Palm's Jon Rubinstein named a 'Geek of the Year'
By Darren Murph 
posted January 3rd 2010 1:06PM
posted January 3rd 2010 1:06PM
Just to clarify right out of the gate, the "year" Fast Company is referring to is 2009, but nonetheless, it's an award we're sure Jon is happy to have. 11 geeks were found worthy of the "Geek of the Year" award in '09, with the likes of Evan Williams and Biz Stone (Twitter), David S. Goyer (the creator of Flash Forward on ABC), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) and Neill Blomkamp (the writer of District 9) joining him. The justification for Jon making the cut?After speaking with him on our first-ever Engadget Show and falling head over heels in love with webOS, we can't help but agree. And yes, after last year's introduction at CES, it's all we can do to contain our excitement for this Thursday."He came on board as the new chairman of Palm and brought about the Web OS and the Palm Pre, the start of a line of products that is the best hope for reintroducing the geek masses to Palm."
since when did engadget fall 'head over heels' in love with webOS?
and by extension palm?
when it became apparent they weren't gonna keel over and die?
@rayln Maybe because it's a great OS? I'd go as far to say it's the best phone OS out their, at the moment.
Well, iPhone OS is nice to. But webOS feels like what the iPhone OS wants to be when it grows up.
@rayln Maybe because it's a great OS? I'd go as far to say it's the best phone OS out their, at the moment.
Well, iPhone OS is nice to. But webOS feels like what the iPhone OS wants to be when it grows up.
@rayln
When did engadget say they DIDN'T like WebOS? Outside of Josh being a fuckhead to Ron about releasing a GSM phone, engadget has been fairly positive of the Pre, Pixi and WebOS.
@rayln engadget did really like webOS/ palm, its another debate if they exhibited as much love as they do for apple! it's not a small wonder they said all the nice things here in the article! way to go Darren!
@rayln Well deserved award. He started in the worst condition of all candidates. In debt , deep in red, and with a company in need of fresh kickass products. Well done. I just wish it had better distribution in Europe (many countries dont have pre or pixi) and i hope for CES we get Pre2 (or plus) with hd screen, microsd card slot and gpu open to devs. Landscape keyboard would also be welcomed by me... especially for gaming.
DO this PALM!
@Jonathan K
What makes WebOS so great? Especially compared to the iPhone and Android. Honest question, since I'm considering a Pixi (or whatever new WebOS device comes out) for my next phone once my contract is up.
Jon Rubinstein did an awesome turnaround job with Palm and deserves his props.
@michaelwub
I'm writing this on my Pre. It's a bit difficult to fully express how excellent webOS is in words. Using it on a daily basis is FUN. I'm a stickler for both great visual design and functionality. webOS is both, and the Pre itself for that matter. The UI is simply gorgeous and every movement, transition, input and gesture is super smooth.
I've used several Android devices and while I really do like Android, it's just not as elegant or refined as webOS. I don't own an iPhone but I do own an iPod Touch so I believe I have some authority to comment on the iPhone. There's no question that the iPhone changed the mobile phone landscape. It has become a mighty force, and rightfully so. I have purchased several apps and enjoyed them but here's the thing: I'm bored with the iPhone/iPod. The lack of any multitasking is so frustrating after you've gotten used to it on the Pre. Also, navigation on the iPhone has gotten old to me. This may sound silly but swiping an open card/app up to close it is fun! The 'back' gesture below the screen is super intuitive. So much so that I find myself doing it when using my iPod.
I hope that helps some. Again, it's a little tough to describe the greatness of the Pre/webOS without playing around with it yourself a little. I can't say it enough: IT'S FUN!
@Scape3d
I'm an Apple fanboy (and writing this on an iPhone) but I've been rooting for Palm for the last year as well. I'm looking forward to Rubenstein's next keynote every bit as much as I'm looking forward to the next Stevenote, and I think that's saying something!
@michaelwub
First, it's easily the most beautiful mobile OS. Its's stunning really, with soft shadows, pretty fonts, and an overall consistenly well-designed OS.
Second, it's the most well-thought out OS that actually makes multi-tasking intuitive. Open an app, it is a card. Done with the app? Toss it away. Got multiple apps open? Easily switch between them by swiping through cards.
Third, the gesture area is absolute genius. The bottom of the screen has a capacitive touch area where you can swipe back, forward, or up to perform intuitive actions. No need to use screen space (iphone), or insensitive buttons (droid eris).
