Ask Steve Wozniak Anything

Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by eldavojohn · 2012-10-01 04:25 · Score: 5, Interesting

In your mind, where is the heart of today's computer hobbyists. I read Make magazine, I own an Arduino, some Raspberry Pis, a couple XBees, etc. I'm probably too young to remember the glory days of machines you could actually open and tinker with so could you tell me today where I can find the closest thing to that? Or at least where you go to satiate your inner tinkerer?

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My work here is dung.

Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 05:29 · Score: 5, Informative

Back in the days when we bought parts and built our own devices there was great variation. Not many in a single school had that 'build' life. And most of it was constructing kits according to instruction, not creating new things yourself. So if you built your own things from nothing but a goal, you were unusual when young. The same thing is the case today, with the Make crowd, formal and informal. It may not be reduced. It's just that the simplicity of the early days is gone so to us who have lived through it, things are not similar and available to all.
Humans all have similar brains, and the inner tinkerer refers to a slice of our brains. On the average, I believe that it's fairly constant, this slice. If there is less room to build something impressive enough to motivate you, then the creativity looks for other outlets, like outstanding Facebook pages, blogs, YouTube videos, etc.

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OK a new size TV
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:40 · Score: 0

You just listed where the hobbyists are.
Like it or don't, computers have grown up. In the early days you turned on your computer and were met with a blinking cursor, so you more or less had to be a hobbyist to do anything with it. People saw opportunities there and wondered if they could sell computers to more than just hobbyists if the barrier to doing something with them were lower. And so on and so forth and now we can install full OSs, even 'hobbyist' ones, with a couple of clicks without having to know the memory map for every bit of hardware inside the box.
Which is a good thing.
This isn't much different from anything else. There was a time when, if you wanted a house to live in, you grabbed an axe and took to chopping down trees. Fast forward to now and your HOA won't even let you cut down a tree, let alone run around with an axe. Things evolve. Along the way some niche bit fall into obscurity. If you really want to tinker, whether with your computer or with your axe, you can, but not always on your own terms.
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by StripedCow · 2012-10-01 06:53 · Score: 1

In your mind, where is the heart of today's computer hobbyists.
I guess they're all locked up safely inside this walled garden.

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If Pandora's box is destined to be opened, *I* want to be the one to open it.
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by Myopic · 2012-10-01 07:12 · Score: 1

Hobbyists like that keep up with hot tech so today they are building scaleable websites in the cloud using 100% free and Free tools. Like with Woz, a tiny percentage of these become insanely great new businesses.
Some people still like to mix their own paint for their painting hobby, and some people still like to clip together chips for their Arduino project, but most hobbyists prefer to do things with the current generation of technology. Ask Woz whether he felt like a sellout because he messed around with computers instead of (thinks back to previous generation's tech) internal combustion engines.
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by Assmasher · 2012-10-01 07:21 · Score: 1

I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done. From the early Apple days, to my much beloved IIgs with your signature on it, to your teaching and philanthropy - it's mind boggling how much happiness you've brought to the world and how much good you've done.
Love the Woz!!!

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Loading...
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:01 · Score: 0

Well, if you want to tinker with 1970s-era home computer technology, the parts for doing so still exist. One of my builds had a Zilog Z80 processor, 32kB of SRAM and EEPROM memory (no interface circuitry required), plus a 4 MHz clock generator. For output, I had 2 latch DACs and a latch gate, hooked up to the X, Y and Z (intensity) inputs of an oscilloscope. Plotting vectors on the screen every 20 or 40 ms only takes up a few processor cycles. Input from a PS/2 keyboard runs at such a low baud rate that you don't really need to worry about having a chip for it either. Use a simple multiplexer and a couple of logical gate chips to set up interrupt triggers for the screen refresh and keyboard input. I believe the PS/2 has a clock pin, so just trigger when that's high or low. You could hook up your EEPROM so the processor can flash it, for some primitive storage, or you could hook up an old tape deck to some simple analog circuitry, for Commodore 64-style storage. IBM PC floppy drives also use a very simple interface, but you'd need more logical circuitry. You could toss on another Z80 as an I/O co-processor and run them in lockstep with the 4 MHz clock. The possibilities for fun tinkering are endless.
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by ThJ · 2012-10-01 08:20 · Score: 1

I accidentally posted anonymously, so here's what I wrote, and what I want to add to:

Well, if you want to tinker with 1970s-era home computer technology, the parts for doing so still exist. One of my builds had a Zilog Z80 processor, 32kB of SRAM and EEPROM memory (no interface circuitry required), plus a 4 MHz clock generator. For output, I had 2 latch DACs and a latch gate, hooked up to the X, Y and Z (intensity) inputs of an oscilloscope. Plotting vectors on the screen every 20 or 40 ms only takes up a few processor cycles. Input from a PS/2 keyboard runs at such a low baud rate that you don't really need to worry about having a chip for it either. Use a simple multiplexer and a couple of logical gate chips to set up interrupt triggers for the screen refresh and keyboard input. I believe the PS/2 has a clock pin, so just trigger when that's high or low. You could hook up your EEPROM so the processor can flash it, for some primitive storage, or you could hook up an old tape deck to some simple analog circuitry, for Commodore 64-style storage. IBM PC floppy drives also use a very simple interface, but you'd need more logical circuitry. You could toss on another Z80 as an I/O co-processor and run them in lockstep with the 4 MHz clock. The possibilities for fun tinkering are endless.
I must admit that I've had trouble finding an easy, inexpensive way of prototyping. Sending PCB layouts to fabs is a little bit expensive, especially if you make a mistake. I've used veroboard in the past, but all the soldering for bus lines can take its toll on the copper tracks, especially if you make mistakes, and you often end up having to throw out a board after a while. I've been tempted to try wirewrapping tools lately, because of how easy it is to fix a mispatched connection. I have also experimented with laser printer etching, but it's time consuming, and the chemical brew you need for it is rather nasty. The closest thing I have gotten to "real time development" in the way you would do with software is SPICE, specifically LTspice in my case, but you have to watch out for some things. In the simulation, conductors are ideal and have no time delay, resistance or capacitance, and components behave perfectly, with no thermal noise, so you risk doing an entire design in SPICE, and then discovering later that you actually needed those seemingly optional decoupling capacitors for the circuit to remain stable. This becomes especially apparent as you get closer to the gigahertz range (and is part of the reason why circuits have kept shrinking over the years, as this reduces those side effects).
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by IllForgetMyNickSoonA · 2012-10-01 08:49 · Score: 1

Since some time, I've been into remotely controlled planes. Started out by buying one, with a cheapo (but very "thinkering friendly") Turnigy 9X TX. Since then I'm building my own planes - MUCH to tinker with, the possibilities are infinite: shapes, materials, attaching gadgets, learning flight techniques, ... not to talk about the entire world of possibilities that opens up once you start designing your own planes. Maybe worth a try. :)
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by Nyder · 2012-10-01 09:32 · Score: 1

In your mind, where is the heart of today's computer hobbyists. I read Make magazine, I own an Arduino, some Raspberry Pis, a couple XBees, etc. I'm probably too young to remember the glory days of machines you could actually open and tinker with so could you tell me today where I can find the closest thing to that? Or at least where you go to satiate your inner tinkerer?
Maker fairs dude. You claim to read the Make magazine, yet claim to not know where all the tinkerers go? Seriously? Maker fairs are the big thing these days. Covers everything.
And you want to find some peeps like Steve? Come over to comp.sys.apple2 usenet group, lots of old tinkerers on that group. One of the few old computer groups that are still going.
Seriously though, why are you asking questions you should know the answer to?

--
Be seeing you...
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by nmb3000 · 2012-10-01 10:07 · Score: 1

Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer so many questions already. Slashdot interviews are normally something of a joke -- we submit hundreds of questions which are then filtered and 10 of which chosen by the staff/editors/corporate overlords; the questions are sent to the interviewee and ignored for two months, and then we finally get some watered-down responses, all of which were run past and cleaned up by some HR/PR drones. What comes out the other end is usually boring and not worth the effort required to read.
Your quick, open, and honest responses are fascinating and a lot of fun to read. Thank you again!
I think all future Slashdot interviews should be done like this (give the subject an account and let them answer), or not at all.

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"What do you despise? By this are you truly known." --Princess Irulan, Manual of Muad'Dib
/)
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 11:12 · Score: 0

Yea, the increase in SoCs result in a reduced ability related to getting in there and actually look at how the various parts interact in comparison to the early micro boards like your Apple i/II, the C64 and so on.
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 12:33 · Score: 0

the true answer is they're the people assembling 3D printers from kits. you know, star trek replicators.
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by aurizon · 2012-10-01 14:13 · Score: 1

Yes, I remember the Atlantic City Hamfest where you showed the first Apple. I shared a booth with John Ramsey of Ramsey Electronics and we were both setting up. I wandered into your booth and you were there with Steve and you had a problem. Someone had pulled out a card and the hex buffers had blown, and you did not have any, nor a soldering iron to fix it. The part was a 74367 I believe, which was later replaced by the 74LS367.
I was able to supply you with an iron and some solder and some chips - the rest is history.
Bill
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by aurizon · 2012-10-01 14:16 · Score: 1

I forgot, the topic: They have mostly gone away, done away by surface mount ICs, large scale integration and automated assembly. JR sold out almost 10 years ago.
Now the pathway for hobbyists follows the software path
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by gonebuck · 2012-10-02 09:49 · Score: 1

'Back in the days' My facebook was just face to face. Or via a BBS in the seventies thru early eighties before Internet. I remember the ASR33 with a 8080 system board and 20ma Loop through a 150 modem. The SBC was home-brewed with a self designed interface board. Originally the SBC had 256B of static memory with a whooping 1KB(4x256B 1702) of EPROM for the control/OS. If you can call the service routines a OS. :) I thought I had died and went to heaven when I built the 1KB static memory board. Talk about tight code & re-entrant code to facilitate the available memory to get the tasks done. Today kids do not realize clean coding nor care to stream or optimize like we used to do. Sad! I now have more power sitting on my lap than I would have in the lab as a total back then. Reminiscing about hacking both software & hardware to do whatever. I still work with my hands building hardware but not at the rate 40 years ago. Software is still dear to me, more than one heart ache/headache in yesteryear. Limiting my coding now but believe giving back to the community is important, so I moderate a forum to give something back. Even in primary and secondary school we had shop. Kids today are not afforded the same to tinker or build something from their own design like we did. Cultural changes, education budgets and lose of qualified instructors to teach at this level keeps the student from being exposed to the topic.. Our manufacture needs are not met for worker supply to perform task(s) at the level necessary to produce quality. Research shows that retrain instructions can provide workers but most people look down on this type of production thus want the corner office or gimme entitlements. :( Woz, my point is, 'How do you think the industry should handle the situation here in the USA? Active participation in Local education? Not shipping it outside but how to keep it here. How do we get the youth start-up to tinkering, evolving to a generation that could boot strap this country's economy? Not everyone is suited to higher education, nor need a liberal arts degree that will not service over their lifetime. Not everyone can be a game designer nor engineer. Education here in the USA is in sad state. :( Any ideas? How do we get kids to realize that hobbies can be beneficial. Not sitting all day & night playing a game. Sure produces good hand eye but what good can a professional gamer be to society? Presently working on a project using the 'RaspberrryPi' to hopefully introduce students to the wonderful world of electronics and experimentation. Project does have simple designs for I/O, motor control and even some simple closed loop control designs that hopefully peak some interest. Woz, I too wish to Thank You for contributions to the computer world. Amazing designs back in the day that opened doors for many hobbyist to continue on into the field. Many Thanks! --Gary
Re:Where Are Today's Hobbyists? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 15:01 · Score: 0

Back in the days when we bought parts and built our own devices there was great variation. Not many in a single school had that 'build' life. And most of it was constructing kits according to instruction, not creating new things yourself. So if you built your own things from nothing but a goal, you were unusual when young. The same thing is the case today, with the Make crowd, formal and informal. It may not be reduced. It's just that the simplicity of the early days is gone so to us who have lived through it, things are not similar and available to all.
Humans all have similar brains, and the inner tinkerer refers to a slice of our brains. On the average, I believe that it's fairly constant, this slice. If there is less room to build something impressive enough to motivate you, then the creativity looks for other outlets, like outstanding Facebook pages, blogs, YouTube videos, etc.
Hey Steve, Long time no see. Kidding aside I met you at a Computerland store in Orange County in the late 1970s. I was one of the few people interested in looking at your scrapbook of photos of THE GARAGE etc . I bought one of the first 16k Apple ][ computers made. I also owned a ][e model and the ][GS! It was your enthusiasm for what you were doing that really struck me then and I'm glad to see the spark is still alive. That should be a lesson for the younger generation, "do what you truly love and the money may follow but at least you'll be happier in the long run. In lieu of an autographed picture will you ASK to be my friend on FB?--Best Regards Gary Parriott. PS I can still hear in my head the sounds of Apple basic loading via the cassette player.

Opinions on the Mutations of Tetris? by eldavojohn · 2012-10-01 04:26 · Score: 5, Interesting

I've played a bit of Tetris in my day and was reared on Gameboy Tetris, Tetris 2 on the SNES and Tetris Worlds for the Nintendo 64. I've since played a few other versions and remembered you being an avid submitter to Nintendo Power. So, Evets Kainzow, what's your opinion on the current state of Tetris (if you still play). Have you enjoyed the permutations on tetromino scoring and function in some of the later titles or do you see them as a tainted form of a pure game?

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My work here is dung.

New stuff? by 19061969 · 2012-10-01 04:26 · Score: 4, Interesting

What new stuff excites you most now?

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bang goes my karma... again...

Re:New stuff? by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 05:43 · Score: 5, Informative

Same as always my whole life. It's the fun 'toy' aspect of technology. I would take my kids to carnivals and spend $40 throwing darts or $40 tossing ping pong balls. Now we just download an app at home or on the sidewalk and it's free or nearly free and benefits our lives and leads us to love our technology, so the toys we adults have are very inexpensive!

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OK a new size TV
Re:New stuff? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-09 23:14 · Score: 0

But doesn't this start to isolate you from the world? I love my toys, but I also love to get out and interact with the real world. My concern is that we are getting too isolated from each other.

Where do you think the iPhone is going? by HerculesMO · 2012-10-01 04:28 · Score: 3, Interesting

With iOS6 and it's very evolutionary nature, and with Google's Android and MS's Windows Phone as competitors, plus the fact IDC and Gartner both put iOS as becoming less relevant with time... what does your gut tell you about the landscape? And what do you think about the competitors to iOS? I would say "iPhone", but my interest is more in the software than the hardware.

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The price is always right if someone else is paying.

Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by tg123 · 2012-10-01 05:05 · Score: 1

With iOS6 and it's very evolutionary nature, and with Google's Android and MS's Windows Phone as competitors, plus the fact IDC and Gartner both put iOS as becoming less relevant with time... what does your gut tell you about the landscape? And what do you think about the competitors to iOS? I would say "iPhone", but my interest is more in the software than the hardware.

LOL Windows Phone doesn't compete with Android and iOS.
It competes with Symbian, Blackberry and MeeGo.
really ... Woz? what relegates it to the past ? (real question curious to know )
Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:18 · Score: 0

LOL Windows Phone doesn't compete with Android and iOS.
It competes with Symbian, Blackberry and MeeGo.
really ... Woz? what relegates it to the past ? (real question curious to know )
Um. that wasn't Woz. That was HerculesMO
Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by tg123 · 2012-10-01 06:37 · Score: 1

LOL Windows Phone doesn't compete with Android and iOS.
It competes with Symbian, Blackberry and MeeGo.
really ... Woz? what relegates it to the past ? (real question curious to know )
Um. that wasn't Woz. That was HerculesMO
[evil thoughts]
Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 06:38 · Score: 5, Interesting

It's wrong to look back. It's not scientific and testable. But I saw for the last few years one small screen in the midst of a lot of large screen and felt myself, as countless others must have, that the larger screens had more value. Blame me for taking the leeway to suggest that this was the one door Apple left wide open. iPhones are not inferior to other smartphones, and the cost is similar. iOS 6 is not inferior to Android. We could all get by with either of them. I never said this sort of thing about Windows. So there has to be some reason that Apple lost so many sales to other products. It may not be screen size as much as the number of players and products in the market. But are we saying the rest of the world has better marketing than Apple?
As an Apple shareholder, what matters is not sales or market share. It's profitability. Apple seems to stand alone in profit market-share. So the course they are taking is a good one. It's hard to guess whether profits would be greater or lesser under hypothetical scenarios.
The app store has changed our lives. We depend on Apple leadership. Most of the software I feel is in apps. You speak of iOS becoming less relevant as though other platforms are as good but I think of it more in terms of the fact that for all major platforms, there are more than enough apps and they are generally the same quality on each platform.
It's better to think constructively about what can be done with our mobile platforms to improve our lives more, rather than trying to throw darts and insults.

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OK a new size TV
Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by jonwil · 2012-10-01 15:16 · Score: 1

As a software engineer by profession and a geek by personality, there are 2 big reasons I wont buy an iPhone, iPod or iPad.
The first is that I do not want to buy a device where I have to pay someone money if I want to write my own personal software for the device. The second is that I refuse to give money to a company that is using the patent system to try and take out their biggest competitor instead of trying to beat them with a superior product.
Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by Clsid · 2012-10-01 18:00 · Score: 3, Insightful

You get a chance to exchange words with somebody like Steve Wozniak and all you can do is ramble like this? If you are a fandroid enjoy your phone and be happy, and stop making a fool out of yourself in the process.
Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 19:30 · Score: 0

I'm not that big an android fan. I have way too much experience with it to be an unabashed fan. But Apple has been outright disgusting for years. He can't not realize that as a tinkerer. He should just come out and say what he's probably already thinking. It's funny that Apple didn't learn from it's mistakes in the 80s.
Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by Karlt1 · 2012-10-02 04:15 · Score: 1

"plus the fact IDC and Gartner both put iOS as becoming less relevant with time."
Is the same IDC that said when Nokia went to Windows Phone that they would have a 20% share by 2013?
Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by Clsid · 2012-10-02 05:27 · Score: 1

Maybe to you they are. Everybody is entitled to a different opinion, more so a guy who owns a gazillion of Apple shares. Hell I don't own Apple stock and I'm pretty fond of their products because of the attention to details. But if I get to talk with somebody from Samsung or Google, I would be far more interested in asking stuff about where they see the industry going, new products, etc. instead of bashing them for whatever I don't like about their respective companies.
Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 07:02 · Score: 0

Don't EVER object at a question. If a 'fandroid' wants to ask the second (or third if you rank Jon Ive above him) most important person ever to grace Apple a perfectly reasonable question about iOS's challenges and his gut feeling, you of all people should have zero reason to object.
I'm confident that both Google and Samsung's Executives and shareholders both get asked questions about IOS all the time, why should the reverse not apply?
Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 07:04 · Score: 0

It's still a feature phone in the same sense that despite RIM's blackberry being able to do most of what a smartphone can, it's too inaccessible to most of it's users. The store consumption figures correlate completely with that concept.
Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 07:12 · Score: 0

Just a comment: I have a WiMo7 phone. For the OS, I'll take it over iOS any day. Six of one, half dozen of another against Android. However...

there are more than enough apps and they are generally the same quality on each platform.
I'd have to strongly disagree with that statement. For perspective, I've had phones that were $250 new, no contract, when purchased a year prior to the current iPhone of the time, and I've preferred them. To say I'm not an iFan is an understatement.
However. The apps available on the iPhone do tend to be better in quality (at least modestly) than the Android and WiMo7 apps. Also, as much as I've tried to find alternatives for them, I've known people who use iDevices (and really didn't want to) because they needed certain apps that just weren't available in Android or WiMo7. The variety of apps for other phones most certainly does not compete, and the quality, though to a lesser extent, is also not as good.
Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by Douglas+Goodall · 2012-10-03 01:31 · Score: 1

Some of us are questioning whether we can depend on Apple for leadership. At the moment we can depend on them to charge more, make more profit, and show less responsibility for the working conditions where Apple hardware is made. I have a 3.0GHz 8-Core Xeon Mac Pro that cannot run Mountain Lion because the machine has a down-level boot rom that apparently cannot be updated, and I cannot afford to buy another Mac Pro right now. I am heart-sore about what has happened to my feelings about Apple in the last several years. What is your view on Apple's future relationship to it's customers and development partners? You're still my hero Woz.
Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-03 13:04 · Score: 0

to Clsid (564627)
Gentleperson Clsid, did you read what Mr.Wozniak wrote: the part that says:
"It's better to think constructively about what can be done with our mobile platforms to improve our lives more, rather than trying to throw darts and insults."
be well
Tom
Re:Where do you think the iPhone is going? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-05 00:14 · Score: 0

You understand it is the Woz doing the "rambling", right? See where it says "by SteveWoz" above? That is not the OP with the lengthy post; it is Woz.

Apple vs. Samsung by xbeefsupreme · 2012-10-01 04:28 · Score: 0

What is your opinion on the Apple vs. Samsung verdict?

Re:Apple vs. Samsung by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:32 · Score: 2, Informative

What is your opinion on the Apple vs. Samsung verdict?
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/09/13/2222207/wozniak-on-the-samsung-patent-verdict
Re:Apple vs. Samsung by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:33 · Score: 3, Informative

jeez, a little googling would have provided you the answer:

"I hate it," Wozniak said when asked about the patent fights between Apple and Samsung. "I don't think the decision of California will hold. And I don't agree with it -- very small things I don't really call that innovative."

Why Freemason? by eldavojohn · 2012-10-01 04:28 · Score: 4, Interesting

Your wikipedia page says you're a member of the Freemasons. As an open source fanatic, freemasonry has always rubbed me a little the wrong way. It's fine that people want to have a club and do their own thing in private but what bothers me is that they might be more likely to do business with other Freemasons and that they have these requirements to be a Freemason like belief in a Supreme being. It also bothers me that it's so pervasive. I understand enjoying the comradery and brotherhood of it (I'm an Eagle Scout myself) but what purpose does being a Freemason serve in your life and what do you enjoy most about it? If you're purely doing it to spend time with your wife, does any aspect of it bother you?

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My work here is dung.

Re:Why Freemason? by juanfgs · 2012-10-01 04:31 · Score: 5, Funny

As an open source fanatic, freemasonry has always rubbed me a little the wrong way
Would you like him better if he was an OpenMason?
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:40 · Score: 5, Funny

Is he a FreeAsInBeerMason, or a FreeAsInSpeechMason?
Re:Why Freemason? by willda · 2012-10-01 04:52 · Score: 5, Informative

I understand enjoying the comradery and brotherhood of it (I'm an Eagle Scout myself) but what purpose does being a Freemason serve in your life and what do you enjoy most about it?

I am an Eagle Scout as well and a 30 yr Freemason (Past and current Master). Our main objective is not as you said to be more likely to do business with other Freemasons (though that does occur...don't you prefer to do business with people that you know as opposed to strangers?). Our objective is to help make good men even better. I am sure there are probably many men in your community that are masons that you might talk to for better information. We are an organization with secrets, not a secret organization. Dan
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:58 · Score: 0

We are an organization with secrets, not a secret organization.
Lame.
Re:Why Freemason? by drinkypoo · 2012-10-01 05:00 · Score: 0

We are an organization with secrets, not a secret organization
So you're saying the real organization is secret? OK then.

Our objective is to help make good men even better.
And in the process, claim dominion (as do all such societies) over goodness.

--
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:05 · Score: 0

Boy Scout's of America has the same "Duty to God" principle.
Re:Why Freemason? by tg123 · 2012-10-01 05:06 · Score: 1

Is he a FreeAsInBeerMason, or a FreeAsInSpeechMason?
:-)
Re:Why Freemason? by WankersRevenge · 2012-10-01 05:10 · Score: 1

they might be more likely to do business with other Freemasons
I don't see why your concern is exclusive to masony. What about running clubs? Play-dates? Or hell, even bowling leagues?
they have these requirements to be a Freemason like belief in a Supreme being
Again, there are plenty of other clubs that have similar requirements. The big difference is that masonry is open to people of different religions.
It also bothers me that it's so pervasive.
A lot of things are pervasive. Again, what does masonry have to do with it?
If you're purely doing it to spend time with your wife, does any aspect of it bother you?
I really don't understand that question. Masonry is a fraternal organization.
I'm not sure I understand your hesitations with the organization. I'm guessing you've heard one too many stories. Personally, I think it's a great way for people of different politics and religions to talk to one another in a meaningful way without getting trapped in hyperbole.
I'm not a mason, btw.
Re:Why Freemason? by vlm · 2012-10-01 05:16 · Score: 5, Interesting

We are an organization with secrets, not a secret organization
So you're saying the real organization is secret? OK then.
I'm the first in four generations not to be a mason. And with the advent of the internet there are really no masonic secrets anymore. And the topic is pretty interesting to me so I've struggled thru the Manly P Hall and friends books. The secrets are certain interpretations of some pretty esoteric stories along with some pretty impressive stagecraft and staged drama. Also I guess you could say some "inside jokes" but not really jokes. Also its historically been kind of a foundry / framework / startup for historical conspiracies, which does not mean your local temple is trying to take over the world or ever has. Stating this in the absolutely nicest way possible, its pretty much aesops fables for adults, in that its all about morality plays and ethics lessons but on an adult level. An inherently classist outlook in that the idea that 3rd level cannot even be interpreted until 2nd level is mastered, which depending on your outlook on life is either obvious (in which case you're a good masonic candidate) or horrible (in which case you're a good anti-masonic conspiracy theorist candidate). Probably would make a hell of an anime series.
"Ask a mason" would make an interesting /. interview, but making it more specific to Woz I really donno what to say.
Here's a fun one for "ask a mason" or "ask Woz about masonry". The requirement for belief in a supreme deity or whatever is a simplification of the long form and the long form seems to boil down to if I believe in physics and some philosophy I technically can fit. Analysis? Most opinions are probably going to reflect the responders biases more than being real analysis, but its something I've considered occasionally.

--
"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:16 · Score: 1

Netcraft confirms: Masonry is dead.
Last year there were 20,000 surveyed users of NetMason and 9,000 of OpenMason. Today that number has dwindled to just 200 and 90, respectively.
Re:Why Freemason? by Revotron · 2012-10-01 05:24 · Score: 1

I and many others can answer this question even though it was directed at the Woz. Though each man gains something a little different through Freemasonry, the answers all tend to run along the same lines.

First I will answer your question by asking you another. What purpose does being an Eagle Scout serve in your life and what do you enjoy most about it? No doubt your answer will probably include brotherhood, camaraderie, and most likely the instillation of basic principles of patriotism and honor. That's what I've heard from the handful of Eagle Scouts I've known throughout the years, and for the most part that is also my answer to you.

To put it plainly, Freemasons are men who have accepted that they are not perfect, and having accepted our imperfections, we set out to make ourselves better. Better leaders, better brothers, better men in general.

