055! Raising my match to $100k. Let’s keep this going! @sacca
@tfadell
Tony Fadell
7 years
Triple your donation. Send your receipts to me too. I'll match to $25k. Thanks @sacca for taking the lead!
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
7 years
To all parent’s of <18 year olds - Read this… Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
4 years
In ’04/’05, we saw the iPod was facing an existential issue. Users only wanted to carry one thing in their pocket/purse - That would be a phone, not a dedicated music player. The iPod+Phone/iPhone project was born. Either we cannibalised ourselves or someone else was going to…
@LouisAnslow
Louis Anslow
4 years
@tfadell Turned out the iPod killer was the iPhone...
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
4 years
Absolutely spot on David Shayer… This project was real w/o a doubt. There was whole surreal drama & interesting story about how this project was kicked off & then kept secret. The Case of the Top Secret iPod
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Half of what you put into any product needs to be emotional.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
Exactly right @waltmossberg So much impact. We are going to be waiting a lot longer than 15 yrs for another personal device - it’ll be one we don’t hold or hardly see. No it’s not the “metaverse” (whatever the hell that is) or the VR/AR/XR glasses being pitched today…
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
3 years
This is a P68/Dulcimer iPod prototype we (very quickly) made before the true form factor design was ready. Didn’t want it look like an iPod for confidentiality - the buttons placement, the size - it was mostly air inside - and the wheel worked (poorly)
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
8 months
If you're going to pour your heart into creating something new, then that thing should be disruptive.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Who is the greatest disruptor of all time?
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
9 years
You rock @FastCompany @JaredLeto and audience! Awesome to hang out with you...
@FastCompany
Fast Company
9 years
. @JaredLeto talks about the power of design with @nest 's @tfadell at #FCNY . Watch the live stream at 2:30PM here:
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
7 months
October 23, 2001 the original #iPod was introduced “1,000 songs in your pocket” I will never forget that day. While production of iPods stopped last year, it’s amazing to see how many of you were and still are iPod fans. Thanks for loving a device that has been such a big part…
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
After working with @arm technology for 30+ years, I am thrilled to announce today that I am joining its board.
@Arm
Arm
2 years
We're thrilled to welcome @tfadell to the Arm Board. 🎉 With decades of experience with the Arm architecture and ecosystem, Tony shares our vision for a future built #onArm . By coming together, we're enabling Arm tech to define the future of computing:
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Don't just prototype the product, prototype the experience.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
4 years
Couldn’t agree more! Product Marketing is essential in any business - B2C, B2B, etc. It’s misunderstood (it’s not project management), under appreciated by engineering, marketing or sales (and definitely startup CEOs) its one of the most difficult positions to hire!
@_aiCarly
aiCarly 🦄 (Carly Stoughton)
4 years
@martin_casado Yes! I think Product Marketing is a widely misunderstood discipline. Best way I've seen it described (pictured), is what I jump to the whiteboard with. It's a hybrid role, with tight alignment to product and sales teams. One of MANY roles in marketing, and can be quite technical.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Everything that needs to be created needs to be designed - not just products and marketing, but processes, experiences, organizations, forms, and materials.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
5 years
It was a critical component no doubt. But even more important was the “exclusive supply” agreement I/we negotiated to enable us to get the hdd for 3+ years before any of our competitors could… Toshiba didn’t think MP3 players were a big market - they thought it was laptops.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
Black 1st gen iPod Shuffles were never sold, but here’s a photo of this super rare black version.  To get Shuffle’s LED UI right we worked over the holidays, SJ calling every hour or so. Days before launch we completely redesigned when it “breathed”, flashed, etc. #BUILD
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
5 years
iPod Nano, yet-to-be-launched, was about to use >40% of the world’s flash. Samsung would build new factories to support our, what we hoped, incredible sales volume. Same is going on today w/ batteries for EVs. Demand outstrips supply by a wide margin. Orders must be committed.
@duobham
uɐᴉʇǝqɐZ pnoqɥɐW
5 years
@tfadell Why buy it all at the same time? Is it because all those Nanos were being imminently assembled? Of course, buying all at once could keep the price from going up once the vendor realized how instrumental they were.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
Something real is going on @nothing ! Congrats @getpeid & team... so exciting.
@nothing
Nothing
2 years
You’ve speculated, and now you know. Nothing phone (1) is officially coming. It’s unlike anything else. Summer 2022. Sign up for the latest updates on .
