“Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak gave a lukewarm endorsement to the latest gadget from the company he helped create: the Apple Watch,” Jonathan Vanian reports for Fortune.
“‘On days he forgets to wear his Apple Watch, he said he sometimes fails to realize it. That’s not a good sign, he argued. But Wozniak insisted that the Apple Watch, introduced in April, is improving. He didn’t exactly say how, but presumably it is because of more and better apps for the device,” Vanian reports. “‘Now it’s coming back to ‘better than break even,” Wozniak said about the watch’s value compared to its price, which starts at $349.”
“Wozniak also explained that Steve Jobs’ influence on Apple’s corporate decisions continues to live on as exemplified by the continued closed nature of Apple products. Unlike some competitors, they generally lack interoperability with other company’s products,” Vanian reports. “‘I don’t like being in the Apple ecosystem,’ Wozniak said. ‘I don’t like being trapped. I like being independent.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Properly used, you’ll never notice that you’re without your Apple Watch because you’ll never forget to put it on. Our Apple Watches are the first things on, last things off.
We’d rather be trapped in an ecosystem that works than waste time trying to deal with the poor substitutes.
On February 7, 1981, Woz hit his head so hard he’s never been the same. I’m sure putting on his Apple Watch isn’t the only thing he forgets.
Trapped in his own mind.
Needs SameSong so he can remember.
No need to be trapped when your mind does it for you.
I always felt more trapped by Microsoft Windows. Similarly, android settles are trapped by the promise of “free” and “open” but as the wise ones learn–it’s not really free and not really open.
Not being “trapped” means he prefers to use a hodge-lodge of jail broken data mined and fragmented technologies that work poorly together, if at all. If self-flagellation and frustration is your thing and you’ve got plenty of time to waste then go for it. But meanwhile most of us Apple “trapped” have more important things to do.
Exactly!
But some people love to tinker. They love to continually make adjustments to their Android devices and nursemaid them when they continually screw up. They love to build Windows computers from scratch and spend 2 weeks adjusting everything and sorting out all of the problems. Then they love to do it again a couple of weeks later when the latest MS update screws things up again. Etc. etc.
I suspect Woz may be like that, and it probably made him perfect for his role in Apple’s early development. So we need tinkerers, but I don’t think many of us here want to be one.
Oh Woz is the master tinkerer, and without that quality the Apple One and subsequent early Apple computers would not have come along. But the vast majority don’t need to do that of course. Some do anyway, I guess as a hobby.
Keep in mind I have a hexacore Mac Pro, purchased in June.
My home built computer (not going into specs, unless you ask), totally blows the doors off it, and it cost me $5,000 in parts, yet performs on a par with the highest end $10K Mac Pro, with greater capacity, and greater latitude. Also, I didn’t spend $5K at once, at least $2K worth of components were from my previous machine, which I’m still using.
That’s GREAT for those willing and able to do it. Is it a Hackintosh or a Windows machine? Many of us here, including me, need a Mac to run our software. If my main music software ran on Linux I’d possibly learn to do something like what you’ve done.
No, it’s a Win10 machine. I gave up on the cat and mouse game which is Hackentosh years ago. Tired of updates breaking it.
I hear you. I am waiting to see what the next Mac Pro is like and if it doesn’t live up to what I NEED I may end up building my own PC workstation as well. I am not a big fan of the non-Tower option. Pro’s need more leeway in doing upgrades that don’t require buying a whole new machine. Downside is having to use Windows, never a good thing.
Far be it for me to defend Windows, but IMO, since version 7, it’s been ‘good’. Win10, I would dare say, really good.
I also thought Windows 7 was the first decent version of Windows, for whatever that’s worth. (I absolutely detested Windows XP.) How stable has it been for you, Windows 10 that is? Any BSOD? Unexpected heartaches? Drivers hell? My main problem is there are so many component choices you can make building your own and you can still spend $8-10,000 for a 12 core machine.
No Blue Screens to speak of since version 7. None yet on 10. Several machines.
Woz divested from Apple, years ago, at the EOL of the Apple IIGS. He’s a fan or not, just like the rest of us. You cannot look at him as a representative or wholly Apple evangelist. Most appropriately you should see him as a man who is willing to step into the spotlight, where ever it shines. He does have good intentions for education and society, but he’s more like an uncle these days, rather than a father figure.
He likes open systems, for good or bad. I don’t disagree with him, but there is a time and place for that. Certainly you do not want Apple’s ecosystem to be open. I never worry about things “not working.” Also, I don’t worry about prying eyes.
Android, however I worry about all those things. Woz does not. Apparently he doesn’t mined being exposed to prying eyes. Maybe that’s just one more spotlight.
And why does anyone consider it news anymore when he expresses reservations about an Apple product or Apple itself? He’s been doing this for many years now.
His privilege, but IMO by now just another guy who for sure had chops at one stage of this revolution, but now as out of the product loop as many average tech product users, albeit with ample and complex reasons to have mixed feeling about Apple and how he was dealt with…..
Whatever, I don’t mind hearing about him either. He is deservedly part of tech history.
Woz, you’re not trapped. You are free to get out any ol’ time you want. But then that would deprive you of grabbing some headlines like you did today, wouldn’t it…
“Woz, what are you wearing to dinner tonight?”
“Depends”
“For your incontinence?”
“No, in case it rains….”
Sometimes I wish Woz would stop getting attention. If things were left up to him, Apple would have been just another computer company making generic boxes with no special style or taste. It’s a good thing he kept a low profile after starting Apple. His original designs for the Apple I and Apple II were brilliant, and they helped make the personal computer industry take off, but what has he done in the last 30 years? Nothing of any real use of value. He’s not the wise old sage some people think he is, and I stopped listening to his inane chatter a long time ago. Now I wish he would STFU.
The Woz is culturally significant. Without him there would be no Steve Jobs. No Apple. He has earned to not have to STFU just because Howie Isaacks wants to sound cool on the internet.
I said what I said and I stand by it.
As our dependence deepens on our reliance on technology, I’m finding the security offered by Apple is a very appealing benefit. Woz may like being independent, but, I definitely want to limit my exposure to all of the crooks hiding in the bushes.
I think if most people were poled, they’d overwhelmingly state they prefer living in a gated community vs the public housing.
In ŵhat way is it closed these days other than in the case of iOS you need to buy Software through the App Store which to me is an advantage and far from excluding access to software has the largest choice of anyone and without the fear of suspect malware getting onto your device. The fact that MS has copied the concept says something about its advantages.
Oh I’d love to live in an ecosystem that is smoothe and seemless, but Apple’s new axium is “it just works… until it doesn’t.”
Sent from my iPhone
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Meh. I’ve been done with this wannabe since he defended, and received payment from that Steve Jobs movie. No one would give a crap about Woz if it weren’t for Jobs.
Please fire him. He shouldn’t be on apple payroll anymore. Even if just to keep him associated to Apple. He’s nothing but a detriment for Apple.
If were complaining today I’ll add that I find all the monthly payments apple wants from me vile. I despise them, and resist them. Thus my Apple experience is sub-par. Thus I’m annoyed. Thus i find myself looking around for something better. Haven’t found and may never, but the fact that I’m looking is t good.