Woz Worried About Apple's Creativity vs. Microsoft

News
By Zak Islam
published

Apple co-founder expresses concern in firm eventually dying due to lack of innovation.

Steve Wozniak has expressed his worry in Apple's creativity, with the Apple co-founder stating that Microsoft is becoming the more creative firm between the two industry giants.

In an interview with TechCrunch, Wozniak was open to the idea that the latter has been spending a considerable amount of time to create more "wow" products than the iPhone creator.

Wozniak was less interested in Microsoft tablet Surface when compared to the idea that it's working on technology that made simultaneous translations. "If they're making strides in this voice recognition area, I fear that Microsoft might have been sitting in their labs trying to innovate."

Comparatively, "Apple was just used to cranking out the newest iPhone and falling a little behind and that worries me greatly," he stated. "It worries me because I love Apple. It worries me if Apple were to lose ground because they were making the same things they know how to make. Improving is not Apple-style innovation."

When asked whether the recent departure of former iOS chief Scott Forstall (which was apparently due to the lack of apology for Mapgate) meant that Apple is putting its creative side on the back-burner, he didn't really have an opinion. However, he did state: "I don't believe Steve [Jobs] had to be as much of a real rugged bastard, put people down and make them feel demeaned." 

The Apple co-founder, of course, isn't the only one critical of the firm's lack of innovation. An analyst had agreed with consumer concern over the latest products from the firm not offering a substantial upgrade when compared to predecessors (see: iPad 4), with innovation at the world's most richest and valuable company said to be "sputtering".

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Zak Islam
42 Comments Comment from the forums
  • memadmax
    That's right apple, go back in your closed garden corner...
    Reply
  • lilsanta
    I bought a Windows Phone 8 on Friday. I like it. The Nokia 822 from Verizon. Has gorilla glass even, to my surprise.
    Reply
  • rohitbaran
    Well, MS is trying to do something new with Windows 8 (although many people aren't exactly loving it), but they are essentially trying to fix what isn't broken. Similar to Apple who launch their 'new' products and label the older ones as obsolete, forcing people to upgrade through software locking and all. I can't tell much difference between the innovations of the two to be frank.
    Reply
  • Apple is becoming like Apple of the 90's after Steve Jobs departure, except this time he is gone for good.
    Reply
  • esrever
    Steve Wozniak is a bigot.
    Reply
  • killerclick
    I think it's a bit premature to worry about this. In the last 10 years Apple had the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. Each product sold extremely well, that's one jackpot every 3.33 years. Since the iPad came out only 2.5 years ago, I'd say they could still be on track to come up with something in the next 8-12 months.

    Then again, the iterations of these "old" products are still selling better than the competition and at a considerable profit, so Apple might not see the incentive to innovate at the moment. Windows 7 wasn't innovative, but it's still a great product and Microsoft is going to innovate their way into irrelevance.
    Reply
  • kog91
    killerclickThen again, the iterations of these "old" products are still selling better than the competition and at a considerable profit, so Apple might not see the incentive to innovate at the moment. Windows 7 wasn't innovative, but it's still a great product and Microsoft is going to innovate their way into irrelevance.
    I think you have a false understanding of the markets. Samsung continues to hold a larger portion of the mobile market as far as smartphones go. They have continually outsold all other smartphone companies for 3 quarters now. The iPhone may be the most successful single SKU, but consumers don't want to have the same device as everyone else. They want something new and different, not to mention better.

    A lot of people are upset about the newest iPad for instance. Many had just purchased an iPad 3 because of the better screen, etc. but then the new iPad comes out 7 months later with the processor the iPad 3 should have shipped with.

    As for Windows 8, you have a few things you need to understand. First, only this year Windows 7 finally beat out XP in terms of active devices. That's right, it took a decade for Microsoft to churn out a more successful OS than XP. That is no small feat either, as most of the active XP devices are in government and medical facilities (I know because I am a software developer for the medical industry).

    Microsoft will continue to make money for years on the sale of Windows 7 outside of the consumer markets. Meanwhile, they can sell newer versions of the OS to consumers to try out new ideas and make the next Windows 7. This will mean that Microsoft won't be innovating toward their downfall, but toward their future success. Windows 8 might have a lot of new things for people to learn, but so did XP. So did Windows 7. This means that Microsoft is actively trying to improve and produce better products. They don't have to release a new OS every six months as an over-glorified service pack *cough* snow leopard *cough* in order to make people think they are working toward a better Windows.
    Reply
  • JOSHSKORN
    I doubt Toms readers are complaining about this. I'm not. :D
    Reply
  • NightLight
    he's basically confirming what everybody allready knew. And would you please stop talking about jobs like he was some kind of genius, this would happen eventually even if he was still there.
    Reply
  • They just need to buy some more startup companies to get some fresh ideas.
    Reply