“Steve Wozniak would consider returning to an active role at Apple, the company he co-founded, and believes the consumer electronics giant could afford to be more open than it is,” Georgina Prodhan reports for Reuters.
“‘I’d consider it, yeah,’ the 60-year-old computer engineer said in an interview, when asked whether he would play a more active role if asked,” Prodhan reports. “He founded Apple Computer in 1976 with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne, and built the Apple I and Apple II computers that helped revolutionize personal computing… Wozniak, a lifelong hands-on engineer, said he liked technology to be relatively open so that he could ‘get in there and add my own touches.’ ‘My thinking is that Apple could be more open and not lose sales,’ said Wozniak, but added: ‘I’m sure they’re making the right decisions for the right reasons for Apple.'”
Prodhan reports, “Wozniak, who was in the English seaside town of Brighton for a computer server conference and to present a software developer award, stopped working for Apple in 1987 but is still on the payroll… ‘There’s just an awful lot I know about Apple products and competing products that has some relevance, some meaning. They’re my own feelings, though,’ said Wozniak, who is currently chief scientist of storage start-up Fusion-io.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: At the very least, who wouldn’t love to see Woz onstage as part of Apple’s keynote cast?
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “NixoN” for the heads up.]
Woz has spent most of his life since those early days looking for a role in anything and failing so not sure what he could offer now which is why when Jobs and he were presented on stage way back in their return to Apple Jobs achieved what he has and woz has contributed …?
Remember the first work that Bill Gates did for Apple which helped make him what he achieved was to do software design that Woz had blatantly failed to get around to, because he was busy doing his own thing. He is a glorious amateur but no way should he be allowed anywhere near a professional outfit.
yes but only as keynote presenter or apple tv spots
Unlike Mr. Jobs father – This DOES look opportunistic.
Class move here Woz.
Woz would be a good addition to T. Cook as CEO and S. Jobs as chairman.
He would be great PR guy, but he lost me when he said he would like to see Apple be more open for tinkering. Isn’t this what Android is for?
Note ,it says he’s still on the payroll .hmmmmm
Woz might possibly play a useful role as a consultant on certain specific types of assignments within his area of expertise (as long as said assignments are accompanied by an ironclad NDA.)
He could also be a fun goodwill ambassador, possibly even playing an occaisional role in selected
oops –
…occasional role in selected segments of keynote addresses dealing with new releases.
Play to his strengths, allow him to shine, don’t expect him to be something that he has never been and it could work out well for everybody.
I could see Woz leading the team that finally builds the elusive mid-size affordable Mac tower with user changeable parts.
I join the chorus of No Thank You Woz. For those that think this is a good idea just look at his track record and what he has said since he left Apple. Ever wonder why he and Jobs are not close any more? Apple has moved on and so should Woz.
Are you fuggin kidding me? Keep Woz rollin around on his Segway around at conferences, but let the people who run Apple today do what they do best.
No thanks, luv ya!
Let it go Woz, you’re irrelevant. Just ride that Segway off into the sunset, please.
No. He reminds me of the goofy 7th grade skater boys that I see in school every day.
Charming, and because they all play championship level entertainment games on their computers, people mistake them for geniuses. No. just goofy kids who wear out their welcome after 15 minutes.
Nothing against Woz, but no. Apple is in very good hands with the current team for continued growth and innovation. As an Engineer and tech he would be a great addition. For any major decision making or company brand/product direction, he needs to stay away from that.
Woz could be the guy who articulates Apple’s “Intersection of Liberal Arts with Technology” message. But that’s it. I think this could be a great fit.
Woz vs. Ballmer in a dance-off contest! I’d
pay to see that. 🙂
I think it be great to have him back. It’d be a nice reassurance to have one of the founders back. I’m not sure what he would be capable of doing but he has common sense as an engineer. Maybe he could function as a kind of mentor.
I could totally see Tim Cook on stage at his first keynote saying we’d like to welcome back an old friend, and then Woz zip across stage on his Segway (credit Observer for this idea). But not have him in charge of anything, just a consultant. A feel good kind of guy.
I say, give him a lab and a small support staff in the new Apple flying saucer and see what happens. Maybe he will redesign the Segway to use an iPhone 4 as the control system to lower its price. Maybe he will come up with the next “great thing.” Maybe nothing will come of it.
But I believe in loyalty, and Apple would never have existed without Woz. He may be a little goofy sometimes, but that is just because he is an unapologetic nerd placed before the public eye. Quit dissing Woz.
“My thinking is that Apple could be more open and not lose sales.”
No, but they could lose everything else. Please, Apple Inc., resist the temptation to invite this human ‘trojan horse’ inside the gates.