Steve Jobs on MacBook Air, Android and Kindle

[MacRumors]

In a New York Times interview with John Markoff, Steve Jobs reveals some details about the MacBook Air, and his thoughts on Google's Android and Amazon's Kindle.

First, Jobs revealed that Apple had gone through about 100 design prototypes to find the "right" form for the MacBook Air. He and Jonathan Ive "were not certain that they would be able to fit the computer into the package that they came up with."

On Amazon's Kindle book reader, Jobs sees the concept as flawed and claims that people simply don't read any more, suggesting a dedicated Apple book-reader is unlikely in the near future:

"It doesn't matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore," he said. "Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore."

Finally, on upcoming competition from Google's Android mobile phone platform, Jobs seems doubtful, stating that creating a phone is a lot harder than it looks. Ironically, this mirrors comments made by Palm's CEO about the potential threat of an Apple iPhone before it was announced.

Article Link

[JayLenochiniMac]

Funny, my wife reads plenty.

[RealMcCoy]

I wonder what it is that people turned away from reading books !? Audiobooks, no time, ... ??? Wonders ...

[Eidorian]

I'll stick with libraries for my reading. I just read two books over the weekend. I love my science fiction.

I think that newspapers need a replacement more then anything else. The students around here leave the classrooms filled with them. I like paper news as well.

[i.maverick]

i are readin ths..arnt i...
ha!

[Project]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

Jobs seems doubtful, stating that creating a phone is a lot harder than it looks.

That's kind of the point. Google doesn't make the phone...

[fiftydollarshoe]

Originally Posted by JayLenochiniMac

Funny, my wife reads plenty.

To ignore you ?

[MacGeek7]

it's not a bad computer but it looks better on paper, the hard drive speed (4200 rpm) is just sad for this day and age and an extra grand for the SSD drive makes it way to pricy for me.

[JayLenochiniMac]

Originally Posted by fiftydollarshoe

To ignore you ?

Sure, just like I surf the net to ignore her.

[Dreyfus]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

"It doesn't matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore," he said. "Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore."

Directly leading to prominent CEO's using words such as "doggone" during keynotes

[JayLenochiniMac]

I'm sure if Jobs tries, he could make a paperback that automatically fills with words based on the title. Oh, make hardcovers too, my father detests paperbacks and there isn't a night where he doesn't read

[redrabbit]

Steve seems like quite the Debbie Downer on all these issues. From what I gathered, the Kindle is doing extremely well, and there seems to be a ton of hype for the Android platform.

[slu]

I found this to be the most interesting thing in the article:

The message now is that when it comes to television, the solution is “all about movies.” That can be seen in the movie icons that now fill the screen of the Apple TV display, allowing viewers to choose and rent titles to download.

The model will not extend to cable television, he insisted. “We’re not going to go there with the cable cards,” he said, referring to the relatively open cable industry connectors that are gradually allowing companies like TiVo to replace the standard set-top box. “That whole industry, their go-to-market strategy is pretty loopy, and it’s fractured,” he said. “Our model is like DVD.”

Can all the silliness about the AppleTV being a DVR please stop now?

[Fabio_gsilva]

I'm feeling a growing likeness towards the MBAir... For my use at work, for example, where I need only Wi-Fi Internet, and Office, it'll cover all of my needs... Bluetoth printer... Hum...

Provided that at the office I have a real complete computer, powerfull, etc... to install software etc using remote disc, back up via time capsule (wich I think it's a blast), etc...

[thegreatunknown]

it would seem he is just prepping the world for a new insurgence of (electronic) reading...

[TMay]

Originally Posted by redrabbit

Steve seems like quite the Debbie Downer on all these issues. From what I gathered, the Kindle is doing extremely well, and there seems to be a ton of hype for the Android platform.

Do you have a link to support your argument on the Kindle? I haven't been able to find much regarding Kindle sales.

[Southernboy]

People don't read anymore?! RDF.

[Antares]

Originally Posted by JayLenochiniMac

Funny, my wife reads plenty.

Originally Posted by Southernboy

People don't read anymore?! RDF.

There are exceptions, obviously. But the general trend, of the population as a whole, has been movement toward away from reading books....and more toward visual media. Also, the majority of people who do read books still prefer the tangibleness of physical paper to a device. There's nothing but an extremely niche market for electronic book readers. I'm personally open to the idea but I feel there's quite a way to go before such a device could be worthwhile.

[Spades]

On Amazon's Kindle book reader, Jobs seems the concept as flawed and claims that people simply don't read any more, suggesting a dedicated Apple book-reader is unlikely in the near future:

"It doesn't matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore," he said. "Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore."

So 40% of people read one book or less per year. That leaves:

60% of people who read more than one book a year.
A minority of whom spend absurd amounts of money on books annually.
People that read magazines.
People that read newspapers.
People that read comics.
People that read blogs.
People that use reference materials.

I agree that e-book readers (in their current incarnation) are junk, but to claim this is because nobody reads is pure RDF cranked up to 11. By the same logic there's no reason to make the iPod because 75% of people go to one or fewer symphonic performances a year.

[CBJammin103]

Whether or not people read books is nearly irrelevant, I think, to the success of Amazon's device. I, for one, do read, but would most definitely never waste even $15 on Amazon's silly little reading hardware. I can't imagine how it's doing well if it actually is.

With the Android system, I see potential, but I don't see how it's going to change anything drastic or produce any sort of revolution at all in the mobile phone industry. All the same problems will still exist; the only benefit I can conceive of is the ability of developers to develop apps that they know will be supported on a number of devices instead of just certain models.

[MrCrowbar]

Imagine the iPod touch. Now make it bigger to match the standard paperback book size. Replace the screen by an e-ink screen and have a switch to enable the backlight. The cool thing about e-ink is that is only needs power when changing the display's content. You need a few minutes to read a book page so the battery could last for days when reading. You don't need much memory since text barely takes up anything. 1GB is plenty considering you can fit tons of PDFs and a complete book library on it. Add a "previous" and "next" button next to the home button so the user does not have to smudge the screen ever time he turns a page. Sell books on iTunes. If that thing also played audio books (come on, everything plays mp3s these days), I think it would make lots of people enjoy books again.

[MacTO]

Some people definitely still prefer reading books and newspapers in their hands to on their computer screens. And I am one of them. I read all the time but especially, newspapers. I really enjoy the morning strolls on my way to pick up a weekend copy. That's why I do not subscribe. But that's just me. Although I sit in front of computer most of the day and surf the Internet for almost everything, including catching up with what's going on in the world like on CNN, New York Times, BBC, and etc., as far as books and newspapers go, I still would like to read them in my hands.

Cheers.

[nagromme]

What are all the lines of squiggly things on my computer screen?

(Not a very well thought-out Kindle comment. It has serious flaws, but the fact that many don't want one isn't a flaw. A product can meet the needs of a SMALL group can still be a great product. Thus the existence of, say, the 160 GB iPod!)

And does that 40% include babies?

[Jaymes]

I spend enough time looking at digital screens all day. I'll never convince myself that curling up on the couch with some electronic book displaying gadget is better than having a tangible book in my hands. There's something satisfying about physically turning a page.

Maybe I'm just old . . . :/

[morespce54]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

...Finally, on upcoming competition from Google's Android mobile phone platform, Jobs seems doubtful, stating that creating a phone is a lot harder than it looks. Ironically, this mirrors comments made by Palm's CEO about the potential threat of an Apple iPhone before it was announced...

LOL... Too funny