Woz labels Apple 'arrogant' over iPhone size inadequacy
Thumbs down from co-founder
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has called Apple "arrogant" and wishes the Cupertino firm would produce bigger phones.
The bearded innovator offers familiar criticism of the company he helped to form in a podcast session with TalkCentral. Woz says the only reason the iPhone 5 doesn't have a bigger screen is due to Apple's stubborn "we're the only one with the right clue" attitude.
“I wish they had made a small and a large version of the iPhone; that would have been great for me. Keep the aspect ratio the same, horizontal and vertical the same, but just grow it in the other way,” he says.
While Apple maintains a view that a phone's display should be easily navigated with just one thumb, Woz reckons "a lot of people like the big screens" and he "doesn't see anybody having trouble" with them.
He continues to say the iPhone size increase is a defensive move on Apple's part that still says "we are right", while offering a bigger display in the face of rival pressure.
Woz also wishes the firm had taken more steps to keep hold of its marketshare, indicating that iOS is too 'closed' to do so. He points to iTunes availability on Windows as a significant step in the broadening of user uptake. "Why don't we get iTunes on Android now?" he states.
Either way, Apple's latest blower has been a huge success, with the first batch of iPhone 5s sold out within an hour. People may want bigger screens, but there are plenty who just want an Apple regardless of the display size. ®
COMMENTS
Re: Eh..
Oh, dear god, more balderdash about Apple's history.
Apple did not invent the home computer. Nor the mouse, windowing, music players, smart phones or any of the other things that they often get credited for.
The idea for the Apple 1 was conceived at the Homebrew Computer Club, which tells you everything: if Apple invented it, why was there a club for them to meet at to conceive it at?
Bottom line: the Apple 1 was a "me too" product, so was the Apple II BUT the Apple II was marketed very much better than its technical competitors, which is how it became prominent. Marketing, not technology,
Which is the case with all those other non-Apple inventions: they didn't invent them, they just packaged and sold them
http://www.atariarchives.org/deli/homebrew_and_how_the_apple.php
Woz is respected for his honest opinion, pro or con. All he is saying is give consumers a choice. Something Apple is loathe to do with their "We know what is best for you" attitude.
Cannot stand Apple, but love Woz. He invented and built computers by hand when most of you lot were still in nappies. Steve Jobs wouldn't have been able to sell anything if the engineering was not elegant. Woz did that for Apple and set them on the path where they are today. So when the founding lead engineer of Apple says something, you should consider it instead of automatically down-voting common sense.
Down-voters obviously still live with their Mums.
Woz is entitled to express his opinion
As far as I am concerned Woz is free to express his opinion anytime he likes in relation to Apple. He has earned his stripes.
Re: Eh..
No he didn't, any more than Lady Gaga invented the shoe.
Rule of Thumb
...Apple maintains a view that a phone's display should be easily navigated with just one thumb...
I don't disagree with this idea -- but I can easily navigate a phone with a display a full inch wider than the iPhone5 with my thumb, due to my hands being larger than average. So, like Woz, I consider the iPhone5 somewhat narrow.
Other companies and industries address human variation by either making multiple sizes (e.g, shoes, gloves, other tablets/phones) or adjustable systems (e.g, car seats), whereas Apple seems to consider it a case of the user not fitting the product, rather than the other way around.