But Freemasonry does not "make" the man - the man is already made by the Grand Architect of the universe, the Supreme being in which all Freemasons must believe, generic though it may be. (Basically, as long as you believe in an intelligent force driving the creation and existence of the universe, you're golden.) The man, having already been made good, must make himself better. If the man is not good to start with, Freemasonry can be of no help to him. Through Freemasonry, good men become better, but bad men do not become good. Freemasonry gives good men the principles and tools to better themselves, and it is through the brotherhood and camaraderie of the Lodge that we refine ourselves with the moral support of our fraternal brothers.

That's the high-altitude view. Anything lower-level than that is really up to whoever you ask. As I said, everyone gets something different out of it, but the general principles tend to be the same. And finally, here's my last rant - though we are a fraternity with secrets, we are not a secret society! The secrets of our order are used solely to identify ourselves to other Freemasons - a secret handshake, pretty much. With the exception of our "authentication protocols" (to put a technical spin on it), the regular business of a Lodge is no different from a meeting at work or the classic car club down the street. If you want to know more about our order, all you need to do is ask! :)
Re:Why Freemason? by Life2Death · 2012-10-01 05:46 · Score: 1

What? This writing reaks of the Grate Book of MOO.
Re:Why Freemason? by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 05:47 · Score: 5, Informative

A lot of things about me don't get filtered. My wife at the time, in early Apple days, was in Eastern Star. If I became a Freemason I could go to more events with her. I did become a Freemason and know what it's about but it doesn't really fit my tech/geek personality. Still, I can be polite to others from other walks of life. After our divorce was filed I never attended again but I did contribute enough for a lifetime membership. There is nothing wrong with the Freemasons. It's like any group or religion or cult with various rituals. They may make no sense to many but they are fun for those who participate. There's no real political or institutional standing that can impress values on others, but I couldn't say that Freemasonry has explicit values beyond what any member perceives.

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OK a new size TV
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:50 · Score: 0, Flamebait

So Atheists are unwelcome. So much for that organization. Making belief in sky fairies a requirement for membership speaks a lot about Mason values and priorities. Not to mention it's very offensive.

I have a suggestion: Go fuck yourself.
Re:Why Freemason? by 0xdeadbeef · 2012-10-01 05:52 · Score: 1

Our objective is to help make good men even better.
Cool. So you have a training regime to increase mental and physical dexterity? What about gene therapy? Or do you just go the bionic implant route?

We are an organization with secrets, not a secret organization.

Oh. Sounds like Scientology. Nevermind.
Re:Why Freemason? by Hognoxious · 2012-10-01 05:52 · Score: 2

I take it you didn't get your punctuation badge.

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Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:53 · Score: 0

You do realize that Boy Scouts requires belief in God (currently an issue of discussion for my step-son as his mother is atheist), which is very similar to the Free Mason's requirement of a Supreme Being, right?
Actually, Googling turned up "On March 16, 1978, BSA added the words "Supreme Being" in its religious policy." (http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/god-top.html) so it looks like the two organizations are very similar in their requirements. As such why do you, an Eagle Scout, have an issue with the Free Masons "Supreme Being" requirement?
I am not a free mason, although some one I respect tremendously was one and speaks highly of the organization, so please pardon (or even better correct) any misunderstandings. Also I am not an Eagle Scout, although I was a Life Scout and only needed to complete the service project to be eligible for an Eagle Scout.
Re:Why Freemason? by StuartHankins · 2012-10-01 05:53 · Score: 1

My father was a Mason but was very secretive about it. He wanted a Masonic funeral when he died. The Masons showed up and basically unnerved everyone with their weird chanting, hand gestures, and phrasing. I almost left in the middle of the service. Creepy and religious was what I got out of it. The addition of the almost-shame and secrecy was enough to tell me I don't want to be a part of that group.
Re:Why Freemason? by Hognoxious · 2012-10-01 05:57 · Score: 1

Back in the day there were a number of scandals involving police corruption in the UK that were strongly linked to the trouser rollers.
Then there was that Italian banker who was found hanging from London Bridge. Suicide, apparently, despite having both his hands tied together.
Bunch of crooks the lot of 'em.

--
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Re:Why Freemason? by Quiet_Desperation · 2012-10-01 05:58 · Score: 1

Can I join? I have a second hand apron. It really opens doors, you know.
Re:Why Freemason? by Quiet_Desperation · 2012-10-01 06:02 · Score: 4, Funny

I don't see why your concern is exclusive to masony. What about running clubs? Play-dates? Or hell, even bowling leagues?
You scoff, but a rogue bowling league nearly took over Canada in the 1970s. They were defeated by the Mounties and internal squabbling within The League (as they called themselves) over handicaps and ranking officers by shoe size.
Never heard of this? Of course not. The Masons covered the whole thing up.
Re:Why Freemason? by willda · 2012-10-01 06:13 · Score: 0

So Atheists are unwelcome. So much for that organization. Making belief in sky fairies a requirement for membership speaks a lot about Mason values and priorities.
Actually, Yes I do believe it speaks loud and clear about our values.
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:13 · Score: 0

And in the process, claim dominion (as do all such societies) over goodness.
Umm, they are not claiming exclusivity over that. If you don't like what they offer, you are free to go to many other groups or self-study. You might as well argue no one should band together to do charitable work, because they might try to claim dominion over that (even if there are some examples of that happening... that is a long way from saying it is an inherent and universal property).
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:19 · Score: 1

There are a few branches of freemasonry, some of which do allow atheists. The idea that there is some governing order to the universe via laws of physics is interpreted as enough. On the other hand, there are places where only Christians are allowed in. So there is quite a bit of variance if you actually travel to different places.
Re:Why Freemason? by vlm · 2012-10-01 06:28 · Score: 1

The idea that there is some governing order to the universe via laws of physics is interpreted as enough
Yes I thought so but I can't remember the details.
Now see, AC, you're walking talking display of why people should log in with an account. If I hadn't already posted in this thread I'd mod you up as the most interesting thing I've read all day.
Now gimmie a URL or something to google for or something more than "some AC on /. said so" as I find this specific topic particularly interesting for some reason...

--
"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
Re:Why Freemason? by doom · 2012-10-01 06:33 · Score: 1

Last year there were 20,000 surveyed users of NetMason and 9,000 of OpenMason. Today that number has dwindled to just 200 and 90, respectively.

But on the other hand, Mason 2 is out, and it's being actively maintained: Mason. I don't have usage stats for you, but I'd seriously consider using it on new web projects, possibly via the Poet framework.
(You can be the first on the block to start the MVC-backlash. )
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:02 · Score: 0

I don't see how having a random account here would help. I am not a Freemason myself, although I've been more than one community event where some were present with essentially an "Ask a Mason" booth. They gladly will talk about quite a few of their ideals and goals, what they are trying to do, etc. So I would be basically paraphrasing some unnamed Freemason anyways...
As a start though, there is the Membership Requirements section on Wikipedia, and some in the discussion specific to Continental Freemasonry. Keeping track of the difference and relations between different Freemasonry groups can take a bit of time investment depending on how much detail you want though.
Re:Why Freemason? by hkb · 2012-10-01 07:10 · Score: 1

Woz answers that in iWoz -- the details of which can be read on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IWoz. I don't think he's active anymore.
"they might be more likely to do business with other Freemasons"
How does that differ from any other social, church, or civic group? You know these people better than you know some random person in the Yellow Pages, so it makes sense to go with the safer option.
" It also bothers me that it's so pervasive."
Can you elaborate?

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/* Moderating all non-anonymous trolls up since 2004 */
Re:Why Freemason? by Myopic · 2012-10-01 07:18 · Score: 1

The feeling might be mutual. Freemasons are well known for finding no possible way to take seriously a person who can't identify an adverb.
Re:Why Freemason? by vlm · 2012-10-01 07:19 · Score: 1

I don't see how having a random account here would help.
Because being a AC your posts default score is a zero with my particular settings. A lot more people will read a good posting if it gets modded up.

--
"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
Re:Why Freemason? by Myopic · 2012-10-01 07:23 · Score: 1

You might have missed the memo, but BSA is no longer a way to make a superlative comparison. Back in the 1990s, BSA stopped being a respectable organization. Even though their previous goodwill sustained them until recently, it is now universally admonished by moral people who are paying attention. It is now a group full of bigots and hypocrites, the hypocrites being those who still lie to themselves in saying "I can change it from the inside!" No, you can't.
On the other hand, I don't have anything bad to say about the Freemasons. That could be, though, because I don't pay attention to the Freemasons.
Re:Why Freemason? by Myopic · 2012-10-01 07:26 · Score: 1

"I'm an Eagle Scout myself"
It's a shame that being an Eagle Scout is now a scarlet letter instead of a marker of achievement. Perhaps one day you won't have to hide your Eagle Scout status in order to be accepted in society, but BSA will have a lot of apologizing to do before that could happen.
Re:Why Freemason? by sootman · 2012-10-01 07:56 · Score: 1

> "Ask a mason" would make an interesting /. interview
Been done, elsewhere.

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Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:00 · Score: 0

If you couldn't follow that post, what can you follow? There's no hope for you, my friend.
Re:Why Freemason? by BasilBrush · 2012-10-01 08:27 · Score: 2

What it says is that you like fanciful fairy-stories.
Re:Why Freemason? by aristotle-dude · 2012-10-01 08:43 · Score: 0

I'm not a mason or have any interest in supporting them but your post describes very well you values and priorities. You are too full of yourself to be useful to any organization. You need to grow up and realize that no man is an island. You cannot live as if you are the centre of the universe. Your arrogance and foul language is what is offensive. Nobody else is responsible for your mistaken belief that you are god but you. It is not that atheists don't believe in god, they just have such fragile egos that they cannot imagine that anyone but themselves could possibly be god and they fear the idea of not being in complete control of their universe.

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Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
Re:Why Freemason? by Pseudonym · 2012-10-01 09:08 · Score: 1

I nearly got in at Hendon...

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sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
Re:Why Freemason? by Pseudonym · 2012-10-01 09:11 · Score: 3, Informative

Cool. So you have a training regime to increase mental and physical dexterity? What about gene therapy? Or do you just go the bionic implant route?
They discuss a light version of enlightenment-era philosophy. Liberty, equality and fraternity... you get the deal. Add a bunch of ritual (because that is a psychologically satisfying way of doing things) and that's pretty much Freemasonry.

Oh. Sounds like Scientology. Nevermind.
FWIW, the only ex-Freemason groups blowing the whistle on the evils of Freemasonry that seem to exist are entirely populated by people who converted to fundamentalist forms of Christianity and seem to be exclusively concerned with why Freemasonry ruins your personal salvation relationship with Fundamentalist Jesus.
I'm yet to see a normal person who is a former/lapsed Freemason who actually thinks it's bad or dangerous. Not for them, yes. A little silly in retrospect, perhaps. But damaging, no.

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sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
Re:Why Freemason? by Pseudonym · 2012-10-01 09:17 · Score: 1

You might have missed the memo, but BSA is no longer a way to make a superlative comparison.
FWIW, it seems to be just the BSA. The scouting movement in most other English-speaking countries still seems perfectly respectable.
Which just goes to show, once again, that the USA can't be trusted with nice things.

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sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
Re:Why Freemason? by Pseudonym · 2012-10-01 09:18 · Score: 1

You say that like it's a bad thing.
You're forgetting that this is Slashdot, which has a higher proportion of sci-fi, fantasy and mythology appreciators than most other tech blogs.

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sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
Re:Why Freemason? by icebraining · 2012-10-01 09:27 · Score: 1

If atheists are like that is because God made them so. Who are you to criticize His creation?

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Dilbert RSS feed
Re:Why Freemason? by SomePgmr · 2012-10-01 09:32 · Score: 1

I earned my Eagle in the late 90's, and was (briefly) a Freemason.
Scouting was, without question, the finest program for kids I've ever seen. Especially teens. I never once saw anyone taught to hate. It didn't matter if a kid was gay, atheist, "the weird kid" from school, hispanic, black, or caucasian... nobody was treated badly, ever. Above all else, we were required to treat each other with respect, and that kind of behavior was required of all adults involved. And in fact, I don't even want to think about what would have been said between adults, behind closed doors, if any adult had dared to make any kid feel less of themselves.
Perhaps I was just lucky in the thousands of people I crossed paths with over the years. And I did hear people say awful things about Scouting on TV as a kid, and none of it made any sense to me.
I did not like the (traditional and largely unenforced) religious bits, but it was never once an issue. Nobody cared what my religious opinions were, we were not required to pray or attend religious services of any kind, and we were all expected to be decent people - to leave everyone else alone. If you think about it, it's not entirely surprising for an organization that (as a matter of policy) does accommodate a bajillion religions at the same time. It makes for fairly neutral treatment.
Freemasonry, on the other hand, is quite clear about the religious component. I keep my oath regarding the things you can look up on wikipedia anyways, but it's no secret that the name you put on your god is (mostly) unimportant in Freemasonry. But it is a firm requirement that you believe in a creator, and features prominently (if sometimes abstractly). And it's a shame, really. Masonry has suffered in numbers, arguably due in some part to the old religious requirement, but is otherwise an excellent organization with a very normal, decent purpose.
I did draw the line there, though. If you're going to have to lie to yourself or your brothers, in an environment where honesty and respect for each other is paramount, you shouldn't volunteer yourself into that position. I decided that, despite my philosophical waffling, I did not belong.
It sucks, but it's their organization, and they're not going to change the rules. Probably ever.
Re:Why Freemason? by Myopic · 2012-10-01 09:48 · Score: 1

It's true, the USA screws up a lot, but cut us some slack. We've done a pretty good job as the leading beacon of freedom and democracy. At least we can still criticize our government, defend our lives using deadly force and vote for our head of state, unlike the next several of the most important countries. (In Russia you can't criticize the government; in Britain you can't defend yourself using deadly force nor vote for the head of state.)
But the Boys Scouts of America can eat me. They deserve no slack. It's nice to hear that other countries don't have such bigoted Scouts.
Re:Why Freemason? by Myopic · 2012-10-01 10:16 · Score: 1

I was also a Scout. My experience, like yours, had very little religious nonsense (despite troop meetings held in a church) nor did anyone every say anything about homosexuals. It was not an issue at all. That was back in the late 80s and early 90s.
Furthermore, I doubt that many troops sit around disparaging atheists or homosexuals. Maybe a few do that, but probably not many. That's nice, but that's not all that matters. It really does matter who leads the organization, what policies they put in place, and what process they use to re-evaluate those policies. In the case of the BSA, the leaders are dedicated political-right Christian-specific anti-gay true believers. They represent a minority viewpoint within the organization, I'm sure, but they also represent the official organizational viewpoint.
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 10:25 · Score: 1

I could easily make up spacious, pop-psychology reasoning why Christians believe what they do because of fragile egos, or even why computer nerds went into IT because of ego issues... but I don't, because I know those categories are not defined by the assholes within them, that generalizations based on vocal parts would be hugely fallacious if applied to other parts.
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 12:16 · Score: 0

I am commenting in the masonic thread of death.
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 12:55 · Score: 0

In fact, that reasoning would be so spacious, it would bound to have some specious reasoning within it too, making the original intent of the post still applicable.
(No edit is one thing, but comment limits make it kind of hard to point out a correction to your own mistake within reasonable time... and who uses preview, that takes effort.)
Re:Why Freemason? by Pseudonym · 2012-10-01 13:23 · Score: 1

I'm the first in four generations not to be a mason. And with the advent of the internet there are really no masonic secrets anymore.
Yeah, me too. And my assessment of the "secrets" aspect is pretty much the same as yours.
The notion is based on the secrets of the old trade guilds. You know, the ones that the free/open source movement loathes. Unlike the trade guilds, however, the "secrets" here aren't really anything that you couldn't tell the world, but they choose not to partly out of habit, and partly because if you gave them to the world, the world wouldn't be kind. Beyond that, the secrecy is actually fairly pointless.
If it helps, compare them to the "secrets" of US-style university fraternities/sororities, only they're much less juvenile.

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sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 13:47 · Score: 0

The secrecy is part of the fun. It is basically a club for people who think all of the rituals, frameworks and secrit knowledge of various religions and cults are fun (or otherwies constructive), but without the bullshit. It is funny how much they get blamed for being some devious religious organization, when they are kind of the exact opposite, organized religion stripped of the religion (at least beyond the various interpretations of the "supreme being" belief requirement).
Re:Why Freemason? by pointyhat · 2012-10-01 20:57 · Score: 1

Now I know that, I've lost all respect for Woz. You can be principled, outspoken and respected. However, you can't be those and be a Mason.
One of the oaths is that you will help a fellow mason before anyone else, and that includes before the law of the land.
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 02:53 · Score: 0

That is interesting, considering copies of the oaths and rules I've seen requires members to follow the law of the land or risk being kicked out. It almost went too far in that case, since if you wanted to participate in any civil disobedience, or even speak out against the law of the land, you had to tread very carefully, keeping it separate from your activities at the lodge, or risk getting kicked out.
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 04:34 · Score: 0

"a rogue bowling league"? do you have citations for that by chance?
i mean i certainly don't know jack about this, but the wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchist_League_of_Canada doesn't mention bowling even once.
They sound like a group of monarchists who wanted to continue to support the British Royal family's dominance in Canadian politics while the popular sentiment in Canada shifted towards a more separatist agenda.
Re:Why Freemason? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-03 01:38 · Score: 0

It is just too bad that your generic supreme being is Lucifer(tm). There are constructive masons, who are probably good men, and there are speculative masons who are something else entirely. But I woudn't expect Woz to address that, as he is most likely constructive (a good man).
Re:Why Freemason? by jwhitener · 2012-10-04 05:30 · Score: 1

Here's a fun one for "ask a mason" or "ask Woz about masonry". The requirement for belief in a supreme deity or whatever is a simplification of the long form and the long form seems to boil down to if I believe in physics and some philosophy I technically can fit. Analysis? Most opinions are probably going to reflect the responders biases more than being real analysis, but its something I've considered occasionally.
When I was in college, out of curiosity, I once walked into a Masonic temple. I had read some history and pseudo-history (conspiracy) books about Free Masons and wanted to see what a real Mason would say about it. The guy I met inside was very talkative. The feeling I got was that this was how pretty much all new members become Masons. Someone gets curious, walks in, and joins.
At any rate, after talking for a long time, I brought up the God issue. He pointed to the Masonic compass symbol on the floor and said something along the lines of, "God and Geometry are one and the same". I haven't read much about Masons since then. I came away with the feeling that they were basically a club that valued intelligence, bettering one's self, and held science in high esteem.

I know you like jokes by TheRealMindChild · 2012-10-01 04:28 · Score: 4, Funny

What is your favorite joke?

--

"When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson

Re:I know you like jokes by dkleinsc · 2012-10-01 05:20 · Score: 2, Funny

Well, according to actual scientific research in the UK, this was the world's funniest joke:

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy takes out his phone and calls the emergency services.
He gasps: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator says: "Calm down, I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a gunshot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says: "OK, now what?"

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I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
Re:I know you like jokes by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 05:54 · Score: 5, Funny

Too many jokes to have a favorite. Your quote reminds me of a Blue Collar comedy response to the answer "make lemonade." Ron White said he wanted to find the person whose life gave them vodka."
I had favorite jokes in the days before PC but they were mostly Polish jokes. The Polish American Congress, inc. threatened me with lawsuits for defaming Polish people. I asked if it was ok to tell them as Italian jokes instead and they said, "fine."
I told a joke at the Engineering graduation at U. Colorado, Boulder once to point out how people don't think logically. Q: What do you call four Mexicans in Quicksand? A: Quatro cinco (sinko). It doesn't stereotype or demean Mexicans. It's a funny use of words. But I got told that I had offended 400 people.
When I took foreign languages I tried to get to the point where I could make a joke all in that language. Japanese words were so different than ours that I thought I'd never be able to construct a joke that any American would get. Then we learned that the word for umbrella was kasa. The next class day I was walking to class with my son and it started sprinkling. I pulled out my umbrella and said "mi casa su casa." (kasa).

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OK a new size TV
Re:I know you like jokes by Inda · 2012-10-01 06:23 · Score: 1

pssst. No one's complaining, far from it, but we normally have to wait months for our answers. ;)

Apart from telling terrible umbrella jokes, what do you do on rainy days?

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This post contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.
Re:I know you like jokes by MindlessAutomata · 2012-10-01 06:42 · Score: 1

I'm ethnically Polish and the Polish American Congress doesn't speak for me. What good Polish jokes do you know?
Re:I know you like jokes by SternisheFan · 2012-10-01 06:44 · Score: 1

Why did the "Martian" dig 3 holes to bury his dog?
First 2 weren't big enough!
Re:I know you like jokes by TeknoHog · 2012-10-01 09:12 · Score: 1

Wenn ist das Nunstuck git und Slotermeyer? Ja! Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput!

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Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
Re:I know you like jokes by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 10:00 · Score: 0

I'm ethnically Polish and the Polish American Congress doesn't speak for me. What good Polish jokes do you know?
If you really want to know, don't ask Woz, ask the telephone company. They're always driving Poles into the ground!
Re:I know you like jokes by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 10:39 · Score: 0

Monty Python has already proven that this joke is far from the 'funniest joke'...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gpjk_MaCGM
Re:I know you like jokes by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 04:19 · Score: 0

How many eggs does it take to make a French omelette?
One - because one egg is un oeuf.
Re:I know you like jokes by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-03 20:41 · Score: 0

BTW, speaking of Polish people: what do you think about your Polish ancestry? Are you proud or ashamed of it? Do you know of tragic (6 million Polish citizen killed in WW2) and heroic (Polish Army stopped Europe invasion 2 times in Battle of Vienna and in 1920) experiences of Polish people?

How do you feel about Apple? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:29 · Score: 5, Interesting

How do you feel about the way Apple condcuts themselves today? They're the most powerful company ever now and yes they make a pretty good phone they're pretty evil too! Suing competition claiming they can't compete yet they have a huge selection of market share and dedicated user base and Apple has claimed this for decades of lawsuits and it hasn't stopped them from innovating :) Not to mention the incredibly overpriced products and support/repair!

In your opinion, are you happy with the way your baby has matured?

Re:How do you feel about Apple? by MattW · 2012-10-01 05:49 · Score: 2

Apple is definitely not the most powerful company ever. Not disagreeing that some of their tactics (legal, technological, and ecosystem-lockin) are "evil", but their enormous size and profit is currently coming from enormous margins on incredibly popular consumer goods.
Profits != Power, per se. Exxon-Mobile, for example, is deeply involved in government policy, and they (and other oil companies) have enormous sway on environmental policy, military and foreign policy, and incredibly sway in many nations where they have oil production operations.
Meanwhile, arguably Microsoft is more powerful as well; despite their much lower market cap they are deeply entrenched in big areas, including servers (where they are basically the big alternative to Linux), they are a dominant force in the traditional gaming market (b/n XBox and their influence on PC gaming), and they're making interesting inroads in new areas like virtualization/cloud services. They've even managed to make some headway with Bing, rising to the #2 search engine spot. (Where Google still dominates; Google won the Bing challenge 5-0 when I took it.)
Apple is a very unique company though, and they do have certain "powers" that nearly no other company - at least US company - has, but most of them are hard to use for evil. For example, they're possibly the only company left in the US capable of doing the full-platform hardware/software design that they do. The Dells of the world have outsourced too much of their design to their supply chain and it makes them apparently unable to break new ground. If anything, I think the most likely company to rise up and produce their own hardware is actually likely to be Google, since they're actually willing to do engineering work that isn't purely in pursuit of a hardware profit.
FWIW, any honest comparison of Apple products on a price basis can't really conclude they are "incredibly overpriced". Apple has extreme control over their suppliers - Foxconn operates on a very thin margin, so much so that Apple basically had to directly approve pay raises for their workforce because their margins are so tight. Yes, they do have higher margins, and depending on the model, you -may- pay an extra $100 to $200 that goes to Apple's bottom line. Most of the rest is Apple picking superior hardware. Go check a teardown list.

Richman recalled that Apple amassed $4.976 billion in revenue from the sale of 3.76 million Macs during its previous quarter, yielding an average selling price of $1,323.40 per Mac. He then multiplied that figure by a 28% gross margin estimate for Mac sales from Jefferies & Co. -- which is still several hundred basis points below the company's reported average -- to arrive at a profit of $370.55 per Mac sold.
By comparison, HP’s Personal Systems Group brought in $9.415 billion in revenue and turned a profit of $533 million last quarter. The PC maker's operating margin, which doesn’t factor in overhead costs, came in at 5.66%.
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 06:23 · Score: 5, Insightful

I always think first and foremost as a technology consumer and lover. Like all of us who appreciate the quality of Apple products, I have mixed feelings. I grew up with core values of openness and sharing of technology. When I ran dial-a-joke it was illegal to own, use or purchase your own telephone or answering machine. You couldn't connect anything to the phone jack except that which you leased from AT&T. You had little choice and there was no room for outside innovators. We techies all said this was a bad thing. You probably see the parallel.
Let's look at Apple. Apple's real rise from the small market-share Macintosh company to the iProducts of today began with iTunes and the iPod. This turned out to be a 2nd huge business which roughly doubled Apple's 'size'. If you remember, we ported iTunes to Windows. We now addressed 100% of the world's market with this integrated system (iPod/iTunes) and it began the era of Apple that we are now in. So why don't we port iTunes to Android? Did something get closed up? I love Apple products and iTunes and wish it were on my Android products too.
I don't have time to get into this far because I'm in the middle of 5 conference calls today and have a ton of engineering submissions to judge for an award and some iPhones to exchange so I'm sorry if things are going slowly here on Slashdot.

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Re:How do you feel about Apple? by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 06:30 · Score: 4, Interesting

Most powerful? Or most valuable? And in adjusted dollars, IBM was triple the size. Remember that IBM sold 30,000 1401's at the equivalent of $25M of today's dollars. Do the math.
The concept is that power and wealth often lead to corruption. Business ethics are not the same as personal ethics. But that is not your main question.
I wish that instead of all these lawsuits Apple was sitting down and cross-licensing with the other players. They have come up some very good features without complicating the UI. Things like a palm swipe to take a screen snapshot. I would like my iPhone to be the best it could, even if someone else did some of the things first. And Apple could license iTunes perhaps, or help the other platforms develop it. The market shares would probably remain the same but we consumers would all win.

