Netgear co-founder and CEO Patrick Lo took the time today to launch a series of attacks on Steve Jobs and his company's approach to digital media.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Lo has is not a fan of Apple's closed approach, which he believes is ultimately unsustainable. Ultimately a closed system just can't go that far... If they continue to close it and let Android continue to creep up then it's pretty difficult as I see it, he said. Netgear makes wireless routers and Internet security equipment.

Lo is convinced that a post-Steve Jobs Apple is going is going to be forced shift its focus away from a closed, controlled system into a more open one. Steve Jobs wants to suffocate the distribution so even though he doesn't own the content he could basically demand a ransom, he said.

Eventually, however, Lo says, the opportunities in that system are going to dry up as consumers and media companies move on to more open alternatives.

Lo also threw a few jabs at Microsoft. Microsoft is over - game over - from my point of view, he said. the relatively late introduction of Windows Phone 7, he said, will relegate Microsoft to the status of also-ran in the phone market.

Lo's comments come amid major increases in the number of devices consumers are using online. The latest iterations of handheld video game consoles, smartphones, and even HDTVs are all Internet-ready. This is making wireless router manufacturers like Netgear more relevant as they provide the hardware for connections to the Internet.

Lo praised open operating systems such as Google's Android, which is offered on many smartphones, tablets, e-readers and GPS navigation systems. Netgear itself uses Android to run devices like its Home Secuity System touch screen displays.

Apple did not return calls for comment.

To contact the reporter for this story call (646) 461 7294 or email r.bilton@ibtimes.com.

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