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Wozniak Tells Apple How to Kill Samsung with One Phone

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Today there’s a new report and quote going around from Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple, and it’s one you’ll want to hear. While I find myself wondering why what Woz has to say still matters so much, genius aside, the tech world loves what he has to say.

Steve Wozniak “Woz” invented the Apple I and Apple II computer back in the 70’s, but he was long gone from the company when Apple hit it big with the iPhone. Obviously we don’t need to talk about how successful the iPhone is, but it has one major competitor, and that is Samsung with Google’s Android OS. After speaking with Wired recently, Woz has an idea that could see Apple battle Samsung on its own ground.

Android-on-iPhone-Wozniak

The interview had a lot of interesting comments and discussion, but the biggest part is that Woz thinks Apple should build an Android smartphone. Call it an iAndroid or the iPhone 6A, but he speaks of Apple entering Android as a secondary smartphone market.

“There’s nothing that would keep Apple out of the Android market as a secondary phone market.

We could compete very well. People like the precious looks of stylings and manufacturing that we do in our product compared to the other Android offerings. We could play in two arenas at the same time.” — Steve Wozniak

Samsung is the biggest smartphone manufacturer on the planet, selling millions and millions of its Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 2/3 and more as of late, and are obviously the biggest threat to Apple. Here Wozniak is basically telling Apple how they could kill the competition (Samsung) all with one swoop by releasing an iPhone running Android.

Imagine the iPhone 6 later this year launching alongside a new iPhone 6A running Android, that would surely shake things up. If Apple really wanted to attack Samsung, this would be the best way, considering Samsung’s slowly been gaining ground on the fruit company as of late.

GooPhone i5S Running Android

GooPhone i5S Running Android

While Woz praised Apple for often saying no to major hardware and software changes to the popular iPhone by saying, “If you have something really good, don’t change it; don’t screw it up.” He also took the moment to bash Samsung for doing the opposite. Samsung can’t just be content with what they’ve created, and they keep tossing more and more features at it.

Would Apple ever actually dive into Android? Probably not. However, the company could fork its own version of Android and put it on an iDevice just like Amazon does with the Kindle Fire. Which is exactly how Samsung and every other phone manufacture releases a device running Android, considering it’s free open-source software, some just have less customization and changes.

If Apple were to build a quality device with the polish and attention to detail as the iPhone 5S, running Android, and kept things smooth and simple, they could have a real winner on their hands. Something that would directly compete with Samsung, Google’s own Nexus devices, and everyone else. Whether that would ever actually happen, or if Google would even allow it, is another story altogether.

Read: iPhone 6 vs. Galaxy S5: Rumors Compared

To be completely honest, we’re about 99.9% sure Apple would never, ever release a smartphone running Google’s Android. In the end though, that’s what we (tech fans and consumers) love about Steve Wozniak. He says what’s on his mind, and what others won’t.

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55 Comments

55 Comments

  1. GottaBeMobile

    02/09/2014 at 7:25 pm

    This would be a mistake. Apple needs to expand their ecosystem not build even more market share for a competitor. Apple should sell a low end and mid tier Iphone. If they are unwilling to sacrifice profit margin for market share then Apple should license IOS to competitors and let them build market share for Apple

    • Derek Mitchell

      04/29/2014 at 5:04 pm

      How would an android iphone not expand their ecosystem? Wouldn’t it drastically increase their market share? Within 3 years they could be facing supreme court monopoly charges.

      • rueroberts1

        05/08/2014 at 8:06 am

        Market share isn’t everything- the quality of the Apple ecosystem is a major draw of iOS devices. If Apple dilutes their devices and splits their attention between multiple OS’s, there goes the quality that has come to be associated with their ecosystem, which will reduce their profits in the long run.

  2. cincinn4tus

    02/10/2014 at 8:16 am

    A majority of the people that choose Samsung over Apple do it for price. Cook calls that the junk market which Apple does not want to play in. Then there is a subset that cares about one particular form factor of the zillion that Samsung offers – again you are not addressing that. So the only subset that you are going after is the one that actually cares about the flexibility of Android. An easier thing to do is to allow the jailbreak community to flourish and even give them some guidance (how not to jailbreak security features for instance).

    • Baraka Nyantori Andrew

      05/27/2014 at 9:30 pm

      i don’t see the difference in prices between Samsung and apple nowadays, they are all the same… I only go with samsung coz of android, but in terms of hardware, all credits to apple, they got the best hardware…. the problem iOS is so limited, don’t like the outlook, not customizable, few features, only many apps nothing else.. Look at google now, siri can’t compete

      • Vinay Kothari

        06/03/2014 at 6:17 am

        apple has the best harware!?? seriously mate!?? complare the specs and samsung blows my mind away… snapdragon octacore vs apples dual core! its really fast and responsive! i used to use apple… but no more. They can call their phone amazing or whatever in their keynotes, but apple is not value for money at this price! they are behind in every section except the overall look of the phone!!

