Woz Reflects on His Career, Future of iPod

October 6th, 2008 at 3:00 PM - News by John Martellaro

In the course of discussing his career and love for computers, Steve Wozniak predicted that the iPod has peaked and will eventually die out like the transistor radio and Walkmans, according to the Telegraph in the U.K. on Tuesday.

Rupert Neate engaged Mr. Wozniak who reminisced about the early days with Hewlett Packard, his shyness, and the founding of Apple Computer with Steve Jobs.

Near the end of the interview, Mr. Wozniak agreed that Apple has been overvalued, an admission that likely wonit be greeted with enthusiasm by anyone. He also reflected on the future of the iPod.

"The iPod has sort of lived a long life at number one, "Mr. Wozniak said. "Things like, that if you look back to transistor radios and Walkmans, they kind of die out after a while.

"Itis kind of like everyone has got one or two or three. You get to a point when they are on display everywhere, they get real cheap and they are not selling as much."

Mr. Wozniak, never one to hold back on his technology opinions, also commented on Appleis proprietary approach to the iPhone. "Consumers arenit getting all they want when companies are very proprietary and lock their products down," he said in a reference to Googleis Android. "I would like to write some more powerful apps than what youire allowed," he lamented.

The remarks by Woz reiterate a life long difference in his personality in contrast to Steve Jobs. Woz, the tinkerer, has always wanted to dig in and conduct creative play, and the design of the Apple II reflected that. Mr. Jobs, the consummate salesman, has always tried to make elegant products that are simple to use but hard to open up and play with.

Wozis remarks on the iPod reflect his experience with technology, but probably werenit met with joy in the halls of Appleis HQ in Cupertino.