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Re:How do you feel about Apple? by tg123 · 2012-10-01 06:32 · Score: 1

Steve thanks for the words of wisdom and even just replying most "celebrity's" (apologies for putting you amongst the Kurdistan of this world) wouldn't bother and need to be hand held by a PR agent to make sure they say the "right things".
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by tg123 · 2012-10-01 06:34 · Score: 1

(oh the shame sorry hit submit rather than edit) Steve thanks for the words of wisdom and even just replying most "Celebrity's" (apologies for putting you amongst the kardashians of this world) wouldn't bother and need to be hand held by a PR agent to make sure they say the "right things".
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by dissy · 2012-10-01 07:11 · Score: 1

You had little choice and there was no room for outside innovators. We techies all said this was a bad thing. You probably see the parallel.
My question for you is fairly simple, and I'm sorry if you've answered this before and I missed it.
Are any of your iPhones or iPads jailbroken?
The fact that jail breaking my phone puts a full and complete unix userland at my fingertips, with the Debian apt package manager and nearly a hundred different software repos available with all sorts of software (from open source to commercial) is the primary thing that keeps me an Apple customer still today, as far as my phone and tablet hardware goes.
I grew up with your Apple// and the fact that (at the time) I could remember nearly every nook and cranny of that system in my head is one of the major things that made me who I am today.
These days even a single PC component such as a CPU or GPU can't be fully understood by a single person, it requires teams.
In fact I still have my Apple//e at home, setup, and fully working. It even has a mix of todays technology in it (a CFFA3000 card - Floppy emulator that uses USB/CF flash) to help keep it kicking almsot 30 years later!
It is technology like this that fans my love of it all, and I wanted to say Thank You for some time for being such a huge part of it all.
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by Myopic · 2012-10-01 07:32 · Score: 1

"They're the most powerful company ever"
The Dutch East India Company begs to differ, but I myself forgive you because I assume you meant "valuable".
PS I wrote that before I looked it up. These history buffs agree with me with the possible alteration of s/Dutch/British/.
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by Myopic · 2012-10-01 07:34 · Score: 3, Funny

"we ported iTunes to Windows. We now addressed 100% of the world's market"
Oh, snap, you're going to piss off the Linux users.
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by citizenr · 2012-10-01 07:59 · Score: 0

I wish that instead of all these lawsuits Apple was sitting down and cross-licensing
cross-licensing what? round corners? Do you really think those are valid patents? Do you feel patenting idea instead of implementation is ok?

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Re:How do you feel about Apple? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:04 · Score: 0

It's okay, you don't have to come out and admit that you - yes, you, the guy who boasts of running xmonad on Gentoo - dual boot or run Windows in a VM. Some things don't have to be said in a gentlemen's company. We all know and understand *wink wink*
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:14 · Score: 0

The British East India Company was more powerful than the most powerful (world) government of it's day. Apple can only aspire to that.
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by icebraining · 2012-10-01 09:35 · Score: 2

Actually no, as a Linux user, I think he's right; I wouldn't use iTunes even if it was available on Linux, so I'm not really part of the market.

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Re:How do you feel about Apple? by HeX314 · 2012-10-01 11:08 · Score: 1

It's cool. You can't really do copy protection on a platform that encourages hacking.
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 12:45 · Score: 0

Both of them.
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 13:22 · Score: 0

Netflix, Kindle, Nook, etc. all have apps that run in Android.
(that said, iTunes for Android sounds like a good idea for Apple but a terrible idea to this Android user...)
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 16:06 · Score: 0

Both of them?
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by rm999 · 2012-10-01 16:33 · Score: 1

> And in adjusted dollars, IBM was triple the size
Not quite. See the correction of the original source of that:
http://www.cjr.org/the_audit/misleading_and_incomplete_cove.php
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 17:55 · Score: 0

"we ported iTunes to Windows. We now addressed 100% of the world's market"
Oh, snap, you're going to piss off the Linux users.
Don't you mean Linux user? ;)
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by AmiMoJo · 2012-10-02 00:01 · Score: 1

If you remember, we ported iTunes to Windows.
Uh, yeah, thanks for that... Maybe you could un-port it now?
Seriously, as an engineer how can you look at iTunes for Windows and not be disgusted by the shear bloat, the insistence at not using existing Windows components like font rendering, the stealthy install of crapware like Quicktime, hooking into the system and installing startup items without permission and so forth? Your designs were legendary for being clever and minimal (mainly to reduce cost), and yet elegant.
I hate having my computer clogged up. If every bit of software behaved like iTunes we would soon be back to the late 90s and the monthly wipe+reinstall. I hate waiting too and iTunes is dog slow, even on a Core i7 with 16GB of RAM and an SSD. And why, for the love of $deity, can't I just copy my damn files to the iPod/iPhone like I can with every other device?
Sorry to rant but I hate iTunes on Windows with a passion. Maybe the Mac version is better.

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const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 02:38 · Score: 0

I have an iMac and I don't use iTunes. I use MediaMonkey running in a Windows 7 virtual machine under Parallels. iTunes is horrible.
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by Karlt1 · 2012-10-02 04:31 · Score: 1

" the stealthy install of crapware like Quicktime,"
Quicktime is the media component for iTunes. iTunes can't play media without it. Would you feel better if it were embedded into iTunes?
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by AmiMoJo · 2012-10-02 05:00 · Score: 1

Or they could just use the Windows media player framework. Write codecs for their propriety formats.

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const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 16:14 · Score: 0

Agree with this. As a linux, android, and in general PC head, iTunes has never been necessary or useful to me. I've always used p2p or torrents to find music that I've liked, and if I liked it I bought it (directly from the artist whenever possible). I'm a musician and audiophile, but never felt like spending 200$+ for an mp3 player that can get lost, stolen or broken (I have bought mp3 players, but have never spent more than $30 on one). Then since 2007 or so your phone became your mp3 player anyway..
Re:How do you feel about Apple? by DavidRavenMoon · 2012-10-04 02:53 · Score: 1

It's cool. You can't really do copy protection on a platform that encourages hacking.
There is no longer any copy protection in iTunes. There hasn't been for a while now.

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-- if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic - Lewis Carrol

If you were twenty two years old today by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:30 · Score: 4, Interesting

And living hand-to-mouth with little or no savings, what kinds of work do you think you'd be doing?

Can Apple survive and/or flourish w/o Steve Jobs? by Lucas123 · 2012-10-01 04:33 · Score: 5, Interesting

The last time Apple lost Jobs, its vision and profitability went down the drain. What's different now?

My Question by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:34 · Score: 4, Interesting

Do you think that apple nowadays is more focus on patents than innovation and users ?? And whats your opinion about patents & innovation ?

Thanks,
Carlos B

Re:My Question by DoofusOfDeath · 2012-10-01 05:23 · Score: 2

Do you think that apple nowadays is more focus on patents than innovation and users ?? And whats your opinion about patents & innovation ?
Thanks,
Carlos B
This sounds to me like arguably a false dichotomy. At least until you clarify the question.

Thank You by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:34 · Score: 4, Insightful

Steve, I just want to say THANK YOU.

All of your effort and time have created a lot very productive and exciting products. I dare to think that life would be less exciting without your effort.

Re:Thank You by CodeheadUK · 2012-10-01 06:14 · Score: 1

^This^
In spite of the current state of affairs and regardless of where loyalties lie regarding choices in tech, geeks everywhere owe a huge debt of gratitude to you and the other pioneers of computing.
I'd like the echo the above sentiment and says thanks for your efforts.
Sometimes we forget that we are only where we are today because we stand on the shoulders of giants.
Re:Thank You by CanHasDIY · 2012-10-01 06:35 · Score: 1

Seconded - you rock, Woz. Hit me up next time you're in the midwest, I'll buy the beer so long as you keep being awesome.

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An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
Re:Thank You by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 06:46 · Score: 5, Interesting

So many say it and I feel that logically it's incorrect to thank me. Like in early Apple days I could not understand why anyone would ask an engineer for an autograph. I made it a point to remain an engineer rather than run a company. But your thank you's mean that you are happy with what technology has brought to your life. In that regard I have to thank myself too, ha ha.

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Re:Thank You by the_B0fh · 2012-10-01 07:14 · Score: 1

Steve, you don't know how exciting it was to sit down at my first Apple ][ (compatible) back when I was 13. I had joined a computer club, and had to be shown how to how to turn it on, and learnt from a simple Apple ][ program on what a computer is, how disk drives work, etc.
I was a fan of the Apple ][ for such a long time (refusing to buy a mac for the longest time, living in the Linux wilderness :) :))
So yes, a great big thank you, for creating products that made technology exciting and giving me a jump on my career.
Re:Thank You by rossz · 2012-10-01 09:21 · Score: 1

I feel that logically it's incorrect to thank me.
LIKE HELL! While I'm not an Apple fan (the current corporation, not the company you founded), you brought personal computing to the masses.

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Re:Thank You by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 11:51 · Score: 0

The irony is that I owned an Apple IIGS "Woz Edition" with your signature on it. I still wish I hadn't sold it.
Re:Thank You by Kyusaku+Natsume · 2012-10-01 15:37 · Score: 1

The first computer store in my city in Mexico was Hall Microcomputadoras, that since 1979-1982 to this day is an Apple seller. I remember staring at their sales windows since I was a poor child only dreaming of ever own an computer made by Apple while waiting my bus to go to school, and remember you in a episode of "That's Incredible" in which you get lost into a maze. The story of how you and Steve Jobs created Apple is one of the reasons I work in IT today, have a well paid job and got married.
A really big thank you.

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Mexico: 100% conservative's America now!

Todays vs yesterdays hobbyists by ruir · 2012-10-01 04:35 · Score: 3, Interesting

I have been in this industry for long, but not as long as Mr. Wozniak. I get my teeth cut in the Spectrum ZX 48, and frankly nowadays just to do a simple program the task, tools and amount of literature to digest in daunting.... never mind about understanding the hardware and specially the OS, not much more than a big black box. My questions is what Mr. Wozniaks thinks about programming or tinkering with current computers nowadays?

Questionsl for Woz by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:37 · Score: 4, Interesting

- Are personal computer glory days over?

Re:Questionsl for Woz by GameboyRMH · 2012-10-01 06:33 · Score: 1

Was going to ask a similar question, along the lines of where he thinks this curated computing thing is going, and whether he agrees with my sig. Is it a pendulum effect and will there be a swing back towards freedom or are we sliding deeper and deeper into a pit that we can't get out of?

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"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Re:Questionsl for Woz by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 06:48 · Score: 4, Interesting

Maybe because I'm too close to things I just think of my computer needs and desires being satisfied now by devices that are computers in portable packages. The days of being fixed to a larger machine are over. It's easier to throw an iPhone out the window than a Macintosh!

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Re:Questionsl for Woz by marcello_dl · 2012-10-02 08:17 · Score: 1

Your sig is not about the whole picture: personal computing was self-sufficient computing: apple has the walled garden, but everybody else wants everything to be dependent on an internet connection, a no-anonymous login...
I'd like the Woz not to avoid the question by referring to the PC form factor.
I have another question: tired of slashdot yet? ;)

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Do you feel like you were dealt... by thrill12 · 2012-10-01 04:37 · Score: 4, Interesting

...the short end of the stick where Apple is concerned - why so or why not ?
In other words: who is the genius ?

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Slashdot: stuff for news, nerds that matter, matter for news, stuff that nerd

Re:Do you feel like you were dealt... by jo_ham · 2012-10-01 04:43 · Score: 1

The short answer is that they both were (I assume you're referring to Woz vs Jobs). Neither had all of the pieces necessary to succeed alone. Woz needed a ruthless, driven businessman with an eye for the next big thing, Jobs needed a technical wizard who could do things that no one else was even thinking about.
Re:Do you feel like you were dealt... by thrill12 · 2012-10-01 05:13 · Score: 1

I want him to answer that ;=) Unless you are Woz, in which case I would imagine 604554 is too high a UID ;=)

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Slashdot: stuff for news, nerds that matter, matter for news, stuff that nerd
Re:Do you feel like you were dealt... by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 06:51 · Score: 5, Interesting

Our union was very lucky. I think it was luckier for Jobs since I had strong internal philosophies that didn't connect my happiness with business success or money or power. I built projects for myself and the Apple ][ was the 6th of those that Jobs saw (when he got into town) and said we could sell them. We always split the money evenly as far as I knew but money is not my thing in life. My best days were in the lab building things for myself. But I'm so nice that I give almost all my time now to young people and fans that I can help. I love my life the way it is and told that to Jobs in one of our last phone calls before his death.

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Re:Do you feel like you were dealt... by Myopic · 2012-10-01 07:41 · Score: 1

"money is not my thing in life"
It's awesome to be able to say that when you roll around with gummy-pads of five-dollar bills. (Which, by the way, is the top item on my list of things to do when I become a billionaire.)
Can you confirm that Jobs in the early days cheated you out of some early profits by under-reporting the sale price of some products? I heard that somewhere and it made me think quite a bit less of him -- but then again his kindness isn't what made him a great man.
Re:Do you feel like you were dealt... by Jeng · 2012-10-01 08:13 · Score: 1

Why is this important for you?
It's possible Jobs may have done something like that, but from what I am reading here that holds no importance to Woz, and even if it did, that was a long long time ago.
Would you talk shit in public about a close and personal friend who is dead?

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Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
Re:Do you feel like you were dealt... by Myopic · 2012-10-01 09:30 · Score: 1

It's only important insofar as I spend time thinking about the great man, Steve Jobs. "Great" means 'grand', not 'very good'. There are many greatly bad men in history and most great people are a mix of good and bad. Most of us agree that Jobs did enormous good for the world, and the flipside of that coin is some apparently deep personal ethical failings. Cheating your "close and personal friend (not to mention business partner)" would be one of those ethical failings. Knowing more of the whole picture allows us peons to ponder what greatness means when we ponder a man like Jobs.
Re:Do you feel like you were dealt... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 09:35 · Score: 0

I love my life the way it is and told that to Jobs in one of our last phone calls before his death.
Does that mean he was expressing remorse about your relationship?
Re:Do you feel like you were dealt... by Jeng · 2012-10-01 09:35 · Score: 1

Most of us agree that Jobs did enormous good for the world

He did?
Are you sure?
Are we talking about the same person here?
Making a enormous amounts of money does not equal did enormous good for the world, and that is what Jobs did, he made an enormous amount of money, for himself. Any good you attribute to him can be boiled down to him trying to make himself a lot of money.

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Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
Re:Do you feel like you were dealt... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 10:00 · Score: 0

I remember seeing you in an interview shortly after the news. You were in an emotional state near the end, they could of cut the segment earlier but didn't. So as an actual human and not a shitty AP journalist: Sorry they pulled that out of you in a public form and thanks for being a badass.
Re:Do you feel like you were dealt... by Myopic · 2012-10-01 10:18 · Score: 1

Yes, I'm sure. And I'm pretty sure we're talking about the same Steve Jobs -- I'm talking about the famous one.
Thanks for asking. /rolls eyes

3D printers by medcalf · 2012-10-01 04:37 · Score: 4, Interesting

Do you think 3D printers can rejuvenate the electronics hobbyist market, or that the increasing sophistication and miniaturization of electronics makes that a forlorn goal?

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Re:3D printers by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 06:54 · Score: 5, Informative

I think 3D printers may be a big factor in the future hobby market. But sometimes such products have application outside of the hobby market, applications which you can't pin down at first. The Apple ][ could do a lot of things but the unseen killer app Visicalc really changed things. Maybe for 3D printers it's low cost and high resolution that will lead to something we can't imagine now. When we started Apple we didn't imagine enough memory to hold a song.

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Re:3D printers by SuperMooCow · 2012-10-01 08:16 · Score: 1

Do you think a small desktop mill would be preferable to a 3D printer?

Where's left to conquer? by concealment · 2012-10-01 04:37 · Score: 3, Insightful

Computers are fast, reliable and use UNIX-like operating systems or near analogues. Not only that, but this technology is now getting embedded in every gadget we own.

What is the next frontier? Will it be technological, social, or legal? Or will it be tangential technological issues like interface design, interoperability, or privacy, that aren't necessarily new technologies so much as new configurations of existing technology?

Re:Where's left to conquer? by RicktheBrick · 2012-10-01 06:15 · Score: 1

I think the next frontier is building a house that is completely controlled by a central computer. The computer should be responsible for water, gas, and electricity. It should be able to prevent any damage or injury from all three. It should be able to run the house with the least amount of energy. There should be speakers and microphones in every room so just by sound the computer should be able to detect any problem. So how long before this happens?
Re:Where's left to conquer? by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 06:57 · Score: 5, Interesting

I am a technologist and don't like being a sociologist or politician. Words can be abused in those field but our code works or it doesn't work.
At first it seemed that our digital life would make us freer to be masters at getting what we needed solved, due to costs per application. But it led to digital codes which blocked our ability to copy things. The deep value is that you can record any TV show you watch but when they block the digital copying, you have to point a video camera at your TV screen. Of course these digital restrictions are much deeper than that but it seems that the companies and powerful win and the consumers lose in this game of civil rights. I worry that it will get worse, not better, over time.

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Re:Where's left to conquer? by HeX314 · 2012-10-01 11:22 · Score: 1

How does your knowledge as a technologist (e.g. awareness of a "game of civil rights") interact with your experience as a consumer? What sort of conflict of interest comes with being a stockholder in a company's profit and a consumer that just wants to copy, be free, and know your devices?

Closed Source/ Closed Platform by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:37 · Score: 5, Interesting

In a similar vein to HerculesMO, how do you feel about Apple's transitions to closing their platforms, starting with the iOS products, and most recently, the Mountain Lion restriction on application downloads (which, to be fair, can be disabled). Do you feel differently about this for handhelds/tablets/phones versus more traditional computers? What about Apple's opposition to "jail-breaking" iPods and iPhones? Is that a legitimate concern, or should Apple back off?

capcha: penguin
Is /. telling me to switch to Linux? Because my Linux box is downstairs, and I'm lazy.

Re:Closed Source/ Closed Platform by Hatta · 2012-10-01 04:48 · Score: 3, Insightful

Is /. telling me to switch to Linux? Because my Linux box is downstairs, and I'm lazy.
Stairs are no match for SSH.

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Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Re:Closed Source/ Closed Platform by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 07:03 · Score: 4, Interesting

There is no one right opinion. I'm for more openness. I believe that you can create the best most innovative products even when they are open. But I could be wrong. Open products tend to seem more complex. I suggest that maybe 80% of us or more are technophobes and scared to admit how little we know. I'm thinking of our moms and dads a lot in this thought. Apple is the safest haven for them not to get confused.
So much of me lies in the Linux and open source thinking. It's where I'd be if I were young and finding my technology way. Some say that Apple iPhones are closed but there is a different view. They are closed as to methods of sale and delivery. You can create any app you want to and have the ability to on your own on the iPhone. You just can't distribute it to huge numbers of people outside the app store of Apple. So young developers are not hindered totally. Yeah, on Android you can do anything for fun and announce it to the whole world and that's very motivating. So keep it up. I have always given my support to the jailbreak community because they remind me of myself when I met Steve Jobs and how we were, then and for the years leading to Apple.

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Re:Closed Source/ Closed Platform by the_B0fh · 2012-10-01 07:17 · Score: 1

I remember you were the one who hired Captain Crunch :) :) And the wonderful Cat Modem 300 :)

Space Race by Ashenkase · 2012-10-01 04:37 · Score: 4, Interesting

Asteroid Mining, Moon Colony or Mars Colony, which do you see as our next best foray into the solar system.

Re:Space Race by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 07:05 · Score: 4, Interesting

All of them. The question is one of priority and ROI. I say develop technologies for a long time until the cost is very reduced and then go on such long missions. It's not easy but we'll get there. No need to waste resources getting there before the right time.

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Still employed by Apple? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:37 · Score: 1

I know you were a "low paid Apple Employee" acting as a company ambassador while Steve was still in charge, have you maintained that position with Apple now that Tim is at the helm?

High school student by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:38 · Score: 1

What do you suggest to a 16 year old high school student looking forward to studying CS and working in IT not knowing what concrete profession to aim for?

Re:High school student by jones_supa · 2012-10-01 05:53 · Score: 1

Try outsourcing my R&D job in EE.
What kind of stuff do you create? If it's ok to ask.
Re:High school student by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:20 · Score: 0

I don't consider myself being an idiot, but have always been more interested in the software side than in soldering. And I'm asking this question exactly because I know that working as a "programmer" won't really leave me much options. I'm a good student and hope for a place at one of the top universities. Would you consider a CS bachelor from Stanford useless? Please don't get me wrong, I'm asking out of honest interest.
Re:High school student by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:17 · Score: 0

The reason why CS can be a BA rather than a BSc is because it is creative as well as a science. EE can easily be outsourced to any other EE graduate in any other country - if you don't think so, well, it may well bite you on the arse. 30 year veteran of IT here.

Do you hate Apple commercials as much as I do? by proca · 2012-10-01 04:38 · Score: 2

I think Apple commercials range from slightly pompous to extremely annoying. From the 'iPad 2 is magic' and now the 'my thumb can reach the entire screen' and 'the headphones fit in my ear holes'. Apple has a history of solid advertising, but the TV commercials of late have been bad. What do you think of Apple's advertising campaign?

Re:Do you hate Apple commercials as much as I do? by jones_supa · 2012-10-01 06:03 · Score: 1

Heh. Nothing that much against Apple products, but I have also found their advertising in the recent years to be quite syrupy, corny stuff.
Re:Do you hate Apple commercials as much as I do? by GameboyRMH · 2012-10-01 06:39 · Score: 1

I thought they ranged from extremely annoying to ridiculously pompous, as satirized in this video:
http://www.cracked.com/video_18269_the-new-iphone-ads-are-getting-out-hand.html
Warning: NSFW language

--
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Re:Do you hate Apple commercials as much as I do? by CanHasDIY · 2012-10-01 07:12 · Score: 1

I think I can top that...

Pre-order your Galaxy Newton (ten years ago) today!

--
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese

Computers today vs. past expectations by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:39 · Score: 5, Interesting

I'm really curious to know, in what ways do computers today conform to your vision or expectations of computers from the days of the Apple I and II?

I mean, at that time, what did you envision the future of computing to be and in what ways are you surprised or not surprised?

Re:Computers today vs. past expectations by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 07:08 · Score: 4, Interesting

My visions of the computer were in terms of what it would do for users. We have taken great strides in the directions I hoped for but many things I never imagined or thought about came to be. Most of what is precious to us today I never imagined. The amount of computer in our phones. But then again, I didn't envision cell phones. Or the full blown internet with broadband.
The steps we have taken have been ones that made the computer more and more a part of ourselves, like a 'friend'. This human quality I expect to get better over time. I do envision conscious computers but I think we'll stumble onto the formula (circuit of a brain) by accident, the way we came upon Google replacing smart people for answers, but not by trying to create a brain.

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OK a new size TV

Batman is gone, Robin takes over? by JosefSit · 2012-10-01 04:41 · Score: 1

Dear Steve, now that Mr. Jobs is gone how do you feel as his successor? Isn't it a little like Batman is gone and now Robin takes over? What are your ideas you can finally implement and think will have a positive impact - especially in regards to the tight company policy regarding apps and content. Best, J.

Education by Killer+Instinct · 2012-10-01 04:42 · Score: 5, Interesting

Woz,
What changes would you recommend to fix the K-12 education system in the u.s. ?
-KI

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#include bier;

Re:Education by RenderSeven · 2012-10-01 05:46 · Score: 1

Nice one, I second that. If I could add to it though I'd include the university system, which seems to be on the brink of becoming too expensive for the middle class let alone the working class. And, I dont believe that online education or distance learning is a practical alternative for engineering and science degrees.
Re:Education by Hognoxious · 2012-10-01 06:03 · Score: 1

Outsource it.

--
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Re:Education by Kohath · 2012-10-01 06:41 · Score: 1

More money every year, with less accountability. It'll work for sure.
Re:Education by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 07:18 · Score: 5, Insightful

The sort of recommendations you hear are often about teaching procedures and outstanding teachers and alternate education approaches. But these recommendations have been the same for hundreds of years so they won't achieve the real change.
Computers offered a real change in the tools of the classroom, but they don't seem to have changed much. The learning is the same, only done via computers, for the most part. I had hoped for more.
I do want to feel a part of the big improvement someday, so I hope that there is some further step with computers. That would be when a computer becomes conscious and caring and becomes the best friend that each student wants to be with. It will look at their faces and speak the way that particular student likes and be a good friend more than a teacher.
One thing that has not changed over time in education is that we all, in a class, get the same material presentation together. The same pages as everyone else on Monday, the same pages on Tuesday, etc. Individuals as we are, we have different lapses along the way. A teacher could back up and explain something to fill in a gap, but each of the 30 students has different 'gaps'. The solution will be the equivalent of one teacher per student.
This opens the door to a student choosing to get only straight A's, and only studying subjects they want to. And there will be more room to teach thinking and creativity and not all the same answer, which is not even their own answer, but out of a book. It's a brave step, but right.
I learned the capital cities of all 50 states. How could anyone in life ever need to know such a worthless thing. The only worth is to show you can memorize it. But today it gets turned into a grade and a determination of what intelligence is. We have to break from that paradigm but can't with today's 30-student classes. Or should I say "day care?"
Schools are short of money because students don't get a vote and votes turn into money. It's a bad consequence of finding education to be a right and that means it has to be supplied by government. Government money follows votes. A family of 5 gets no more votes than a family of 2. Which wants the better school? But the votes by families of 2 are against more money for schools.

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OK a new size TV
Re:Education by Killer+Instinct · 2012-10-01 07:50 · Score: 1

I had hoped by now we would have computers in the classroom teaching, with teachers available to answer the questions various students had along the way. My kids are a lot like me in school, bored out of their mind most of the time. (although they seem to not get in as much trouble as i did) And it seems like the class material is being watered down to help with the gap between various students range of understanding, but that really hurts everyone.
As a follow up question...Would computers presenting material at the speed of each students understanding be at least a small step towards " when a computer becomes conscious and caring and becomes the best friend that each student wants to be with.." And if so, what is the biggest hurdle of getting a system like that in place? Hardware costs? Software costs? Voter apathy towards education?
-KI

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#include bier;
Re:Education by RR · 2012-10-01 09:04 · Score: 1

Schools are short of money because students don't get a vote and votes turn into money. It's a bad consequence of finding education to be a right and that means it has to be supplied by government. Government money follows votes. A family of 5 gets no more votes than a family of 2. Which wants the better school? But the votes by families of 2 are against more money for schools.
Money doesn't follow votes. Votes follow money. People tend to vote for whoever spends the most, meaning advertisements or special favors. Politicians afford to spend more on advertisements because of campaign contributions. A lot of the spending in education is given to unions to spend on politicians' campaigns. To be a teacher in a public school, you're required to donate some of your pay to the teachers union, whether you join it or not.
Schools are not short of money because we aren't spending it. We in California pay some of the highest amounts per student in the world, and, on average, we're getting pretty mediocre results. Religious schools seem expensive because parents have to pay for them, but they generally spend less per student than the public school system, and get better results. And they give scholarships or vouchers for church members. The amount of money in the system is not the primary problem.
I think there are a lot of things wrong with public schools. Unions that fight every step of the way against evaluating teachers by performance. Unions that fight against school choice. Unions that use the specter of uncaring parents to punish parents who try to give their children better opportunities. Boards of Education (typically stuffed with members of teachers unions) that purchase the latest fads from the education colleges instead of evaluating curricula. The resistance to evaluate and expel students, because expelled students would decrease the school's budget. Administrative overhead to deal with all the regulations. ... It looks like most of the problem is dealing with the unions.

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Have a nice time.
Re:Education by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 05:54 · Score: 0

I agree! Computers and more money could make a huge difference in education.
The Inverted classroom is teachers recording their own or other's lectures and students watching them at their own pace while class time is spent with the teacher engaged on projects with the students.
Teachers are leading this inverted classroom movement. Teachers should be paid more, because the difference between $40,000 and $65,000/year means you have extra time to make videos and write lectures and not worry about childcare issues.... etc.
Students need to be able to access the videos outside of school. Free broadband makes a city high class and education ready, but big companies fight for tax abatement and individuals don't want to raise their own tax rates.

