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General discussion

Apple to bid for Disney?

Feb 25, 2006 12:55PM PST

Discussion is locked

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Are people crazy?
Feb 25, 2006 12:58PM PST

How would Apple get the financial backing in order to purchase Disney? Plus Apple does not usually pay for companies. NexT was an exception.

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This is a myth
Feb 26, 2006 1:49AM PST

Where did this whole myth come about that Apple doesn't buy other companies? I think Molly said it once, but it wasn't true.

Two of Apple's most pivotal pieces of software were bought - the Mach kernal in OSX is from NeXT, as you stated but more imortantly (for Apple at the moment) iTunes was also a purchase. It used to be Soundjam.

They also bought Shake from Nothing Real, Powerschool, Caffeine Soft (their software is the guts of iPhoto). EMagic, which probably became Garage Band. Zayante - firewire stuff. Silicon Grail. Prismo Graphics. The list goes on, I just can't remember them all.

-Kevin S.

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it would also be
Feb 25, 2006 1:34PM PST

FUN.. hmmm

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Oh man
Feb 25, 2006 3:34PM PST

I just had a vision of a small world of disney themed Apple products out this Tuesday.

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(NT) (NT) Maybe new iPod with mouse-eared click-wheel .. :)
Feb 25, 2006 3:46PM PST
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it cant be as bad as
Feb 25, 2006 6:08PM PST
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(NT) (NT) AAACKKK!!! My eyes, my eyes...
Feb 25, 2006 8:57PM PST
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(NT) (NT) It burns...
Feb 25, 2006 10:12PM PST
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uh oh
Feb 26, 2006 12:43AM PST

I hope not

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doubtful
Feb 26, 2006 12:54AM PST

I just visited the Disney site looking for some clues.. and lo and behold I am unable to access Disney's Toon Town because I USE A MAC!!!

I think Steve would have solve a little issue like this if he was going to make any annoucements involving Disney.

Here's the link

http://play.toontown.com/test/browserTest.php?r=220559

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(NT) (NT) very true
Feb 26, 2006 1:04AM PST
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No Way
Feb 25, 2006 10:42PM PST

I don't think that Apple will buy Disney. What good would it do them? Give them a bunch of themeparks. It would cost way too much for Jobs, taking money away from where it needs to be, Apple R&D. Also, how could Jobs hope to ever get more TV shows and possibly movies on iTunes if he's also trying to run Disney. It would be a hassle to Apple to buy and own Disney, with the only way to use the investment being a Mickey Mouse iPod.

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Stop thinking "theme park"
Feb 26, 2006 1:42AM PST

Funny how a lot of people think Theme Park first when they hear Disney. Apple's interest in Disney (if it even exists) would be more about content and the means to distribute it.

Be sure to note what Apple's real money maker is these days - it's iPod sales and media (songs, videos, etc). This business model accounts for Apple's super-inflated stock price. Not Macintosh sales. People have such a hard time accepting that a company's business model can mutate over the course of even a few years. I guarantee you in 5 years. Microsoft's business model will be COMPLETELY different than it is today. If it isn't they'll be dead.

Apple is an extremely cash rich company. They could purchase Disney if they wanted to especially, as the article states, given Disney's undervalued shares at the moment. Easy.

-Kevin

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You're right, but what about other content
Feb 26, 2006 1:50AM PST

Sorry, I was sorta ranting there. I meant to simply say that buying Disney would make it hard for iTunes to get new content form say, NBC or something. Since iTunes does make up a large portion of Apple's profits, getting new content from a variety of sources is important for iTunes to remain dominant. I think Jobs should take the Pixar movies and put those on iTunes and put Disney's classic movies on iTunes. But don't get too involved with Disney or that's all the content you'll have.

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Don't worry about iTunes
Feb 26, 2006 2:06AM PST

Just because Apple would have a tie-in to Disney and ABC content doesn't mean that Universal (NBC) and CBS are going to take their ball and go home. They have a presence on the Itunes music store because MONEY can be made here. Since iTunes is still currently the biggest, most successful distribution method for such things, companies like NBC are not going to shoot themelves in the foot just because Apple happens to have ties with the competition. They may not like it, but they won't go away.

Crazy partnerships come and go in Hollywood. You'd be surprised to see who hops into corporate bed together to make money.

-Kevin S.

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OK
Feb 26, 2006 2:20AM PST

Oh, ya, that makes much more sense than my argument. Now I'm OK with Apple buying Disney, as long as there's no Mickey Mouse iPod

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I wouldn't be surprised if they DID make one ..
Feb 26, 2006 2:34AM PST

.. but start with the Shuffle. They would be expanding their market to include the children, and also get them hooked on the iPods at an even earlier age.

There could be a Mickey one for the boys, and say a pink princess one for the girls. Would make total sense to me.

-Terry

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Sounds Like Smoking
Feb 26, 2006 4:27AM PST

Get them hooked in a early age lol

boy ipods really have become "icrack"

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(NT) (NT) We should coin the term "CrackPods" :-)
Feb 26, 2006 9:53AM PST
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Speaking of smoking at an early age...
Feb 26, 2006 10:00AM PST

An off-topic aside: No wonder the U.S. tobacco companies don't seem concerned that Americans are giving it up left and right. Just step outside into the rest of the world. I swear all of Europe will be carting around oxygen tanks in about 40 years. My friend and I joked while in France, that as soon as the baby is delivered, they smack it on the **** and shove a cigarette in its mouth. The young guy who helped us with our motorcycles SO wanted to quit but said he tried and failed several times.

-Kevin S.