Re: Woz calls for a more open apple

[HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com (Helpful Harry)]

In article <Pine.LNX.4.64.1205151943050.30758@darkstar.example.net>,
Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> wrote:

> On Wed, 16 May 2012, Helpful Harry wrote:
> 
> > In article
> > <14142011.282.1337113411075.JavaMail.geo-discussion-forums@yngp11>,
> > magnusfalkirk <dean.phares@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> On Monday, May 14, 2012 10:54:50 AM UTC-5, BLuRry wrote:
> >>> http://www.itnews.com.au/News/300704,wozniak-calls-for-open-apple.aspx
> >>>
> >>> Quoting the article:
> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------
> >>> Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has voiced a renewed desire to
> >>> see the consumer electronics giant open its architecture to
> >>> the masses, allowing savvy users to expand and add to their
> >>> products at will.
> >>>
> > <snip>
> >>
> >> Good for him! Of course we know Apple will ignore him because of
> >> the influence of Saint Steve.
> >
> > The Mac is already "open" in the sense of what Woz seems to be complaining
> > about. People can already add extra abilities via USB, Thunderbolt,
> > Firewire, and on the Mac Pro there are PCI slots, extra drive bays, etc.
> > Companies already make and sell a huge range of add-ons.
> >
> > What he probably really wants is the ability for hobbyists to tinker
> > around inside the case and custom-build as can be done in the PC world
> > (buy an empty case, buy a stock motherboard, chuck in a CPU of your
> > choice, add extra fans, etc. This will certainly never happen at Apple and
> > only a miniscule number of people would be interested in doing so. (They
> > partially tried it with the clone makers, and it was a failure.)
> 
> It comes and goes. The original Mac was very closed, later were open, then 
> I'd assume more recent ones are more closed.  The thing is, it's way more 
> ocmplicated than the Apple II, not only could you know everything in the 
> APple II, but the manual could document it all.

There used to be an entire range of "Inside Macintosh" books for
developers, but you're right, they no longer exist. Although if you sign
up as a proper developer you do get access to all sorts of useful stuff
(but not EVERYTHING of course).



> But, Apple isn't just a computer company.  Cellphones, tablets, MP3 
> players, all that.  And they are closed.  Just something simple like the 
> lack of a card slot, so you either have to overbuy the size of storage, or 
> buy a new unit later.  I know I bought a Sansa Fuze when I wanted an MP3 
> player because it had a card slot, so that 8gig MP3 player is now a 24gig 
> player, and now I could upgrade it further by spending about the same 
> money as I spent on the 16gig microSD card.  The Fuze also did .ogg, not 
> that I've used it for so, but better to have open standards available than 
> not.
> 
> I had been tempted by an iPod touch when they came out, as a sort of PDA. 
> But then lost interest with the lack of a card slot, and the fact that the 
> hardware seemed closed up.

The Camera Kit for the iPad adds a card slot (as well as USB to saome
degree), although I'm not if it works with the iPod Touch / iPhone.
There's all sorts of add-ons available these days using the Dock connector
or wireless connections.



> A lot of the electronic equipment is now closed.  All those tablets, you 
> have a lot less control than on a computer.  It is a weird world, those 
> small electronic devices.

It's much easier to keep the scum out with a closed system.

Helpful Harry  :o)