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Found Footage: Steve Wozniak on Charlie Rose
The Woz, how can you not love the guy? He's like your favorite uncle, who just never quite grew up. Well back in January he appeared on Charlie Rose, presumably as part of publicity for his book, iWoz. They discuss a variety of interesting topics, including Apple and the other Steve. According to Woz, what makes Jobs special is that he "understand[s] what the human wants" so that "the human doesn't have to tangle" with the technology. Woz contrasts himself to Jobs, saying of the latter that "he wanted to change the world; he wanted to bring computing to the masses" whereas "all [Woz] wanted to do was design the hottest computer so that every engineer in the world would look at [him] and say, 'wow!'" They go on to talk about his philanthropy and other things as well.Definitely fun stuff for the Apple fan, and pure vintage Woz. Check it out on Google Video.
iWoz on iTunes
iWoz - From Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It has made its way into the audiobook section of the iTunes Music Store (iTs link). All 9 hours and 14 minutes of it. Patrick Lawlor does a fine job of narrating it, but he sounds nothing like Woz. And he's no Joey Slotnick, either. That always bothers me when I listen to autobiographies and memoirs. I keep expecting to hear the words straight from the horse's mouth. It's distracting to have it be someone who sounds completely different than what you know the author sounds like. Am I alone in that thinking?I wonder if iWoz' presence in iTunes is Steve-o's way of making up for that $3,150 he cheated Woz out of?Anyway, for $15.95, it can be yours - and as the iTunes store blurb reminds us, it also makes a great gift!Thanks, Steve!
Guy Kawasaki interviewing Woz
We know most of you are kinda over all the Woz buzz, but for those of you who still can't get enough, we direct you to this longish video of Guy Kawasaki, the original Mac Evangelist, interviewing with Steve Wozniak.zBiz.tv has the footage and since it's almost an hour long, you'll appreciate that there are chapter markers available. The interview was filmed a few weeks ago at the Commonwealth Club of Silicon Valley, one of Woz's many iWoz book tour stops. It's a great interview and it's always a treat to have two icons on stage together, chatting like they are in your livingroom. The quality of the video itself is not very good, but the audio is solid so even if it gives you a headache to watch, you should still listen.
Chat with Woz
Join Steve Wozniak online on Tuesday, 21 November at 2PM EST for a live chat hosted by the Washington Post. He will answer questions and discuss his recent memoir, iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon. If you can't make the live chat, you can submit questions and comments in advance via the Washington Post announcement page.
Woz visits Microsoft, shares words of wisdom
Woz's appearances in the media have, of late, have revealed more of his prankster hobbies than the seasoned legend of the computer age we know him to be. Recently, the Woz visited none other than Microsoft to give his book tour's speech, and David Weiss of the MacBU blogged some interesting notes from the event. While I'm sure he had his trusty lasers and Segway in tow in one way or another, Weiss's notes refreshingly cover more of the meat from Woz's speech, including remarks on everything from chip design, Steve Jobs' programming abilities (which I'm glad to finally have confirmation on) and the more human side of technology. It's an intriguing post that's making me wish I could drop in on one of his talks.[via MacUser]
The many sides of Steve Wozniak
We all know this Woz quite well...The prankster who still laughs at fart jokes and plays Segway Polo. The guy who admitted, in the email accompanying the above picture, which was taken backstage before his recent appearance on The Colbert Report by the friend of an acquaintance of mine: I suggested that one of us should do rabbit ears and Colbert declined so I did it. That part may make it less funny but it's true. I also left a sticker in the green room bathroom that is in OSHA style and colors with a picture of a butt with a poof coming out, and the words "Let's keep the air fresh." I hope it's still there.But then there's the sensitive and impressively humble Woz. The Woz who responds to an insulting and juvenile question like this one, from Ask MetaFilter, with a disarming and brutally honest answer like this: "...I don't mind if people don't like me as long as it's for things I am. There's plenty to find there. I do try to remain the person I would have wanted to become, from when I was 10 and when I was 20. Even after something like Apple I managed to remain close to the same person, doing things I would have done had Apple never come about, like getting my degree and teaching and much more." [read the entire thing for proper context, it's short]Steve Wozniak is a class act. 'Nuff said.Thanks to phi for the Ask MeFi link.
