Steve Wozniak would consider returning to Apple, says company should be more open

By on Apr 8, 2011 at 3:00 PM
Business April 8, 2011

Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak on Friday said he would consider a return to an active role at Apple if the company approached him. In an interview with Reuters, Wozniak said he would be open to the possibility of returning to the company he helped build. Wozniak currently holds a position as chief scientist at Fusion-io, though he also still advises Apple and is still on the company’s payroll. “There’s just an awful lot I know about Apple products and competing products that has some relevance, some meaning,” Wozniak told Reuters in an interview. He went on to call Apple’s current products “unbelievable,” but noted that the company could stand to be a bit more open. “My thinking is that Apple could be more open and not lose sales,” said Wozniak, adding, “I’m sure they’re making the right decisions for the right reasons for Apple.” Apple CEO Steve Jobs is currently on his third medical leave since 2004, though the company said Jobs is still involved with major strategic decisions while on leave.

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  • DaHarder

    Sounds like a (possible) Smart Move… especially as the competition continues to gain ground in the mobile arena.

    The return of ‘Think Different’… ?

    • Anonymous

      this is a PC world, most businesses use Microsoft….using a Mac is thinking different.

      • DaHarder

        The world grows more mobile by the day, and iOS is an extremely strong ‘mobile’ player.

        This fact is undeniable.

      • Anonymous

        iOS is no stronger in the mobile world than Android or BBOS.

        That fact is undeniable.

      • Anonymous

        True the companies iOS is getting stronger, but the Macs in general aren’t used by the majority of Americans it’s PC.

      • Anonymous

        Don’t fool yourselves, many many International corporations are moving to Mac and their stateside counterparts are flowing to keep up. I have a large International financial foundation that wants me to move them to Mac because they are tired of all the problems and added cost involved with Windows machines. Also because many of their European counterparts have or are switching to Macs.

        Over the past week, many late nights, I have had to do more maintenance on many PC’s and nothing on any of the Mac’s I have in place. Enterprise and Corporations are seeing this and liking it. As part of the Spanish bailout several banks have gone to Mac to reduce their IT overhead and the EU is accepting this as prat of their fulfillment. Many of the large labs and research institutions in Europe and here use Macs. Macs are more entrenched than you know. Watch the Science Channel and in most of the interviews in their programs there is a Mac in the background or is seen in use, as a display or control device in some pretty intense applications.

        It’s only a matter of time. The market shares are shifting.

      • http://twitter.com/parallelogram parallelogram

        “wants me to move them to Mac because they are tired of all the problems and added cost involved with Windows machines”

        1) There are no problems with Windows Machines unless they are stuck on Windows XP.
        2) Buying a Mac itself is an additional cost to start with. It will the beginning of an expensive journey towards doom

        3) Market share is not going to go anywhere. MAC is and will remain a minute percentage in the corporate world

  • Jbrad777

    He should take over when Steve retires. That would be a hoot.

    • El-father

      Actually don’t you think this rumor or comment is because something is up with mr. Jobs? I really hope not but just in case he could be the ace in the sleeve for apple. I love apple prductos and Wozniak would help apple stock in case mr. Jobs have to leave, wouln’t you agree?

      • Anonymous

        No.

        wait a minute…. yes, actually.

  • Anonymous

    We want you back Woz! Jobs is a dictator!

  • http://www.geekforhim.com Matthew

    Interesting to be honest. Not that much though.

  • WildWillyMagee

    Who’s the notable person at Apple with twink asian man slaves living in his house?

  • http://twitter.com/imhike London Snoward

    Wrong name for title… “Says company should be more open” Woz never said company should be more open… he trying to say that they COULD be open if they wanted to and still not lose sales but hes sure they are making the right decisions for whatever reasons

    Title is false advertisment

    • Anonymous

      BGR also repeatedly (and incorrectly) refers to patent applications as issued U.S. patents. They definitely have serious “title” issues.

    • SSH-To-HELL

      I’d agree to that.

      But it would be great if they fix the headline unlike the other blogs that don’t.

      BGR?

      • Anonymous

        Check out the BB article on Engadget, where the guy copied the Bold specs from here and reviewed them for a Torch, then changed the title and left everything else the same!

        “2.8 inch screen with a woeful 640×480 resolution”

    • Anonymous

      The way he says it implies they should.

      If I say, you could stand to lose a few pounds. It’s just me being nice rather than saying “Try a salad fatty.”

      • http://twitter.com/imhike London Snoward

        If Woz just ended the sentence… Apple could be more open…then yes ..HOWEVER he added at the end “Apple could be more open and not lose sales” that implies hes talking about the strength of Apple

        using your analogy… Could stand to lose a few pounds…its different than ” Could lose a few pounds and still keep great shape… “Could” can imply non-literal figure of speech but with addition to the statement it goes back to literal.

