Despite still technically being an Apple employee, Steve Wozniak isn’t known for voicing the Cupertino official line when asked about recent iDevelopments.
Speaking at a recent conference, hosted by enterprise software firm New Relic, Woz chimed in about his thoughts on the Apple ecosystem, Tim Cook’s belief that the iPad Pro could replace your need for a MacBook, and the Apple Watch — which he’s previously expressed his skepticism of.
Woz notes that he prefers the larger form factor of the iPad Pro to the smaller iPad mini (and, presumably, the iPad Air), but says he remains, “more of a laptop-based guy” and that the, “tablet has been limited for me” in terms of taking over productivity tasks. (Something which was echoed by many early iPad Pro reviewers, and is currently being tested out by our Glorious Leader and Editor-in-Chief Leander Kahney.)
Woz also says that the Apple Watch is slowly-but-surely improving, although it’s still got a long way to go. “Now it’s coming back to ‘better than break even,’” he noted, referring to the value versus price debate.
Finally, Wozniak said that he likes to keep his options open when it comes to his tech devices, by using a wide range of products — despite the fact that this means it’s a bit harder to integrate devices. “I don’t like being in the Apple ecosystem,” he said. “I don’t like being trapped. I like being independent.”
Which explains as well as anything why Woz has been off doing his own thing for the past few decades, despite Steve Jobs apparently offering him a job with Apple as recently as 2011.
Source: Fortune
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
50 responses to “Wozniak: I don’t like being trapped in Apple’s ecosystem”
Easily understandable, as Woz the Great is one of the landscape architects of the legendary Walled Garden.
And yes, even though my resources are a fraction of a percentage of Woz’s, I subscribe to many other eco-systems (Windows, Yahoo, Google) for the sheer love of running free and exploring the techno-multiverse…
THANK you
That’s a bit of an unfair over-statement. The products that Woz designed were shipped with the schematics and firmware listings in the manuals to customers. Woz would frequently be featured in advertisements for 3rd party hardware and software vendors that didn’t have to pay Apple a cent to participate in that ecosystem. The Apple II wasn’t a walled-in garden, it was more like an open marketplace. The walled-in garden was a product of the cult of Jobs. Woz was long gone by then.
Fiddlesticks and poppycock. Blaming everything on Steve Jobs is just as preposterous as claiming he was behind everything good that has befallen Apple since the Great Comeback.
When Jobs came back to Apple, Woz had not been working there for over a decade. There was no walled-in garden on the PowerPC era Macintosh, in fact if anything it was hard to find popular titles on that platform (though there were some great exclusives such as “Marathon” by a then-unknown publisher startup, Bungie.) And yes, Jobs was absolutely the reason why the IOS platforms are a walled in garden. Woz had nothing to do with the creation of that or even the Macintosh platform. Am I “blaming” Jobs? No! I’m straight up telling you he WAS the guy that made those DECISIONS as the CEO at the time. Period. This isn’t a debate, go read the interviews from 2007 and come back with evidence — not your fanboy opinions.
You lost the second you resorted to ‘fanboy’.
You are completely correct, sir. Jobs insisted the iPod was closed shop too when it was released. It was only later that they allowed owners of PCs with Windows on to connect. Etc.
And ‘android’ needs antivirus software. People get to choose which they want – “security” or quality. Plus, it’s not up to you what people choose to do with their money.
Oh rubbish, Android is more secure than think while ios is less secure than you think.
The opposite is true.
Google built ‘android’ of one reason – to track users and sell that info to ad companies. Security was – and still is – an afterthought.
iOS was created secure from the get go.
FYI: Google reads your emails too. If you mention your recent back surgery guess what ads start showing up.
There is a BIG difference between Google using keywords and someone hacking my Candy Crush games. There are proven to be more vulnerabilities with ios than Android. Blackberry seem to think Android is secure enough to make a phone with the Android OS and I respectfully trust blackberrys opinion on security more than yours.
I beg to differ. If you read Eric Schmidt’s view of privacy and security verses Cook’s you’ll hear an stark and disparate message. With all due respect, anyone that is quite happy to let google read and track their email and track where they go 24/7 just so their phone can be a few dollars cheaper cannot have any valid perspective regarding security.
Honestly, the moment I heard of that travesty I dumped Gmail and thought it would seriously damage their reputation. Amazingly, few seemed to care. THAT was when I realized that free ain’t free but the sheeple don’t care. If you’re in that camp, that’s up to you, but please my friend don’t assume everyone else is.
Google has a total lack of regard for your privacy, and a very slapdash attitude to security.
Also with respect, on the topic of Blackberry:
Read:- ‘Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry’.