Why Australia and not Canada? by kbahey · 2012-10-01 04:42 · Score: 4, Interesting

Why have you taken steps to immigrate to Australia, rather than Canada?

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2bits.com, Inc: Drupal, WordPress, and LAMP performance tuning.

Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:46 · Score: 0

Canada does not have _any_ real national plans for the internet especially Ontario/Quebec.
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by kbahey · 2012-10-01 04:52 · Score: 1

That was not his reply to the previous thread. Will wait to see what he says.

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2bits.com, Inc: Drupal, WordPress, and LAMP performance tuning.
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by tg123 · 2012-10-01 04:56 · Score: 1

Why have you taken steps to immigrate to Australia, rather than Canada?

Canada does not have _any_ real national plans for the internet especially Ontario/Quebec.
Touché ....
Woz?
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by OzPeter · 2012-10-01 05:23 · Score: 1

Why have you taken steps to immigrate to Australia, rather than Canada?
Hmm .. let me take a swing at this

Nice climate - the only large city with snow in winter is Hobart. Canada .. nope, its snow central
The beach is only an hour or so away from most living areas. Canada .. nope
Good food from all the multiculturalism. Canada .. probably yes as well
Nice population. Canada .. yep as well.
Bitchin' exotic wildlife that would kill you as soon as look at you. Canada .. nope
Crazy arsed politics . Hmm .. hard to find a country without political issues of one sort or another.

Oh yeah .. and something about the internet that Canada doesn't have.

--
I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by kbahey · 2012-10-01 05:39 · Score: 1

Climate: granted.
Beaches: everywhere, just fresh water. Lookup Wasaga, Grand Bend and Sauble Beach for example.
Multicultural food: everywhere, from Sushi to Vietnamese/Thai, to whatever.
Nice population: I will dispute this one. The beach fights against the Lebanese is not something that happens around here.
Wildlife: not much dangerous stuff here. Only rattlesnake that keeps to itself.
Politics: equally messed up.

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2bits.com, Inc: Drupal, WordPress, and LAMP performance tuning.
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by jimbo · 2012-10-01 06:22 · Score: 1

Well, Vancouver had two days with light snow last winter. Then it was gone.
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:59 · Score: 0

New Zealand, not Australia.
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by dubbreak · 2012-10-01 08:19 · Score: 1

A few misconceptions about Canada (depending on where in Canada you consider.. it's a large country).

Nice climate - Vancouver and Victoria: drier than Seattle, rarely drops below freezing, snow is especially rare and is usually gone the day it arrives. I.e. winters are mild for North America. The summesr are also mild (temperatures above 30C are rare). Basically it's comfortable all year round and definitely not snow central.

Beach: If you have money you can live as close to the beach as you want. Affordable oceanfront isn't inexpensive if you want to be near a big city (Vancouver real estate is $$$$ in general), but I don't think that's an issue for Woz. You won't be swimming in the ocean most of the year but being close to the ocean isn't hard.

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"If you are going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by aristotle-dude · 2012-10-01 09:47 · Score: 1

Why have you taken steps to immigrate to Australia, rather than Canada?
Hmm .. let me take a swing at this
Nice climate - the only large city with snow in winter is Hobart. Canada .. nope, its snow central
The beach is only an hour or so away from most living areas. Canada .. nope
Good food from all the multiculturalism. Canada .. probably yes as well
Nice population. Canada .. yep as well.
Bitchin' exotic wildlife that would kill you as soon as look at you. Canada .. nope
Crazy arsed politics . Hmm .. hard to find a country without political issues of one sort or another.
Oh yeah .. and something about the internet that Canada doesn't have.
You obviously have never been to Vancouver. The climate is very similar to New Zealand but a bit warmer in the summer. Beaches? You can walk to the beach from downtown Vancouver if you want and palm trees do survive outside all year round. Snow at sea level in Vancouver is a rarity but you can drive to the sky hills in about 30 minutes from downtown. In Vancouver, you will see virtually every ethnicity while walking around downtown.
If you want some adventure, you can go to the hills above North or West Vancouver and possibly run into a Grizzly bear or cougar if you really want some adventure and put your life at risk.
The ocean has plenty of wild life as well including Killer whales.

--
Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by aristotle-dude · 2012-10-01 09:48 · Score: 1

Sorry, that should be "ski" hills.

--
Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by OzPeter · 2012-10-01 10:24 · Score: 1

You obviously have never been to Vancouver.

And the other 95% of the country is like what?

--
I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by Capt.DrumkenBum · 2012-10-01 10:37 · Score: 1

Wildlife: not much dangerous stuff here. Only rattlesnake that keeps to itself.
You forgot Black Widow spiders, Bears, Cougars, Moose.
I was hunted by a Cougar just a few weeks ago on a camping trip.

--
If I were God, wouldn't I protect my churches from acts of me?
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by Galestar · 2012-10-01 11:55 · Score: 1

Oh yeah .. and something about the internet that Canada doesn't have.
I live in Canada and have 100mbps internet with no cap for $50/mnth. Unlimited everything(calls/longdistance/internet) cell phone for $40/mnth.

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AccountKiller
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by dubbreak · 2012-10-01 12:00 · Score: 1

Varied.

There are a lot of climates in Canada. Some of the regions in BC that have cold winters have hot summers (i.e. hotter than Vancouver and area by far), but they are also sunnier year round. The terrain varies so greatly from west to east and south to north you are going to get huge variation in average temperature, humidity, rainfall, daylight etc etc. It's a huge country.

--
"If you are going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by Artea · 2012-10-01 18:24 · Score: 1

Did you make it back alive?
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by Capt.DrumkenBum · 2012-10-02 00:41 · Score: 1

Did you make it back alive?
No.

--
If I were God, wouldn't I protect my churches from acts of me?
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by kbahey · 2012-10-02 04:39 · Score: 1

We don't have most of these here in Upper Canada.
But being stalked by a cougar is cool. If you survived to tell about it that is. Did you blog it somewhere?

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2bits.com, Inc: Drupal, WordPress, and LAMP performance tuning.
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by PoolOfThought · 2012-10-02 07:46 · Score: 1

wait wait wait. I have to hear more about this. You were hunted by a cougar... a large cat? Please share more. How close was it? How did you know? How did you "escape"?

--
My present is the activity I am currently engaged in with the purpose of turning the future into a better past.
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by Capt.DrumkenBum · 2012-10-02 14:54 · Score: 2

I like to go camping in areas miles away from other people. Helps me to deal with them when I get back.
I was camping near Greenwood BC. I went to look at some property. Shortly after I crawled into my sleeping bag, I could hear a soft noise behind me, then a minute or so later off to my left the same sound. Then again, further left a growl. About this time I am thinking a bear is circling my clearing. Bears are no big deal, so I make a bunch of noise, and figure it will be frightened off.
No such luck. The circling continues. This annoys me, so I go to my Jeep, and honk the 110db horn a few times. I hear a scrambling noise off to my right, but cant see anything.
Started to head back to the tent, and I hear the circling resume.
I thought "I don't want to meet whatever is hungry enough to not be afraid of me." I grabbed my tent and stuffed it whole into the back seat of my Jeep, and headed out in a big hurry.
I didn't feel better until I had covered about 10 miles. My Jeep was topless and doorless.
I heard about a cougar attack near where I was camping just a few days later.
I figure it probably got within 70Ft.

Not my closest call. I got followed by a bear once when I was young, and two years ago I was not paying attention and nearly stepped on a rattlesnake, when I came around a corner on the trail.

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If I were God, wouldn't I protect my churches from acts of me?
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by PuZZleDucK · 2012-10-02 15:29 · Score: 1

... and have you heard about our proposed data retention laws? Still want to come here?

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Can a person program a new solution to a problem? Why should anyone be able to stop such a thing? -Richard Stallman
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by PoolOfThought · 2012-10-03 06:35 · Score: 1

Thanks for taking the time to respond and share. I'm glad you had the sense to follow your instincts and get out of there. We're all part of the food chain, but you don't want to be anybody's dinner when you can avoid it!

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My present is the activity I am currently engaged in with the purpose of turning the future into a better past.
Re:Why Australia and not Canada? by doccus · 2012-10-06 01:28 · Score: 1

So Woz wants to move to Australia? I have lots of friends there, and here is what THEY say: OK I'm NOT Trolling, but Ill be inflammatory.. Aussies know ALL about "inflammatory" , after all..want "Inflammation"? you have more poisonous snakes , and bugs and flies and sea creatures like deadly jellyfish ...and I'm not even going to get into the cuddly Koala bear's EVIL twin,, the "Drop Bear".. overall, they have more deadly and vicious speciesin one square mile , than we in Canada have in out whole country.. and, I mean, even our so-called "vicious" creatures are just big pussycats.. I spent my first 6 years of klife with a cougar, in our house.. it was an albino cougar, so nobody noticed except for the size, but I was the safest kid in the neighborhood.. that cat worshiped me and would not EVER let anything happen to me.. I had photos where i could barely put my arm over her back at 4 years old.. the neighbors finally insisted on her being "put down" as she was eating all their chickens.. We have bears too.. a buddy on the local reserve has one (Black Bear) he raised fron an abandoned cub in his back yard that I used to play fetch with.. These are no different in behavior and intelligence than very big dogs. when raised by humans.. and just as affectionate.. only when they jump on you to lick you for saying hello, they just weigh more.... I doubt, tough you could EVER domesticate the satanic equivalent of the cute fuzzy Koala.. the "Drop Bear".. I have a picture that pretty much sez it all, if only I could attach it.. Australia is the land of animal traps,, OK, It (at least Western Aus) will survive those 3 mile tsunamis, but so will Alberta to Manitoba.. the Canadian shield is SOLID as rock ;-) and way high above sea level.. Australia is a death trap

Steve what happened with the Mac in the 80's? by tg123 · 2012-10-01 04:42 · Score: 2

Steve just wanting to know the story with Steve jobs baby "The Mac" in 80's and what were your thoughts on its development?

Innovation is it still possible? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:43 · Score: 0

Is it still possible to innovate? Or maybe we reached a point that we will be reinventing the wheel?

Conspiracy by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:43 · Score: 0

Order them highest to lowest as most probable conspiracy turning out to be true:
Chemtrails, aka cloud spraying.
HAARP being developed as a weapon
Illuminati
America orchestrated 9-11 in order to invade the middle east with public support.
America knew of the Pearl Harbor attack but did nothing knowing we could then drop the bomb with public support.
Israel owns America.

Re:Conspiracy by CanHasDIY · 2012-10-01 07:04 · Score: 1

Order them highest to lowest as most probable conspiracy turning out to be true:
Chemtrails, aka cloud spraying.
HAARP being developed as a weapon
Illuminati
America orchestrated 9-11 in order to invade the middle east with public support.
America knew of the Pearl Harbor attack but did nothing knowing we could then drop the bomb with public support.
Israel owns America.
Hmm, actually that's a pretty good order of probability as it stands, although I'd ditch the next-to-last entry, considering that nuclear weapons weren't invented until a good 4-5 years after the Japanese ambush at PH.

Side note: Two things about HAARP:
1) 10 years ago, the mere mention of HAARP would garner a person odd stares and accusations of being "tin-foil hat crazy." Flash forward to today, and you can take a guided tour of the facility. The moral? Maybe that "tin-foil hat crazy" ideas aren't all that crazy after all.

2) If HAARP has no military application, why does the military fund its operation?

/OT rant

--
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese

BOM/COM by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:44 · Score: 0

When designing the Apple I, how cognizant were you about financials, such as bill of materials (BOM) and cost of manufacturing (COM). Engineers are typically never schooled in such topics, but they are important to a commercial product.

Re:BOM/COM by Life2Death · 2012-10-01 05:53 · Score: 1

No, I'm not WOZ but if you ever watch or read anything on the history of this you'd learn that he was very apt on the bill of materials. He succeeded by combining many parts into one to save on cost and complexity.

Domination by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:44 · Score: 0

Will you team up with Kevin Mitnick and hack and thus rule the entire world?

Re:Domination by GameboyRMH · 2012-10-01 06:42 · Score: 1

I, for one, would welcome our old-school hacker overlords.

--
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel

Re:Do you dance on Steve Jobs' grave? by tg123 · 2012-10-01 04:45 · Score: 0

Steve please don't answer this this guy is a disgusting troll.

Someone Mod the parent post down -1000 devils spawn............. please?

Segways by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:45 · Score: 2, Interesting

Hi Woz!
I was the manager of Segway of Long Beach and led you on the huge group Segway tour of Long Beach a few years back during the national Segway convention that we hosted. As an early adopter of new technologies and a supporter of products such as Segway, how do you feel regarding perceived (social/financial) failure of such technologies? Do you think America will be ready to accept radical new modes and concepts of transportation, such as the Segway, after self-driving cars become common place?
Still riding your segway packing a pocket mega-laser? We certainly enjoyed your visit. Thanks for signing my book!
Matthew

Re:Segways by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:17 · Score: 0

Hi, Matthew again here, forgot to mention a thing.
Please include the name "Segway" as often as possible in your reply.
Re:Segways by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:44 · Score: 0

Hi, Matthew again here, forgot to mention a thing.
Please include the name "Segway" as often as possible in your reply.
Dick Matthew-
SEGWAY! Sorry I did not proofread after I quickly typed a rant in the form of a question.
Matthew
Re:Segways by CanHasDIY · 2012-10-01 07:09 · Score: 1

Do you think America will be ready to accept radical new modes and concepts of transportation, such as the Segway, after self-driving cars become common place?
My legs, which this Segway aims to replace, do not arbitrarily run off of cliffs.

I think you have your answer.

--
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese

Corporate influence on law and innovation by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:46 · Score: 0

A lot of what you and Steve Jobs created in the early days was built on a policy of, "I'd rather be a pirate than join the Navy." In your opinion, how has our government joining forces with corporations and corporations influencing our legal system in general impacted technology innovation, exploration, adventure, and progress.

Does your non-celebrity status bother you? by PolygamousRanchKid+ · 2012-10-01 04:46 · Score: 2

All the world knows who Steve Jobs was. But very few of the gazillions who use Apple gadgets know who you are. Does that bother you?

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Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!

Which of your design tricks are you proudest of? by fgrieu · 2012-10-01 04:46 · Score: 5, Interesting

My favorite is the Apple ][ disk controller, most notably the read synchronization and decoding achieving 5, then ultimately 6 useful data bits per raw 8 bits, using little discrete logic and a small (P)ROM.

Would you ever Open Source the original Apple II? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:46 · Score: 2, Interesting

Simple question: Would you ever consider Open Sourcing the original Apple II? The hardware and software (ROMS).

Modern computers offer a lot of features. But for folks studying or learning, a simpler machine lacking virtual memory and all the modern complexity, a machine where students can really understand everything that is going on right down into the CPU, well it seems like it could be educationally useful.

What do you think?

Your Equipment Bag by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:47 · Score: 0

A recent article showed the contents of your equipment bag. The one thing that bothered me was: Why the Gameboy Light? Other than the rarity of the device internationally, wouldn't an Advance SP be more practical for travel?

Tetris The Grandmaster by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:47 · Score: 0

Do you still feel a challenge with GameBoy Tetris after all these years? I would think the challenge would have plateaued. Maybe you should consider the Arika Tetris "Grandmaster" series? They were arcade games in Japan with insane difficulty curves. Eventually the speed is so fast that you don't see them drop, they just appear in place. They changed the gameplay to accommodate the difficulty: you can pre-rotate pieces (and/or substitute the hold piece), and then you can rotate and drag on the surface before they quickly lock into place. If that wasn't difficult enough, after you "beat" the game (depending on how well you played) the pieces can become invisible after dropping. You have to play blind to get the best ranking! It's better seen than described, though.

What's next? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:47 · Score: 1

Hello Woz. I was wondering what would you like to do in the foreseeable future.
Do you have any projects in mind? Could you talk about some of them?

Thank you.

A simple questin by Jeng · 2012-10-01 04:48 · Score: 3, Insightful

What makes you happy?

--
Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.

Re:A simple questin by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 07:27 · Score: 5, Interesting

My greatest happiness is in my feelings about all people of this planet. I'm not part of any religion but life is very happy and the greatest experience of life (word play intended). But the worth of my life, especially conflicts and resolution, would not be possible without every single person who plays a role in this game of life. I walk through airports and look at everyone there, smiling, knowing that their existence somehow is part of the greatest thing to me. Even if someone came up and robbed me or killed me, I know that I'd consider that part of this great game of existence.
But this game would be nothing without a lot of jokes!

--
OK a new size TV

When was the last time... by Antipater · 2012-10-01 04:48 · Score: 3, Interesting

...if ever, that you punched someone in the face? Was it a bar fight? High school bully? Someone hitting on your girl?

I know I'm supposed to be asking techie stuff, but I just like the idea of Woz flipping out and decking someone.

--
Everything is better with chainsaws.

Re:When was the last time... by doom · 2012-10-01 06:49 · Score: 1

...if ever, that you punched someone in the face? Was it a bar fight?

I think you have Woz confused with Gary Kildall... (you know, the guy who's code got pirated by Bill Gates, in Gates first step toward world conquest).
Re:When was the last time... by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 07:32 · Score: 5, Interesting

I am so much a pacifist.
But once when I was very young, and I don't remember it directly, there was a bully and he chased me off or hit me. My mom said to fight my own battles. I misunderstood and came up and punched him. I did wind up with a black eye. I did not learn any important life lesson.
I believe in using brain to influence people, not braun.
Since my youth, I can't even remember having animosity toward any person. If we disagree, that's all. I can think my own way but never have to convince others. Dave Mason sang "there ain't no good guy, there ain't no bad guy, there's only you and me, and we just disagree." That means a lot to me. A lot of my personality and values comes from songs. Dylan sang "you were right from your side, I was right from mine, we're both just one too many mornings, and a thousand miles behind."

--
OK a new size TV
Re:When was the last time... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 11:21 · Score: 0

I believe in using brain to influence people, not braun.
That's funny, because pretty much every Apple product for the past seven or eight years has looked like a Braun appliance.

If you had it to do over again - exclude Steve? by slashpot · 2012-10-01 04:48 · Score: 0

Given that Apple has turned into the most Evil Patent Foce on the planet - if you had it to do over again and the result would be the same wealth for you personally - would you choose with this hypothetic foresight to have created a company with a legacy more in line with your own hacker values (hence necessitating the exclusion of Steve - or do you still value that friendship enough to not regret said evil legacy)?

Cloud computing by Arumator · 2012-10-01 04:49 · Score: 5, Interesting

What is your feeling about cloud computing and the way it is being hailed as the future of the IT industry?

The Cloud by snooz_crash · 2012-10-01 04:50 · Score: 1

Are you a fan of the Cloud? Is it secure enough for Enterprise applications? What would you use it for and "not use it for?"

--
ceci n'est pas un sig

If you had a new beginning... by badpool · 2012-10-01 04:50 · Score: 1

If you were reincarnated as a newborn today, with all of your current knowledge (but none of your money), what kind of career would you pursue down the line? Would you leverage your software skills in the same manner, or do something completely different?

All Questions All The Time... by doctechniqal · 2012-10-01 04:50 · Score: 5, Interesting

Woz, you no doubt get asked countless questions, by countless numbers of people, some of which you have been asked and have answered multiple times to the point where you're sick of continually having to answer them (or don't even bother). Conversely, I imagine there's something you'd love to talk about if only someone would ask you about it, but no one has. What I want to know is: what question has no one ever asked you, a question that you wish someone would finally get around to asking you and that you would love to respond to, and what is the answer you would give to that question?

Re:All Questions All The Time... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:15 · Score: 1, Funny

Woz: "The answer to your question is your question. And my answer to your question is my answer."
Re:All Questions All The Time... by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 07:35 · Score: 4, Interesting

Tons of possibilities.
What was my favorite toy? Probably my erector set, but it might have been a toy gun when we were young and played cowboys and indians. It was fantasy and i was fun.

--
OK a new size TV

Worst decision by Emmeau · 2012-10-01 04:52 · Score: 2

Woz, what was the worst decision you've made in your life?

Re:Worst decision by Anne_Nonymous · 2012-10-01 05:57 · Score: 1

What's the best decision?

Best Practical Joke & How Much Tech by AdamnSelene · 2012-10-01 04:54 · Score: 3, Interesting

Steve: What was the best practical joke you ever played and how much tech know how was involved?

Re:Best Practical Joke & How Much Tech by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:27 · Score: 0

I have a teacher in my networking courses named Bob Samson who said he was offered to become employee number 25 at Apple by the Woz himself, but declined (and has some regrets about doing so.) He also wrote (and sold) the first word processor for one of the older platforms of the day (I don't recall which one.)
Anyways, he mentioned a prank Woz played on some college students (dorm mates? I'm not sure) where he made an oscillator that jammed the analog TV spectrum. When a bunch of students were watching a new episode of the original star trek, he would turn it on and off now and then to make them think something was wrong with the TV reception. Every now and then they'd slap it, and eventually he managed to get one student to touch it while holding his hand up in the air while everybody else watched the show.
If Woz reads this, please post a reply here and add any further details, If you do, I'll show this post to Bob, I'm sure he'd enjoy it. I posted anonymously because I have used up all 15 of my moderator points in this discussion.
Re:Best Practical Joke & How Much Tech by dkleinsc · 2012-10-01 05:36 · Score: 4, Interesting

If I recall correctly, one of Woz's favorites involved placing fake brochures at a trade show to convince Jobs that there was another company with some fantastic tech gadgetry that could blow Apple out of the water. Jobs took the bait, including holding strategy sessions to figure out what Apple needed to do to defend itself against the competitor. He only figured it out several years later when Woz gave him the original as a birthday present.

--
I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
Re:Best Practical Joke & How Much Tech by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 07:38 · Score: 4, Interesting

There are too many answers to this. I have put a lot of time and energy and money into practical jokes. Different people would enjoy some more than others. I had some great ones with Jobs too. But I'll go back to one that I hadn't thought about for 45 years that came to me recently. As electronics club president in high school I would submit notices for the daily announcements, read at the start of each school day. I submitted a phony one, sure it would be caught, but it got through. Something like a meeting at 3:00 PM in room B25 - Stanford's head janitor will speak on higher custodial education. The students would laugh and the teachers would tell them it was serious.

--
OK a new size TV
Re:Best Practical Joke & How Much Tech by antdude · 2012-10-01 09:43 · Score: 1

"And then?"

--
Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
Re:Best Practical Joke & How Much Tech by dkleinsc · 2012-10-01 15:27 · Score: 1

The look on Jobs' face was priceless?

--
I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
Re:Best Practical Joke & How Much Tech by antdude · 2012-10-01 15:53 · Score: 1

And then? :)

--
Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).

The future of PFs (Personal Fabricators) by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:55 · Score: 0

Woz, you shaped the PC or Personal Computer. What do you project is the future of PFs (Personal Fabricators)?

Learning about computer hardware, then and now by serbianheretic · 2012-10-01 04:55 · Score: 1

In the 70-ies and 80-ies, computers had limited resources, but were hardware hacker's dream. Today we are left with basically 2 models of complicated beasts with thick layers of kludges and software hiding the lot. What is the best way to learn about low level stuff today, in your opinion? Make your own 8-bit machine? Play with software only, because hardware is "finished" bussiness? Or something else.

WOZ! by trum4n · 2012-10-01 04:56 · Score: 1

How do you feel about Tube Amplifiers? Do they give you that fuzzy feeling? I'm building one myself right now!

Your influence by U8MyData · 2012-10-01 04:56 · Score: 3, Interesting

Mr Woz, Can you characterize your current and perhaps even future influence with Apple? Like many here, we are curious where Apple will go from here now that Mr. Jobs has passed. He was the persona of the Apple brand and without something or someone providing that edge I fear difficult times ahead. I don't need to remind anyone about the recent Maps issues. Where might you fit in to that realm? After all, you are the other half (Ying? or Yang?) of the apple legacy.

Re:Your influence by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 07:40 · Score: 5, Interesting

Apple is very complex. I like personal simplicity. I like to do what I'm good at, which is enjoying technology. I don't honestly feel I could do better than anyone reading this at a role in Apple. Jobs had the drive to run things and influence things. If there was something for sure where I'd be a great help to Apple, I'd be there in an instant, as Apple is #1 in my heart.

--
OK a new size TV

Huh by Vince6791 · 2012-10-01 04:57 · Score: 1

Will the Apple OS X ever be released for a PC to compete against the Microsoft Windows?
Will Mac's ever be in the same low price range as today's PC's to attract new buyers?
Will Apple attract more game developers?
Are you mentally(since you are old) capable of building your own computer today from scratch? I mean soldering chips(bios, south bridge, etc..), capacitors onto the motherboard etc.. Writing your own BIOS software afterwards based on your design.

Reading! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 04:58 · Score: 1

I've heard that books are the keys to understanding and learning, and I can think of no better person to learn from. What books do you enjoy, or think are absolute must reads for a nerd?

How can I say thanks? by willoughby · 2012-10-01 04:59 · Score: 2

Although I'd love to meet you, shake your hand and thank you for your contributions to computing history, it's never going to happen. So, what would you prefer I do locally in order to express my gratitude? Contribute to a charity, community service, something else...?

How about an invitation? by FatAlb3rt · 2012-10-01 05:00 · Score: 1

Would you like to come to our block party? Every year on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Crawfish and BBQ, between Houston and Galveston.

Bacon by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:00 · Score: 0

What's your opinion on our impending bacon shortage?

fllying? by scharkalvin · 2012-10-01 05:00 · Score: 1

Do you still have an active Pilot's license? Myself I've never gone beyond my SEL private license and gave up flying after my daughters were born (due the the cost of insurance). Did you give up after the accident with the Beechcraft (those Bonanza's were sometimes nicknamed "twin tailed Doctor killers") or did you continue flying? Do you still follow what's going on in aviation? If so what do you think of Rutan's Spaceship One?

Music industry by Zeroblitzt · 2012-10-01 05:01 · Score: 1

What is your opinion on the music industry - that is, do you like the direction it's gone in (some would say downloads were inevitable), or would you rather see it evolve into something different than what we currently have?

--
Mr. America walk on by your schools that do not teach Mr. America walk on by the minds that won't be reached

Are PCs for daily computing becoming obsolete? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:01 · Score: 0

More and more it seems now that daily computing is moving away from the stationary medium of the PC (or Mac, whatever) to mobile devices like smartphones and recently tablets. It seems every company is pushing into this game, and companies that can't like HP and Dell are seeing great profit drops. What are your thoughts on mobile computing, issues it presents, and where do you see it going in the future?

Apple now vs Apple then..... by ConallB · 2012-10-01 05:01 · Score: 1

Do you think that your past self would be hired by Apple today?

--
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.

Re:My question to Woz by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:01 · Score: 1, Funny

Actually, I think a more interesting question is:

Is Kathy Griffin a real red head?

