Apple never had a product named after Sagan. At the time Apple had a horrible problem with the inside folks not keeping a secret. (what some people wouldn't do for a coffee mug back then.*)
So Apple had fun with the leakers and those that listened to them. They "invented" 3 machines and gave them names after famous scientific hoaxes. The first was named Piltdown, the second Sagan and I must confess I can't think of the third name.
The reason "Sagan" was used is because after the first Gulf War he was on CNN every night for 2 weeks scaring the shit out of everyone that the oil well fires would be the end of life itself. As we all know, he was an alarmist butt head.
The thing was the machines never existed. They were decoys. Sagan thought that having his name used with Piltdown and the 3rd hoax was somehow smearing his "good" name.
When Apple did make the 3 machines in question one of them was named BHA or "Butt Head Astronomer."
I forget now which machine the BHA was-- I think it was the 7100. I know I heard the story before the release and pulled some strings to have the first 2 in the state and I used it for years.
*BTW if you get this joke, you indeed are an old Mac geek
Posted by: Paul at October 27, 2003 05:30 PM Drat- Just I hit post, I remembered...
Piltdown was the 6100 Sagan was the 7100 and Cold Fusion was the 8100
P.S. I was also part of this crew, and I have a good idea who Paul is but I'm not telling.:) - Jim
in fact it is from a system 6 3rd party video game apple stole it from !!!
Dear Anonymous Coward,
"Stolen" is a strong word with specific legal meaning. If the sound originates from the game (and I'm not actually questioning it), I can readily see it as fair use, considering the related lawsuits and legal precedence, but I'm not a lawyer. Janet Jackson sampled my Mac system sound, and used it in one of her songs. My startup sound for the Mac was also used in the movie Jurassic Park (when they rebooted the park's computers).
Furthermore, if my ears are correct (and they usually are) one of the sounds in that game was "stolen" from Peter Gabriel.
And dirty lies are sometimes trivial to prove
If you weren't being so juvenile, you might be more persuasive. Try removing the hyperbole and begin using proper grammar.
I alone seem to know the damned truth?
You, alone, know the truth? Well, I'm responsible for Sosumi, the System 7 beeps, and the startup sound (which all remain in use today). I don't actually remember where or how I obtained the original sound. Most of them I created such as the startup sound and others, some I obtained such as the monkey sound that made by a friend's wife.
Personally, I felt having my startup sound used (or "stolen" in your words) by Steven Spielberg to be a form of flattery.
Are you a representative of Mr. Buckland? What is your interest in this matter? I'd like to hear from him instead.
Slashdot Mirror
[cross posted from an old comment found elsewhere]m l
:) - Jim
http://www.cleverhack.com/blog/archives/001049.ht
Posted by: Paul at October 27, 2003 05:29 PM
Apple never had a product named after Sagan. At the time Apple had a horrible problem with the inside folks not keeping a secret. (what some people wouldn't do for a coffee mug back then.*)
So Apple had fun with the leakers and those that listened to them. They "invented" 3 machines and gave them names after famous scientific hoaxes. The first was named Piltdown, the second Sagan and I must confess I can't think of the third name.
The reason "Sagan" was used is because after the first Gulf War he was on CNN every night for 2 weeks scaring the shit out of everyone that the oil well fires would be the end of life itself. As we all know, he was an alarmist butt head.
The thing was the machines never existed. They were decoys. Sagan thought that having his name used with Piltdown and the 3rd hoax was somehow smearing his "good" name.
When Apple did make the 3 machines in question one of them was named BHA or "Butt Head Astronomer."
I forget now which machine the BHA was-- I think it was the 7100. I know I heard the story before the release and pulled some strings to have the first 2 in the state and I used it for years.
*BTW if you get this joke, you indeed are an old Mac geek
Posted by: Paul at October 27, 2003 05:30 PM
Drat- Just I hit post, I remembered...
Piltdown was the 6100
Sagan was the 7100
and
Cold Fusion was the 8100
P.S. I was also part of this crew, and I have a good idea who Paul is but I'm not telling.
I've just updated the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sosumi entry for historical accuracy.
"Stolen" is a strong word with specific legal meaning. If the sound originates from the game (and I'm not actually questioning it), I can readily see it as fair use, considering the related lawsuits and legal precedence, but I'm not a lawyer. Janet Jackson sampled my Mac system sound, and used it in one of her songs. My startup sound for the Mac was also used in the movie Jurassic Park (when they rebooted the park's computers).
Furthermore, if my ears are correct (and they usually are) one of the sounds in that game was "stolen" from Peter Gabriel.
If you weren't being so juvenile, you might be more persuasive. Try removing the hyperbole and begin using proper grammar.
You, alone, know the truth? Well, I'm responsible for Sosumi, the System 7 beeps, and the startup sound (which all remain in use today). I don't actually remember where or how I obtained the original sound. Most of them I created such as the startup sound and others, some I obtained such as the monkey sound that made by a friend's wife.
Personally, I felt having my startup sound used (or "stolen" in your words) by Steven Spielberg to be a form of flattery.
Are you a representative of Mr. Buckland? What is your interest in this matter? I'd like to hear from him instead.