They’re embracing ‘android’ because their own OS was stomped into the ground by the iPhone. Like Palm, M$, Nokia and Motorola, BB got blindsided by Apple.
Motorola is owned by the Chinese, M$ blew $7b on a failed Nokia buyout and Palm is dead.
Note: Apple could not have taken BB down had iOS security not been up to the task.
The Reality Distortion Field is in full effect with you I see.
The US government and Military use Android devices. Blackberry I am sure are using Android in an effort to boost sales by being on the world’s most popular mobile OS. However let’s be real they would not want to jeopardize their reputation as the most secure phone brand and therefore Android works.
The whole Android isn’t secure meme is a bunch a hooey, it’s amazing how nobody actually hears of any one of the BILLIONS of Android devices actually being infected.
Ok so Apple takes out 4 massive companies but hey, the Army runs ‘android’.
Boy, you’re reallllllllly stretching for something to come back with my friend.
:D
Jobs had the RDF. He’s dead. What’s your excuse now?
Can only be one thing: Apple gear is just better.
Here you go, how about some actual numbers:
Apple earns 94% of the world’s mobile money. Samsung is a speck in its mirror with 11%. But wait.. that adds up to more than 100. O_o
The reason: HTC, Sony, and the rest are losing money fighting Apple.
So much for market share.
Malware is 99% on ‘android’. You can debate all you like but that’s just the way it is right now.
I’ll be honest, when fandroids stop flocking to Apple news articles I’ll know that ‘android’ really is better than iOS. Mercedes drivers do not troll Ford forums, only the other way around. THAT is how you know who has the better product and who has the *massive* inferiority complex.
:D
Why do iFans always bring up the profit card as if overpaying for a piece of aluminum and glass is a badge of honour.
The 99% of Malware on Android ….that’s rich. Google Play store is safe , if you sideload or download from Russia then you’re playing with fire.
It’s not as if Apple hasn’t had its issues with Xcode ghost, or icloud getting hacked
Again, with respect, profit is a far purer and revealing measure of success than marketshare. Ask Michael Dell. Or, ask anyone who drives a Mercedes after once owning a Ford. Fords sell far more cars but they’re hardly aspirational. People buy them because they’re cheap (ok, not as expensive) and get from A to B just fine.
But: Once you’ve driven a Merc, THEN you get it, and until you do that you’ll just view them as overpriced and superfluous.
Never heard of Aesop’s fable The Fox and The Grapes?
Look, if you’re happy with PCs and ‘android’ cool, for most people they’re just fine, but not everyone wants average. Some people want nice stuff.
The 99% of malware on ‘android’… is just fact. Nothing more.
iOS is secure and was built that way from the start.
Remember please, Apple was not chasing anyone with the iPhone, they simply thought the cellphone could be better than the incumbents’ were giving.
The amusing story of google engineers watching aghast at Jobs’ iPhone demo in 2007 is retold in the article: “The Day Google Had to Start Over on Android”.
Sorry but ‘android’ was (and still is) an under-done copy of the fully baked original.
Incidentally, iOS devs STILL make more on iOS than ‘android’. We get the best apps and we get them first.
However, as you point out, Apple is far from perfect. If you read “iFan” forums you’ll quickly find that Cook and co, absolutely do not get a free pass. Next to the low grade spyware alternative from google though it’s flippin nirvana.
Typical iFans, thinks they are superior because they use/overpay for any iDevices.
There is nothing that an iPhone does that a Galaxy S6 can’t. Fact there are plenty of Android phones that are rated higher than iPhone.
As far as CVE is concerned iOS has 5 times the vulnerabilities that Android does.
You can’t compare an iPhone to a Mercedes that’s absolutely ridiculous.
Malware on Android is like the Loch Ness Monster, Sasquatch or an iFan with common sense. You hear that they exist yet nobody has actually seen one in person.
Haha. Man you are hysterical. Who began this conversation in the first place? You did, proclaiming ‘android’ superiority on an article that *DOES NOT EVEN MENTION ‘ANDROID’.
What brought you here? You and I both know. As a fandroid, someone who has no intention of ever buying or using any Apple product, you’ve got the classic ‘fandroid’ feeling of inferiority. It’s what compels you to click on articles with “Apple” in the title, particularly if Apple is not being portrayed positively.
If you had paid attention a bit my dear chap you’d see that I was comparing the behavior of the owners of Mercs and Fords, not the just the products themselves.
In forums, the people who have the lower-grade product troll the ones who have the better product. Rarely the other way around. THAT is the point.
The typical fandroid has never touched an iPhone but boy do you think you are better than us.
99% of trolls are fandroids.
Want proof?