Where are Apple, Microsoft and Linux in 5 years? by dstyle5 · 2012-10-01 05:02 · Score: 1

Where do you see Apple, Microsoft and Linux in 5 years? By that I mean questions like:

Will Apple's lack of innovation and patent trolling keep them where they are?
Will Windows 8/Metro catch on and significantly get Microsoft into the tablet/handheld space?
Will Linux still be the niche OS is has been up until now.

Do you feel your fame has hindered you new endever by jellomizer · 2012-10-01 05:03 · Score: 1

Being famus for the man who invented the Personal Computer. And now Decades later your invention is starting to dwindel popularity, being replaced with the ultra-mobile computer like iPads and iPhone and other smart phones.

With your new endevers in life is the decline of the Personal Computer effecting your preception?

--
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.

Encouraging Engineering by eljefe6a · 2012-10-01 05:03 · Score: 1

My daughter (3) has a great engineering potential. How do I encourage that in world where everyone wants to be reality TV star? My parents never fostered that and I became an engineer. I often wonder how things would be different had my parents done more.

On Health. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:05 · Score: 1

After Jobs passed away, do you have a different take on life or habits in your lifestyle? Take care of your health buddy... you are getting bigger...

Computer Gaming by donweel · 2012-10-01 05:09 · Score: 1

What do you think of computer gaming today? Do any of them interest you?

--
Many a long talk since then I have had with the man in the moon; he had my confidence on the voyage. Joshua Slocum

new ideas by Dan9999 · 2012-10-01 05:10 · Score: 1

Hi, in your experience, for someone who has (or thinks they have) great new ideas for existing hardware or software products that are already on the market (for example an OS) but wouldn't want to just propose it to the company for fear of having the idea just stolen. Say the money for patenting is just not an option but wanting this to be something that could feed and house the family, are there avenues that you can suggest to be able to move forward?

Who did you learn the most from? by davide+marney · 2012-10-01 05:11 · Score: 1

Every now and then we run into those people who have that rare gift of crystallizing things in an elegant way. On whose shoulders have you stood over the years?

--
"We receive as friendly that which agrees with, we resist with dislike that which opposes us" - Faraday

Why Austrailia? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:12 · Score: 0

It has been reported that you are moving down under for better high speed internet access, why not stay here and use your clout to help better the situation in teh country that gave you teh oppritunity to become rich and successful?

Tell me what your Mom and Dad were like by davide+marney · 2012-10-01 05:12 · Score: 1

Tell me about your family of origin. What do you admire about your parents?

--
"We receive as friendly that which agrees with, we resist with dislike that which opposes us" - Faraday

The Next "iPhone"? by sohmc · 2012-10-01 05:13 · Score: 2

Regardless of how one feels about the iPhone, it did revolutionize the mobile phone industry in one BIG way: took manufacturing power AWAY from the phone companies. And while phone companies are still doing this to Android phones, Apple has remained relatively unscathed.

I believe the only hurdle left for the iPhone is to make it a completely data-only phone, relying on SIP instead of traditional phone numbers. I realize that this would be a HUGE negative for phone companies, who profit handsomely from unused minutes and struggle to profit from data hogs like iPhones.

Where do you see the iPhone going next? Are there any more new big advances similar to when the iPhone first debuted?

--
We don't live in Shouldland.

Disappointment? by abrotman · 2012-10-01 05:13 · Score: 2

Are you disappointed in the direct Apple has taken over the last few years with a closed ecosystem, mild lock-in, and suing competitors? Can you comment on what you might have done differently if you had been the CEO? Where do you see Apple focusing in the future?

If you could tell 1984 Woz something, what would it be?

Considering your time at Apple, CL9, etc by Registered+Coward+v2 · 2012-10-01 05:14 · Score: 1

what is your biggest regret and what would you do differently? Also - thanks for the Apple ][...

--
I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.

Were you asked to act in the new show "Revolution" by SleepyHappyDoc · 2012-10-01 05:15 · Score: 1

One of the characters looks and acts suspiciously like you...did they cast him after you said no?

--
Stasis is death. Embrace change.

Endorse Obama by backslashdot · 2012-10-01 05:15 · Score: 0

Why don't you endorse President Obama? (Granted he's not perfect, but the alternative --being ruled by the "modern" republican party is insane.)

Do it.

Re:Endorse Obama by vlm · 2012-10-01 06:38 · Score: 3, Insightful

Why don't you endorse President Obama? (Granted he's not perfect, but the alternative --being ruled by the "modern" republican party is insane.)
Do it.
False dichotomy. I'd rather see him endorse Gary Johnson.

--
"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
Re:Endorse Obama by Jeng · 2012-10-01 07:53 · Score: 1

And I see that your bravely put your name to your posts.
I didn't mod, but if you read your post over again you might see why it is modded troll.

--
Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
Re:Endorse Obama by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:03 · Score: 0

He probably has a brain, foresite, and a will to live.
Re:Endorse Obama by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 09:37 · Score: 0

Amen. We don't need more drug wars and drone wars, more loss of privacy.

Re:Ask him anything? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:15 · Score: 0

Do you still beat your wife?

Parallel Universe: Apple // line continues by the_B0fh · 2012-10-01 05:16 · Score: 2

I would love to see any comments on how a 65C816 compares to the processors of the day (the 80286 and 68020) and any comments on the 65C832 that was taped out, and what do you think would have happened if the 65Cxxx line had continued.

Would also like to know what you think of GNO/ME - the UNIX environment for the Apple //gs

-- loved the Apple ][ line, and have two WOZ //gs's :)

Have you been to Oz? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:17 · Score: 0

Have you been to Oz, Woz, I ask because my buddy Francoise committed several faux pas in spas involving a vase from la paz in his schnoz and wondered if you knew where he was.

Re:Can Apple survive and/or flourish w/o Steve Job by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:17 · Score: 3, Informative

They have 100 billionish dollars in the bank.

What's the story: Hillel & strip chart recorde by PatMcGee · 2012-10-01 05:17 · Score: 2

Hi Woz, Decades ago in Houston, I got called in to modify a 4-channel strip chart recorder program running on an Apple ][ motherboard stuffed into an industrial chassis.I asked for the source code and was given a small notebook with some hand-written and hand-assembled 6502 code that you had written. The story I got was that Hillel, the manager in charge, had gone to a computer show back in around 1977 or so and had seen the hardware capabilities of the Apple ][. He apparently said he'd order a bunch of boards if someone would write a program to display the data. He designed a small board with some A/D converters to connect to some pipe inspection machines. Someone volunteered you to do the programming. According to the legend, you kept putting him off until he finally came out and camped on your doorstep one weekend while you wrote the program.

What do you remember about this?

I added some new functionality to the program; I think the first thing I did was to add 2 more channels, then added code to record the results to a digital cassette. It eventually grew to more than I could fit into 16K of ROM and needed more than 320 lines of video and I ported it to some 8086-type machine. I think the last time I worked on it, I had it up to 10 channels with lots of configuration options. I got 7 or 8 years of contracting out of that program. I also remember learning quite a lot about how to inventively use the 6502, some of which I was able to use on later projects.

Epic Rap Battle by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:18 · Score: 0

Did you write that rap for Steve Jobs, too?

Apple Fanatics by ZeroSerenity · 2012-10-01 05:19 · Score: 1

Some time ago a study came out that compared religious feelings to a strong love of Apple products. How do you feel about this and these people?

--
For those who seek perfection there can be no rest on this side of the grave.

But hows that possible.. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:20 · Score: 0

All the community knows about your geek'iness
but how did you end up getting so chubby?

you def. look cute!
Thanks,
sky770

Feel great!? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:21 · Score: 0

Do you often stop and consider just how lucky you were to be growing up in the 70s/80s?

There were no expectations. You created what you envisioned a computer, an operating system, a disk i/o, memory manager SHOULD do and then DID it. Today, two guys would very likely not create a new computer in their garage (it'd be too big since they'd not have nano- micro- manufacturing facilities) and then find local computer stores to sell it at. Yes, you can build PCs, etc, but it's not the same.

Thanks Woz. At age 13 I got my first computer (a TRS-80 though) back in 83, and my best friend later bought a Apple IIe. It was like discovering whole new worlds and we amazed our parent with what we could make them do. At age 15, my friend had created (again 1985) an inventory tracking system for his company with his Apple IIe written in BASIC and it worked like a champ.

Minecraft and the future of gaming by jakimfett · 2012-10-01 05:24 · Score: 1

Woz, If you have played Minecraft, what is your opinion on how it will change the gaming industry?

--
Bits of code, random ramblings: jakimfett.com

How did you wanted to see yourself..in future? by sky770 · 2012-10-01 05:25 · Score: 1

When you started your journey with Steve, what had you imagined for yourself..in near future?
Like opening up a separate business or totally getting involved in Apple's development or both?

What were your initial thoughts? (questions like..without any proper funding how could we move on etc..etc?)

bio i hope by backslashdot · 2012-10-01 05:25 · Score: 1

We need someone like Woz, with that spirit to crack some of the stuff in the biotech space. Someone who can figure out a strategy to make regenerative medicine work. Someone who can figure out how to fix immunological conditions (we currently can't cure even one autoimmune disease).

There's bio hackerspaces cropping up all over .. so who knows maybe we'll get it.

I've always wondered by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:26 · Score: 0

Redheads, blondes or brunettes?

I know you've picked different, but I wonder what you like most

The Empire Strikes Back Telecine Job by none295 · 2012-10-01 05:26 · Score: 0

Could you tell some more of the story behind your Empire Strikes Back theater performance recording (bootleg)?
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/07/17/portable-vcrs/#comment-1058349

So Woz... by Fosterocalypse · 2012-10-01 05:28 · Score: 1

How's your day going? Was it pretty awesome to be on Code Monkeys?

Apple II graphics / text "Venetian" interleaving by cje · 2012-10-01 05:28 · Score: 1

Anybody who programmed the Apple II back in the 1980s is familiar with the interleaving "venetian blind" effect due to the relationship between locations in both the text/low-resolution and high-resolution video RAM and their actual locations on-screen. I seem to remember reading that this was a conscious design choice by you early on and that it resulted in somewhat simpler hardware. Can you shed some light on how the Apple II's graphics structure came to be?

I spent so much time writing code to generate lookup tables to map locations in video RAM to their on-screen counterparts that at one point I had the hexadecimal 6502 machine language sequence memorized. This, sadly, is now gone (replaced by quotes from Seinfeld reruns and meaningless football statistics.)

--
We're going down, in a spiral to the ground

voice recognition by slew · 2012-10-01 05:30 · Score: 1

I read in an interview, that you mentioned voice recognition as a possible up-and-coming revolutionary technology. Are Siri and Google-Now the direction of voice recognition technology (e.g., all in the cloud), or is there some "decentralization" (to borrow some fusion-io-speak) in the future that you can see where tinker-ers can get involved and help create a personal-voice recognition revolution (e.g., not dragon naturally speaking speach-to-text, but something actually semantic).

Disruptive innovations possible today from garage? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:32 · Score: 0

(Please excuse the grammar I used; the subject was too short for a proper question.)

Do you feel that disruptive innovations, such as the initial Apple computers, are still possible from garages?

If yes is there a limit to the fields of technology this could occur in?
If no how big do you feel is necessary to allow for success?

Your view of Steve Jobs as inventor by LetterRip · 2012-10-01 05:32 · Score: 2

My question is - do you believe that Mr. Jobs is rightfully praised as an inventive genius?

In the popular press, Steve Jobs is often praised as one of history's greatest inventors and as an inventive genius, and I feel it does a disservice to true inventive geniuses (such as Tesla) to praise talented businessmen with modest or little inventing talents as great inventors.

From my reading of the history of Apple and specific Apple product lines - his talents are primarily with business and marketing - with providing little in the way of invention or technical skill.

He of course has his names on numerous Apple patents - but this seems more as a hedge against having patents invalidated by not listing all who 'contributed' to an invention due to the risk of any feedback or comment being viewed as a contribution to the invention however minimal.

Mr. Jobs did have some true inventions to his credit - for instance using plastic cases for the Apple I, insisting on good quality bitmap fonts for the Macintosh.

Most of the inventions that the public attributes to him are primarily based on the inventive and technical talents of others (Ie the Apple line, Macintosh line, iPod, iPhone), were almost all completely developed with almost no significant invention on the behalf of Mr. Jobs (sometimes as with the case of the iPod, the products were concieved of and invented and developed almost completely outside of Apple) .

He certainly contributed by providing good user feedback (ie reducing the delay time for loading and switching for the iPod OS), but such feedback aren't inventive in nature.

On the Apocrypha by Minion+of+Eris · 2012-10-01 05:34 · Score: 1

Many people view the movie "Pirates of Silicon Valley" as a basically factual account of the early years of Apple and MS. As one of the folks portrayed, is this an accurate perception?

--
Please don't dominate the rap, Jack, if you got nothin' new to say.

Chuck Peddle by cormandy · 2012-10-01 05:35 · Score: 1

Do you keep in touch with Chuck Peddle?

What by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:37 · Score: 0

...is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

You'll have to know these things when you’re king, you know.

Plane Crash by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:38 · Score: 0

Do you feel your plane crash fundamentally changed your life?

Computing for the masses, today? by Gilmoure · 2012-10-01 05:39 · Score: 1

If you were starting out today, wanting to bring the power of computing to the masses, how would you do things today? With the technology we have or nearly have, what kind of user/hardware/software/data layout or process would you design or like to see happen?

--
I drank what? -- Socrates

Do you still enjoy dancing? by dkleinsc · 2012-10-01 05:39 · Score: 1

After Dancing with the Stars, did you stick with dance as a way to have a good time, or did you decide that it took away energy better spent on jokes, technology, and teaching?

--
I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/

Is he a FreeAsInBeerMason, or a FreeAsInSpeechMaso by tg123 · 2012-10-01 05:39 · Score: 2

Is he a FreeAsInBeerMason, or a FreeAsInSpeechMason?

:-)

oh yea should ask whats your thoughts on what Richard Stallman and Linus have achieved ?

TV cameos by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:42 · Score: 0

I saw your cameo on "Big Bang Theory" and wondered what other TV shows/movies you would like to have a cameo appeance?

Hey Woxz how good are you really? by 4444444 · 2012-10-01 05:44 · Score: 1

How many times have you gotten a first post?

--

http://Lenny.com
4 great justice!

Did they ever fix your Prius? by ChinggisK · 2012-10-01 05:45 · Score: 1

Did they ever fix your Prius?

Hey Woz, what everyone wants to know is... by Dishwasha · 2012-10-01 05:45 · Score: 1

what are you wearing right now?

What do you think about tech ethics implications? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:47 · Score: 0

What do you think about technology ethics implications? Background: This summer I saw the design of some japanese park benches that were rounded, so that it would be impossible to lie down and sleep there for homeless people. This is an example of the repercusion of ethics in technology. Iphones are being created offshore by workers with quite worse work conditions than in the US, and hitech in general seems to need niobium, coltan and other minerals usually mined in poor conditions. What's your take on these kind of things?

Re: Your "I won't need you people" comment by SternisheFan · 2012-10-01 05:48 · Score: 1

Mr. Woz-Man,

Recently it was reported you said that if iPhone tech keeps growing at the current rate, that in a few decades, "I won't need you people", or words to that effect. Do you really feel that way (still)?

Hey Woz, do you like monkeys? by multicoregeneral · 2012-10-01 05:48 · Score: 1

I bring it up because I heard the pet store was selling them for a penny a piece. Don't you find this odd? Considering how expensive monkeys usually are. I'm actually on my way there now. Going to get one and name him Freud. Might even let him drive. Only time will tell. Take care.

--
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Future of robitics and computer by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:49 · Score: 0

Do you believe that we should include human looking skin on our future robotic overlords to reduce the mental impact on our future generations of children? Afte all, a cuddly terminal looks less scarier than the skinless one.

How can I get started? by arekin · 2012-10-01 05:51 · Score: 1

You and Steve took an idea and turned it into a huge business. Now how can I do that? I've had an idea for a while for a product that I am certain would sell, but the tech market seems plenty determined to prevent any new guys from cutting into their profits. In today's market how can I get a start without being trampled immediately? (Yes I am deliberately being vague, I don't want someone running with my idea to the patent office.)

--
Disagreeing with you does not make me a troll.

I'll ask a question then (in a diff. language) by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:52 · Score: 0

Pan Wozniak,

Czesc/Dzien dobre: Ja mowiem po polsku teras. Ja nie pisam tak dobrze, albo ja mowiem dobrze.

Pytanie:

Czy ti mowisz po polsku?

* Do Vidzenie...

APK

P.S.=> I am testing if my "fellow polish person" can speak the language is all - IF he does? He'll know what I wrote (for what it's worth, I haven't written it regularly in 40++ yrs.)...

... apk

Something I'm sure not many ask by paazin · 2012-10-01 05:53 · Score: 1

What's your favorite pizza style/topping?

Apple // versus Mac by NaughtyNimitz · 2012-10-01 05:54 · Score: 1

I really loved my Apple ][+ , Apple //e and Apple //GS because i could program it out of the box: I remember my first steps into (integer) basic, machinelanguage (instigated by peeks and pooks articles I found) and later on 6502 Assembler. Although I was charmed by the Macs GUI i was a bit disappointed to discover that it was not so easy to start programming out of the box. Even worse, getting my hands on tools to program were hard to come by here in Belgium. I was demoted from a power user to a customer. (Luckily , later on it was much easier to get 'under the hood')
Was this also an important issue for you: an open system to expirement with IF you want it.

Steve by Quiet_Desperation · 2012-10-01 05:54 · Score: 1

What is your biggest regret concerning Steve Jobs. Something said. Something unsaid. Interpret the question as you wish. Or maybe there are none.

Not trolling, and a bit of a cliche question, but I'm honestly curious.

And thanks. First started coding on an Apple II in middle school. Integer BASIC, baby! Good times.

Cake is a lie, pi is constant. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 05:54 · Score: 0

Three years ago, someone using your name and address bought two shirts from me of the design "Cake is a lie, Pi is constant." ...was it actually you? Or did you at least get these shirts from the imposter you? I know it's of no interest to anyone else, but its nawed at my mind for years :)

Do you feel that modern computers are too slow? by tekrat · 2012-10-01 05:55 · Score: 1

Dear Woz;
I continuously lament that today's bloated operating systems actually make computers today far slower than they used to be. Since programmers no longer hand-optimize, and don't use assembly, modern software crawls and is huge/slow to load, even from the fastest hard-drives.

I remember the Apple ][e booted in about 1 second, and furthermore, could load applications from floppy extremely quickly (mostly due to your hardware optimization). I later purchased a SCSI card and a 30MB harddrive for the ][e -- and with that, the machine was even faster! Applications loaded in the blink of an eye. You hadn't even finished lifting your finger from the return key and the program was loaded and running!

Meanwhile the boot-time for my 8-core laptop at work running Windows XP is soul-crushing (at least 15 minutes), and even after logging in, it's still another 10 minutes before the machine settles down and you can actually USE it.

As a result, I feel more productive on an Apple ][e because I can get work done faster, than I can on the laptop at work (I wish they'd allow me to bring in my ][e to log into the mainframe!).

Anyhow; the question is: Have you experienced this? Do you feel there's more wait time to get started working using modern PCs with modern operating systems -- have we given up making things work properly and quickly, are we too dependent upon CPU core speed and then bogging it down with crapware? After all the work you did to make the Apple ][ blindingly fast, do you think that's somehow a lost art?

--
If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.

Re:Do you feel that modern computers are too slow? by bzipitidoo · 2012-10-01 08:47 · Score: 1

I still have my Apple ][+ that I played with as a teen. There are a number of things about it that aren't so optimal. DOS 3.3 took 45 seconds to boot. A simple bit of sector interleaving sped the boot time up to 15 seconds. There were many 3rd party DOSes that addressed this problem.
Then there was the BASIC interpreter. The problem here was a design issue of all interpreters. Statements had to be interpreted each time they were seen, which was very wasteful inside loops. The computer of course had very little memory, and really could not spare any for the luxury of optimization. Would've been nice if it could cache a few statements. Yet there were products to speed up BASIC programs. The idea of optimizing Javascript by renaming all the variables to the shortest possible names is not new. That and renumbering to use the smallest possible line numbers was slightly helpful for these BASIC programs. But the most gain was from the products that effectively compiled the BASIC code.
The BASIC interface with the hi-res graphics was wretchedly slow. Anyone who was serious about graphics performance had to do it in assembler. Many game programmers used BASIC or a mix of BASIC and assembler. Some used BASIC for minor graphics. A few even used Pascal. Wasn't Wizardry written in Pascal? The Bard's Tale showed how much better Wizardry could have been if they'd written it in assembler.
We've also become better at Computer Science. Some of the algorithms used back then are laughably naive and slow. Before I'd had any formal training in CS, I was able to spot ways to greatly improve performance in some of those old games. For instance, Dark Forest used a very slow and stupid method to compute how many men a player received. Took a good 15 seconds or more, and to top it off, the method sometimes got it wrong. I hacked in and replaced it with a far faster method that was also correct. The author, Tom Mornini, obviously had shoving the game out the door quickly as his top priority, and perhaps also was not the best programmer.
In short, there were compromises and misses. If anything has changed, it's the quality and scale of the compromises. Then, you might use the BASIC interpreter's graphics subroutines. Now you throw in an entire graphics library such as OpenGL, and on top of that perhaps OGRE or OpenSceneGraph. The most precious resource is still the programmer's time, and usually it's still worth saving hours of coding time at the cost of making the app more bloated and slower.

--
Intellectual Property is a monopolistic, selfish, and defective concept. It is "tyranny over the mind of man"
Re:Do you feel that modern computers are too slow? by Douglas+Goodall · 2012-10-08 00:24 · Score: 1

Thank you tekrat, I have noticed the same thing. Recently I restored an IBM-PC/AT and was amazed that it performed tasks for me quickly, and never made me wait more than a few seconds. Here we are with machines a thousand times faster, a thousand times more ram, thousands of times more storage, and still they make us wait. I have known for decades that Windows was a cycle hog. Windows NT was briefly fast during certain beta cycles. When I edit a program, and compile it, I know those sounds from the hard disk are the machine actually doing what I told it, and not scanning, indexing, caching, and doing things that modern systems do, not on a time available basis, but in direct competition with user directed operations. I do love the vintage systems, from Apple ][e through PC clones with ISA16 motherboards. I would say the Compaq Deskpro 386/16 was the end of the lovable old machines.

Officially supported third part App stores? by tmortn · 2012-10-01 05:56 · Score: 1

Do you think Apple (and potentially other mobile OS providers) will be legally forced to support third party application stores like Cydia? Apple's habit of censoring specific types of content and sherlocking app ideas strikes me as something likely to get them into legal hot water similar to Microsofts tactics with Explorer in the 90's.

--
I don't ask you to be me. I only ask you not expect me to be you.

Motivation? by neosaurus · 2012-10-01 05:57 · Score: 1

What did you do when you had to do stuff which was boring but you knew that it had to be done? Following from that question, did you run into periods of lack of motivation where you didn't get ideas or solutions easily? If so, how did you resolve these?

Isn't Apple the New Boss? by istartedi · 2012-10-01 05:58 · Score: 1

In the 1970s, you were getting free phone calls from AT&T. Today Apple partners with that same company and has established a "walled garden". Your youthfull counterparts are jailbreaking phones. It's a lot less bold than stealing LD and calling the Vatican; but it's the same revolutionary spirit. Does it bother you that the company you helped found is the "new boss" of a consumerist world with Chinese labor at one end, and hacker barriers at the other? Is this just a simple case of "if you're not conservative by the time you're 40 you have no brain" that you always figured would happen, and doesn't really upset you?

--
For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?

About Mr. Steve Jobs by SternisheFan · 2012-10-01 06:02 · Score: 1

Mr. Wozniak,

You knew him pretty well. What is your honest opinion of the late Mr Steve Jobs? Was he a truly good human being? Or, as some suggest, was he an obssessive conrol freak who was difficult to collaborate with?

I think we would all be very interested in your thoughts on the man, and also on Mr. Bill Gates. Thank you.

"Get Filtered?" by eldavojohn · 2012-10-01 06:04 · Score: 1

A lot of things about me don't get filtered.

Are you saying that this information is uncomfortable to be public or that you feel that this tidbit is insignificant given your other accomplishments? Has being an icon or public figure ever been too much for you?

I merely read your Wikipedia page and decided I would ask you about topics other than the very tired and already fully covered Apple/Jobs questions. I sincerely apologize if bring up your ex-wife in passing was insensitive or painful. I know this probably sounds like a hyperbole or undue flattery but I think you're the best thing to come out of Apple -- mostly because I was impossibly young and poor when you were at Apple doing good things.

--
My work here is dung.

Re:"Get Filtered?" by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:16 · Score: 0

Stop, you're embarrassing yourself.

can you please not buy .... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:04 · Score: 0

can you please not buy property in New Zealand? we have enough rich Americans buying all our land bumping up property values!!

Most surprising technology by sizzzzlerz · 2012-10-01 06:05 · Score: 2

Given the state of today's technology, what has been the biggest surprise to you. Something that, 30 years ago, at the dawn of the personal computer, you would have never envisioned as being possible?

Steve: Where is your favorite place to eat? by ctime · 2012-10-01 06:07 · Score: 1

I live in Los Gatos and frequent many of the fine (and less-than-fine) establishments in the Area (I'm looking at you, Tommy's). What is your current favorite restaurant or place to eat in the area? What do you think of the Cinnamon rolls at Los Gatos cafe? Best Regards

the question everyone wants to know by slashmydots · 2012-10-01 06:11 · Score: 1

Why are Apple devices still so overpriced? You're making well enough profit to lower the price to something reasonable. The long term market share growth would be more than enough to make up for the short term profit loss.

What is it you exactly "do" nowadays... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:13 · Score: 0

...that "requires" you to have multiple devices? The real power users actually can reduce the number needed.

LARP class by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:13 · Score: 0

What kind of character would you be if you were LARPing? Warrior? Mage? Druid? etc etc. I for one, would be a mage throwing fire balls.

Do you still tinker with hardware? by sosume · 2012-10-01 06:13 · Score: 2

Are you still tinkering with hardware for fun? As in buy an Arduino, Raspberri Pi or Roomba and start soldering and writing code? And if not, what replaced this hobby for you? (and additional, which do you enjoy more by the way, coding software or soldering hardware? )

Re:Disruptive innovations possible today from gara by backslashdot · 2012-10-01 06:17 · Score: 1

I'm not Woz .. but F it, I'll give my opinion. I think the answer is yes. There's loads of stuff you can do in your garage .. robotics with cool stuff like machine vision/drones is one. Second, is bio .. there are TONS of unexplored things in the biotech space. With coming revolution in DNA sequencing technology the possibilities are endless. Let's not forget that multiple Nobel prizes in medicine were awarded to people doing research on fruit flies, algea, bacteria, or even plants (because they revealed amazing things applicable in human biology too). In a basic hackerspace equipped with a few things like a microscope, beakers, dirt cheap reagents, homemade electrophoreris kit etc, you can grow stuff and do research on things like algae and harmless fungi and bacteria - and believe me there are loads of things you can find out about them which are applicable in humans. Also in a garage, you can also do quantum physics stuff using microwave parts and cheap lasers. You can also play around with graphene. So yea .. robotics, bio stuff, physics .. And that's just the hardware realm. I'm not saying there is a guarantee you will invent the next big thing .. but not all things have to be done for the purpose of becoming a billionaire, I think there is some value in curiosity .. in just getting satisfaction from doing stuff and learning something new. Most of the giants of science upon whose work and ideas the modern world stands never made much money. In fact some died in debt or broke. Still the fact is, there is loads of cool disruptive innovations that can come out of a garage today. Probably more so than in the 70s. All that's needed are the cool people with the guts, ideas, and focus.

