Tony Fadell
Encyclopedia
Anthony M. Fadell is a Lebanese American computer science engineer
. He was known for being the Senior Vice President of the iPod
Division at Apple Inc., having succeeded Jon Rubinstein
in 2006. On November 4, 2008, Apple announced that Fadell would be stepping down as Senior Vice President but would remain with the company as an adviser to the former CEO, Steve Jobs
. Fadell's wife Danielle Lambert, Vice President of Human Resources at Apple, would leave the company. Fadell is an alumnus of Grosse Pointe South High School
in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
. He graduated from the University of Michigan
with a BS
in Computer Engineering
in 1991 and was a member of Psi Upsilon
Fraternity.
In 2010, he founded Nest, a company which announced its first product, a learning thermostat, in October 2011.
for three years, starting in 1992 as a diagnostics engineer and progressing to a systems architect, where he was responsible for the development of a number of technologies and devices including the Sony
Magic Link
and Motorola
Envoy
, both of which were part of the Magic Cap
platform. In 1995 he was hired by Philips
where he was co-founder, Chief Technology Officer
, and Director of Engineering in the Mobile Computing Group, which developed a number of Windows CE
-based handheld services, notably the Philips Velo
and Nino
. Fadell went on to become a Vice President of Philips Strategy and Ventures where he was in charge of developing Philips' digital audio strategy consisting of technology direction for silicon and software, as well as its investment portfolio and potential business models.
During the 1990s, Fadell started his own company called Fuse to develop the "Dell of the Consumer Electronics." One of the devices he had in mind was a small hard disk
-based music player. Fuse failed, however, to find a second round of funding, and Fadell started exploring developing the product at other companies. He first approached RealNetworks
in 2000 but left after only six weeks. The second company he approached was Apple.
and planning Apple's audio product strategy. In April 2001 he was hired by Apple to assemble and run its iPod & Special Projects group, where he has overseen the design and production of the iPod
and iSight
devices, following the direction of Jon Rubenstein. He was promoted to vice president of iPod engineering in 2004. On October 14, 2005, Apple announced that Fadell would replace the retiring Jon Rubinstein
as Senior Vice President of the iPod Division on March 31, 2006. On November 3, 2008, The Wall Street Journal
broke the story of Tony's departure from Apple.
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
. He was known for being the Senior Vice President of the iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
Division at Apple Inc., having succeeded Jon Rubinstein
Jon Rubinstein
Jonathan J. Rubinstein is an American computer scientist and electrical engineer who helped create the iPod, the portable music and video device first sold by Apple Computer Inc. in 2001...
in 2006. On November 4, 2008, Apple announced that Fadell would be stepping down as Senior Vice President but would remain with the company as an adviser to the former CEO, Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
. Fadell's wife Danielle Lambert, Vice President of Human Resources at Apple, would leave the company. Fadell is an alumnus of Grosse Pointe South High School
Grosse Pointe South High School
Grosse Pointe South High School , commonly called South, is one of two public high schools located in the Grosse Pointes, suburban cities adjacent to Detroit, Michigan. At the corner of Fisher Road and Grosse Pointe Blvd in Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe High School, the first public high...
in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
Grosse Pointe Farms is a suburban city bordering Detroit located in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It ranks as the 76th highest-income city in America. The population was 9,479 at the 2010 census. It is bordered by Grosse Pointe on the west, Detroit on the north, Grosse Pointe Woods...
. He graduated from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
with a BS
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Computer Engineering
Computer engineering
Computer engineering, also called computer systems engineering, is a discipline that integrates several fields of electrical engineering and computer science required to develop computer systems. Computer engineers usually have training in electronic engineering, software design, and...
in 1991 and was a member of Psi Upsilon
Psi Upsilon
Psi Upsilon is the fifth oldest college fraternity in the United States, founded at Union College in 1833. It has chapters at colleges and universities throughout North America. For most of its history, Psi Upsilon, like most social fraternities, limited its membership to men only...
Fraternity.
In 2010, he founded Nest, a company which announced its first product, a learning thermostat, in October 2011.
