What is French designer Philippe Starck up to over at Apple?

I don't get it

There's a flamboyance to Starck's minimalism that seems at odds with Ive's work, which is arguably setting design trends for the entire industry. Starck designs are also usually expensive, which Apple certainly used to have a reputation for but which doesn't seem to be the case so much these days.

Really can't see a Starck iTV or projector hitting the shelves, those projects seem a better fit for Ive, maybe something more personal, a watch or glasses, either of those could be described as 'sort of' revolutionary, given they've already been done.

On the other hand I'm sure I read somewhere that before he shifted off this mortal coil Jobs fixed Ive in an unassailable position, which suggests that Ive may not be all that popular behind the scenes, so maybe it's politically motivated, or disinformation or simply bullshit.

Update

Turns out its sorta bullshit, was designing a boat for Jobs.

http://allthingsd.com/20120413/apple-we-dont-know-what-philippe-starck-is-talking-about/

Curves Redux?

Maybe Apple can release something that doesn't look like it was designed by someone whose mom was frightened by an Altoids tin while she was carrying him.

Oops, no such luck, just a boat...