[wfjackson]

This thread just 4 days ago on HN is interesting in this context.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8506911

Google employees were implying that Andy Rubin got bored of Android and left to work on robotics and people suggesting the opposite were getting downvoted. It still could be true but looks less likely down.

[Steko]

Eh, those downvoted comments were from me and one was totally deserved because it was awful and I left it there to accumulate negative karma as punishment for making it. The other is a bit relevant here and was initially upvoted. It likely got downvotes by association with the idiotic comment.

Here's a more upthread link with a bit more context for the discussion:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8506560

[oldxoog]

Throwaway because I know with pretty strong confidence what went down --

The truth seems to be both (a) unpleasant for Andy and (b) unremarkable to the rest of us. In other words, it wasn't his choice, but there wasn't a scandalous smoking gun either. He just wanted what Larry wouldn't give him. Nothing that would be front page news.

[ChuckMcM]

I expect it might be more unpleasant for wannabe Andys. But I agree it was unremarkable. Scott McNealy used to congratulate people getting promoted with "One step up, one step closer to the door." That captured the balancing act between climbing the ladder versus being pushed off of it because someone else wanted your spot. I think Andy will be much happier in his new role, and it isn't like he has to work for a living any more :-)

[larrys]

"Scott McNealy used to congratulate people getting promoted with "One step up, one step closer to the door.""

God knows when I hear things like that I thank my lucky stars I don't have to work in a large corporation or answer to anyone but customers. (Well more than that obviously but at least I'm not at the whims of corporate culture.)

[atmosx]

Any idea of the salary of the people Larry Page likes to whim? I mean, lets not get crazy, working for G comes with all kind of perks!

[lrem]

Yup, G perks are cool, but also G salary was the lowest I was offered outside of France...

[DonHopkins]

Oh yes, I remember the term for that at Sun: being promoted to "Vice President In Charge of Looking for a New Job".

[foobarqux]

What did he want? Money, resources, position/title?

[72deluxe]

I am kind of hoping that it was something insane, like to be transformed into a living giant green Android, a sort-of reverse "bincentennial man" kind of story.

I suspect my hopes will be dashed.

[enlightenedfool]

Whatever one gets, one wants more or something else. In general. He's not an exception.

[DannyBee]

"Google employees were implying that Andy Rubin got bored of Android and left to work on robotics and people suggesting the opposite were getting downvoted. It still could be true but looks less likely down."

Andy definitely got bored and went to work on robots before. He even says that in the article.

As for what happened this time, no idea.

I have some guesses though, and none of them are "forced out".

[elpachuco]

Well don't leave us hanging. Let us know your guesses. I'm really interested to know. Several other people in this thread seem to know and yet are not saying anything.

Edit: I found this quote from [1]. "Jessica Lessin at The Information tweeted that Rubin wanted more freedom for his robotics group. She said he wanted a structure like Calico, which is the anti-aging company Google has started.

Our guess is that Page views robotics as something he understands better, and considers it core to Google, and therefore would not want to give it the same independence. "

If so it seems rather short sighted for Page to let somebody like Andy Rubin leave. Rubin is self motivated,passionate,driven about what he does and he could have done great work with robotics.

[1] http://www.businessinsider.com/andy-rubin-out-of-google-2014...

2nd Edit: At least now I'm hopeful that Google will not own robotics.

[DannyBee]

My best guess is similar: He wanted to keep independence They were not willing to give it He took his ball and went home.

But this is a wild guess. Andy, from what I've heard/known, never particularly liked the "CEO" aspect of his job. So having a more traditional structure would probably be more than just "not enjoyable" to him.