Data virtualization company Primary Data today revealed that Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak has joined the company as Chief Scientist. Woz made the announcement with CEO Lance Smith on stage at DEMO Fall 2014 as Primary Data emerged from stealth mode. As Chief Scientist, Wozniak will counsel Primary Data on technology vision and architecture, and he will also share the Primary Data story as he meets technology innovators around the globe.
“Innovations like wearables, digital assistants, and the Internet of Things are making computing more and more transparent in our lives, and for technology to remain accessible, we need to ensure data remains seamless as it serves us information,” said Wozniak in a statement. “Primary Data uses data virtualization to dynamically place data anywhere as applications demand. I’m excited to share our data virtualization platform with the world.”
Just as server virtualization decoupled compute from the underlying server infrastructure, the Primary Data virtualization platform decouples application data from the underlying storage infrastructure to bring dynamic data mobility to the enterprise for the first time.
“Woz has a unique way of seeing the world through the eyes of both an engineer and a visionary, and his energy, curiosity, and excitement about technology is inspiring,” said Smith in a statement. “At Fusion-io, he helped us showcase the breakthroughs possible by adding flash in the enterprise, and we’re excited to have him on the team at Primary Data as we focus on how data virtualization can deliver intelligent data mobility that evolves with the needs of modern enterprises.”
Wozniak is a Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist who helped shape the computing industry with his design of Apple’s first line of products after co-founding Apple Computer Inc. with Steve Jobs in 1976. He engineered the Apple I personal computer as well as the Apple II personal computer. Featuring a central processing unit, a keyboard, color graphics, and a floppy disk drive, the Apple II was integral in launching the personal computer industry. Wozniak began his engineering career at Hewlett Packard, and recently served as Chief Scientist of flash memory innovator Fusion-io, where he worked closely with Smith, David Flynn, and Rick White. A lifelong supporter of education and technology, he speaks frequently about engineering and innovation at events around the world.
“Working to develop disruptive technology is always exciting, but it’s even more exciting when you can team up with a talented group of friends to achieve those goals together,” said White, Primary Data co-founder and chief marketing officer. “With Woz on the team along with Lance and David, we now have the band back together, and I’m amped to be reunited at Primary Data.”
Source: Primary Data
Would that mean that he is no longer an Apple employee? On payroll?
How long before these guys get tired of hearing Woz talk about himself?
Fuck you. I could listen to Woz talk about himself or any other subject any day of the week.
-jcr
“Woz has a unique way of seeing the world through the eyes of both an engineer and a visionary …”
Visionary? Hell, I’ve only heard him criticize Apple’s strategy and products. He comes off like a cross between an eight year old boy and an alcoholic uncle.
For the record, Woz has said a lot of very sincere good things about Apple, and remains a fan. He’s just not married to them, and is interested in what other companies do as well. Your selective hearing ≠ truth.
Howz the Woz going to do this from Australia? Supposedly, he just moved there to take a position at a Uni. Maybe it was all hype. I don’t think most of us Aussies would suffer the fool too long. To up himself to last Downunder. Or he found out that his ego was too big for his reality in Oz and he swam back to the US. Just a thought.