Steve Wozniak Believes Apple Has Fallen 'Somewhat Behind' in Smartphones

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak said in an interview yesterday that Apple has fallen somewhat behind in the smartphone field, allowing competitors like Samsung to catch up.

The comment was made as Wozniak spoke about the importance of brand (translated from the original German report by wiwo.de) at the Business Week Best Brand Awards.

I am proud that we have such loyal fans. But this loyalty is not given, the need to have the best products is always there. Currently we are in my opinion somewhat behind with features in the smartphone business. Others have caught up. Samsung is a big competitor. But precisely because they are currently making great products.

The comments were, however, made in the context of his great pride in Apple and its products. Wozniak also explained why he stands in line at Apple stores to buy new products on launch days despite remaining an employee of the company to this day.

The launch of a new Apple product is for me like a big, major concert which you absolutely must attend personally. It's history. Sure, I could order online or call the store manager so that they smuggled me in the back door. But that would be nothing. No, I will have the experience like any normal customer. But one thing is certain. If Apple made lousy products, I would not be in line.

Wozniak has never been shy in speaking about Apple, and while he has only very limited contact with the company today, he still draws significant attention at his appearances at events at Apple product launches. While he remains a fan of Apple and the iPhone, he has long been open to alternatives and has noted several times that he carries a number of iPhones and Android devices with him.

(Thanks, Chris! Photo from woz.org.)

Top Rated Comments

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Bubba Satori

78 months ago

For some reason, I can tell I wouldn't like this guy.

Because he has an opinion about smart phones?

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That is one the stupidest things Woz has ever said.

Wow.

Rating: 24 Votes

spiderman0616

78 months ago

In some ways, he's right. There are things on other phones that aren't on the iPhone. Apple makes great products that are, in some peoples' minds, missing features that other similar products have.

HOWEVER

1) I know Woz made the Apple II back in the day and that's his pride and joy, but what significant insight does he really have into the industry these days? What has he really done for me or Apple in the last 20 years? 30 years? I think he's looking at this situation like an extremely geeky user, not an every day joe. A lot of the reason geeks like Android over the iPhone is that you can mess with it. He might be looking at it from that perspective.

2) Apple will release features when they feel it's the right time--not any sooner or later than that. Just because the tinkerers feel that something is "missing" doesn't mean that it's something most people would use.

So in general, I would like to know what Woz would like added into iOS. He always makes these sweeping comments about Apple but never gives any solutions. He's no better than your typical forum poster/troller.

Rating: 18 Votes

JaySoul

78 months ago

Spot on.

Rating: 17 Votes

zoonyx

78 months ago

Whats the deal with everyone taking everything Woz says as gospel? He was instrumental in creating the original Apple computers but what has he done recently? Not much other than speaking engagements. Since the original Apples, he has done very little other.

It's not that I take it as gospel - it's just that in this case, he is sadly correct.

Rating: 16 Votes

OldSchoolMacGuy

78 months ago

Rating: 13 Votes

kjs862

78 months ago

For some reason, I can tell I wouldn't like this guy.

Rating: 11 Votes

paul55br

78 months ago

That is one the stupidest things Woz has ever said.

Rating: 8 Votes

mduser63

78 months ago

I think we can pretty much sum it up in this sentence: He is a nerd that never understood what it is to create a product that people love.

You realize you're talking about the guy who almost single handedly created the Apple I and the hugely successful Apple II, right? That's not to discount the contribution of Steve Jobs and others which were absolutely instrumental in Apple's success as a company, but Woz personally designed both of those products, and people very much loved (and still love) them.

Rating: 8 Votes

Karma*Police

78 months ago

Sorry Woz, I like you and all, but you've lost your credibility, even before you said that Win Mobile was the best phone and that Metro was amazing.

Rating: 8 Votes

TennisandMusic

78 months ago

Man all you guys insisting Woz is wrong and that Apple is still the best at "user experience" or not behind in mobile, seriously have your head in the sand.

My Nexus 4 begs to differ with everything you said. Android 4.2 makes iOS look ridiculously bad. I have no desire to go back, which is why I sold my iPhone 5, and not a day goes by that I actually miss it. My GF also made the switch from the iPhone 5 to Galaxy S3 and after a few days she told me "iPhone seems like it's for idiots" and she is not even a tech person! She was afraid to try something else initially as well. Well after she had the "user experience" of Jelly Bean, it was all over for iOS.

So yeah, people still thinking that Apple is doing a good job in this space have to wake up and smell the coffee. They aren't.

Rating: 7 Votes

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