NPR interviews Steve Wozniak
Can this guy get around, or what? The Woz has been everywhere lately, from the Colbert Report to the It's Showtime event on a Segway, and he's on his way to the South Pole in a hydrogen Hummer. Now even NPR got their hands on the big W for an interview, waxing ecstatic about his life after Apple, and hopefully a bit more about his book than he got out on the Colbert Report. Check it out, though you'll need (*snicker*) Real Player or Windows Media support installed via Flip4Mac.Thanks phi
Woz talks to Wired
I expect a flurry of interviews with Steve Wozniak in the coming weeks. Why? Because he is out and about to promote his forthcoming autobiography: iWoz. Wired sat down with the man who co-founded Apple and spoke about the book, Segways, and driving a Hummer to the South Pole.The most interesting bit of the interview comes when Steve Jobs is mentioned. As you may, or may not, know Jobs declined to write the foreword to the book because he thought he came off in a less than stellar light in the book. Woz thought that was the wrong decision but didn't want to pressure Steve into doing it. Ah, just like the good old days, I bet.The book will be hitting bookshelves on September 25th.
Woz and Buzz to take Hydrogen Hummer to South Pole
Before we dive into the actual story, lets just take a minute to sit back and appreciate just how fantastically bizarre that title is....Ok then! Mac daddy Steve Wozniak has announced that in December 2007, he and Moon man Buzz Aldrin (second person ever to set foot on the Moon) will participate in an expedition to the South Pole in which the intrepid explorers will be conveyed by Hydrogen fuel cell powered H1 Hummers. The Apple co-founder revealed his plans at Stanford University's AlwaysOn conference. The modern day eco-friendly adventure will be filmed using 3D cameras for use in an upcoming James Cameron film. According to Woz, the team has received significant input from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, which runs three of its buses on fuel cells. [via Cult of Mac]
Guy Kawasaki gets sneak peek of iWoz
Guy Kawasaki, former Apple evangelist, has read Steve Wozniak's memoirs and he liked what he read. He was posted the top ten things that he learned from iWoz to give us a taste of what is in the book. Guy learned that Woz is, and always has been, an Apple employee. Woz taught computer classes in an elementary school, and that he lost $12 million on each of his US Festivals.I know I'll be getting this book as soon as it is available for lowly bloggers like myself.
Flickr Find: Woz playing Segway polo
Our man Eliot, from Hack A Day, was at the Maker Faire this weekend and who did he spy playing Segway polo? Why, Woz of course!Thanks, iamdigitalman.
Rig of the Day: Apple II GS, autographed by Woz
Good grief! How do you make your vintage Apple II GS even cooler? Get Woz to sign it, of course. That's what Flickr user CharlieBrown (no relation) did, and we're jealous. Keep that thing away from sunlight, Chuck!"Apple II GS" posted by CharlieBrown.For the month of April, the theme for our Rig of the Day will be "Vintage Macs" in honor of Apple's anniversary. If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. Let's see your vintage Macs (Apples and Newtons, too)! We'll select an image every day to highlight.
Podbrix announces new (large) macrofig, T-Shirt
Podbrix, creators of great Apple collectibles like the Woz Lego minifig and the Podshirt, which is an integrated T-Shirt/iPod shuffle holder (how long before Apple asks them to remove "pod" from their name?), have announced the 1K Brix Macrofig. It's a 7" replica of the original 1K minifig, the very first product they sold. The limited run of 50 units ships in a signed and numbed tin that includes the figure and a T-shirt. They go on sale at 9:00PM EST on April 6th for $89.99US each. The little minifigs usually sell out in just a few minutes, so you may want to log on early (though it may be interesting to see if the higher price of this particular product has an effect on sales).Podbrix has also released another T-Shirt featuring the 1K figure, and this is in unlimited supply. You can pick one up for $17.99US.
