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Woz on Open Source, DRM
destinyland writes "Steve Wozniak just weighed in on DRM, saying "it doesn't make much sense if these things are going to have DRM forever." In this great new interview, he complains that even now, only six songs on his iTunes playlist are DRM-free. He applauds the Open Source Movement, saying "it's very honorable and it's very good for the customers." He's even considering publishing the hand-written code for the Apple II as a manuscript.
He's also surprisingly non-commital about the iPhone. ("Will word of mouth kill it or make it a hit? Who knows?") He also talks about his favorite pranks, and reveals that "the Secret Service read me my Miranda rights once.""
Woz has this special ability, he is universally liked and respected. Apple fans worship him, while PC fans still respect him. Look at all the other big names in the industry, like Gates, Jobs, Ellison, Torvalds, Schwartz, etc... and there is always something you can find to dislike them for. Not Woz though, nobody dislikes him.
Its too bad he isnt more actively involved in the industry these days. Then again, thats probrably a good part of why he is so liked!
To Woz, about Steve and Woz and Apple :"You guys are Adam and Eve of nerds."
Its funny, interesting, insightful and can also be flamebait/troll at the same time.
He applauds the Open Source Movement
Actually, I don't think the Open Source Movement has much contribute to the fight against DRM. Let's not forget that Open Source is just a way of writing software. The Free Software Movement however really fought against DRM, for example the Free Software Foundation launched the campaign DefectiveByDesign.org.
Sorry, I know Woz is a geek god and all that, but I still don't see why he should be let off this one. If you don't think DRM "makes sense", why on earth have you bought so much DRM-d content and so little DRM-free content?
I'm not sure how many tracks I have (I'm not at home to check) but I think perhaps 60 gig or so (legal, I hasten to add - 99% cd rips), but I do know exactly how many DRM-free tracks I have in my library: all of them. There isn't a DRM'd track on my hard drive. There isn't a user account in my name with any vendor of DRM'd tracks.
It's really not very difficult to simply not buy something you think is a poor product or morally objectionable idea, and I don't half get fed up of seeing people complain about <Apple / MS / Walmart / RIAA / MPAA / Nike / Nestle / etc> and in the next breath telling us all about their latest purchase from said company.
And I know what slashdot is like, so if anyone is thinking of arguing the technicality that Woz didn't decry DRM, only "forever" DRM, perhaps they can be ready with the evidence that ITMS DRM is built to turn itself off any time sooner.
I was there at the Valley Fair Apple store, the one which Woz showed up for. I originally was 5th in line, and through events of "holding places for various friends of others" and the generic line shinanigans (reminds me of the one person in the movie theater that says "These 15 seats are saved." WTF does "Saved." mean? In a movie theater you don't have assigned seats) anyhow...
I ended up 20th or so in line. Funny thing is, I think I was the first one to buy an iphone for myself. Almost everyone in line was buying them in quantity to either sell at a profit via ebay (haven't heard of success at that). However, back to my point of addressing Mr. Wozniak.
I realize many of you would consider him a god around here, but nonetheless his arrival was like this.
He arrived around 4am (note that by this time there was a considerable line) before the Apple store opened, and said "I'm Steve Wozniak, and I'm going to be first in line and buy 8 iPhones." What a dick, I would have thought more of him if he had gotten 'to the back of the line' like the rest of the crowd, just like every other regular joe. It's all good.
However... more importantly, one thing you won't see in the articles/blogs..
While he was in line, a 50something year old woman with a macbook tried to enter the store prior to the doors opening, as she was having battery trouble with it. Woz then proceeded to help her troubleshoot her battery issues. When she walked away I asked her, "Do you know who that is?" She responded "No." I told her, "He co-founded Apple..." She smiled, said "Oh, that's nice," and headed home to try again to fix her laptop with Woz's tips.
I did get a chance to talk to him for a minute, and he agreed with me when I asked him if he thought that when apple launches a major product (iPod/iPhone) that the atmosphere is similar to that of the US Festivals he organized in the early 80s. He agreed but added, "Less heat, less music, but the same comradarie and fun atmosphere."
Thought that was pretty slick, once a nerd always a nerd.
Sorry, market cap is an indication of the ability to sell stuff, not the ability to produce good products. In an ideal world, they'd be one and the same, but in an ideal world, communism would work. We don't live in an ideal world, so neither is true.
As far as what Woz contributed: well, first and foremost, he created a floppy drive that could fit in a space smaller than carry-on luggage. In fact, it was smaller than a toaster. And he was able to sell it for less than $1000. You can trace the start of the home computer revolution to his Apple ][ and the small, cheap floppy drive.
I would say Woz was about 10 times more responsible for the computer revolution than Bill Gates, or Microsoft. Gates was a more vicious businessman, and willing to exploit others, even fuck others over; and so his company has a larger market cap.
As far as Gates writing stuff, he was never that great. If you look at the impressive stuff done by Microsoft, Paul Allen was responsible for the heavy lifting up through MS-DOS 3.0. (After he discovered that Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer were trying to figure out how to get his shares back should he die of his cancer, he left. See what I mean about fucking others over?)
As far as jumping into philanthropy, Wozniak has been all about philanthropy since day 1. Gates didn't get into philanthropy until after he got married. Until then, he kept getting slammed in the press for being a stingy fucker. After it started affecting his image, he started giving money away, often in the form of, get this, Microsoft software. So, he gets to improve his image, and spread the disease at the same time.
Wozniak is ten times the man, and ten times the geek, that Gates is. Gates is more comparable to Jobs than Woz. Paul Allen was more the Woz equivalent for Microsoft.
Woz is easy to respect, as he not only was one of the primary forces to kick off the home computer revolution, but he's a nice guy. A bit strange, but nice.
Neither Gates nor Woz is really relevant any more. But Woz was and is the better geek, and the better man.
Microsoft is to software what Budweiser is to beer.
Here is the kicker. Gates isn't giving his money away. A very small portion of his wealth (proportionally much smaller than other's charitable donations) are going to the Gates Foundation. And 95% of the Gates Foundation is in investments for companies making more money. Most of the wealth in the Gates Foundation comes from Warren Buffet, who was once the world's richest man.
He lives here in Omaha, NE and is a very frugal, simple man who from time to time can even be seen mowing his own lawn. Buffet always said he was doing to donate the bulk of his wealth and not burden his children with the responsibility it bears. His kids aren't pampered rich kids who ever assumed they would inherit anything. I've met both Peter and Susy Buffet, and not only do they make their own way in the world, they've both been very socially responsible to use their fame to help raise money for charity.
Gates was named Man of the Year and gets all the credit for good deeds he isn't doing.
And for the record, Gates repeatedly said for years he did not believe in charity and refused to donate much of anything. When he was forced to make small donations for tax purposes, he donated Microsoft software and computers to schools, again an act that is self-serving. Even Philly's much-hyped all technology school that Microsoft gets credit for was paid for in full by Philly. Neither Gates nor Microsoft donated a dime.
http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
It's not a miracle. The guys in the store knew there was a customer with an easily troubleshootable problem coming, so they used the Woz Phone to call Woz. Woz then proceeded to press the secret button hidden in a bust of the last Pope (given to him by Henry Kissinger) to open the bookcase containing the sliding pole that leads to the Woz Cave. One short trip with the Wozmobile and a dose of Woz Instant Macbook Knowledge Pills later he was ready to solve her problem and the day. Those who were at the line will fondly remember the action-packed problem solving scene, complete with Diagnose! and Solve! captions appearing out of thin air.
Nanananananananananananana-- WOZMAN!
Yes, that is what goes as "funny" when you're sleep-deprived.
USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)