      • Anonymous

        The Original Article:

        [QUOTE]
        Wozniak, a lifelong hands-on engineer, said he liked technology to be relatively open so that he could “get in there and add my own touches.”

        “My thinking is that Apple could be more open and not lose sales,” said Wozniak, but added: “I’m sure they’re making the right decisions for the right reasons for Apple.”
        [/QUOTE]

        He phrased it the way he did, not to step on any toes, but he believes in having a more open system.

      • Anonymous

        woodraskam is right. +1 comment above mine.

      • http://twitter.com/imhike London Snoward

        Of course he personally would like an Open gadget for himself, he’s a scientist and engineer… but he never claims Apple SHOULD be open, nor does it 100% implies to that’s what he meant.

    • Anonymous

      While I agree with you – its not false advertising – misleading – inncorrect – advertising? Cant seem to see it that way.

    • Farquard

      Read it again… It could stand to be more open… That’s a diplomatic way of saying should. But you’re correct they paraphrased to give it more impact.

  • http://twitter.com/Kevniv Kevin N

    Love Woz but this will never happen as long as Steve is still around..

    • Anonymous

      Steve Wozniak? confusing post is confusing.

  • Wildwillymagee

    I know I’m not considering a return to Apple. HTC EVO BYTCH!

    • Anonymous

      I don’t think Apple sends out we miss you emails.

  • Sdfsdf

    dsgfsdfsdfsdfddsf

  • RH

    I’d consider buying something from Apple if Woz was “in charge”. SJ just is too much of a walking turd for me. Sorry he’s had health problems, but karma is a bitch.

    • Exneelo

      Karma doesn’t like being invoked like that.

    • Anonymous

      I’ve always thought this to be honest. He double parks his Mercedes sideways in a handicapped place at Apple HQ, he tore down a historical home for his vacation spot, and he denied his child out-of-wedlock for years, refusing to pay child support from his business-exec. salary until he got sued. Jobs might be a genius, but he’s no role model.

      • Anonymous

        I also hate that prick.

  • Anonymous

    Would love to see Woz back at Apple – he is still on the payroll from what I understand so they should get something out of him for it.

    And he is indeed quoted as saying ‘could’ and you changed the title to ‘should’ which means you will only get Woz in a little shit from Apple. Its completley unprofessional and its this mis leading info to your readers that will potentially get Woz tossed off of payroll, shares sold etc…. Its really a god damn shame. And yes Should and Could in this context are indeed different. But hell, clicks, impressions and comments on this bullshit are surely more important….

    On a side note, some of the commenters on this site are sad sad people.

  • Anonymous

    How to make the effect like the picture? Which app can do that?

  • Snickerguy

    Wow! Woz! He would bring the heart back to Apple. Especially if God forbid something happens to Jobs. Many of Apple’s original products were designed and engineered by Woz. Very exciting.

  • http://webhostingreview.info/cloud-hosting/ smithon

    i think he’s should come back that will be the best option

  • http://twitter.com/zc456 Squeaks

    At least Woz gets it.

  • Anonymous

    Anyone who knows Apple, Steve Jobs, or Woz knows this is a horrible idea. Even if Woz was active at Apple, it would be in the PR arena, not in devices or strategy or planning and if Jobs died tomorrow, and they ranked replacements at Apple HQ, he would be about 4 or 5 hundredth in line for the job.

    Seriously, he’s a great guy and all but he his talents mostly lay in the now extinct realm of board and chip design. He also hasn’t done anything successful or interesting in technology since the late 80′s.

  • Drew

    Woz being back would actually make me tolerate Apple again… He’s an amazing man.

  • Trey1606

    Can we be honest for a minute. Basically this guy is saying you’ve become so successful. Please let me back in your circle.

    As far as being more open. That’s a bad idea. This is what made Apple so successful over the years. Apple isn’t about pleasing the masses. You either like what they offer or buy something else. This is why their products cost more.

    Their computer line up is great. They are more expensive however they are great build quality and do not have any where close the issues that open systems do.

    Apple will never compete with Google or Microsoft in terms of sales or users. But they don’t try to either. That’s why they keep the price high.

    No different than Hyundai vs Lexus. Both are cars. Both get you from a to b. One is safer more reliable and looks better but cost more. In life you pay more to get more.

  • Anonymous

    Sounds like they want to bring him back before the company flounders like it did before they brought back Jobs.

  • Anonymous

    When they booted Jobs way back Apple ran down hill. The one thing that Jobs was able to do was to bring back to apple that “built In the Garage” enthusiasm of innovation. Now that Apple is back on track and Steve’s illness am sure that they want to keep that mindset.

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