Rocky Clark? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:17 · Score: 0

Where did that come from?

No question; just a comment. And a thanks. Sort of by Seumas · 2012-10-01 06:17 · Score: 2

I just want to say that I met Steve Wozniak, briefly, many years ago. I was just starting my career. There's no way he would remember me, though. I was struck by how accurate his reputation for being friendly, kind, generous, and good-natured was. He left an impression on me. Though I fail miserably at it, I try to go about my daily life both professionally and personally trying to live up to the kind of attitude that Woz so personifies. I want to be known as an expert at my craft and successful and all of that, but I also want to be known as the friendly guy who uplifts a room. I want to be more concerned with what I leave behind and how much I *enjoy* being able to enjoy my life.

There are a lot of technological geniuses out there. Woz is one of the earlier and one of the greatest. But his attitude and his generosity with it toward everyone around him is what truly sets him apart.

I truly hope he feels the warmth and respect the geek community has for him.

Are you a 'secret' /.'er? by SternisheFan · 2012-10-01 06:18 · Score: 1

Do you ever post comments on Slashdot stories?

Re:Are you a 'secret' /.'er? by EricWright · 2012-10-01 06:36 · Score: 1

Scroll up... Then again, it's not much of a secret when his username is "SteveWoz".
Re:Are you a 'secret' /.'er? by SternisheFan · 2012-10-01 07:33 · Score: 1

Scroll up... Then again, it's not much of a secret when his username is "SteveWoz".
Well, a man of Woz's stature would by default merit a different /. moniker, so as to be able to participate (in other /. stories) while not giving away that it's him every time. I'd want that if I had his noteriety.

What was your favorite/most elaborate prank? by tanawts · 2012-10-01 06:18 · Score: 2

You have a long history of being a trickster. I am curious which you are most proud of/which was your favorite.

What's your thought process? by Budgreen · 2012-10-01 06:19 · Score: 2

When working on a problem or idea, where do you start? are you visual? or theory based thinker. personally i'm not great at transferring ideas or solutions to paper, but I can visualize everything in my head, parts, schematics, etc. right down to building something. I am greatly curious where you start on an idea.. paper work first? or did you just build it out and see?

--
The greatest right given is the right to be wrong...

Designing by Mentoring by wildatom · 2012-10-01 06:20 · Score: 1

I've been volunteering at my local town hall holding classes/events for the masses to stop by and learn simple computer repair, database design, warehousing and simple programming techniques that give the less fortunate a chance to learn and possibly carve a future as a developer, support, or otherwise in (Just how I became interested in my c64 programming). I’m aware of the many great things you’ve done over the years however If you had a blank check and with all our past experiences what would you do to help our future generations of WOZ's in your city or larger.

Alan Kay's current project by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:21 · Score: 1

Just curious if you know what Mr. Kay's been up to lately with the Viewpoints Research Institute (vpri.org) and if so, what you think of it :)

Work anywhere today! by rodrosenberg · 2012-10-01 06:22 · Score: 0

If you could choose any tech company to work for where would you go what tech would it be?

Re:Work anywhere today! by Man+Eating+Duck · 2012-10-01 09:59 · Score: 1

If you could choose any tech company to work for where would you go what tech would it be?
It would surprise me if he can't already do that :)

--
Are you a grammar Nazi? I'm trying to improve my English; please correct my errors! :)

Any thought of returning to ham radio? by CQDX · 2012-10-01 06:23 · Score: 1

I read you got licensed in elementary school and built your own station. Have you thought about returning to the hobby? I miss the DIY days of early home computing and recently became a ham since there is still a lot of cool stuff you can do with discrete components.

Coming to New Zealand by NewtonsLaw · 2012-10-01 06:23 · Score: 1

The media here is having a field-day both here (in New Zealand) and in Australian -- with suggestions that you're looking to move to this part of the world.

Are you?

There's some pretty cool tech stuff happening around here right now but this country woefully needs a tech-figurehead to help the government focus on important issues such as getting behind our nascent knowledge based industries. I think you'd be just the man.

Or you could just spend your days skiiing (water/snow), cycling, swimming, relaxing in the peace and quiet of scenic wonders -- or chugging a few brews.

It all happens here! :-)

Quick question by SternisheFan · 2012-10-01 06:24 · Score: 1

Android or Apple?

(ducks!)

Rhombus Tech Project by lkcl · 2012-10-01 06:27 · Score: 1

allo woz,

well, it said "ask anything", so anything it is. hi woz: you've seen a lot of changes in computing. i grew up with computers from age 8 at school where we had a commodore pet 3032. my parents bought me a squish-board (zx-spectrum) aged 11. i went to imperial, learned about virtual memory, and refused to buy another computer until the 486 was reasonably affordable. then it all really went to hell in a handbasket for about 15 years, with windows and x86 hardware pretty much dominating absolutely everything, until these mini computers - beagleboard, android hand-helds etc. - came along.

now we've got miniature computers coming out of our ears, but they're mostly GPL violating (http://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/8991.html for details) and so the ability of the average person to actually *own* their own hardware - by having full control of it - is practically zero. whereas everyone *thought* that android would bring us cheap, low-cost hardware that could be adapted for any purpose is quickly turning into a nightmare for privacy advocates, with free software developers locked out and unable to help due to the massive burden of reverse-engineering required before even beginning to help out.

i know of one engineer in australia who has a stack of android tablets 12in high. every single one of them is a total waste of money. he wanted to use them as a low-cost engineering platform. can he get the kernel sources and u-boot source code in order to turn them into useful useable hardware that would help his business and help his clients save money? can he f***. this is a *ridiculous* situation.

so that's why i began the rhombus tech project, and defined the EOMA-68 standard: to put free software developers together with china-based factories, so that mass-produced mass-volume hardware would come out being fully GPL-compliant and have a vibrant support community behind every product, the day it hits the shelves. for everyone's benefit. the problem is: it's taking too long to get the project off-the-ground. everyone who truly understands the goals of the project absolutely loves it, but everyone i speak to - from factories to ODMs to free software developers to the potential investors - is "waiting for something to happen". what would you recommend? can you help at all. ... you *did* say "any question" :)

He won't answer this I bet. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:28 · Score: 0

The question. Why is he such a disgusting fast slob??

Batman reference... by SternisheFan · 2012-10-01 06:28 · Score: 1

"Hey Wayne, can I have a grand?"

Re:Would you ever Open Source the original Apple I by grub · 2012-10-01 06:32 · Score: 1

I have (yes, have, it still boots!) an Apple ][+. As a teenage geek who saved for ages to buy it, I was blown away by the depth of the information included.

A dump of the ROMs, some schematics, etc. The Reference Manual had it all. My old copy is worn out. Compare to today when kids learn Java in Comp Sci and little of the underlying iron the thing runs on.

--
Trolling is a art,

What do you think will bring about the end of ... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:32 · Score: 0

the human species?

Favorite Programming Language? by aaaaaaargh! · 2012-10-01 06:33 · Score: 1

What's your favorite programming language (so far) and why?

Feel free to include assembler languages and please take it as a purely subjective personal question, no need for us to start a flamewar....

And where is today's freedom? by saibot834 · 2012-10-01 06:34 · Score: 1

In the early days, it was pretty easy to be a computer hobbyist. Nowadays we see that manufacturers restrict their devices (including the iPhone) and the user loses control, being locked out and unable to tinker freely with their device. Cory Doctorow suspects that many powerful advocacy groups will try restrict general purpose computers and the general purpose network (possibly outlawing tinkering, which in part is already being enforced), which poses not only problems for hobbyists, but the whole society.

Do you recognize that there might be a genuine problem in restricting the user to a – maybe somewhat safer, but unfree – walled garden and using laws to enforce it? I know you've stated your opinion on DRM before, nevertheless I'm interested what you might have to say about more recent developments.

Misquoting from Batman (1989)... by bornagainpenguin · 2012-10-01 06:36 · Score: 1

I like your work, can I have a grant? ;P

Seriously, thanks for everything you've given us geeks technology-wise!

--
Have a Virgin Mobile USA smartphone? Give VMRoms.com a try!

Government broadband by Kohath · 2012-10-01 06:38 · Score: 0

Why do you think the government should buy you subsidized broadband service with money stolen (taken, taxed, confiscated, use whatever word you want) from your neighbors?

Should people listen to you? by Kohath · 2012-10-01 06:39 · Score: 1

Why?

Pirates or Ninjas? by QuickBible · 2012-10-01 06:41 · Score: 1

Steve,

Pirates or Ninjas?

Re:Would you ever Open Source the original Apple I by grub · 2012-10-01 06:42 · Score: 1

Dang forgot to mention this. There was a 555 timer on the keyboard circuit board. Soldered in a potentiometer (forget the range) and it gave me a variable repeat key speed. Kind of silly, but I was 15 and figured it all out myself.

Sent in some disks with code I had written to Apple. Actually got a letter back saying Thanks but I was too young, etc. and that I should try again when I was older. Never did, that's one of those What Ifs in my life...

--
Trolling is a art,

Has form won over function? by Opportunist · 2012-10-01 06:42 · Score: 1

I guess it can be agreed on that you're the "tech brain" behind Apple, while Jobs was the "marketing man". And looking at Apple's existence, one cannot close his eyes to how the gadgets Apple produces started to take over and even define a market once Apple changed its image from "techy-tinkery" to "hip and fashionable".

Has form won over function? Show over substance?

It's not even user friendlyness, IMO, considering a touchpad like the iPad, an actual keyboard would win over a virtual one on the touchscreen any day. Not to mention the lack of interfaces. Still, it was very successful, more successful than other pads that offered same or better functionality.

Has the show won? Has technology permeated mainstream to such an extent that it has become more a matter of fashion like clothing rather than its primary function? And do you like this development, or how do you react to it?

--
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.

Re:Has form won over function? by TheDarkMaster · 2012-10-01 07:42 · Score: 1

Only a minority can see beyond the "show". The rest want what some "guru" claims to be the best thing in the universe, even though it is actually a lie. People want to have the "status" of having an iGadget, even if this iGadget is technically inferior to others.

--
Religion: The greatest weapon of mass destruction of all time
Re:Has form won over function? by smash · 2012-10-01 14:09 · Score: 1

On the contrary.... some of us realise that most hardware is "good enough". Is it wrong to want something that looks good and feels nice as well, given that I have the disposable income to pay for it? I've done 20 years of using PC clone home made systems - having something aesthetically pleasing is nice.

--
I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.

Re:Can Apple survive and/or flourish w/o Steve Job by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 06:45 · Score: 4, Interesting

Who knows? Back then we knew how to make good new versions of our computers to satisfy the needs of our Macintosh market. But we didn't do radically different things until the iMac. We should keep a watch for Apple returning to just milking its existing markets and not astounding us with new categories of products, or totally astounding ones. There is always a danger. And my personal opinion is that if it goes sour, it might have gone sour with Jobs there so conclusions should not be drawn. That is not constructive for Apple.

Apple was a one product company back then. Now we are very diversified and strong. If one product suffers we can recover based on the income and profits from our other sectors. We have computers, laptops, iTunes, iPods, retail stores, online Apple Store, iPhones, iPads [and Apple TV?]. We also have a strong culture of innovation that is well understood, not only by those in control but by our customers, who set a lot of our direction in terms of their expectations.

We did go through a period of introducing a lot of key younger talent when Steve Jobs returned. One suggestion is that we look at doing that again.

--
OK a new size TV

Is Apple evil nowadays? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:45 · Score: 0

After all those years of hard work, garage and inventions and trying to build cool things, don't you think Apple has became a company focused much more on the shareholders than on its users themselves? Don't you think it's evil to lock its users in the Apple world and take freedom of choice away from them: once in Apple they should use everything from Apple, because the shareholders will be happy?

Re:Is Apple evil nowadays? by PortHaven · 2012-10-01 07:03 · Score: 1

Yes, it is...sadly...

Companies that don't advance by Boumbles · 2012-10-01 06:46 · Score: 1

What do you feel prevents companies from improving how they go about developing software?

Security versus modd-ability by mlts · 2012-10-01 06:47 · Score: 1

Here is my question:

On one hand, device security is a must on two levels:

First, it is to keep code belonging to one program from affecting another in a malicious manner, be it tampering with data, or in some cases, merely reading it and then sending a copy to a place upstream.

Second, some protection against the "dancing bunnies" attack by Trojan horses. This is something Apple has excelled at -- since virtually all app installs go through the App Store, a malicious site trying to get someone to install a detrimental app is unheard of in the iOS ecosystem. This keeps users who are not highly tech savvy safe because Apple guards the gateway completely.

On the other hand, by only allowing the iOS device to only be used in "an approved manner" locks out a myraid of opportunities for making cool stuff that was never thought of. For example, being able to use a device as a full BSD computer in a pinch, similar to how one can pull up a decently working, lightweight Ubuntu distribution on the Motorola Atrix series of phones.

In your opinion, where does the balance lie between protecting users from themselves, to minimize the Dancing Bunnies security hole, but still allow new, creative, and innovative uses for the device without having to have people have to jailbreak the device?

Of course, piracy of apps is an issue, but having it handled by a separate mechanism that is not tied to the presence/absence of jails would be an answer. Android does this well, with both LVL, and on-device encryption of packages.

Is there a way to both have one's cake and eat it too?

they have a site: askafreemason.org/ by acomj · 2012-10-01 06:50 · Score: 1

I'm not kidding. They advertise for membership up here in boston..

askafreemason.org/

ask Woz about masonry is much funnier. I bet you get an answer.

What super power you want? by nvrslowdown2 · 2012-10-01 06:54 · Score: 1

Woz, if you had a super power, what would you want it to be?

Toasting by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 06:57 · Score: 0

Why, when you've got your toaster making perfect golden brown toast does an English muffin require two cycles?

What and who do you read? by ThorGod · 2012-10-01 06:59 · Score: 1

By context, I could suspect you're an avid science fiction reader, but who knows? It's clear to me that your interests aren't purely technical since you do neat things like the FIRST robotics competition. (Sure, that's a technological event, but I've seen you interact at them - you're there to inspire kids more than anything else.)

I'm particularly interested to learn if you've read any philosophy, and whom?

--
PS: I don't reply to ACs.

Is this idea a waste of time, or not? by ka9dgx · 2012-10-01 06:59 · Score: 1

I had an idea back when I was in college (1981-82) about using an array of look up tables to do programmable logic. I've never really had a chance to get a chip made, as my work is nowhere near that field these days. I'm wondering if you think my idea has any merit.

I had a blog up at http://bitgrid.blogspot.com/ where I wrote about this subject, trying to get a chip made some day. But things happen, and it's been dormant.

The idea is simple, really... a grid of cells with 4 inputs, a look up table, and 4 outputs. The 64 bits determine the outputs for any possible input combination.

Routing logic is even simpler... there is none. If you want to route through a cell, you have to program the cell to do it.

Thus any cell can be routing or computation, or both.

An unsigned n bit adder takes n cells

An unsigned n bit multiply takes n*(n-1) cells

A divider takes (n+1)*n cells, unless you want to divide by zero...then it's (n+1)^2 cells

Sound interesting? Waste of time?

I'd like to know what you think.

Visionaries and Engineers by PortHaven · 2012-10-01 07:01 · Score: 1

It seems to me that there are two types that lead to the future. Visionaries and Engineers. Steve Jobs, was a visionary, he had ideas, he saw where to go. But from what I seem to read and hear, he was a mediocre developer/engineer with yourself, Steve Wozniak, being far more the engineer.

Progress seems to be greatest when these two are paired together. What do you think regarding the pairing of visionaries and engineers?

Emulation by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:02 · Score: 0

Hi Steve.
I'd really like to have a USB based floppy drive that will do 1.4MB, 800K, and 400K. Can you help me build one?
Could you influence Apple to allow a port of an Apple II or Mac similator (Virtual II or Mini VMAC) to iOS?
Thanks
FakeWozniak from MacRumors :-)

Hindsight by Dan+East · 2012-10-01 07:03 · Score: 1

As they say, Hindsight is 20/20. Still, there are things that simply must come of age in their own time. Knowing what you know now, what, if anything, could you have done differently with your very first generation computers - the Apple I and Apple II, that could have advanced computing in general further, or put us on the "right track" and perhaps gotten us to the amazing mobile devices and incredible personal computing power several years sooner?

--
Better known as 318230.

Any big regrets? by cplusplus · 2012-10-01 07:06 · Score: 1

Do you have any large regrets? Were there any technical decisions you would have made differently that still get under your skin when you think about them? Did you make any decisions that changed the course of a product line or something, only to think "Wow, I totally could have done that much better!" ?

--
"False hope is why we'll never run out of natural resources!" - Lewis Black

Medical technology ideas? by popsensation · 2012-10-01 07:11 · Score: 1

Any cool ideas for cool or amazing medical devices that would save or improve lives? I like the thought of using 3d printers for printing custom human replacement parts!

The 'eternal' question... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:12 · Score: 0

Sir, do you believe that there is a life after death? Also, do you believe there is a God? Thank you.

Re:Can Apple survive and/or flourish w/o Steve Job by freeze128 · 2012-10-01 07:12 · Score: 1

Ask Tim Cook.

Woz angel investor? by selectout · 2012-10-01 07:13 · Score: 1

Hey, What does it take to get a pitch in front of you for a potential angel investment or at least mentorship advice? Especially for those startups in areas that they think you can be extremely valuable to help them grow.

2 Dollar Bills by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:14 · Score: 0

Will Slashdot pay you for this interview in $2 bills?

Open access and control of physical medium by behindthewall · 2012-10-01 07:18 · Score: 1

My opinion is that the "open access" many on the Net support ("us") is predicated upon control of the underlying physical medium. With the physical layer of our current Internet increasingly being both monitored and controlled (albeit with the latter so far being incomplete), do you have any thoughts on where this may be going? Do you agree with this diagnosis? Do you see where "the Net" may eventually move to keep and foster the open access upon which it -- I claim -- is predicated? Do you see nascent, realistic technology solutions and/or serious support for same?

In other words, when can I expect my neutrino "radio"? ;-)

I'll add that I'm not "a pirate" and that my concern does not center around swapping Hollywood saccharine and the like.

Money by DynoMutt · 2012-10-01 07:19 · Score: 1

I like your prank with the pad of dollar bills with perforated edges. To me, it's like a statement regarding the true value of what so many in the world call "money" which is simply a paper representation of an abstraction of government coercion and the monopoly of force.

What's your opinion of real money, such as precious metals, vs. what so many in the world call "money"?

--
-- Game over man, game over!

The Web Revolution by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:24 · Score: 0

You pioneered the PC revolution. What are your thoughts on the web revolution? What are your favorite things about the web and would you have liked to be a part this revolution and in what capacity?

Computers in the future? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:25 · Score: 0

Hi Woz,

Where do you see computing technology headed into the future? I remember that in the past decade or so, all I ever wanted was speed. At the same time, I wanted all my products to be able to wirelessly connect to the internet. I wanted to have a computer in my pocket, my briefcase, and my desk. Apple has basically answered all my needs, but I am sad to say that I can't see where it is headed a decade or two or five from now. These days, even HP printers can connect to the internet wirelessly and download apps. I feel, as I am sure you have, that all devices have become basically different form factors of the same general "computer". Furthermore, with the advent of extremely high resolution displays that are more pixel-dense than the sensitivity of our eyes, I don't see how much more the basic "display" can be improved, besides perhaps flexible displays or 3D technology, which I find gimmicky.

I feel like computers have always been devices that were made to mimic other devices using a UI. About two decades ago, a lot of evolution was made in sound cards, up to the quality it is at now (which is once again, at the limit of the human ear's sensitivity). I think the main evolution of technology hardware-wise has been miniaturization, portability, and pleasing our human senses.

I personally don't see any revolution in the PC space happening for a while. What do you think? Maybe robotics and medical advances will pick up where PCs left off.

Re:Which of your design tricks are you proudest of by SteveWoz · 2012-10-01 07:25 · Score: 5, Funny

Mine too. I had never worked with any disk drive of any type nor any operating system. A chance popped up that if I had a working floppy disk in 2 weeks I could go to the city of Las Vegas. Having no idea how they worked I put my head together and thought out a simple scheme with some clever parts (state machine) and it truly was a miracle. Today I have no idea how you create things in such a way. They couldn't have motivated me with money or stock, but getting to Las Vegas was worth it.

--
OK a new size TV

What do you think of the limited hardware choice by Joe_Dragon · 2012-10-01 07:26 · Score: 1

What do you think of the limited hardware choice with todays apple systems?

and what do you think of hacking osx on to any X86 hardware?

Apple then v/s Apple now by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:27 · Score: 0

I would be curious to know that what are the key differences between Apple pre 1985 and Apple now. What i really want to know is why do you think that apple has been able to scale so successfully now whereas it couldn't back in the 80s?

Australia by __aaqvdr516 · 2012-10-01 07:28 · Score: 1

Woz,

I'm living in an area under served with communication (phone, internet, & cable). I've read that you're looking at Australian citizenship. If you get a place in Australia that has enough room, can you take me with you? (I should probably mention I have a wife and 2.9 children).

But seriously, what do you see as the way forward as far as getting communications spread throughout the USA? It seems like every time we start to get an initiative going, the telco's and the like try to block it. Will profiteering block the spread of the needed infrastructure?

Energy & Computation by Cmplctd_Smplcty · 2012-10-01 07:28 · Score: 1

Where do you think the relationship of energy and computation will be in the next 20 years?

Re:Can Apple survive and/or flourish w/o Steve Job by Myopic · 2012-10-01 07:37 · Score: 1

Although that is true, it is also true that if Jobs hadn't left, then Apple certainly would have folded. While away, Jobs learned all the things about business that he didn't know before. When he came back he was both a marketing genius AND a respectable businessman.

China by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:41 · Score: 0

What is the extent of Apple's cooperation with China? For example, why have only attacks on the online Apple store been made public amidst China's on-going campaign to breach the technology corporations of America?

What percent of the manufacturing process of Apple products resides solely within China?

Idiocy by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:44 · Score: 0

Woz, why do you pay attention to /., a website overrun with stupid comments and ridiculous moderators?

Any chance you'll be taking back Apple? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:44 · Score: 0

First; OMG OMG OMG!

Second; Is there any chance (even a glimmer of hope) you would ever take the reins at Apple?

Third; I am an aging technician, and I read up above that you don't like looking back in the past (?), Anyways, I've been in the computer industry since the early 90's and became a Macintosh technician professionally around the same time. I have to say, I really do not like where Apple is right now and I don't like the fact that Apple (or more like Jobs it seems) switched the Macintosh from a in-house built OS run on outside-the-box hardware (68k, PPC) to nothing more than a UNIX clone running on standard PC hardware (intel, x86, etc). I really miss the days when the Macintosh was really "different". Do you ever feel similar, neutral, opposed to this view?

If you have a chance to answer this question, that would be great :) if not, no biggie. Keep on telling those jokes BTW, heh.

-Ed

When you gave me a bill from your $2 bills tablet by Ukab+the+Great · 2012-10-01 07:45 · Score: 1

I noticed there was a minor defect in the printing of the Great Seal of the United States. I would be more than happy do a free-of-charge quality assurance review of your remaining $2 tablets and dispose of any defective tablets in an environmentally responsible fashion.

Technology and 'the system' by codeboost · 2012-10-01 07:46 · Score: 1

Do you feel like technology has thus far failed it's idealistic goal to liberate the people from the oppression of the 'old system' ?

Instead of technology changing the system for the benefit of all, as was (and to some extent still is) the idealistic hope of hackers, we ended up with a system which regulates, dictates and controls technology for the benefit of the few ?

War on 'piracy', patents, privacy and personal information used and abused by corporations, governments, financial schemes, ... the list can go on and on.

Does it seem like instead of freeing the people, we (the hackers) have build great technology which ended up in the hands of the 'old system' and gave them powerful tools to exercise even more control and oppression ?

Pranks by sootman · 2012-10-01 07:48 · Score: 1

Do you still carry around perforated sheets of $2 bills? I always loved the double aspect of that prank -- bills on a sheet/pad, and messing with people who don't know that $2s are real.* What other shenanigans and tomfoolery are you up to these days?

* Rats. I read about that years ago, but while searching for a link to people who didn't know about that trick, I see that you're still up to it as of 2 months ago. So never mind the first part and skip to "what else are you up to?"

Also, thanks for, you know, everything. :-)

--
Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.

WarGames and Nightline by AcidTag · 2012-10-01 07:49 · Score: 1

This isn't a question, rather a thank you. When I was a kid, WarGames played on network television for the first time. Later that night, Nightline had an interview with you where Ted Koppel posed the question "What would you do if someone hacked into your systems?" you reply "I'd hire him". Thank you for that! I had been dabbling in program on your Apple ][ and other home computers, but my parents didn't see a future in it. Not until they heard your response. Without there support I wouldn't be a software engineer today!

US Festival Bands you wish you could see again by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:49 · Score: 0

Which bands who played at the US Festivals would you like to see playing again live today?

Your Backpack by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:50 · Score: 0

I saw a picture of what all you carried in your backpack. How heavy is it after everything is loaded into it? What brand of backpack is it? What's the funniest comment you've heard from a TSA agent regarding the contents of your backpack?

Advice for aspiring programmers in the industry by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:50 · Score: 0

What are some ways to establish contacts and resources in the industry of programming, either in video games (dream job) or even working at giants like Apple or Microsoft.

Why do people say your family is from Russia ... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:55 · Score: 0

... when your name is clearly of Polish origins?

Impact of the 6502 and Chuck Peddle by dpm67 · 2012-10-01 07:55 · Score: 1

The Apple ][ and many other machines from that era really helped move the industry out of the labs and realm of the most dedicated hobbyists and helped to make it available for everyone. Many of the popular machines of that era were all using the 6502 or some variant. I would be curious about your recollection of any interaction with Chuck Peddle and the team behind that processor and the impact it had.

Immigration and emigration by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 07:56 · Score: 0

What do you think about the idea of national borders, and how difficult it is for people to immigrate from one country to another?

Apple OS / iOS question by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:00 · Score: 0

I understand the desire to make software and make the source code top secret, and to put things in place that prevent customers from installing the software on hardware not manufactured by you. What I don't understand is why does Apple's Tech Support have such a difficult time dealing with its own products ? I could understand if I called in and could run MS Office 2011 but when I call in and Apple and they can't diagnose a problem with iPhoto, and their solution is to "Wipe the hard disk and boot from the original DVD included with your laptop, and reinstall the OS." Something is wrong, either give your support the education to deal with your closed source code, or give us the code and we will fix our own problems.