Pre-Apple career
While still at Michigan, he was CEO of Constructive Instruments, which marketed MediaText, multimedia composition software for children. He worked for Apple spinoff General MagicGeneral Magic
General Magic was a company co-founded by Bill Atkinson, Andy Hertzfeld and Marc Porat that developed a new kind of handheld communications device they called a "personal intelligent communicator", which was a PDA precursor that stressed communications....
for three years, starting in 1992 as a diagnostics engineer and progressing to a systems architect, where he was responsible for the development of a number of technologies and devices including the Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
Magic Link
Magic Link
The Magic Link was a personal communicator and PDA marketed by Sony from 1994, based on the General Magic's Magic Cap operating system. The "Link" part of the name refers to the device's ability to send and receive data over a modem....
and Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
Envoy
Motorola Envoy
The Motorola Envoy Personal Wireless Communicator was a personal digital assistant released by Motorola in summer 1994. It was built to run General Magic's Magic CAP operating system, and it combined wireless, telephone, and infrared modems in a single PDA package....
, both of which were part of the Magic Cap
Magic Cap
Magic Cap was an object-oriented operating system for PDAs developed by General Magic. Tony Fadell was in charge of the platform. Darin Adler was an architect....
platform. In 1995 he was hired by Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
where he was co-founder, Chief Technology Officer
Chief technical officer
A chief technology officer is an executive-level position in a company or other entity whose occupant is focused on scientific and technological issues within an organization....
, and Director of Engineering in the Mobile Computing Group, which developed a number of Windows CE
Windows CE
Microsoft Windows CE is an operating system developed by Microsoft for embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinct operating system and kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows...
-based handheld services, notably the Philips Velo
Philips Velo
The Philips Velo was a Handheld PC.The initial Velo 1 is mini-notebook-style device, running either on custom NiMH battery pack, or 2x AA batteries. It includes monochrome display with green backlight...
and Nino
Philips Nino
The Philips Nino was a so-called Palm-size PC, a predecessor to the Pocket PC platform. It was a PDA-style device with a stylus-operated touch screen. The Nino 200 and Nino 300 models had a monochrome screen while the Nino 500 had a color display. The Nino featured a Voice Control Software and...
. Fadell went on to become a Vice President of Philips Strategy and Ventures where he was in charge of developing Philips' digital audio strategy consisting of technology direction for silicon and software, as well as its investment portfolio and potential business models.
During the 1990s, Fadell started his own company called Fuse to develop the "Dell of the Consumer Electronics." One of the devices he had in mind was a small hard disk
Hard disk
A hard disk drive is a non-volatile, random access digital magnetic data storage device. It features rotating rigid platters on a motor-driven spindle within a protective enclosure. Data is magnetically read from and written to the platter by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the...
-based music player. Fuse failed, however, to find a second round of funding, and Fadell started exploring developing the product at other companies. He first approached RealNetworks
RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The company is the creator of RealAudio, a compressed audio format; RealVideo, a compressed video format; RealPlayer, a media player; RealDownloader, a download...
in 2000 but left after only six weeks. The second company he approached was Apple.
Apple Inc.
He started doing work for Apple from February 2001 as a contractor designing the iPodIPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
and planning Apple's audio product strategy. In April 2001 he was hired by Apple to assemble and run its iPod & Special Projects group, where he has overseen the design and production of the iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
and iSight
ISight
iSight is a webcam, both external and internal, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. The external iSight was sold retail for US$149, connected to a computer via a FireWire cable, and came with a set of mounts to place it atop any then-current Apple display, laptop computer, all-in-one desktop...
devices, following the direction of Jon Rubenstein. He was promoted to vice president of iPod engineering in 2004. On October 14, 2005, Apple announced that Fadell would replace the retiring Jon Rubinstein
Jon Rubinstein
Jonathan J. Rubinstein is an American computer scientist and electrical engineer who helped create the iPod, the portable music and video device first sold by Apple Computer Inc. in 2001...
as Senior Vice President of the iPod Division on March 31, 2006. On November 3, 2008, The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
broke the story of Tony's departure from Apple.