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
5 years
What a trip down Memory Lane to see our old team’s M68 work - after 13 years! An exclusive look at an original iPhone prototype
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
You should always be striving to tell a story so good that it stops being yours—so your customer learns it, loves it, internalizes it, owns it. And tells it to everyone they know.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Make a connection. That's the best way to get a job anywhere.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
7 years
Update 3: in 10 hours - 413 donations = $110,698 You've all been matched! We did it together, united against those against humanity!
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
"Where is innovation really happening now?" My interview with @karaswisher is now live across all podcast platforms. Had a great time discussing the past, present, and future of tech!
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
7 days
3/3 Don’t think that any AI announcements in June are going to change this sad story. Apple has ZERO data center capabilities relative to the leaders & why it’s needs to partner with Google/OpenAI/etc. Sad state of affairs…
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
9 months
Every product should have a story, a narrative that explains why it needs to exist and how it will solve your customer's problems.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Before you commit to executing on an idea - starting a company or launching a new product - you should commit to researching it and trying it out first.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
Happy Birthday iPhone! My, oh my, how things have changed in 15 years... Imagine how societies would have coped if COVID struck BEFORE the smartphone (& 3G/4G & health/zoom/delivery apps) revolution?! Steve Jobs unveiled the 1st iPhone 15 yrs ago
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
7 years
So very very true...
@alsaqqaf
Mohammed Al Sakkaf
7 years
Cringley: "What's important to you in the development of a product?" Steve Jobs:
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
The superpower of every truly great product manager—is empathy.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
These are various mockups of the iPod Nano, we explored every possibility - what if the screen was this big? What if the wheel was that big? What if there was no wheel?  #BUILD #BUILDtreasurechest #Buildbook will be officially released tmrw May 3rd!
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
🙌🙌💪💪 @evanspiegel The word “metaverse” is never uttered in Snap’s offices. “...because it’s pretty ambiguous & hypothetical. Ask a room of people & everyone’s definition is totally different.” Snapchat’s Evan Spiegel dismisses Facebook’s metaverse
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
7 years
Help the planet since someone won’t! @EnvDefenseFund does outstanding work. I’ll match up $100K - 3x your donation!
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
8 years
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” –Socrates, (470 – 399 BC)
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
7 years
I respect @pschiller as a colleague & friend. The story about him is not true. Have asked writer to correct the record.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Stay beginners. Never overlook the details. Walk in the shoes of someone who has never experienced your product before.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
11 months
Apple's Vision Pro is a technological Tour de Force - very impressive HW. But with the "consumer" apps & marketing for $3500 w/ 2 hour battery life, Apple has truly "Jumped The Shark"
@t3mporarybl1p
SJV
11 months
@tfadell Any thoughts you’d care to share about Vision Pro now that it has been revealed?
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Some lessons I learned the hard way.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
The best way you figure out what you want to do in life is by figuring out what you don't want to do. Let this guide you into the month ahead.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 months
Apple doesn't have any real technology or UI advantage in autos (& TVs). That's why Apple doesn't make TVs (only AppleTV) & it's same reason it shouldn't make typical cars/EVs (iPhones + CarPlay is fine enough)
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
I’ve worked hard with the teams at @Ledger to create a secure and easy-to-use Web3 experience. This touchscreen device is made for everyone and will change the world of digital assets. Check it out here:
@Ledger
Ledger
1 year
Enter Ledger Stax. Our most advanced and customizable Ledger yet, Ledger Stax is a touchscreen device made to protect your most valuable digital assets. Uncompromised security. Built for confidence. All your digital assets in one place.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
5 years
Many sleepless nights worrying about Sony. It was one of my biggest questions I asked Steve during the first pitch “Sony owns every audio market category.…” MSFT - no worries - they weren’t a SW+HW innovator like they are today. I would worry about them now however.
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Tony Fadell
1 year
SVB was instrumental in building Silicon Valley & our digital world. They absolutely deserve our support as they have supported us for 40 yrs. There is NO other bank even close to their ability to understand & support these highly technical businesses!
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
I can’t see a problem. The world has converged on USB-C. The physical & user limits have been hit. Next up is wireless per, not a diff physical connection. So I’m not too worried about this regulation. They’re simply forcing Apple to do the right thing… it’s overdue frankly.
@chucker
Die Grünen haben an Sören Schuld
2 years
This is a good point. USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/s) wasn’t a thing yet, and USB 1.1 was very slow (12 Mbit/s!) by comparison. So Apple used FireWire, with 400 Mbit/s, until USB 2 became widespread. Will the EU regulation hamper the next iPod?