What is up with iOS not allowing more than the scant number of Fonts Apple wants you to have ?

What was the thought process behind preventing users from making changes to the carrier settings so that a Verizon iPhone will work in New Zealand? I have users on Droids and Blackberry just because they will function there on Verizon and the iPhone will not.

What is up with Apple's philosophy of Do it Apples way or not at all ?

Hope many times has Apple heard from customers I would like to install 10.7 on my Mac but the download will take over 200 hours, can you provide it to me on a DVD?

Motivation by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:00 · Score: 0

What motivates you? As a creative and inventive person, do you find yourself starting interesting projects, but later losing focus and jumping onto other things? How do you stick with it and finish your creations?

The patent troll on Shark Tank by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:01 · Score: 0

I was watching one episode of Shark Tank and you were talking to a guy who held a patent for some cord hole in a jacket. Why do you do business with someone who is such a blatant patent troll in the making?

Re:The patent troll on Shark Tank by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:03 · Score: 0

(More info here: http://www.geardiary.com/2012/03/03/scott-jordan-appears-on-shark-tank-but-who-was-the-shark-and-who-was-the-bait/)
Sorry, can't find a youtube link.

Are you seeking global domination? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:04 · Score: 0

Are the Villains in 007: The World Is Not Enough based off of you and Steve Jobs?

Information Security / Corruption by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:05 · Score: 0

A lot of corporations apply some very sneaky conditions into their contracts and EULA's, and a lot is done with the data that is frankly not liked by a lot of people.

What do you say and how do you feel, when people say Apple Inc. is guilty of those things, and what do you think is a reasonable solution to it?

Geek Culture by Cal+Paterson · 2012-10-01 08:06 · Score: 2

Do you think that geek culture is different today than it was in the past? How have things changed?

Thanks. by Synth3t1c · 2012-10-01 08:08 · Score: 1

I just wanted to say thank you.

Jobs was NO inventor by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:09 · Score: 0

Anyone can think up an idea at "the 10,000 foot view", it's making it happen that IS invention (which is why with patents you have to have somekind of working concept first). Jobs was no inventor. Woz definitely was (ha, that's odd how that sounds) and probably still is. Jobs took advantage of Woz & attached himself to him because of that.

tablets by arth1 · 2012-10-01 08:11 · Score: 1

Do you think tablets/slabs will continue to be the big thing, or will they like the two earlier attempts die or become a niche due to a combination of gorilla arm syndrome and limited battery life - i.e. are certain companies betting too much on one horse here?

Most important question we should be asking? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:11 · Score: 0

What do you think is the most important question humanity should be asking right now?

Thank you. by concealment · 2012-10-01 08:16 · Score: 1

My life is complete. I still have a //e and consider it the most fun that hobbyist computing has ever been, before or since. Hack on, nerd brother.

"iak" is polish too... apk by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:16 · Score: 1

"iak" is also in polish names (they're NOT all ended in 'ski' like mine is). There's tons like "icz" too, & far more. It's deceptive, since I can tell you, point-blank, that Russian (true russians) is SO close to polish, it's astounding. Enough so that I can make out what's being said in Russian when friends of mine from Russia spoke (nouns are same quite a lot, verbs tend to differ more though). They asked me "how did you know what we were talking about?", & I told them it sounded like Polish (this was back in 1993 iirc). They're both "slavic tribe" nations, so it tends to make sense. Sometime back in "antiquity" they had ties obviously. I think of it like (lol) Romulans & Vulcans!

APK

The Future by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:20 · Score: 0

What do you see as the next technological frontier after the web? Do you see a potential integration of man and machine? If you don't have any ideas on what we might see 20-30 years out, do you see any potential waves coming in the next 5-10 years?

What do you think about the Amiga? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:21 · Score: 1

Or perhaps the question should be what did you think about the Amiga? While the Mac became dominant in many professional areas in the eighties, the Amiga, at least in Europe, became a favorite among home users., often praised for it's fast multitasking and use of custom chips. Did you ever know or meet Jay Miner?

Re:What do you think about the Amiga? by smash · 2012-10-01 13:43 · Score: 1

No mod points, but keen to hear about this as well.

--
I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.

Are we better off? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:21 · Score: 0

Have computers enhanced our lives or just made them more complicated?

IHOP @ Cupertino closing by mdpbom · 2012-10-01 08:22 · Score: 3, Funny

Your favorite IHOP and my nearest (Stevens Creek/Cupertino) is closing, have you send your complaint to the Cupertino council? Where can I go next for my pancakes? We need pancakes!

Mapping direction. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:22 · Score: 0

Mr. The Woz,

I was curious to know your perspective on the changes to iPhone mapping in this latest release. I suppose it would be of interest both as a consumer and as someone who has a very special relationship to Apple.

P.S. I don't have strong pro Apple feelings but really respect and appreciate the work that both you and Steve Jobs did in shaping the much more free world of computing. Thank you.

If you were to start today, by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:26 · Score: 0

assuming you were 23 years old now, what would you do with your life?

Apple II software de/protections by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:31 · Score: 0

Dear Sir,
First of all, let me thank you for the Apple II that I am still using (http://www.brutaldeluxe.fr/).

Were you as good in diskette de/protections as you were in creating hardware like the Disk II?

Thank you,
Antoine

Did you trust Steve Jobs? (he lied about Atari) by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:32 · Score: 0

Given that your business relationship with Steve jobs started pretty much with him screwing you out of your fair share (even though you did all the work) of the money from Atari (http://www.chiphazard.com/2011/12/14/steve-jobs-tricked-young-wozniak-into-an-atari-game-scam-gave-less-share-of-the-money/), did you trust Steve Jobs? Did you enjoy working with him?

What have you been up to recently? by martin1b · 2012-10-01 08:36 · Score: 3, Interesting

Do you still actively program or build new hardware? If so, what are some projects you've recently worked on? Can you tell us some details about it? What hardware or software and or programming language did you use? Also, do you feel the increasing complexity of technology slows innovation or accelerates it? -Bill

Keyboard nor Touchscreen by rhoder · 2012-10-01 08:38 · Score: 1

I like to think that someday I'll have a drafting table style display. Touch typing on a flat surface doesn't pass muster and interacting with both a large display and a keyboard simultaneously seems clunky. So, somewhere between the standard keyboard and a touchscreen lives something better. Have you given any thought to what that might be?

--
This signature is typed manually.

Raspberry Pi by psergiu · 2012-10-01 08:39 · Score: 3, Interesting

What's your opinion on Raspberry Pi (the $25 computer) ?

--
1% APY, No fees, Online Bank https://captl1.co/2uIErYq Don't let your $$$ sit in a no-interest acct.

The contemporary Apple II by rbanffy · 2012-10-01 08:40 · Score: 3, Interesting

What would an Apple II look like if it were built today?

--
http://www.dieblinkenlights.com

Re:The contemporary Apple II by rbanffy · 2012-10-01 08:51 · Score: 4, Interesting

Or, better, if Apple convinced you to design the Apple IV as an intellectual successor to the Apple II, completely ignoring Mac and iOS ecosystems (and the Apple III, which we all understand as not being your fault) and building it for hardware and software hackers, without losing the kitchen-table-friendliness of the II, what would it look like? Would it be a self-contained box with internal slots? Would it be beige?

--
http://www.dieblinkenlights.com
Re:The contemporary Apple II by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-07 13:44 · Score: 0

Apple ][ Forever!

Why do you wait in line for new Apple devices? by joeflies · 2012-10-01 08:42 · Score: 1

It's great that you mix & mingle with other Apple fans by waiting in line for the latest Apple devices. At first, it was completely unexpected to see you waiting in line, when it's obvious that you're well connected to Apple, and have the wealth to not have to wait. But now it's become a bit of tradition to see Woz show up waiting overnight to get the latest Apple products.

Are you getting paid to wait in line?

Building a Siri-like software platform by FriedmannSolution5 · 2012-10-01 08:47 · Score: 1

Hi, I remember reading in another interview online that you're interested Siri - what would you recommend for someone building a software using a new approach to computers answering english questions about topics? Is this still worthwhile pursuing? Thanks!

Karma Whore by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:49 · Score: 0, Funny

Hey Woz,

Stop replying to people questions with your account. Either answer them when Slashdot send the questions to you (like everybody else) or post answers as AC.

Thanks,
Mods.

PS. Thanks for your replies! I'm out of mod points!

Re:Karma Whore by PortHaven · 2012-10-02 10:37 · Score: 2

Woz,
Please ignore the stop posting comments. Truly, this is one of the most beautiful things I've seen on the web in many years.
Gracias...

When did you sign up for Slashdot? by blogan · 2012-10-01 08:52 · Score: 2

I would've though you'd have a much lower UID.

How to become great programmer? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:54 · Score: 0

Or generally an engineer? What would You advise?

Woz, I briefly met you at your book signing... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 08:55 · Score: 0

Check out the blog I wrote up shortly afterwards: http://meatfighter.com/woz/

Hacking by m3nta1 · 2012-10-01 08:57 · Score: 1

How do you feel about letting users mod/hack your products?

--
Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do. Benjamin Franklin

Re:Apple II graphics / text "Venetian" interleavin by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 09:06 · Score: 0

I remember "compressing" games by taking the 384 (192 lines * 2) byte conversion table (from venetian blind to top down) table out and replacing that. I would also compress the load screens and add some more assembly on the side to move the code around. I reduced the size of Mini Dung Beetles by quite a few K by doing that.

The call to $F411 is burned into my mind forever and refuses to be pushed out.

Be forced to eat only potatoes, or hold a potato by vu0tran · 2012-10-01 09:10 · Score: 1

A man with shifty eyes approaches you with a metallic suitcase. He opens it up and presents you with two options:

You must either...

1) Clench a potato in your left hand for the remainder of your life
2) Eat only potato products for the rest of your life. e.g., you may eat french fries as long as its fried in potato oil. You may not add salt. Mashed potatoes = okay. Mashed potatoes + gravy = bad.

Concerning the held potato, let's assume that this potato is both sentient and telepathic. If you try to discard the potato in any way, it will self detonate with a blast radius of 500 km. There is no nuclear fallout. You must keep the potato attached to a majority of your body at all times, therefore, simply amputating your hand will also result in detonation. Eating the potato is not allowed, unless you chop off your hand and eat your left hand along with the potato (thus, the potato is still attached to your body), but once you have a bowel movement and your hand + potato exits your system, you will explode.

On the other hand, if you drop the potato accidentally, the potato, being telepathic will know that you mean no harm and will not blow up. However, you have only 20 seconds to retrieve the potato or it will blow up.

Concerning options two, if you break the rules and eat something other than potato product even if accidentally, you will blow up with a blast radius of also 500 km. HOWEVER this time, with nuclear fall out.

Choose wisely.

How's your music going? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 09:14 · Score: 1

Hey Steve,
After the demise of Legitimate Business, how are things with your new band Civil Warmth? I saw the tiny article in AP, but I'd really like to know more. When will you be touring? As an avid vinyl fan, will you be putting out your own vinyl soon? Are you doing any cool split EPs with anybody you're a fan of? Who would you most be interested in.
Thanks,
-Anonymous Music Coward

Apple memorabilia by joeflies · 2012-10-01 09:16 · Score: 1

Do you have an extensive collection of Apple memorabilia? An Apple I in museum condition? Documents and photos that are just waiting to be archived and shown to the world?

Do you still dabble in electronics? by biocow · 2012-10-01 09:18 · Score: 1

In many interviews I read you often say your favorite part of your amazing ride was building new things the world had never seen before. Do you still have a little lab where you get away and work on projects?

iOS hardware and software compatiblity by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 09:21 · Score: 0

I'm not an fan of apple products not by any streach of the imagination. I've always been a Windows man, and more recently I'm growing to love Linux. That aside as a person who likes the DIY aspect of computers, especially in the assembly department I have to ask why does apple not allow their OS to run on custom built computers? Its already been proven that it can work with OSx86 or Hackontosh. Honestly I might buy a copy of the Apple OS if I could install it on a custom bulid computer since I will say apple does have a very stable and good looking OS.

Now on the side of software compatibility It seems majority of the software written today is written to work exclusievly on computers running Windows. How does Apple plan to get more developers to join in on cross platform publishing, or is there no plan for this at all? Also as a gamer this reason right here is another one of the big reasons I don't own a Mac. the software library is still too limited and my hardware choices are extremely limited as well as I can only buy a prebuilt computer from Apple and I never saw the point when I could build a desktop running windows with equal specs for much cheaper than I could buy a Mac and have access to larger library of software.

More excited by alienogh · 2012-10-01 09:23 · Score: 1

Mr. Woz, Are you more excited about apple's future or android future? I own a ipad and a macbook pro, but also own a google tv, galaxy s3, and just purchased a android mini pc (love it by the way) and although apple seems prettier, android (imo) is the better platform. I honestly dont see Apple continuing to do business the way they do now (closed ecosystem) in the future. Just wanted to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks for listening.

When was the last time you used an Apple II? by AmIAnAi · 2012-10-01 09:30 · Score: 1

How many years since you sat at an Apple II keyboard and what did you do?

--
Any sufficiently advanced bug is indistinguishable from a feature.

Your legacy by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 09:35 · Score: 0

Please pardon my ignorance and I don't mean to sound offensive or disrespectful. This is just out of my curiosity.

What do you suppose is your legacy to the world? I mean, when in 20 years, when they write history books, what would they credit you to? I can understand that you will be associated with Apple Inc. but besides that, what would you (want to) be associated and remembered for?

As always -- Keep hacking

-- AC

Nothing to ask, just wanted to say.... by Nyder · 2012-10-01 09:37 · Score: 1

Thank you.

--
Be seeing you...

Starting a Business from Scratch by Metabolife · 2012-10-01 09:41 · Score: 1

I hear that you and some guy Steve started a successful company from the ground up. Do you have any advice for those of us hoping to do the same?

Apple I Video by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 09:44 · Score: 0

Steve,
How did you work out the original Video circuitry and software for display ? What Video chip did you base it on ?

Apple by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 09:49 · Score: 0

Are you still involved at Apple now-a-days? If so, how?

How do I become more smarter? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 09:50 · Score: 0

I'm hitting a wall. I can only do X amount of things per day when I want to do 2X the amount of things. I'm also reading things that as I age, the amount of things I can do drastically decreases.

I want to be smarter. I want to learn more yet I'm hitting a wall. How did you overcome this barrier? How did you go from fun little toys to creating an Apple II without your brain exploding?

Can there be another "garage" revolutionary? by MobyDisk · 2012-10-01 09:52 · Score: 2

You are the quintessential example of how one person in their garage can create a technology revolution. Do you think that is still possible today? Is there someone out there, tinkering around with their (autonomous quadrocoptor | arduino | 3D printer) who is going to change the world? On one hand, it seems like their is huge opportunity today because so much technology is available and in people's hands. On the other hand, I fear that the weight of patents, DRM, corporate interests, and government are crushing the ability for people to make radical change.

If it is possible, what technologies do you think it will involve? And will you lend me a few million to try out some crazy business ideas? :-)

What are you doing now to change the world? by eugene6 · 2012-10-01 10:06 · Score: 0

You helped change the world a lot, as understood by most people who know anything about how the Apple computer came to be. What are you working on to change the world now, and why?

'Oaf Tobar' or 'Oaf Tobark'? by BitterKraut · 2012-10-01 10:14 · Score: 1

What was Steve Jobs' handle in the Blue Box days? In iWoz, page 110, you write 'Oaf Tobar'. In 'Steve Jobs', Chapter 2.2, Walter Isaacson writes 'Oaf Tobark'. Which one is correct?

How do we get out of the software patents madness? by Yvanhoe · 2012-10-01 10:29 · Score: 1

You have expressed your opposition to software patents. Do you have a plan?

--
The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.

Is the US Patent System Broken? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 10:33 · Score: 0

Is the US Patent System broken for technology devices?

If so, how would you fix it to allow continued innovation and just enough protection to allow financial rewards for truly inovative ideas, not just "first" ideas?

(Mis)quotations by Macman408 · 2012-10-01 10:55 · Score: 1

It seems like every month or two, some article comes out that quotes you saying something incredible, things like that in some ways Android has surpassed iOS. Obviously to you, these are nuanced statements, carefully crafted by an engineer's mind; after all, it'd be ridiculous to say that any one OS is better than any other OS in every single imaginable way. However, the press has a habit of taking statements out of context, or even misquoting in a way that changes the statement (like translating the above example to "Woz thinks Android is better than iPhone").

How often do you find this sort of thing happens to you when you are interviewed? Is it a problem, or is it just an occasional error? Do you think that the journalists are doing the best that they can, but are restricted by a need to have an eye-catching headline and a provocative topic? Or can they make changes to write stories that are both interesting and accurately reflect the thoughts of their sources? And do you sometimes wish you could switch from the nuanced language of an engineer or scientist to the absolute bullet-point clarity that a marketer or PR rep might use to get a point across?

Inspiring children's interest in technology by gibsonmh · 2012-10-01 11:00 · Score: 1

I'm a child of the 70's, who is now a father of 3. I remember vividly my father bringing home a TRS-80 model III, and me graciously letting him use it for about 15 minutes before I took it over. ( I was never able to convince him to buy the Apple ][ I so desperately wanted. I almost succeeded with the Macintosh ). I was programming before I reached double digits in age. Now, I see my children using computers, tablets, and cellphones as I used to use Legos, Soccer balls, and BB Guns....as a pass time. They show very little interest in learning how they work or making anything of their own on them. I've tried repeatedly to engage them in lessons on programming, but I can't compete with Angry Birds or Pet Shop Story. Any insights into how to inspire this generation, as you so powerfully did with mine? Thank you for everything you've done for the world in your career!

Insane by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 11:09 · Score: 0

in a non-specific way -- when you disregard facts and reason and your arguments are merely slurs. "Insane".

It's interesting how the usual anti-Republican arguments have become so similar to something a Klan member might have said about "others". It's the same emotion. Only the "others" are different.

Re:Can Apple survive and/or flourish w/o Steve Job by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 11:10 · Score: 0

Plenty of those are interlinked tho, in that itunes will bomb if the devices that connect to it bombs. And the same goes with the retails stores, as they are basically a outlet for Apple products. If said products no longer sells, the stores end up a money sink.

Random caller by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 11:29 · Score: 0

Hey Woz, quick question: do you remember a kid calling you randomly in the early 2000's after you had finished visiting Pittsburgh for some convention? I was hanging out with some friends in a telephone conference and someone on the line had your number. We called it thinking it wasn't going to work, and it ended up being your cell-phone #. You said you were just driving in your Hummer and were genuinely pretty cool to talk to. Thanks!

Comment on Taiwanese Geeks? by retroworks · 2012-10-01 11:37 · Score: 1

They made the touchscreen display Apple made into the IPhone and IPad. Which geeks in Taiwan deserve attention? Who at Apple gets credit for running into them and making their tiny touchscreens into the modern PC?

--
Gently reply

Do you remember Barbara Cribbs (or lundy/hill) by technicaltonic · 2012-10-01 11:43 · Score: 1

It's fine if you don't, I'm sure you've met hundreds of thousands of people in your career. Barbara was my grandma, I'm not sure what name you would have known her by, so I've put all the last names I'm aware that she had. She worked as a graphics designer at apple, according to her, her crowning achievment was her work on the keyboard for the lisa(? I think?). We lost Barbara in 2010, but when I was young she always reminisced to me about working at apple and often told the story of how she once went to a company dance with you (maybe she was embellishing, but she always had a smile on her face when she talked about her time at apple). I just wanted to ask in her memory and maybe bring validity to one of my most cherished childhood stories. She'd probably kill me for asking such a question (haha) but I had to take the chance. By the way you're totally awesome and I've always wished I'd had a chance to meet you myself. Thanks.

Whither Computing? by jd · 2012-10-01 11:47 · Score: 1

Most (if not all) of the major roadblocks in computing these days come from one of three underlying causes:

a) Tradition
b) Obsolete metaphors/concepts
c) Lack of decent alternatives

Traditionally(!) homebrewers have been the ones solving these problems, as they're not yet drained of original thought, but it's increasingly hard as a lot of the easy stuff has been done many times over. It would be hard for an enthusiast to develop a network card that can act as a drop-in replacement for both Infiniband and Ethernet (let alone persuade anyone to use it). I'm not saying that developing the Apple I was much easier, as you had to design from first principles, but (a) and (b) didn't exist in the home computer market at the time because there really wasn't one, and (c) was what you were fixing.

Which way would you like to see homebrewers going now and why?

--
It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)

Not really a question by MichaelSmith · 2012-10-01 11:53 · Score: 1

Steve, in light of your recent statement that you were going to move to Australia, if you are in Melbourne and you need help finding stuff then drop me a line. First name dot last name at netapps dot com dot au.

--
http://michaelsmith.id.au

Woz... by erp_consultant · 2012-10-01 11:58 · Score: 1

First off, thank you to you and some other key people in the IT field for introducing me to computers. It's gone from a hobby to a passion to a way to make a living while still getting to play with the toys I love.

Two questions...

1) What do you see as the next "big thing" in IT? Modern technology has the potential for leveling the playing field like nothing else in the history of mankind. We've seen the invention of the printing press, the light bulb, the internal combustion engine, etc. and all of them have made a huge impact. But computer technology, and mobile computer technology in particular, may have the greatest impact of all. What do you think?
2) What do you want to be remembered for most?

Where do you stand on the Singularity? by jACL · 2012-10-01 12:05 · Score: 1

Thanks for everything you've done to bring computing to the masses!

What's your opinion on the effects of an eventual Singularity? Will it save us, destroy us, or meh, not so much of anything?

--
"It remains to be seen if the human brain is powerful enough to solve the problems it has created." Dr. Richard Wallace

if you would be a tree, what kind of tree would... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 12:08 · Score: 0

If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? (Somehow I feel as if I know the answer already)

Steve VS PCs by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 12:18 · Score: 0

What made you interested in Computers? How old were you when you owned your first Computer? Which computer was it?
Would you consider building an Apple II for the Computer History Museum in Mountain view (unless they have one already, that is).

he's one of our most influential readers by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 12:22 · Score: 0

"he's one of our most influential readers"

What does this mean? I've heard of influential writers, but influential readers?

Finding Woz by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 12:26 · Score: 0

You're oeuvre in design engineering has been nothing less than extraordinary. Billions today have been given a chance to start with the best products ever thanks to your hard work. I had an apple IIe in elementary school and have been mesmerized ever since.
It is my understanding that great developers know their own limitations. That they can easily build a product in low-level languages.. but might choose a high-level framework because of speed to market and a young inexperienced team (not sure if that makes sense). What do you look for in hiring a developer, from the newly minted to the experienced? What faith do you put in a company hiring such a developer? And how would you mentor this individual?

Fusion I/O - what do you do there? by writertype · 2012-10-01 12:38 · Score: 1

I may have missed my window, Steve, but you're the chief scientist at Fusion I/O. What exactly do you do there? Give us an idea of your average day, if you would. Thanks.

Re:Can Apple survive and/or flourish w/o Steve Job by Amigados · 2012-10-01 12:39 · Score: 1

Hi Steve, Thank you very much for the IIe, it was the computer that got me into tinkering, and frankly got me through a lot of tough times. Having the ability to tinker and mess with the IIe was a huge outlet for me as a kid. It was a world that I wouldn't have given up for anything. I was wondering why http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CL_9 never took off? It looked like an amazing product. Even to this very day I find universal remotes that are glitchy, and often don't work correctly (even the expensive ones). thanks!

breakout by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 12:42 · Score: 0

Hi Steve, could you give some advices for high school students who are coding their first version of breakout?

If you had to start out all over again by Orion+Blastar · 2012-10-01 12:43 · Score: 1

like say found Apple Computers all over again, in these modern days, after Steve Jobs passed away, knowing what you now know how would you start it up?

I would like to know specifically if you would develop your own hardware and software, or just use an existing design and go with that.

For example use the ATX Intel X86/X86 PC design, use the PowerPC chip and some other design, or make a mini ITX ARM system or make a custom one.

If you entered the mobile market, would you develop your own OS or license Android or Windows 8 Phone or something else like WebOS? Would there be a WozOS or would you use someone else's OS?

How would this new company compete with Apple and others?

--
Remember, Slashdot does not have a -1 disagree moderation, and no, troll, flamebait, and overrated are not substitutes.

When you developed the Apple 1 by Orion+Blastar · 2012-10-01 12:45 · Score: 1

computer did you learn about the simplicity of design from Atari and HP when you worked there, or did you develop that idea on your own?

When you worked on the Atari Breakout system, did that help you pick out the high quality and low cost chips like the MOS 6502 that was used in the Breakout system to use it in the Apple 1?

How did you feel when Atari made the Atari 400 and 800 8 Bit Computers that competed with the Apple // series but had better color and sound?

--
Remember, Slashdot does not have a -1 disagree moderation, and no, troll, flamebait, and overrated are not substitutes.

What tech companies do you love excluding Apple? by Orion+Blastar · 2012-10-01 12:46 · Score: 1

Forget about Apple, what tech companies do you love and why?

--
Remember, Slashdot does not have a -1 disagree moderation, and no, troll, flamebait, and overrated are not substitutes.

When you saw the Macintosh first come out by Orion+Blastar · 2012-10-01 12:49 · Score: 1

how did you feel about it as it worked differently than the Apple // series did? Did you feel the Apple // could run a GUI just as well as the original Macintosh, or that only a 68000 based system can run a GUI? How did you feel when GEOS came out for the Apple // series to give it a GUI? Did you feel like having an OS with a GUI was the future, or do you feel the command line operating systems are better?

--
Remember, Slashdot does not have a -1 disagree moderation, and no, troll, flamebait, and overrated are not substitutes.

What advice can you give to the older generation by Orion+Blastar · 2012-10-01 12:51 · Score: 1

about starting up their own company in their 40's and 50's. Everything these days is about the younger generation. How come Generation-X is ignored? I am in my 40's and tried to run my own small business a few times, and got sick and ended up on disability. What advice do you have for people like me to start up my own company and make it a success?

--
Remember, Slashdot does not have a -1 disagree moderation, and no, troll, flamebait, and overrated are not substitutes.

Silicon Valley Broadband by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 13:19 · Score: 0

It would be really nice, if you can stand up and say Silicon Valley broadband to the home is pathetic to the ISP (AT+T, Comcast, etc). We're surrounded by all these high speed network companies like Cisco, Juniper, Microsoft and provider like Yahoo, Google, Facebook - and our high speed network to the internet to the home is a measly 10Mbps for $69. In some other area, the max we can get is 3Mbps.

What is your favourite programming language by smash · 2012-10-01 13:37 · Score: 1

... that you've ever used, and why?

Do you still write code? Apple is the only vendor pushing Objective-C at the moment, do you think this is holding them back?

--
I run: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD. Just because you have a hammer, doesn't mean everything is a nail.

