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I miss Steve Wozniak values at apple. "We put out manuals that had just hundreds of pages of listings of code, descriptions of circuits, examples of boards tha

I miss Steve Wozniak values at apple. "We put out manuals that had just hundreds of pages of listings of code, descriptions of circuits, examples of boards that you would plug in—so that anyone could look at this and say, “Now I know how I would do my own.” They could type in the programs on their own Apple II and then see “that’s how that works” instantly, and know how to write their own programs. Running cards was the most important thing. All these companies started up making cards that you could plug into your Apple II and write a little software (mostly games at first) on cassette tapes. You’d go to the store and they’d just have all this stuff that you could buy to enhance the Apple II. So one of our big keys to success was that we were very open. There’s a big world out there for other people to come and join us." Steve Wozniak in "Founders at Work" by Jessica Livingston.

flyinglizard 6y ago
This approach reincarnated in their App Store. It’s full of documents and APIs which allow anyone to make their device do anything.
- ForHackernews 6y ago
  > do anything Anything that Apple approves of allowing you to do.
- NotPavlovsDog 6y ago
  > allow anyone to make their device do anything. There are ample sources, and lawsuits, disagreeing with your argument. "Josh Begley, a graduate student at New York University, developed Drones+ to provide up-to-date information on strikes, using reports collated by the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism – an organisation that tracks the use of unmanned CIA aircrafts. But repeated attempts to get Apple to offer the software at its app store have been fruitless. At first, Begley was informed that the program – which he hoped would raise awareness of the growing death toll from drone strikes – was "not useful" enough and did not appeal to a "broad enough audience". The company position has since shifted, but only in the reasoning behind its refusal to stock Drones+. In the latest rejection email, Apple reportedly informed him: "We found that your app contains content that many audiences would find objectionable, which is not in compliance with the app store review guidelines."" https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/08/31/the-problem-with-apples-closed-apps-universe/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/08/31/the-prob... And let's not forget the anti-repair, closed hardware. [1] Right-to-Repair Groups Don't Buy Apple’s Answers to Congress https://www.wired.com/story/right-to-repair-apple-answers-congress/ https://www.wired.com/story/right-to-repair-apple-answers-co... [2] "Apple even created a special screw specifically to make it hard to repair the iPhone". https://www.ifixit.com/Right-to-Repair/Intro https://www.ifixit.com/Right-to-Repair/Intro
mrunkel 6y ago
I too miss those days when you could look at a schematic for an entire computer and understand it. I too miss the days when the computer was something you could just hack around on for hours, plug various things in and make a business out of it. Unfortunately we're a long way away from those days. That Apple ][ was never going to get the market penetration of an iPhone or an iPad. And that Market is what Apple is chasing today and where their focus is. The market that the Apple ][ played in is basically the same as the one for the Raspberry Pi today. If you're looking for that experience, that's where you'll find it. Apple sells products with the edges filed off (both literally and metaphorically) for the masses.
- NotPavlovsDog 6y ago
  >Apple sells products with the edges filed off (both literally and metaphorically) for the masses. Oh yes! "In the famous Apple v. Samsung lawsuit, Apple even claimed ownership of geometric shapes such as rectangles with rounded corners", Ugo Pagano

flyinglizard 6y ago

This approach reincarnated in their App Store. It’s full of documents and APIs which allow anyone to make their device do anything.

ForHackernews 6y ago
> do anything Anything that Apple approves of allowing you to do.
NotPavlovsDog 6y ago
> allow anyone to make their device do anything. There are ample sources, and lawsuits, disagreeing with your argument. "Josh Begley, a graduate student at New York University, developed Drones+ to provide up-to-date information on strikes, using reports collated by the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism – an organisation that tracks the use of unmanned CIA aircrafts. But repeated attempts to get Apple to offer the software at its app store have been fruitless. At first, Begley was informed that the program – which he hoped would raise awareness of the growing death toll from drone strikes – was "not useful" enough and did not appeal to a "broad enough audience". The company position has since shifted, but only in the reasoning behind its refusal to stock Drones+. In the latest rejection email, Apple reportedly informed him: "We found that your app contains content that many audiences would find objectionable, which is not in compliance with the app store review guidelines."" https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/08/31/the-problem-with-apples-closed-apps-universe/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/08/31/the-prob... And let's not forget the anti-repair, closed hardware. [1] Right-to-Repair Groups Don't Buy Apple’s Answers to Congress https://www.wired.com/story/right-to-repair-apple-answers-congress/ https://www.wired.com/story/right-to-repair-apple-answers-co... [2] "Apple even created a special screw specifically to make it hard to repair the iPhone". https://www.ifixit.com/Right-to-Repair/Intro https://www.ifixit.com/Right-to-Repair/Intro

mrunkel 6y ago

I too miss those days when you could look at a schematic for an entire computer and understand it. I too miss the days when the computer was something you could just hack around on for hours, plug various things in and make a business out of it. Unfortunately we're a long way away from those days. That Apple ][ was never going to get the market penetration of an iPhone or an iPad. And that Market is what Apple is chasing today and where their focus is. The market that the Apple ][ played in is basically the same as the one for the Raspberry Pi today. If you're looking for that experience, that's where you'll find it. Apple sells products with the edges filed off (both literally and metaphorically) for the masses.

NotPavlovsDog 6y ago
>Apple sells products with the edges filed off (both literally and metaphorically) for the masses. Oh yes! "In the famous Apple v. Samsung lawsuit, Apple even claimed ownership of geometric shapes such as rectangles with rounded corners", Ugo Pagano