Woz interviewed about Apple's 30th
He just wanted to be an HP engineer, but instead he co-founded the company that introduced the world to personal computers as we know them. That's Steve Wozniak for you, the merry prankster of the computer age and the affable genius behind Apple's earliest creations. The Mercury News sat down with Woz and spoke to him about the early days at Apple, his relationship with the other Steve (you know, the one that likes turtlenecks), and how he is treated at Apple Stores. Thanks, jbelkin.
Podcasts with influential Apple figures
The San Francisco Chronicle, in honor of Apple's 30th birthday, has posted a number of podcasts interviews of famous and influential Apple folks. Amongst those interviewed you will find Steve Wozniak, Andy Hertzfeld, John Sculley, Steve Capps, Guy Kawasaki, and Mike Boich.They are also running an article chronicling the career of Steve Jobs.Thanks, Andrew.
More words from Woz
It's always interesting when Steve Wozniak speaks about Apple. He recently chatted with The Globe and Mail following a polo match on Segways in New Zealand (why does this not surprise me?). When asked about Apple's move to Intel chips, Woz said it felt like "...consorting with the enemy." From the article:"...We've had this long history of saying the enemy is the big black-hatted guys, and they kind of represent evil. We are different, and by being different we're better. All of a sudden we're the same in this hardware regard, so it's a little hard to swallow your words from the past."He also stated that a separate iPod division should be spun off of Apple, since the hardware, OS and chips are different. I guess this makes sense.I feel that a chip is a chip is a chip, and I don't care if there's a Motorola, IBM or Intel processor inside my Mac. But, of course, I have much less invested in Apple than Woz does. Plus, I've never played polo (via horse or Segway).[Via MacDailyNews]
Thank you Steve site adds "Daily Stevequote"
Apple is celebrating it's 30th anniversary this year, and Thank You Steve is a site that has been set up to commemorate the occasion. Their official launch is scheduled for this Friday, January 27th, but in the meantime you can check out the daily "Stevequote." Some of the selected gems include "...You can't just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they'll want something new." Ah, Steve, you're so smart. We're also glad to see that they're including Woz in their list of quotes.Good luck to Thank You Steve! We look forward to Friday.
PodBrix to offer Wozwear T-shirts
The folks at PodBrix have done it again. PodBrix occasionally releases limited-run, Apple-themed Lego minifigs. Previous releases have included Woz, Steve delivering a keynote and "Mr. Brix," which is a small figure that attaches to your headphone cord. On January 17th at 9:00 PM EST, they will release the Wozwear 6502 T-shirt. According to PodBrix,"...the Wozwear 6502 and is a custom made shirt featuring an image of our previous Woz minifig holding a 6502 processor chip. The interesting aspect is that we use an actual 6502 processor chip and attach it to the shirt with a magnetic clasp." Here's the best part: It's a working chip, and if removed from the shirt and popped into an old Apple machine, it would work (you may remember that this is the chip used in the Apple II's). These things usually sell out in a matter of minutes (they sold out of 270 Woz minifigs in less than two minutes in August), so have your credit card and mouse ready. Podbrix will make 300 Wozwear 6502 shirts available for $34.99US each starting at 9:00PM EST tomorrow night. Good luck.[Via Cult of Mac Blog]
Woz interviewed in Berkeley's Forefront magazine
David Pescowitz, columnist and Boing Boing coeditor, conducted a great interview of Steve Wozniak in the Fall 2005 issue of Berkeley School of Engineering's Forefront magazine. The interview includes some nifty nuggets of Wozness including why Woz's Berkeley Engineering diploma is made out to Rocky Raccoon Clark.I'm not sure I agree with Woz's prediction of 2020, however. He notes that if wireless and wired standards sift down to only a few formats, then we'll have less things to hack on and invent. I'm sure by that point we'll have a slew of new formats in non-wired or wireless ways that evenTesla couldn't imagine.[photo courtesy Forefront and Boing Boing]
Happy Birthday, Woz
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak was born on this date in 1950. That would make him 55 years old. Before the age of 30 he'd already created the software and hardware for what became the Apple II. Today he has a collection of Segways and spends his days educating kids. Me? I'm on the verge of 35, I don't even have a pogo stick and I am blogging in my pajamas. How depressing.Happy Birthday, Woz!Thanks wirobro and others who reminded us.
