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Woz talks Apple again
Steve Wozniak is in Australia this week to speak at the Broadband and Beyond Conference. He's also sat down with The Sydney Morning Herald to discuss, among other things, his disappointment with the iPhone:"To tell you the truth I was really disappointed when the iPhone was introduced ... half the phones in the AT&T store at the time were 3G phones ... I was shocked because Apple is bringing the full internet [to mobiles] ... and it's not 3G."Woz isn't alone in this complaint. Since the iPhone is the first mobile phone I've ever owned (I know - crazy), my only experience is with EDGE. Of course it isn't as fast as broadband in my house, but it isn't unusably slow, either.The iPhone is scheduled to debut in Australia later this year (not that it isn't there already). Thanks, Asher!
Woz strikes again: disappointed by iPhone, wary about MacBook Air and Apple TV
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]
Wharton interviews Woz
Knowledge@Wharton, the online business journal of The Wharton School, has published an interview with Steve "Woz" Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, notorious prankster and a somewhat reluctant entrepreneur. It's one of the more in-depth interviews with him that I've read, covering the past, present and future, his relationship with Steve Jobs, his unique brand of humor and digging for further insights on otherwise ubiquitous information. If you woke up this morning wishing you could peer inside the mind of a major player in the history of personal computing, and hoping for a dash of humor and a side of Apple insights, you're in luck. And if you never read iWoz, this interview is practically a CliffsNotes ... so you can pretend you had the fortitude to at least peruse the 288-page tome. Check it out at Knowledge@Wharton.
20 minutes with Woz
Dutch site One More Thing brings us a serving of Steve "Woz" Wozniak from Macworld. You may or may not be nonplussed by the exclusive interview with Apple's co-founder, but they use the word "computergeschiedenis" in the post, which you have to admit is a pretty fun way to say "computer history". At least that's how KavaServices translated it for me. And Woz, no matter how you look at it, has a place in computer history. Not surprisingly, Woz has a lot of love to share in regards to the Macworld proceedings, the Apple TV Take 2, and other Apple affairs. He is willing to state that the first Apple TV was a "very rare case where a product really wasn't quite done right," but mostly, I'm sure, because it's already been generally acknowledged. The interview is in English, which is good for me as my ability to follow along in Dutch would be somewhere between rusty and non-existent. It's also 20 minutes long, so if you've been wishing for a little time with Mr. Wozniak, for whatever reason, get your fill.
Get your Macworld Celebrity Checklist
Yesterday we shared some tips for preparing yourself for Macworld. Today, Joy of Tech adds one more must-have to the list: The Macworld Celebrity Checklist!Carry it around with you and use a marker to check off Steve, Woz, Uncle Walt, Andy Ihnatko (and his hat)...even The Reality Distorted Geek (warning: this could be you), The Schwag Whore and The Guy Who Still Runs Mac OS 8 (I used to work with that guy).We can't help but wonder why there's no TUAW love on the list. Just look for the Hawaiian shirt. [Via Your Tech Weblog]
Woz to appear in live Segway polo match
Just call it the WozWatch-- not only did Woz just appear in a ride at Epcot, but now he's going to appear live on your computer, playing (what else-- this is the Woz) Segway polo.A site called The Digital Lifestyle is going to be broadcasting a Segway polo match (it's what it sounds like-- polo with Segways) this Sunday afternoon at 1pm EST, and Steve Wozniak himself will be one of the players. I can't begin to imagine what eight old guys riding around on Segways trying to whack a ball must look like, but if you want to find out, set your iPhone alarms. "It's not a joke," claims the trailer, but we can't help but think there will be laughing involved.
Woz animatronic features in Epcot ride
Disney's Spaceship Earth went through a little reinvigorating recently, and as you may have heard, when it reopened, there was everybody's favorite computer tinkerer sitting at a desk working on an Apple prototype-- the one, the only Woz. Originally, Jobs was rumored to make an appearance on the historical ride inside Epcot Center, but no-- Disney ended up going with the huskier and more bearded of the Apple founders.You can click on the pic above (or hit the Read link below) for a bigger version of the image, to take it all in. The vintage Popular Mechanics on the wall behind the wooden monstrosity that would later become the Apple is a nice touch, as is the multiple pizza boxes behind him.