Welcome to Australia! by vaughanb · 2012-10-01 13:53 · Score: 1

Not really a question: I read you're becoming an Australian citizen. Welcome! If you're ever in Sydney look me up.

Re:Which of your design tricks are you proudest of by harley78 · 2012-10-01 13:55 · Score: 1

Best...answer...ever...

The evolution of manufacturing by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 14:13 · Score: 0

Hey Steve,

How do you think hi tech companies and firms are going to thrive in a world where 3-D printing and eventually nanotechnology make home (or localized) manufacturing of goods common place? How does a firm maintain quality control, legitimacy of its products and prevent knock offs in a world where anyone can scan, analyze and copy the components of a product. We have seen the issues with Chinese manufacturing already and this is before the general public has access to advanced industrial production. More importantly, how do you protect Intellectual Property rights? The internet alone makes anything that can be digitized easy to copy and so far there hasn't been a solution which both is amicable to the consumer and manageable for business.

The future of game changers by baegucb · 2012-10-01 14:30 · Score: 1

I've seen computing go from such as IBM mainframes (still relevant) to the Commodore PC to the IBM PC to Compaq, etc. And software has been doing the same. I didn't have enough money to buy an Apple when you first came out (I remember and dreamed lol), nor did I have the money when MS or Google offered up their stock. What area of future growth would you advise investing in? And yeah, I was advised circa 1999 I'm older than dirt ;)

What do you see as future technology? by Orion+Blastar · 2012-10-01 14:31 · Score: 1

We went from mainframes to minicomputers to desktop computers or PCs to mobile devices. Right now we are in the Post-PC era, where the PC is still used but mobile devices are the new tech. In the Post-Mobile device era will we have neurochips implanted in our heads, or perhaps something else?

--
Remember, Slashdot does not have a -1 disagree moderation, and no, troll, flamebait, and overrated are not substitutes.

Re:My question to Woz by Orion+Blastar · 2012-10-01 14:46 · Score: 1

Any volunteers want to find out? Have at it, offer her a dinner and a movie first, don't be a douchebag.

--
Remember, Slashdot does not have a -1 disagree moderation, and no, troll, flamebait, and overrated are not substitutes.

Into the Wayback Machine! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 14:48 · Score: 0

Steve, back in the early 1980's I was a sales rep at ComputerLand in Los Altos. One day your mom came into the store looking for a joke Christmas present for the techie son who had everything. I sold her a spray bottle of an CRT anti-static solution called "Bug Off"... I was just wondering if you got it, or remember that! :-)

Commodore by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 14:50 · Score: 0

Can you go more in detail the meeting you had with Chuck Peddle in the garage? Job's biography makes this meeting seem very insignificant while "Commodore: A Company on the Edge" gives this meeting much significance. Is Job's biography another part of Job's distortion of reality?

How much stock do you own? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 14:57 · Score: 0

You once owned a significant share of Apple when you formed the company (I think it was around 40%). What percentage do you currently own and what happened to the rest?

The medium is the message by EmperorOfCanada · 2012-10-01 15:37 · Score: 1

Marshall Mcluhan said "The medium is the message" what do you think the message will be when the new medium comes along and everybody is walking around with a smart phone (and when prices come down) a good data plan?

This is opposed to right now when most people are walking around with a smart phone wishing they had a good data plan.

Today's Patent Ecosystem v. Early Internet by El+Fantasmo · 2012-10-01 15:56 · Score: 1

Do you think the internet would be as ubiquitous and successful as it is today if the founding protocols and languages were patented or copyrighted and used in a manner we see technology patents being used today?

Defacto Net Neutrality or Magnanimous ISPs? by El+Fantasmo · 2012-10-01 16:09 · Score: 1

Was success of the internet up until the early 2000s a kind of de facto net neutrality? e.g. Companies did not have sophisticated enough equipment to control or spy on traffic as they do today, or ISPs were not content providers or vice versa.

ISP and Common Carrier Status by El+Fantasmo · 2012-10-01 16:33 · Score: 1

Should the FCC declare ISP services "common carrier?"

I ask this for 2 reasons:
1. Imposes some level of net neutrality
2. AT&T (as one example) is trying to shift as much of it's business as possible to IP based services (U-Verse) because they are unregulated (no minimum service mandates) and "premise techs" (u-verse techs) aren't union in many places and make MUCH less then their AT&T telephone service counterparts.

How to start? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 16:40 · Score: 0

What are some tips you would give a high schooler who was looking to create his own business?

Have computers made our lives better? by ottawanker · 2012-10-01 16:49 · Score: 1

Have computers made our lives better? I mean, really, have they? Are we overexposed to them?

Dinner at my place.... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 17:23 · Score: 0

Really looking forward to you coming to NZ. Would love to have you around for dinner. If you are in Auckland and feel like a decent Kiwi (not the bird) roast, let me know.

pcleland@me.com

Re:Dinner at my place.... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 17:25 · Score: 0

Really looking forward to you coming to NZ. Would love to have you around for dinner. If you are in Auckland and feel like a decent Kiwi (not the bird) roast, let me know.
pcleland@me.com
How can I be anonymous when I left my email lol
Peter

What do you think of projects like Raspberry Pi? by nortti · 2012-10-01 18:17 · Score: 1

What do you think about small often ARM based projects like Raspberry Pi and Beaglebone?

The loss of Steve Jobs and its impact by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 18:52 · Score: 0

This is a great coincidence, I'm about 50 pages from finishing Walter Issacson's biography of Steve Jobs. He seemed like a tornado personified, as mentioned many times in the book how he could just bend reality to his will. My question to you (the great WOZ! :) is what are your thoughts on the impact of the loss of this Cult of Personality figure to Apple and where will they go from here? Will they have the same force of reckoning they have had on the markets they are involved in without his towering personality and ego running things? Is Tim Cook a worthy successor? Is he temporary and will someone step up to carry on the brands overwhelming passion and if so who could that be? Ive? Or will they end up like they did in the 90s, without much direction and a loss of the passion for design that made them great in the first place?

anonymous coward? by nthcolumnist · 2012-10-01 20:16 · Score: 1

What's your /. handle?

Re:anonymous coward? by Big+Hairy+Ian · 2012-10-01 21:22 · Score: 1

*Cough* http://slashdot.org/~SteveWoz

--
Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

How does it feel to be you :) by JaJ_D · 2012-10-01 20:21 · Score: 1

How does it feel and impact your daily life to be, in some quarters, respected with almost demi-god like reverence, as someone who helped create the whole IT world we see around us?

Hard-wiring Breakout by QuantumDoja · 2012-10-01 20:45 · Score: 1

Hi, I read somewhere that you hard-wired the breakout game for Atari, It would be so super cool if you could do a write up on how you did it, I'm sure thousands of people want to learn how to make things work out of resistors/logic gates, transistors and such. Thanks Chris

The Logo? by Big+Hairy+Ian · 2012-10-01 21:20 · Score: 1

Who's idea was the logo (An apple with a bite out of it) and is it as has been rumoured a reference to the death of Alan Turing?

--

Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

Was Steve Jobs an engineer? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 21:53 · Score: 0

I've always been a big fan of the late Steve Jobs and yourself. As the co-founder of Apple and the inventor of the Apple I and II, you are an inspiration for aspiring engineers from around the globe, like myself.

I've often wondered though, we all know that Steve Jobs' was the one who 'saw' the future and helped you market your inventions, but how good of an engineer was he? Was he technical enough to design the computers from scratch (program, draw the schematics, etc)? As Steve has 342 'patents' to his name, do you consider him to be an inventor/engineer? I've always considered you to be the real engineer of Apple in it's early days, but there are websites online that state that Jobs 'invented' the Apple I and II. Is this true?

Thanks in advance,

Re:Do you dance on Steve Jobs' grave? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 22:42 · Score: 0

Yep, Jobs never did the engineering of Apple's products, so Woz is the only employee of Apple to have completely self-designed something from scratch. This is why we admire him as an engineer.

Re:How much pot do you smoke? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 22:45 · Score: 0

I think you're confusing him with Jobs and 'pot' with LSD.

When will AI be big? by andsand · 2012-10-01 23:52 · Score: 1

Dear Steve,

Do you have a feeling for when the AI or RI (restricted intelligence - not self aware) will start to become mainstream? Is it coder knowledge, CPU power or social restrictions that are going to hold this development back?

--
Luck is opportunity meets preparation, lets get lucky

Pipe organ by andsand · 2012-10-01 23:55 · Score: 1

Dear Steve,

What is the best pipe organ that you have played on?

All the best
Anders

--
Luck is opportunity meets preparation, lets get lucky

call -151 by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-01 23:56 · Score: 0

Back in past, does all components of Apple I personal computer was assembled by you in S.Jobs garage ?

Will you ever go back to teaching school kids? by bjb · 2012-10-02 00:13 · Score: 1

Many years ago I read about how you were dedicating a lot of your time to teaching school kids how to use computers. I was always a fan of yours prior to that, but reading about your work there solidified you as a hero in my book. I think I even sent you an email years ago saying that if you were willing, I'd come out on my own dime to help out for a week (I've always been one of those highly technical people who can actually be patient and teach effectively as well).

Are you ever going to return to this? Sure, I can imagine that kids might not need as much help these days; for those of us who stopped our family VCRs from blinking 12:00, I've always thought that my kids are going to have something similar as they get older with me. But still, do you think you would ever do this again?

--
Never hit your grandmother with a shovel, for it leaves a bad impression on her mind...

What you change first about patents or copyrights by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 01:08 · Score: 0

If you happen to have any problems with today's patent and copyright systems, what kind of change do you think is likely implementable that would provide a significant solution to the problems?

Not "classist," common sense by concealment · 2012-10-02 01:17 · Score: 1

An inherently classist outlook in that the idea that 3rd level cannot even be interpreted until 2nd level is mastered

Classist? As in, you must get through the sophomore class to join the junior class?

This is just common sense. Education is based on mastering elementary material before moving to more complex material.

If you could build anything at apple what would it by vxone · 2012-10-02 02:53 · Score: 1

Hey Woz its awesome your still out here with the people. Given a choice, If you had an opportunity to build something new, something that you thought was actually useful for people, that would either save them time or entertain. Because we all know you like jokes * smiles * and enjoy making people happy. Not necessarily limited to whose two categories, What would that thing be. all the best Vx1

Re:Would you ever Open Source the original Apple I by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 03:02 · Score: 0

Original AnonC grandparent here...

I still have my Apple II+ from 1983 with all the manuals too. As I went through college, and learned about digital electronics, I went back through them and studied them again and again. I really feel bad that todays kids are learning to program like they learn to use a microwave, with absolutely no understanding of what's happening beneath the hood.

Who picked the name Apple? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 03:03 · Score: 0

What was the idea/philosophy behind the name Apple? Who came up the name?

Thank you,
Pierre a Apple customer since 1980!

Dungeons & Dragons? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 03:36 · Score: 0

I know it is famously a geek staple, so I was wondering if you ever played D&D or any other role-playing games? You mentioned that you liked playing fantasy games like cowboys & indians as a kid, so I was wondering if your enjoyment of fantasy games ever leaked into your adult life.

The future of patent law by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 04:13 · Score: 0

What is your view of current US patent law?

Hey Woz; by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 04:21 · Score: 0

Why is the Apple operating system so honkin' and utterly " illogical " ? Just as bad a PC. Why on earth can't you just have a ONE COLUMN ALPHABETICAL means of search for each and every aspect of the system. The whole idea of multiple folders and headers and trying to find any particular section of the system by navigating laddered routes is just absolutely CAVEMAN ! ! This is 2012 guy, time to get logical and user friendly. And did you get that "delete" button onto the mac yet ? And the "multiple" copy to paste ability ? www.WowGoHere.com

Programming or School Studies? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 04:22 · Score: 0

I love programming. It gives me not like nothing else. The thing is should I focus more on learning new languages n trying projects or simply study and try n get into a good college? I'm 16 years and in 11th grade. What would you recommend? I already know C++ but haven't ever worked on any major project. Thanks!

Balance of life by Xolve · 2012-10-02 04:29 · Score: 1

How does one find balance between the consumerism of technology and trying to live austerely?

Security vs. Privacy vs. Features by Xolve · 2012-10-02 04:31 · Score: 1

Smart web applications and to maintain security it is required that these collect as much user information as possible while privacy requires just opposite. Where does one break even?

Re:Which of your design tricks are you proudest of by ewok85 · 2012-10-02 04:40 · Score: 1

Interesting last paragraph. It's often mentioned that big companies like Apple, Google or Microsoft have trouble keeping replant no matter how much money or stock they offer, people in our industry are looking for something different.

Executable English by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 05:01 · Score: 0

How would you rate the technical and business value of the Executable English / Internet Business Logic system?

(Google: Executable English)

Your thoughts about product development? by wdef · 2012-10-02 05:07 · Score: 1

I don't know if you're still there. Here goes anyway. I've often been curious about Apple's product development process, how they get from raw idea to a final product. Not just design alone, tech also. I've worked with a few ex-Apple managers (one whom I'n sure you'd know) but I never got any information when I ask then about how Apple approached this. Are some of the principles you instilled back in the day still evident in Apple processes do you think?

Were Apples Intended for Programming? by Toad-san · 2012-10-02 05:10 · Score: 1

Did you intend that the Apple I and II be used by programmers (experienced or novice) to do any serious software development? Or did you intend (or hope) that commercial software development firms would do all that?

I ask because I tried hard to do just that, and failed miserably. The tools and resources, user exchange of software and programming tips, that sort of thing, just never happened with Apple. Hell, I did more serious development on a Commodore 64 (networked systems teaching CW (Morse code) send and receive to Special Forces radiomen) than I ever could on an Apple.

I ended up going the CP/M / DOS / MS-DOS / Windows route (with diversions into Unix) for that very reason.

Just wondering. Oh, and thanks for all the fish!

David Kirschbaum
Toad Hall

Walled Gardens, OS X, and Security by querist · 2012-10-02 05:18 · Score: 1

Mr. Wozniak, thank you for taking the time to read and respond to questions.

Given the rather open beginnings of the Apple computers, some have seen the turn toward the "Walled Garden" security model in iOS as a step in the wrong direction. Leaving the debate about cell phone security alone, there are theories that OS X itself is moving toward more of a "Walled Garden" approach. While this may be a good thing for the general, non-technical populace, it leaves hobbyists and developers at a loss.

What would you propose as an acceptable solution in order to maintain the hobbyist aspect of computer programming (and even electronic tinkering) alive while taking steps to reduce risk to the proverbial "grandmother who only uses the computer for Facebook and email"?

Stop modding fake posts up by Jiro · 2012-10-02 05:20 · Score: 1

Slashdot interviews work by people posting questions, and the questions being answered by the subject as part of a later interview. The subject does not respond like another Slashdot poster.

So the SteveWoz replies are all fake.

Which should be obvious, except it's apparently not obvious enough to keep them from being moderated up to +5 rather than -1 Troll.

Re:Stop modding fake posts up by wdef · 2012-10-02 07:17 · Score: 1

Proof?
Re:Stop modding fake posts up by Jiro · 2012-10-02 20:55 · Score: 1

Proof? Let's start with the facts that 1) this is how all other interviews have all worked, and 2) the Slashdot article here directly links to a FAQ which, short as it is, describes deciding which questions to "send along" and "pass on".

Malware by querist · 2012-10-02 05:22 · Score: 1

Mr. Wozniak, thank you for taking the time to read and respond to questions.

What do you, personally, believe to be the reason why there is not more malware on OS X? While I personally believe it to be a combination of improved security in the OS and the lower market share (thus making it a smaller target than Windows), I would like to know your opinion and beliefs on the matter.

Thank you.

Discrimination Against Indigenous tribespeople by ChiefHuntingBear · 2012-10-02 07:04 · Score: 1

Hello, Woz. Can you refund me for the A129 MacBook Pro with a defective Nvdia 8709MGT game playing unit that I bought in November of 2007 that I ordered from Apple on line in November of 2007, tried to cancel repeatedly including even before it arrived in the mail from Shanghai, and have never used. It is brand new in it's original box. Sincerely, ChiefHuntingBear (111 W. Maple St, Apartment 2909, Chicago, IL 60610)

Next day news stories by SternisheFan · 2012-10-02 07:11 · Score: 1

Some links: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2410451,00.asp http://m.cnet.com/news/woz-i-wish-itunes-could-run-on-my-android-devices/57524293 http://m.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/woz-sees-little-difference-between-iphone-android-6225572

iPhone + by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 07:15 · Score: 0

Since the iPhone is really a pocket computer and most users use it for texting, viewing movies, pictures, gaming, searching the net, creating docs, movies and pictures, then it seems to me that the optimum screen size should be 5 inches. Anything above that is a mini-tablet or tablet. Don't you agree that in two years time, the screen size of all smartphones will be 5 inches?

Return to Apple by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 07:20 · Score: 0

Would you ever return to Apple if need be?

Concerts by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 07:44 · Score: 0

Steve, will you ever again promote an awesome concert festival?

Re:Can Apple survive and/or flourish w/o Steve Job by stetho70 · 2012-10-02 08:25 · Score: 3, Interesting

The first time Steve Jobs left Apple I was an Apple employee. The change in the company was almost immediate and felt everywhere but this wasn't because of Jobs going, it was because of what was left. I've also had the privilege of being a Research In Motion employee and watching them do exactly the same thing Apple did - releasing hundreds of products to match their competitors instead of being different to the competitors. Woz is right (as always) about Apple being a one product company back then but at the time we had about 30 different versions of the same product. One of the first things Jobs did upon his return (after I'd been made redundant - boo) was to get rid of the crap and make something that people wanted to own, not something that you had to own if you wanted to use Photoshop or Illustrator. Or Quark Xpress. Anyway - my point is Apple are very good at making products people want to own, not products they need. If they carry on like that they'll be fine.

modem & routher by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 09:10 · Score: 0

In your mind, where is the heart of today's computer hobbyists. I read Make magazine, I own an Arduino, some Raspberry Pis, a couple XBees, etc. I'm probably too young to remember the glory days of machines you could actually open and tinker with so could you tell me today where I can find the closest thing to that? Or at least where you go to satiate your inner tinkerer?

Can I use the routher direct without the modem

Ham Radio? by K7DAN · 2012-10-02 10:18 · Score: 1

Hi Woz, Have you considered getting back into Ham Radio? The meshing of that hobby with the Internet and current technology is amazing. Even folks like Leo Laporte and John Dvorak enjoy playing in this space. How about you? Dan Van Hoy K7DAN (USA) VR2HF (Hong Kong)

Insanely Great Legacy On Anniversary Of SJ Passing by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 10:46 · Score: 0

Steve: As the anniversary of Steve Jobs passing approaches this friday, what would be the "short list of 5" things that he would feel proud of as his "insanely great" leadership efforts in a legacy way (beyond his children). Thank you for all you have done and inspired too.
Patrick Meyer

On Steve Jobs' Insanely Great Legacy by PatrickMeyer · 2012-10-02 10:57 · Score: 1

(with my identity included) Steve: As the anniversary of Steve Jobs passing approaches this friday, what would be the "short list of 5" things that he would feel proud of as his "insanely great" leadership efforts in a legacy way (beyond his children). Thank you for all you have done and inspired too. Patrick Meyer

Going out on a limb... by matthew_t_west · 2012-10-02 11:30 · Score: 1

Woz,

How did you become such a tech pimp? I know it's not just the smarts, looks, and money.

Thanks,

Matthew

--
Browse at 1. You'll thank me later.

Where did Palm/HP go wrong with WebOS? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 14:12 · Score: 0

Where did Palm/HP go wrong with WebOS?

I simply do not believe it. VOICES? Eh? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 16:32 · Score: 0

How many of you? I have insider information and theory. I have tracked patterns for millenia and the Maharishi influence next to you. I was in Apple II at eleven (quite late, you). I suspect... You cannot balance the budget by manufacturing in CHINA! I *thought* computers without keyboards is a no go... Cooks and Jobs seems to match, right? But then you. What happened to the C computer? Do you plan to dissappear PCs cause cell phones? Who exactly inspired you? Why dont you output your stream of WORDS so that I explain them to you? See the facebook page at facebook and explain the BLACK HOLES.

Like Jobs? by The+Eight-Bit+Link · 2012-10-02 16:50 · Score: 1

Would you ever go back to Apple? If you did, what would you do?

Re:Can Apple survive and/or flourish w/o Steve Job by yusing · 2012-10-02 17:44 · Score: 1

I have to admit, I thought -very highly- of the Apple II era. The user manual was revolutionary (and user-friendly) and the system calls were part of empowering any user who wanted to learn how. THANK YOU for those (very fun) times (and the GS synth).

Then came the Mac era. The rainbow became the chrome crest. The fantastic build quality changed into OK build-quality. Software access sank into impossible obscurity for non-pros (e.g. getting serial configured for MIDI I/O). I bought a couple of products since then, and both suffered costly hardware failures.

I'd like to see another era like that first one, returning power over their own computers to the users. Impossible dream?

--

"You must try to forget all you have learned. You must begin to dream." -- Sherwood Anderson

What should highscool student do? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 18:56 · Score: 0

I am Japanese highscool student. I feel board every day. I have no hovy,but I feel that I have to do something. What should I do?

Executive Compensation by idfubar · 2012-10-02 19:03 · Score: 0

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/mh?s=FIO+Major+Holders

I'd love to be able to invest in a venture with which you are associated but I can't tell if they are giving you adequate compensation...

--

Rishi Chopra
www.rishichopra.org

To Woz by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 19:48 · Score: 0

You parents really came from Ukraine. Do you feel something to Ukraine or it is just untold story of your life?

Ukrainian Roots by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 20:15 · Score: 0

I read in wikipedia that your parents came from Ukraine. Even your second name is Ukrainian. Woz, do you feel something to Ukraine or this is just untold story of your life?

ipod nano 7g by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-02 23:32 · Score: 0

Can u kill the man who designed Ipod nano 7g ?

Ukraine by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-03 03:05 · Score: 0

Hi, Steve. I have a couple of questions.
1) Have your ever been in Ukraine?
2) What do you think about your roots? What "ukrainian things" do you have in your heart?
Tell us about it! We are ukrainians, which very proud of you!
Thank you,
with love from Ukraine.
Roman Rechich

ipad by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-03 04:20 · Score: 0

Will ipad mini

Ukrfine. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-03 04:47 · Score: 0

You were born in Ukraine.
Now you are visiting it? When you were in Ukraine last?
PS: I am from Kiev :)

i love computers by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-03 06:09 · Score: 0

Hi Steve,What do you think about the future of the computer age?And about the future of Apple in it?

Cybersecurity - What to do by kiloechonovember · 2012-10-03 11:19 · Score: 1

Hi Steve, I have an opportunity to speak with Congress next week regarding cybersecurity topics. I'd love to know your thoughts and what specifically you feel is needed in our changing world - whether it be laws, regulations, industry standards etc. I'll be giving you full credit of course. Thank you!

iMac and MBP loss of matte screens, why? by rsfor · 2012-10-03 12:28 · Score: 1

Hi Steve I know you prefer matte screens because I've seen website photos that show your traveling kit - and yet, why haven't you stood up for Apple users who need matte screens - but which Apple has thumbed its nose at them for over 5 years. Sure, the 15" MBP has matte - but no matte for iMacs, no matte for external Cinema Displays, no matte for 13" MacBook Pro, no matte for MacBook Airs. It's like you prefer matte, but aren't willing to make a stand for all of us out here that need matte screens too. People that need matte, e.g. people that suffer from eyestrain, people that use their iMacs in sunlit rooms, photographers who need to do color balancing, professional graphic artists, people like yourself who just like matte screens, people who travel and find themselves in varied lighting conditions where the glossy screen totally is a mirror. Sure the MacBook Retina has slightly less reflectivity, but we do not want to see our reflections, period. Would be interested in your comments why you've never stood up for this issue, particularly when you prefer matte screens. regards

Actions vs Words by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-03 13:12 · Score: 0

I appreciate everything he has done for the industry but I am kinda bored of hearing Woz setting the world to rights, the guy hasn't actually created anything cool/new for decades!

Either make something or STFU.

Apple and Windows Phone? by NikkoImperial · 2012-10-03 14:46 · Score: 1

Hello Steve. What can you say about Windows Phone? Do you think that Apple will port their apps on Windows Phone anytime soon? :-)

Most exiting device by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-04 01:39 · Score: 0

Hi Woz,
How do you thinks what it most exiting device (computer, phone, other gadget) that human create?
Thanks.

sdfsd by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-04 01:50 · Score: 0

fsdfsd

iTunes 11 by lego6578 · 2012-10-04 10:14 · Score: 1

When will iTunes 11 be released?

Stevie J. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-04 18:22 · Score: 0

Steve Jobs seemed like a total cunt. Was he really like that?

US Festival II? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-05 01:15 · Score: 0

Would you ever do it again, and if so what bands would you invite?

Backpack by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-05 03:47 · Score: 0

Some time ago, Gizmodo I believe posted a picture of the content of your backpack, that has made me curious, what backpack do you use to keep all of that safely in it?

Missing Steve Jobs by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-05 05:36 · Score: 0

You and Steve worked together at the very creation of Apple. I wonder how you feel now that he is gone or did this ever affect you or did you ever miss his company?

Wish list? by kenekaplan · 2012-10-05 09:59 · Score: 1

I'd like to know what technologies are on the Woz's holiday wish list. What computer or gadget has most captured his desire to own?

OK Woz .. 4 days later I bet you can't resist... by doccus · 2012-10-05 16:26 · Score: 1

So OK the Q & A is long past, but I remember what you used to be like .. you still religiously read the /. columns.. so I have a question.. I built one of those kit computers too, from popular mechanics.. and also took a course.. stupid blinking lights.. I simply couldn't figure out how that could EVER become popular.. especially since I had the option in my course to build an (audio) amplifier instead,which I chose.. after all as a guitarist, natch I tried to pick that,, but the teacher claimed he had run out of parts fior that option.. and I had to build a so called "computer".. that is, a system with NO monitor, 10 stupid blinking lights, and no access to any monitor.. i remember using a 16 K chip.. How in gods name did you think beyond this myopic mentality in the early '70s.. I sure couldn't, and I thought that I was "ripped off" in college by being forced to build a "fancy calculator" .. I mean , a brand spankin new TI calculator was only $100, and our fees for parts was 300$.. so wuzzup?

Sorry.. 4K.. by doccus · 2012-10-05 16:38 · Score: 1

Upon reflection. `I think it was a 4K chip.. (that should be enough for anybody, right?)

Apple's Growth by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-09 00:49 · Score: 0

Do you think that Apple is still on a path of growth, on the rise so to speak, or do you think that it has become about as big as it ever will be?

Re:Can Apple survive and/or flourish w/o Steve Job by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-11 07:40 · Score: 0

The last time Apple lost Jobs, its vision and profitability went down the drain. What's different now?

He won't be coming back this time.

Jailbrakeing by Anonymous Coward · 2012-10-12 19:45 · Score: 0

Do you have or had a jailbroken iDevice? If so why? if not I DARE YOU ON CAMERA!

612 comments