        • VvAA Mobiel

          07/11/2014 at 6:48 am

          Apple would have trouble running Android smoothly. Reason is that Android is not optimized for their hardware. They would have to do it themselves and in the process open up the system foor the GAPPS and losing their own App Store. Another problem will be that if it would become a sales hit, developpers will eventually jump the iOS-ship since they would only have to develop for Android.

          They would hit Samsung very hard, but in the end they would cannibalise their own ecosystem.

          • Siana Gearz

            08/15/2014 at 1:00 pm

            I have reason to believe that Android 4.4, being a major overhaul of runtime fully focused on using less CPU and RAM, is perfectly capable of running on iPhone hardware with relatively minor under-the-hood changes, just like such changes are needed for most of the chipsets that Android actually runs on.

            As to the original comment of people doing it “for the price”. Well. Most people don’t think they want a 600 EUR smartphone. Samsung indeed offers a wide range of models ranging from very cheap to the flagship, while Apple does not. If the consumer is well rooted in Android ecosystem, they might indeed chose the Samsung flagship, which costs similar, or they could go for the more iPhone-ish HTC One. If they are price conscious however, they really have a lot more options, everybody and their dog makes an Android phone, and i think you can get a very handsome Huawei P7 with decent hardware for moderate money, or even a Sony Xperia or a midrange HTC.

  3. Dakota Davis

    02/10/2014 at 8:16 pm

    What usually happens is that someone buys or receives a cheap Android smartphone. They complain about how it’s slow and crappy. Then when they can afford a premium phone they turn to iPhone because of the image that cheap Android phones puts in their head.

    • Derek Mitchell

      04/29/2014 at 5:20 pm

      Flagship android phones haven’t been “slow and crappy” since 2011. By 2013 Android had phones such as the Moto X, Nexus 5, Moto G, and more that offer similar (if not, some circumstances, superior) performance for half the price of the flagship iPhone. I’m a long time android fan, but if Apple were to make a competitive android phone, I would at least consider buying it.

  4. Cory

    02/12/2014 at 12:40 am

    I agree. People don’t understand that Google set out to provide a platform that transcends user experience as well as consumer budget. Most people just want the smartphone “experience” because it provides the basics like full keyboard typing, full web browsing, games, and access to social media. But they wanna power users without paying the power price.

  5. Mark F Chinsky

    02/12/2014 at 11:33 am

    All Apple would need to do to hurt Samsung in the higher end smartphone market (not low end market) is simply offer larger screen options such as 4.7″ and 6″ screens. Perhaps throw in an API allowing for 3rd party keyboards (i.e. Swiftkey). Do that and Samsung would be in a world of hurt.

    • Michael

      04/08/2014 at 11:11 am

      Samsung wouldn’t be hurt if iPhone did that. You don’t know what your talking about. Samsung will always be ahead of iPhone.

      • Dovahqueen

        04/18/2014 at 1:36 pm

        Michael is right. Me and a lot of other people I know would still buy samsung not apple.

      • Paolo Francesco Di Landro

        04/20/2014 at 1:52 am

        I don’t want to be rude, but a lot of people think otherwise. Do you ever see anyone famous or rich with the Galaxy S5 or the Note 3. No they have the iPhone or the iPad. I prefer Apple over Samsung, but that is my opinion, and I don’t want to start a fight. So I leave it there…

        • Jesse

          05/11/2014 at 10:32 am

          Yeah, I’m sure these famous people aren’t getting kickbacks from supporting either side…

        • John

          05/15/2014 at 10:37 pm

          Yes I have seen a lot rich athletes that use Samsung phones. Your comment is wrong completely.

        • John

          05/15/2014 at 10:48 pm

          For example LeBron James uses Samsung products as well as Jay Z and Beyoncé. Just to name a few very wealthy and famous people haha. Silly man.

          • Daniel

            06/30/2014 at 4:03 am

            Hahha lol, It looks like they were paid to use them. Thats why they have a Samsung LeBron James Commercial. Also, do you ever see Beyonce with a pepsi bottle in public? No lol..

  6. wbmstrmjb

    02/12/2014 at 3:16 pm

    You Apple fanboys have blinders on. Android isn’t some “cheap” phone OS that poor people go to. iPhones are inferior to the top Android offerings in every way except “the shiny plastic matches my other iCrap.” People have been migrating from iPhone to Android, not the other way around. This is a clear indication that price is not an issue as these people bought an iPhone first, hated it enough to toss it, and dump another half grand in a Galaxy.