Epcot's Spaceship Earth reopens with a cameo from Woz
Disney just finished refurbishing the iconic Spaceship Earth attraction at Disney World, and it looks like a certain board member gave a little shout-out to a friend: there's (animatronic) Woz in the garage, diligently hacking away on what appears to be the mutant offspring of an Apple I and the Lisa. Anyone else see this yet? We're dying to know if there's a check made out for $350 with "Breakout" listed in the memo line.
Woz raps on Apple for lower ideals, locked iPhone, less innovative UI
Joining a growing crowd of people to complain about the general lack of openness in the iPhone is none other than Steve Wozniak, co-founder of the company. Woz has a reputation for being critical of the company he helped create, although no-one would argue that his views are unreasonable: in an interview he calls into question Apple's treatment of the iPhone as an appliance, and not as a computer platform designed to allow users to install their own apps at will ("I'm really for the unlockers, the rebels trying to make it free.") He also took a dig at Leopard, saying that OSes aren't what sell computers these days, and that OS updates today are nothing more than slow improvements, rather than a procession towards a UI that works "for someone who knows nothing about the computer." Personally, we think these are fair viewpoints: as much as we may hate to say it, a lot of new technology these days requires a compromise. Isn't it about time compromise took a back seat?[Thanks, Jame]
Woz on iPhone and Leopard
Laptop Magazine has posted a nice long interview with the Woz about all things Apple from Leopard, to iPhone to, well, laptops. It looks like Woz is looking forward to using Leopard and supports third-party iPhone apps. He says, "[I] am really for the unlockers, the rebels trying to make it free. I'd really like it to be open to new applications. I'd like to install some nice games. Why in the world can I not install a ringtone that I've made?" We couldn't have said it better ourselves. Rock on, Woz. Thanks to John Coxon
Steve Wozniak engaged to Kathy Griffin?
We wouldn't bet the farm on this being true -- after all, it's a celebrity rumor -- but Us Magazine has it that Apple's Steve Wozniak may be engaged to loudmouth Kathy Griffin. Apparently, Kathy was spotted rocking "what appeared to be an engagement ring" at the Emmys, and when questioned about it, she simply stated that she doesn't "kiss and tell." Of course, Kathy has made known that the two are in some sort of relationship, but whether she's well on her way to becoming Woz's wife (or if she's the elusive genius behind Apple's next cash cow) remains to be seen.[Via The Raw Feed]
Monopoly Here and Now released at Macgamestore
I never even realized such a thing existed, but apparently Hasbro (which now owns the Monopoly brand) had released a computer version of the famous real estate game, completely updated for 2007-- as in, there are Hybrid cars and RAZRs in the game (yeah, yeah, I'll get to that in a second), and luxury tax now costs you $150,000, instead of the quaint old $75. And it's now been released for the Mac-- you can pick it up for $20 over at Macgamestore, or grab the demo for free at Macgamefiles.Gamespot users thought the PC version was pretty all right, so if you like the game a lot but don't always have the real opponents around to sit through the whole thing with you, this might be right up your alley.But of course, what I'd like to see, in either virtual or realspace, is an actual Apple-branded edition of Monopoly-- the Newton and Lisa can be Mediterranean and Baltimore, and Park Place and Boardwalk get to be the iPhone and the iPod touch. You can have little Jobs and Woz figurines to move around the board (the shoe stays-- love the shoe), although I'm not sure what the railroads would be-- Apple keynotes at Mac conferences? Get on that, Hasbro![via IMG]
Woz recreates "awesome" commercial for charity sale
Woz, always ready to entertain for charity's sake, has remade his old 280Z commercial ("It's awesome," if you didn't remember from the last time you watched it) to promote the charity sale of his Nissan 350Z. Unfortunately, rather than split-screening it, the old commercial fades up for the "awesome" line, so we don't actually get to see 2007 Woz talking about how awesome his car is. But he more than makes up for it with some nice lipsyncing, a short Segway ride, and the inclusion of a Weird Al song. Roll on, Woz!The sale itself is to benefit the IEEE lab at UC Berkeley, because Woz says that "on a global scale we are seeing America losing its competitiveness in engineering and technical skills. That is disappointing." And in addition to picking up Woz' own car (too bad it's not the Prius), you get lunch with the man himself, and the opportunity to "talk about anything that interests you."Surely that's worth the $100,000 he has listed for the sale, right? But it is for charity. If you've got an extra $100,000 sitting around, there are probably worse ways to spend it.[ via Macenstein, who has a very brown redesign going on ]
PodBrix to sell young Jobs and Woz figures
PodBrix produces nifty lego figures that commemorate moments in Apple history, like the 1984 ad and a Steve Jobs keynote (I've got this one), as well as other things. Two days from now, their next creation will go on sale: The young Jobs and Woz playset. While the Woz works on a circuit board, Jobs has another idea (yes, the thought bubble is a part of the set). PodBrix has only produced 300 of these, and they typically sell out in minutes. Set your watches for 9:00 PM EST on 8/29/07. Good luck, and let us know if you get one!
