5 ms·

While that quote is all nice and well post-iPhone, in the context of mid 2006 it just comes off as dickish. Also indicates a lack of introspection coming from a

• Supermighty 15y ago
  I've often wonder what the real motive for the ROKR was. It's one of the most un-Apple, un-Jobs, devices they released. I wonder if it's true purpose was to get Job's foot in the telco door. A way from him to gather intelligence before his true plan strikes.
  • sambeau 15y ago
    I like to think that it was his underlings forcing him to act: "If you don't turn your eyes to a phone this is what the world will be like" :)
  • thristian 15y ago
    I'm sure it was a way to get phone-building experience at Apple without the risk of tarnishing the Apple brand with an inferior phone. Note that as well as any fundamental design flaws the phone might have had, the ROKR also had some superficial, Apple-imposed design flaws such as the hard 100-track limit; no doubt intended to ensure the ROKR wouldn't compete with any official Apple products.
• sambeau 15y ago
  If you remember the keynote at which it was presented Jobs held the device like he was holding an animal turd.
• adolph 15y ago
  In addition to a lack of introspection, it sounds like a pointlessly unkind comment since the ESPN phone probably comprised a vanishingly small part of what the ESPN president was responsible for. Maybe Jobs wanted to make sure that he didn't have a conversation with this person? Reasonable responses might trend toward, "Maybe so, we try and fail until we succeed, don't we Mr. Jobs?"