WebOS is a pleasure to use and is always improving. Hard not to get excited for what is hands down, the best mobile operating system.
@Scape3d
No multitasking? You can't be serious. Multitasking on a jailbroken touch / iphone is equivalent to the Pre. Actually, probably better, since there's now several different (free) methods.
@michaelwub
There's no reason to buy a Pre ahead of an iphone or a newer android phone. Other than the price.
Pre is now dog-cheap cos no one is buying them. It's pretty much a certainty that Palm are going out of business or being sold off sometime in 2010.
Stick with the 3GS or the Nexus One
@pukerocket
Don't be silly. When discussing the differences of functions and options between devices we do so under the pretense that those devices are being compared in their original/stock states. Otherwise, everything would be virtually the same. Think of it this way; the ROMs and tweaks being created for Windows Mobile on the XDA Forums kills everything else out there. Do most people flash their ROMs?
Even with all those tweaks and additions, do you want to use Windows Mobile? I have and I definitely won't leave my Pre to go back.
@Scape3d, thermodynamic and pukerocket
Thanks for the feedback. I did find WebOS to be a little slow on a stock Pre I saw in store - but can assume that will be fixed by the time my contract expires. So I guess the hardware would be the deciding factor, since the OS is pretty awesome (have checked out some videos since asking). I'd rather not jailbreak my iPhone pukerocket, but battery life or no battery life I hope Apple include multitasking (saving the 'state' of an app is enough for my needs) and fix notifications in the next update.
@pukerocket
"There's no reason to buy a Pre ahead of an iphone or a newer android phone. Other than the price.
Pre is now dog-cheap cos no one is buying them. It's pretty much a certainty that Palm are going out of business or being sold off sometime in 2010.
Stick with the 3GS or the Nexus One"
Care to explain why? Such a bold and confident statement surely deserves some grounded basis, right?
@michaelwub
Just an FYI - there's nothing slow about my Pre. If anything, things seem a bit faster after the lates update released recently. Keep in mind, the store units are used and abused on a daily basis so those phones aren't the best for true impressions.
One thing I forgot to mention. The Pre shines on Sprint because of the lower cost plans. $70/month gets you 450 minutes/month and unlimited everything else (texts, web, TV and Sprint Navigation). The best part is that none of my minutes are used when calling any cell phone. No other carrier beats that. Sprint's data speeds are BLAZING fast too!
@Jonathan K
http://www.discount-laptop-battery.co.uk/ibm-laptop-battery.htm
http://www.discount-laptop-battery.co.uk/sony-laptop-battery.htm
http://www.discount-laptop-battery.co.uk/toshiba-laptop-battery.htm
He's not a geek, he's a corporate guy.
Still, they gave obama the nobel peace price and I guess any definition goes now, for anything, I hear some sites even call software like OS's 'gadgets'.
@Wwhat Rubinstein's a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, not to mention he was also senior vice president of hardware engineering at Apple. Smell the geekiness? ;)
@Wwhat Geeks can't be corporate guys? Of course they can. Not everyone hangs out in their mother's basement playing WoW all day.
No, geeks cannot be corporate guys. corporate crap if you are successful at it will take you over you see.
@Wwhat - You are wrong.
President Obama deserved the Nobel Peace price and Don Rubinstein deserves to be honored as a geek!
The challenges President Obama had to overcome to reach the highest office of the land were significant - first the Democratic party, and then next, the Republican party. His achievements were seen by all Americans, and gives hope to millions of black kids in America that they also can reach the highest office of the land, and above all else - that they are Americans! Plus, he made the world like America again - polls showed his global popularity at above 70%. The Novel Peach price is about people whose accomplishments have either fostered or have created a strong framework for peace.
Jon Rubinstein's accomplishments are significant. He was Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering at Apple. He led the team that spearheaded the iPod revolution at Apple. He led the team at Next computer, whose operating system became Mac OS X. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Apple was in the process of losing $816 million when Jon Rubinstein joined Apple in 1997. And he helped to turn the company around. He is doing the same at Palm. In a way, webOS and the innovative design of the Palm Pre is another fitting addition to his long and illustrious career.
Laughable, framework for peace so he can doubles the number of troops? Yeah right. But let's not go political here, wrong board.
And I didn't say rubinstein was not worthy of some claims of achievement, I said he's not 'geek of the year', that's not dismissing him as a person or his corporate prowess..