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
11 months
It’s has truly nothing to do with 2hr battery life. The apps & marketing pitch is awful even if it had 24 HR battery life…. This is not a painkiller. Platforms don’t become useful products. Useful products become platforms…
@thejefflutz
Jeff Lutz 🔋
11 months
@tfadell Agree, more work to do on power consumption. With the battery pack being external my pure guess is they’ll sell with a larger better pack option for an up charge or accessory…
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
You shouldn't outsource a problem before you try to solve it yourself, especially if solving that problem is core to the future of your business.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
5 years
Sony Corp was too concerned about the declining CD music sales in the Sony Music Entertainment business. They didn’t want to appear to embrace MP3s - since that implied the music was stolen. Corporate politics. Reminds me of Kodak who invented the digital camera…
@felixjamestin
Felix Jamestin
5 years
@tfadell Super interesting. Why do you think Sony did/could not effectively respond to the iPod?
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
You only fail if you give up. If you don't give up and you learn from your mistakes, that’s a normal cycle of learning and it’s okay! Failure sounds like such a harsh word but I don't see it that way. You only learn what you love to do by doing a lot of things that you don't.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
3 years
Thanks to the entire iPod team and all our partners who helped us make it happen in America, Britain, France,Japan, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan (and I’m sure there are many I forgot. )
@vassko
Vassko
3 years
Happy Birthday 🎼🎂 baby! Thank you @tfadell 💪🏼❤️ #iPod
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
9 years
Denmark’s wind farms produced 140% of national electricity demands. http://t.co/C4VKEgxafX
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Tony Fadell
1 year
Are you using ChatGPT? How are you finding the experience?
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
9 years
Some incredibly creative minds behind this..."These Drones Are Like Floating Legos "
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Your legal team is there to inform your choices, not make them for you.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
Actually the wheel was inspired from this Bang & Olufsen DECT cordless phone you could buy at the time… @pschiller brought it to the first (what would become the iPod) meeting with Steve Jobs.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
What has been your best productivity tool to date?
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 months
An unforgettable a day together... Build! . @jessechenglyu
@jessechenglyu
Jesse Lyu
2 months
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
Anyone want to see what I unearthed when I cleaned out my garage and found photos of everything I’ve ever made?
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
3 months
Mind blowing! Super Cool! Can’t wait for the rabbit r1s I’ve ordered!
@jessechenglyu
Jesse Lyu
3 months
r1 helps.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
3 years
That is correct!
@webmaster_major
B.J. Major
3 years
@verstaen @gassee @Paul_Gassee Steve Jobs did not believe in focus groups, period. The iPhone was not only created in total isolation but in total secret.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
3 years
Everything old is new again... The iPod-like Clickwheel returns!! 🙌 Sure hope I can upgrade all my existing Apple TVs. 🤞 Apple unveils a redesigned remote for its new Apple TV 4K
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Taking time to reflect on #BUILD and what we've accomplished this year. Thank you for buying this book, sharing it with your friends & colleagues, for offering it as a gift to others. Thank you for allowing me to speak on your podcast, magazine, blog, and tv show. Thank you.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
3 years
Congrats to Jeff Robbin & the iTunes team! Long live iTunes & iPod - we miss you What 20 yrs can change… AAPL 4Q ’00 Rev $1B, Gross Margin -2.1%, Share Price $0.26 4Q ’20 Rev $64B, GM +38%, SP $130.92 Jan 2001 - got a call to consult to start the project that became iPod
@MIT_CSAIL
MIT CSAIL
3 years
Released 20 years ago today: Apple iTunes 1.0. (v/ @arstechnica )
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Who is your favorite innovator of all time and why?
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
1 year
Recommended reading today, Thinking Fast and Slow. Have you read this one? Let me know what you think and feel free to check out our entire Build library of extended education picks 🙏
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
10 months
You'll never know if it's the "Right" time to launch a start up, or create a great new product unless you take the leap and try.
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
I couldn’t be more grateful to you all!! 🙏🙏
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
3 years
These processors (finally) set the Mac on the same timeline for rapid innovation - like the iPhone, iPad, Watch, Apple TV & AirPods. Apple’s unique capability allows for incredible tech SH/HW leverage across every product. Wonderful to see our vision from 2008 is in full bloom.
@tfadell Any thoughts on the new M1 Pro and Max chips?
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
2 years
2/5 When we were creating the #iPhone - we were solving for a pain. You had to have a phone, #iPod , and computer with you if you wanted to do anything mobile. Pain = grabbing all that gear and taking with you Painkiller = iPhone Superpower = the display
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@tfadell
Tony Fadell
5 years
This seriously changes everything!!! (assuming the technology valid and scales) “Scientists crack the code for affordable, eco-friendly hydrogen gas”.
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Tony Fadell
2 years
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