Woz drives his Prius very quickly
Who says hybrids are slow?Woz was recently ticketed for pushing his Prius to 104 m.p.h. on California Interstate 5. His excuse was that international traveling had him thinking in kilometers per hour, not miles. The judge thought this over, then handed Steve a $700US fine.Why was Woz in such a hurry? Perhaps he had a date with Kathy.Thanks, Phil!
Woz is dating Kathy Griffin
Even as I write this, I can't really believe I'm writing it: the tabloid sites are ablaze with news that Woz is dating comedienne Kathy Griffin.That's right. Our Woz. Steve Wozniak. Kathy Griffin. The mind boggles. Not so much because it's wrong or anything (good for both of them), but just because-- how could that possibly happen? Apparently Woz met her after seeing her stand-up show, and they hit it off. What a weird world we live in. And did you ever, in a million years, think you'd see Woz on Perez Hilton's site? Me either. What's next, Ive on TMZ?Of course, if you're anything like me, your second thought after hearing the news was wondering WWFSS? And here you go.Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
BlueFlash: Bluetooth for the Apple II
Never say die to the old Apple II. A hacker named Vinchysky has melded a Disk ][ controller card with a Xilinx FPGA, which in normal-person-speak means he's enabled you to plug a Bluetooth dongle into an Apple II.The hookup itself is basically just a USB connection, so you could conceivably transfer in any files you wanted from either a USB drive or a Bluetooth connection to any PC (or any Mac, or any iPhone... or anything with Bluetooth at all... Mind boggled yet?). The writeup of how Vinchysky created it is interesting, while a little on the technical side. Then again, the guy is working technical magic, so we'll let him have his jargon.And the best part is that we're told this thing will be offered for sale-- he's planning to send them out at a tidy $160, within the next few weeks. If you've got an Apple II sitting around that you're just jonesing to get hooked up to a Bluetooth device, this is what you've been waiting for.[via MacBytes]
Woz at Maker Faire
Steve Wozniak showed up at Maker Faire this week - there he is zipping around on his Segway at right - and was classically "Woz." He said very little of Apple, according to Infinite Loop, but instead spoke about his love of mathematics, his old dial-a-joke line and told the young electronics geeks in the audience how they can "...feel good about doing what you are good at." In other words, he displayed the brilliance and charm that make him such an interesting person.
Meet Apple Employee #12 in California tonight
If you're a Mac geek in Menlo Park, California, listen up. TechShop on Independence Drive will host an evening with Daniel Kottke, Apple Employee #12, and the only employee to have worked on the Apple I, Apple II, Apple III and the original Macintosh. Mr. Kottke will speak on "The features that made Apple's products winners in the market place," and working versions of each of those classic machines will be on hand. It all starts at 7:00 PM PST. As TUAW tipster Taylor points out, Woz himself has a tendency to show up at these public "nerd events," but we aren't making any promises.Thanks, Taylor!
Apple founders film released as DRM-free download
TUAW reader Steve pointed us to this article about "In Search of Silicon Valley". It's a film about a trio (Steve O'Hear, Fleeta Siegel and Selwyn George) who travels from London to Silicon Valley, tracks down Apple pioneers Woz, Hertzfeld, Raskin, and Kawasaki as well as other net luminaries like Tim O'Reilly and Dan Kottke, and talks with them. The film takes place over the period of a month and the discussions range all over the place. You can read reviews at TechCrunch and Kirkville. After a limited DVD distribution, they've decided to release the film via Streamburst, a site that allows consumers to buy video without DRM. The download will set you back a very reasonable #3.99 (about $8 in US currency), though I'm not sure if the online version will include the DVD extras (about 30 more minutes of interviews on top of the 55 minute film). You can view the trailer at their storefront. Other Streamburst films include "Long Way Round", a TV series with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman that I've been meaning to watch for forever, and Race to Dakar about the 2006 Dakar Rally.
