Woz strikes again: disappointed by iPhone, wary about MacBook Air and Apple TV
By Paul Miller 
posted March 3rd 2008 10:07AM
posted March 3rd 2008 10:07AM
We'd say 2007 was a pretty big year for Steve Wozniak, what with Kathy Griffin, an Epcot animatronic, some widely covered Apple sentiments, and (honor of honors) an Engadget interview to top it all off. Turns out he's not backing down in 2008, and spoke out at a Sydney press conference with some fairly constructive criticism for some of Apple's brightest stars. He expressed concern over the 24 hour limit for iTunes movie rentals, and doesn't see the Apple TV taking off just yet, though he sees it as a "good indication of the future." Woz was less kind to the iPhone, saying he was "really disappointed" at the iPhone's introduction, due to the lack of 3G. He's still a fan of the phone interface, particularly the browser, but he's miffed about those speed constraints. Finally, he likes his MacBook Air, and he's currently attempting to see if he can make it his single laptop, but the shortage of ports and lack of disc drive and removable battery are making it difficult. We really couldn't have said any of it any better, Woz.[Via The Inquirer]
And I use "stylish" VERY loosely.
I don't think studios would let apple offer movies cheaper than direct tv or cable companies will they Woz????
again, when not having to deal with the constraints of reality, it's easy to imagine a better product.
I have to say that the article is very good, and I find it interesting to note that he's saying alot of what has been said already by sometimes Apple, sometimes other analysts, and I don't recall them getting blasted as much as I see here...
Agreed. Though there is one real stopping point with a 3g iPhone: coverage. Coverage for 3g is limited to metropolitan areas. A 3g iPhone would do better launching in Europe first than the US.
Geez. A guy gives his opinion and if it is not lockstep with the fanboys, then he is a whiner. Did anyone read the interview?
He was asked questions by reporters and gave his honest opinion. He wasn't hating on Apple, just giving his opinion. I'm sure even those in Apples R&D who differed on opinion about their product, but had to compromise in the end to put it out.
Some of what he said I agree with, such as lack of 3G. If it were a battery issue, then why not make a user replaceable battery? My Blackjack gets 3G and if the battery is low I just swap in another without a hassle. Besides, there is going to be a 3G phone after all, so his criticism wasn't entirely off base.
Other things I disagree with, such as the rental limits. I'm pretty sure Apple had to do this in order to be able to provide them to the customer as the MPAA has pretty tight reigns on their content and how it is distributed.
It's not like the guy called up the press to state all the reasons he hates Apple. Some people need to get thicker skins.
wonder if he is still a friend of the jobs the god !
Apple is a capitalistic US Corp... (cringes) Just Like Mickeysoft... they only wanna make money, and keep their market share... Jobs locks and micro manages EVERYTHING and the fanboys swoon not noticing that Jobs exerts control over them far more than MS ever has. Jobs makes things HE likes, and forces consumers to conform. He is a tyrant and a bully, no wonder WOZ wanted to get away while he still could! Criticize the guy all you want but his comments are dead on, he is typically correct about this stuff (see his comments on AppleTV v1). He chose to walk away from Apple, he wouldn't go on the board is someone paid him to... they tried that.
He should start his own company to compete with MS & Apple, perhaps our choices in corp & personal computing would improve if a third heavy hitter entered the arena... Oh wait google anyone?
Actually, he did start a few companies. Tracking kids with RFID and a universal remote control. Cutting edge stuff.
Actually, he did start a few companies. Tracking kids with RFID and a universal remote control. Cutting edge stuff.
I gotta agree with WOZ. The IFone is an innovative product but lachs in many ways. No stereo bluetooth, 3g, memory expansion, lach of space, recessed headphone jack, dictatorship like SDK, slow edge internet, ATT only product, and the list goes on and on. Now imagine if Apple waited one more year and added everything previously mentioned in that list to the IFone. That device would have taken the world by storm not just the fan boys (You know who you are Isheep). 10 Million would have been sold in the first month alone.
On the other hand now the IGod (Steve Jobs) can stick it to all of his ISheep when the 3G Ifone comes out. Keep eating your Ipudding and drinking your Ikoolaid ISheep. Steve is gonna stick it to you yet again.
your post 'lachs' originality
ISheep BAAAHHH, BAAAHHH, BAAHHH..
bubu, leave your bestiality fetish outta this, mmkay?
What happens in your basement stay's in your basement. Spoken like a true Isheep.
If it's not a Segway, I'm sure Woz won't approve of it.
Not exactly profound insight ... Woz is just repeating what everyone else has been repeating, ad nauseam.
Rawhead!!! I would consider 1Ghz CPU's that get extra power from solar panels NEW!
I would consider, loads of thing that could be stolen and patented new.
Is it just me. or does that picture look like Chubbacca without
"some" of his hair?
"3G is only in metropolitan areas" - not exactly true and 3G phones default to EDGE when not in 3G areas anyway. AAPL dropped the ball on 3G. They rushed the phone out lacking some key features figuring they would hoodwink the fanboys into "upgrading" later when the "new features" are added.
The lack of 3G isn't the biggest drawback - the fact that it's a crappy phone with below average RF reception is. If you are going to produce a phone-based convergence device, don't forget to make it a decent phone first. I'd rather have a great phone with so-so multimedia capabilities than a crappy phone with an "elegant" UI and iPod included.
Woz. Really, go bang Kathy some more. Or start your Segway polo thing up again. Or DO SOMETHING other than flap your mouth. Geeze. You've become a huge media whore. I know, start a talk show or something, then people can really see how insane you are then put you down there with Brittany Spears and other such celebrity trash.....
Perhaps once I had some respect for you, but seeing your interviews and reading what you say, I think you have WAY too much time on your hands.
So you guys are disappointed he didn't end up with a blonde silicone injected trophy wife? This only makes him much more cooler in my book.
shes a freak.. yawww
shes a freak.. yawww
you're a freak. yawwwn.
Engadget, why would you consider this man's opinion on popular technology to be relevant? He has *never* been in tune with the needs and desires of the masses... that was where Steve Jobs came in. He may be the most brilliant engineer with whom Jobs has ever worked, but he never had a product.
When I need an opinion on insanely-optimized 6502 assembly, *then* I'll give a damn about what Woz has to say.
doenst you think that Woz is speaking for all of us?
those Woz's concern and and disappoint is our concern also!
he is now criticizing from a user's point of view.
p.s. Woz, you could probably wait for the release of an external battery pack, just like those for PSP right now.
Good thing he doesn't work for Apple anymore.
I misread that first sentence, although she kinda DOES look like an animatronic..
"what with Kathy Griffin, an Epcot animatronic"