Go to any review of any ‘android’ anything, anywhere on the web. Go on, do it. Look in the comments. See any “iFans” proclaiming their superiority? Nope. You _may_ find one or two if you search long enough.
Ok, now go to iPhone reviews on this or other tech sites, or YouTube. Guess what you’ll find. Dozens and dozens and dozens of “apple sux” “iFag” “I can do more with my…..” comments.
Massive. Inferiority. Complex.
Typical iFan moving the goal posts to suit your narrative. You brought up Android first no one else did. The iFans are VERY vocal about their superiority, and only poor people buy Android blah blah blah.
With respect to your Mercedes comment…you said “But: Once you’ve driven a Merc, THEN you get it, and until you do that you’ll just view them as overpriced and superfluous.”…..Not certain how that is comparing the behavior of Merc/Ford owners but it does quite clearly illustrate how you think your better for it. For the record you have no idea what I drive or what products I own.
I do find it humorous how you go on about a massive inferiority complex when it is quite clear your the one who has to defend the mother ship at all costs and when one little bit of bad news comes out the Apple troops have to rally and call all reports BS and fabrication blah blah blah.
Moving the goalposts? What goalposts? 99% of malware attacks ‘android’. Does that need to be said more than once? The fact that Merc drivers do not troll Ford forums and that fandroids are trolls? Is that untrue? Check for yourself. (You won’t.)
Back to the Merc/Ford thing: I DON”T TROLL ANDROID FORUMS.
It’s not us that makes you feel inferior – IT’S YOU.
For the record, I don’t need to know what you drive or own, but I know one thing. You don’t own anything Apple. If you did you’d have mentioned it by now.
So tell me, why does someone who has no interest in Apple gear troll Apple articles?
You don’t see how odd that is?
I don’t own Nikon cameras, so why the fudge would I bother trolling Nikon forums???
WHO DOES THAT?!
What sort of person shows up on an APPLE site, says ‘android’ is better, and then whines because he’s told, no it’s not???
Hahahaha.
I’m here because SHOCK this is a news story concerning Apple.
You’re here because you think your precious ‘android’ whatever is better.
“mother ship”
“Apple troops”
Hahahaha.
Count em up buckaroo, there’s just me here.
Oh, and one other thing. Show me where I am defending Apple in regard to Woz? Not here. He’s a big boy, he can do what he wants. I just replied to your BS, nothing more.
It’s an Apple story about Woz not liking the “walled garden” I am interested in his view point and read the article. It was YOU who brought up about Android being so insecure with the pompous attitude that iOS is perfect. Who does that?? Why bring into the conversation about Android when nothing was mentioned about it all? Perhaps you need to get your blankie and soother and sit this out while the adults talk.
I use Canon cameras. I cannot think of one reason I would ever bother going to an article about Nikon’s quality control issues. Ever.
All this does is further illustrate how much attention Apple manages to attract, even from people who would never consider buying their products.
Your first comment was: “Oh rubbish, Android is more secure than you think while ios is less secure than you think.”
So, on a story about Apple, you’re here defending your precious ‘android’.
For you information, ‘android’ has never been secure and will likely never be. That’s not up for debate any more than the issue of google’s invasive spying. The only question is whether those downsides are worth the extra amount of control that you guys seems to be so obsessed with.
You think they are, I do not.
So, as you’re the fandroid, not me, I suggest YOU sit this one out. You can’t debate facts so you’re only going to resort to more playground nonsense like “blankie” and “mother ship”.
CVE has more vulnerabilities listed for iOS than Android.
You iFans sure get your panties in bunch quite easily.
Just stop now as you’re embarrassing yourself. I’ve had enough of your blind fan boyism. I’m done.
Haha. So you run out of facts (ok, never had any..) and have to resort to “mother ship” “Apple troops” “panties..” and so on, but **I** am embarrassing myself?
By bothering to reply to a fandroid in the first place, possibly.
I quite enjoy being part of Apple’s ecosystem. It kinda sucks when you own only one or two of their devices.
My first Mac was during OS X Tiger times and there was nothing easy about owning a Mac in a world full of Windows users then. I love that my devices are one ecosystem, and Google and Microsoft products fit quite snuggly into it. Apple somehow made iCloud a huge part of what I do everyday.
It’s not for everyone. People love freedom, some love closure, some love mix and matching.
It sucks more if you have family members with a device or 2 each and try to use family sharing.
What is he then? Chairman?
Exactly … A stock/shareholder is not an employee. Good old One-Hit-Wonder that he is.
And how many hits have you had?
I think you should not look at this site, just keep Pornhub open and masturbate yourself to death.
You’re an idiot.
…and there you are, ten grades lower than me.
I think you should check yourself into the nearest psychiatric hospital.
