Wozniak Denies iPod Spin-Off Story

By Timothy R. Butler | Feb 25, 2006 at 11:28:1

In a striking report on Thursday, the Globe and Mail, a Canadian newspaper reported Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer (AAPL), had some major differences in vision with Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs. According to the piece written by Peter Nowak, Wozniak asserted that Apple ought to spin off its iPod division and was hesitant in his support of the Cupertino-based company's switch to Intel processors.

Wozniak responded in a statement posted today to TheMacintoshGuy.com’s Titanium user list. The man who designed Apple’s first successful computer systems denied that a spin-off was an idea he supported. “I heartily deny saying this,” Wozniak stated, “the strength of the iPod came from treating a music device as a ‘satellite’ to a computer, and the intertwining of iTunes and the iPod made this possible. I did NOT say that the iPod division should be spun off and I feel used in that regard.”

Wozniak responded similarly to the suggestion that he viewed Intel as the enemy. In response to reported comments on both Intel and Microsoft, he stated, “I myself am not known for taking the enemy approach to anything.”

Although he did acknowledge that the reporter may have “pushed” him into saying “some might be against it because of our ‘big enemy’ stance,” he said that any suggestions that he personally did not support the switchover were taking his statements far beyond his own intent. “I have consistently backed that decision. But virtually every issue ever is not black or white.” Wozniak continued by pointing out he had only made one “slightly negative” comment on the transition.



The author of this story owns stock in one or more of the companies mentioned above.

• Globe and Mail Report
• Wozniak Statement