And that he's member of various groups like you mention has no meaning whatsoever really except to confirm he has some technical background, which is good but does not make you geek of the year automatically.
And you giving a list of corporate stuff he did only underscores my original point: corporate success is NOT equal to geek-ness.
"He's good at business stuff so he should be geek of the year' might be your logic (and the nobel peace award committee maybe, haha) but not mine, or many other people I'm sure.
His phone was too chubby, and its screen was too small... Palm better have something impressive up its sleeves for summer '10. WebOS is gorgeous and I would easily live with the weak app catalog if it made a better phone.
2010's geek of the year belongs to moot. According to Wired.
@Bill Gates
Hey, you're not allowed here. Go back to Gizmodo.
Engadget, precentral.net has a way better picture of Rubinstein for this article; he looks like a gadget evil mastermind.
@Jonathan K
EACH TIME I PRESS THIS BUTTON, SOMEONE SHALL DIE.
Muhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
Neill Blomkamp directed District 9.
go go jon rubinstein! (sing along to the tune of power rangers)
It's more like copycat of the year. Copied iPhone form packaging to no video to removable memory to trying to steal iTunes. And for this he gets praised. More like thief of the year. I'm glad to see u all agree.
@logic thinker Go back to your mom's basement, please. You obviously don't understand much of anything.
If you use a Palm Pre or Pixi you're not a Geek, or a techie
@(Unverified) Damn. I guess i need to go to school of geekness now. And all this hardwork in basements and rooms since 1982 speccy didnt qualify me ;(
Question does geek of the year award go to someone who continuosly tries to be sneaky n steal iTunes syncing abilities??
@logic thinker Talent imitates, Genius steals.
Rubinstein knew he couldn't defeat the mammoth ecosystem he helped create, but he did know that having it sync would (1.) get publicity, and (2.) be useful.
Someone could stay on a old version of iTunes and sync their Pre or Pixi to it, from know on.
Kudos to Rubinstein, for having balls. Something this industry lacks more and more these days.
I'm aspiring to be on That List, someday.
Can't wait for CES, either.
U have a question.
If Steve jobs would try to continuously steal software to sync iPhones n iPods month after month. Would he of won geek(thief) of the year?
@logic thinker GTFO troll.
Go revel in your picture of Steve Jobs, while playing WoW in your mother's basement.
Rubinstein deserved it; he helped bring a dying company back. That takes talent.
@Jonathan K I'm not so sure Palm isn't still dying. The bleeding may have slowed but I would hardly call Palm "saved." And that's not to take anything away from Rubinstein, Palm would be nothing but an entry in Wikipedia today if not for him.
@Bill Gates
last millennium
Palm's next phone will be the bomb - I hear from a proven reliable source. And I'm not referring to the Pixi. Not keen on leaks - when they are true - but Palm have done something with PalmOS that Apple have certainly NOT done with the iPhone, and that is create a SMART phone. So they deserve some pre-emptive hype.
While a joy to use, there is no integration between apps on the iPhone. There are inconsistencies in the way items are deleted (swipe some, hit Edit > Delete 'X' others), the calendar is lacking in any of the intelligence of even older Palm devices and you cannot import, export or transfer files.
This award is therefore, well deserved.
@Oflife I meant to say 'WebOS' above, not PalmOS.
@Jon Rubinstein Not even close. Leonardo da Vinci gets millenium award easy.
Even Bill agrees. He collect$ his stuff :)
Until Palm gets a phone on every carrier, and gives some major compelling reason not to get an iPhone (lower price, much better overall experience, etc), they're going to continue to be mostly irrelevant. And before the haters come out, I don't own an iPhone.
@Hexydes it is coming to Verizon soon.
Well deserved, kudos to fc for selecting him. It couldn't be a better choice.
The hardware was reasonably and the software extraordinarily well executed, and given that majors like Nokia, Samsung et all have been hanging around sucking their thumbs, unable to deliver something even half as impressive inspite of their massive resources and industry leadership this is doubly worth rewarding.
Imagine what Rubinstein can do at Nokia, remember he did this in a company that was in the midst of imminent collapse.
Are you saying that Dan Borislow of MagicJack fame is NOT the biggest geek of the year for the wonderful mJ???
They only have 2 phones none of which are gsm... I can't but help feeling they are still slipping
@Hydra: The Pre is available in GSM in Europe. Blame no GSM carriers wanting the phone here (AT&T sure as hell doesn't want it, and T-Mobile is busy with Android).