Your Apple obsession and that wackadoodle comment of yours above proves that you’re probably mentally ill.
I agree with Woz. The Eco system has its anomalies and frustrations. Especially for families. for example I can’t easily share my music with my kids. This is no issue with physical CD’s my kids can play it on any CD player they want. However my daughter wanted to add some background music to a youtube video over the weekend and the app opened her “my music” on her iphone. She has no music ! I buy all the music physically and rip it to a central DLNA server. The apple music app does not support DLNA. if i enable match on my account – match will not work with family sharing so is useless to my kids. Therefore apple make it difficult for my collection of over 5000+ ripped CD’s (physical disks in the attic) can not easily be accessed or shared. Family sharing will not allow sharing of music not purchased through the app store. A problem created by apple that does not exist with physical media.
Like wise for Apple TV, or family shared ipads = all the kids want to switch users to access their own high scores in game center.
I do have a solution and that is for each of my 4 kids and wife to use match with the same source library. This does seem overkill just to allow all my family to access all our families music on their iDevices.
Doesn’t sound like overkill to me. Sounds like a great solution actually. Plus you always have access to the collection anywhere you go.
Point is it should be simpler and supported by family sharing. its not very environmentally/bandwidth friendly for each of my family to upload my 1TB collection individually, If it was true family sharing i need only do it once. i don’t have to buy 6 CD’s , a copy for each of my family members, they all use and share 1 CD.
I, too, do not like being trapped in the Apple ecosystem. I have a 2011 iMac and want to connect a games console to it. Unfortunately I cannot. I can only connect another Mac that has Thunderbolt. Bullshit.
Now they are not doing so-called Black Friday, Apple should hold a Thanksgiving event wherein owners bring the Apple device of their choice and stick it up the arse of the Apple employee of their choice.
Stupid, stupid comment.
Rare retort, coming from someone who chooses to put the image of a first class demon as his so-called avatar.
Yep, you’re a nut job.
Woz is a WAS, you know, a has-been. His opinion no longer matters. If he feels trapped in the Apple ecosystem, then it is a good ecosystem. If he is so smart, he can just leave, shut up and stop bitching to the bloggers. Why doesn’t he just tell his griefs to
Apple so that they can fix them? That is what a normal person would do. He is an insecure rich guy. He can go back on dancing
with the stars and embarrass himself some more if he still needs public attention.
Y U mad? Woz doesn’t randomly state his opinion online and wait for someone to write about it. I think you might be looking at this incorrectly. A journalist asked him some questions and he answered them, as always, honestly and sincerely. He’s not an attention-whore, and I don’t think the dancing with the stars thing was embarrassing to him at all. You’ve vastly underestimated his sense of humor! :D
Its not his first time at the rodeo. He knows what the “journalist” wants to hear. He’s just feeding the beast so the article can get clicks. At this point it’d be more interesting for Woz to praise Apple rather than criticize from the sidelines.
“Being trapped in the Apple ecosystem” is the critical strategy of Apple to keep people buying incrementally changing, high priced products even though they are lacking in components and specs. Apple makes sure that all their devices work seamlessly with other Apple devices and ONLY Apple devices. Unlike Windows, Apple users are held hostage with many exhibiting the classic Stockholm Syndrome effect eg. justifying the existence of the oversized iPad Pro with zero changes or benefits in ports, functionality or iOS differences from the other models despite the large real estate.
The strategy of Apple is to make sure their products work. Shocker.
I worked at a studio where the owner decided to save money by buying Dells instead of Macs.
Those things were absolute garbage. We nicknamed the laptops ‘Dell Dementia’.
I sat on the phone with ‘tech support’ for hours only to be told their problems (they had many) were with Windows and I should call M$. O_o
Next we got Macs. Night and day difference.
If anyone has ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ it is M$ drones such as yourself.
M$ has you so brainwashed that you’re here promoting Windows on a page about Apple and fretting about the one company that gives us an alternative to Redmond trash.
Ohhh god…here we go… If he doesn’t like being trapped he can always leave. sheesh. The man has more money than many people. He acts like he’s helpless. There are benefits and downsides to closed and open systems. Get a linux box and call it a day if you feel trapped.
Seriously. How is he trapped?
Did you even read the article? He’s not trapped he says he doesn’t like feeling trapped which is why he uses other products beside apple. How about commenting after you read the whole article and not the headline.
I read the article and his point is a non point. He isnt trapped. Then he is saying people should have enough freedom to be “trapped” on Apple devices. He’d be trapped if couldnt move away from Apple when he needed to. Its not even a coherent statement. What he means is Apple should do what I want them to do or else…. Sheesh! Duh!