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What did Alan Kay and Steve Jobs talk about at the 2007 iPhone keynote?

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Re: What did Alan Kay and Steve Jobs talk about at the 2007 iPhone keynote?

#11
post #6

I always find the “make it this size and you’ll rule the world” quote interesting. The users I know who really love their iPads/tablets are closer to @alankay1’s generation. Younger generations don’t have much use for device that can’t fit in a pocket. I wonder how much the interest in iPad-sized devices came from years of using paper about that size.

"Younger generations don’t have much use for device that can’t fit in a pocket." They do when they're trying to create something more complicated than a social media post.

I know students who have written essays, put together presentations, etc solely on their phones.

If you really believe that the only thing “younger generations” do is post on social media, I suggest you spend more time around high schoolers (for example), particularly those with limited financial means.

Re: What did Alan Kay and Steve Jobs talk about at the 2007 iPhone keynote?

#12

> (the Mac was done in 1984, 11 years after the more powerful and capable Parc Alto, which started working in 1973). I find this comment mildly irritating. The Alto apparently cost $40k [1] in (or around) 1973, which was equivalent to $95k in 1984 (or $232k today). Compare with the Mac which cost $2.5k in 1984. Sure, the Alto may have been more powerful, but if it was financially out of reach of almost everybody, it'…

> He brought the iPhone to me, put it in my hands, and asked: “Alan, is this good enough to be criticized?”. My reply was to make a shape with my hands the size of an iPad: “Steve, make it this size and you’ll rule the world”. I find this especially telling after Apple's recent education-focused announcement[1], where Apple continues trying to push the iPad as an educational tool. Is this Tim Cook trying to continue…

The most common place for me to see iPads these days is point-of-sale, everything from sales at small cafes to the front desks of car mechanics and childcare.

(The second-most common place is as a distraction device given to three-year-olds.)

Re: What did Alan Kay and Steve Jobs talk about at the 2007 iPhone keynote?

#13
post #6

I always find the “make it this size and you’ll rule the world” quote interesting. The users I know who really love their iPads/tablets are closer to @alankay1’s generation. Younger generations don’t have much use for device that can’t fit in a pocket. I wonder how much the interest in iPad-sized devices came from years of using paper about that size.

The iPad that could rule the world hasn't been made yet. Once iOS and OS X completely merge, then we'll see.

It's sized for creating things, but running the OS of a device made for consuming things.

Re: What did Alan Kay and Steve Jobs talk about at the 2007 iPhone keynote?

#14
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Younger generations don’t have much use for device that can’t fit in a pocket." They do when they're trying to create something more complicated than a social media post.

I know students who have written essays, put together presentations, etc solely on their phones. If you really believe that the only thing “younger generations” do is post on social media, I suggest you spend more time around high schoolers (for example), particularly those with limited financial means.

What were the titles of those essays? I'm curious what people are writing about.

Re: What did Alan Kay and Steve Jobs talk about at the 2007 iPhone keynote?

#15

> (the Mac was done in 1984, 11 years after the more powerful and capable Parc Alto, which started working in 1973). I find this comment mildly irritating. The Alto apparently cost $40k [1] in (or around) 1973, which was equivalent to $95k in 1984 (or $232k today). Compare with the Mac which cost $2.5k in 1984. Sure, the Alto may have been more powerful, but if it was financially out of reach of almost everybody, it'…

Computing does not follow standard inflation. 9 years is 6 generation of Moore's law. e.g. today's 80$ phone is more powerful then iPhone 2007.

Re: What did Alan Kay and Steve Jobs talk about at the 2007 iPhone keynote?

#17
>"“Have I got a deal for you: a Honda with a one-quart gas tank!”. Steve did not like this memo, but what could he do given the history, and that it was quite true?"

Can someone explain the joke?

Also does anyone know how long Alan was with Apple?

Re: What did Alan Kay and Steve Jobs talk about at the 2007 iPhone keynote?

#18
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Younger generations don’t have much use for device that can’t fit in a pocket." They do when they're trying to create something more complicated than a social media post.

I know students who have written essays, put together presentations, etc solely on their phones. If you really believe that the only thing “younger generations” do is post on social media, I suggest you spend more time around high schoolers (for example), particularly those with limited financial means.

I phrased my comment specifically trying to avoid sounding like I was saying that's the only thing they do. Guess I didn't do it right.

It's awesome that those with limited funds can still get stuff done, and phones are great for consuming information, but I don't think there's much argument against the efficiency gain that hardware keyboards, mice and larger screens with multiple windows give when you get into things that require fine tuning and multi-tasking like drawing, coding and video editing.

Re: What did Alan Kay and Steve Jobs talk about at the 2007 iPhone keynote?

#19

Steve revealed at D10 that the iPad actually did get prototyped first. IIRC, he tasked a team with creating a keyless keyboard tablet thing (forgive my terrible paraphrasing). They came back with a tablet. When Steve scrolled up and saw the rubber band effect, he said "oh my god we can make a phone with this" and they went the phone first. Edit: Below is the interview. He "had an idea of being able to type on a multi…

He called the iPad at the time a glass keyboard. Because he didn't want to give it away. And let's not forget that a Microsoft guy provoked him into creating a tablet called the iPad.

"This guy badgered me about how Microsoft was going to completely change the world with this tablet PC software and eliminate all notebook computers, and Apple ought to license his Microsoft software. But he was doing the device all wrong. It had a stylus. As soon as your have a stylus, you’re dead. This dinner was like the tenth time he talked to me about it, and I was so sick of it that I came home and said, “Fuck it, let’s show him what a tablet can really be."

Jobs went into the office the next day, gathered his team, and said, "I want to make a tablet, and it can’t have a keyboard or a stylus."

https://www.cultofmac.com/126116/steve-jobs-created-the-ipad...

Re: What did Alan Kay and Steve Jobs talk about at the 2007 iPhone keynote?

#20
post #14
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know students who have written essays, put together presentations, etc solely on their phones. If you really believe that the only thing “younger generations” do is post on social media, I suggest you spend more time around high schoolers (for example), particularly those with limited financial means.

What were the titles of those essays? I'm curious what people are writing about.

One of my students submitted an essay today entitled "On 'Democracy' and How Humans Lie" which was written entirely on their phone about inequality in the US
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