  7. E. Holbrook (@Erknho)

    02/15/2014 at 6:14 am

    Apple wouldn’t make an android phone for the same reason they don’t make a Windows or Linux Mac. But that aside, Apple and Android are like comparing apples and oranges. I have iPhones up until the 4s and to me the biggest advantage Android has is the file system and the more openness of how apps can talk to each other and share common folders/file structures. I can plug in the phone to my PC (or use a file manager app) and SEE all the folders, can create new ones to organize my photos, either within that same app or the PC or some other camera app. I’m not forced to use iTunes to “manage” stuff.

    That’s really it. My Android phone is like a mini-pc with SD slot and USB port. That’s THE only thing to me that sets them apart.

  8. HammerHead

    02/17/2014 at 6:38 am

    Android phones is all about hardware specs, ability to customize and value for money which Apple is far off from.
    Apple in fact is compensating its age old hardware with beautiful build and design and proprietary iOS. I don’t think a Android based iPhone will stand any near to current high end Android offering.

  9. porscheoscar

    02/17/2014 at 10:13 pm

    Apple hardware is consistently behind Android. Apple’s OS is too tightly controlled. Their phones are too small, their batteries are awful. Their OS updates make previous gen phones worse, probably a ploy to get usees to upgrade sooner. Android OS updates makes phones perform better, nit worse. The only thing I woul want to see from Apple would be an Android tablet that could be easily rooted and with expandable on board memory. In other words their stuff is literally useless for me. My 68 year old mom would love an iAndroid tablet though, she hates iOS7 on her Ipad Air.

  10. Dugan Philips

    02/18/2014 at 6:33 am

    With apple hardware you cannot run android on it. 1 GB RAM with dual core?

    • rueroberts1

      05/08/2014 at 8:13 am

      A very good point- iPhone hardware has a phenomenal advantage in that its hardware is tightly tied to an OS that was literally built for that device and only that device. Which lends it efficiency. Without that advantage, Android devices have to compensate with overpowered, battery draining specs.

  11. Brad Kohlenberg

    02/24/2014 at 4:01 pm

    Allowing Android OS to work on iPhones would really be no different than when Apple went out of their way to ensure that Windows OS could be run on Macs in 2006. That move translated into tons and tons of PC converts including myself and the resurgence of Apple as a personal computer market leader in addition to the iPod/iPhone integrated devices giant that they were becoming at that time. If you replace “Windows” with “Android”, “Microsoft” with “Google”, and “computer” with “phone” it’s the same situation only this time they have a chance to do it decades earlier in the whole we’re-on-track-to-losing-90%-of-market-share-to-the-competing-hardware-agnostic-OS game.

  12. Xtreme

    02/27/2014 at 5:30 am

    Apart from the fact that this is never going to happen, I’d like to point out that the many users raving about more cores and RAM have either no clue about hardware (not that I’d blame them)
    Or are just trying to piss someone off. I’m all for android and the openness, and I am an active jailbreak supporter (being the owner of an ipad 2 and a 5s myself, in the apple sector). Before people start sprouting the word fanboy like it’s the last thing on earth, I’d like to clarify that I’m more of a PC guy myself, and see my my way into building my own. Funny thing is that both android and ios run on the same kernel.

  13. Hamez

    03/01/2014 at 12:30 am

    Folks it’s quite obvious who would win. Apple.

    Android considers a 9-12x inch screen with a gazillion features.

    Most ppl want a phone that does basic things but is still reliable.

    Android is a good device but the constant change annoys me. Along with the fact that there are so many android phones it’s easy to get one so cheap it makes u wish u had a computer instead.

    Apple, regardless of what it’s competitor is doing, releases a phone expensive but worth it. 64-bit chip, easy to use, simple, and to all simplistic users, a phone worth having.

    If Apple would simply release a phone for those wanting a large inch screen that is fine.

    Android is still looked down on by many because of it’s terrible marketing. There are so many android running devicess it makes my head hurt but there’s only the Iphone. Thank goodness.

    • samuel

      04/11/2014 at 1:14 pm

      Ahh Hamez sorry to burst you bubble but I don’t think that most people want to be trapped inside a super simple os and only be able to change the background. Also having multiple android choices is a good thing not only having one option of iphone.

      • Harold Crumb

        06/13/2014 at 3:53 pm

        Hamez must like vanilla and wishes all ice cream parlors only sold vanilla. All those flavors makes his head hurt. He must not want to choose, he provably wants someone to make the choice for him. Does this mean that:
        He likes his keyboard to be stupid and not change the letters when you hit shift beacuse that is TOO complicated for his brain?
        He likes one screen size?
        He likes that is not water proof?
        He likes that the battery can not be change?
        He likes that you can not expand the memory?
        He likes that it does not take 3D pictures?
        He dislikes a stylus or a real keyboard?
        He likes that it does not have NFC?
        He likes that someone tells him what he likes?

        Apple is perfect they tell him what he likes and what he needs or does not need.
        He must not want any change EVER, change must be BAD!
        He does not want to learn anything new EVER again?

        He must not be voting because he would have to make a decision and then ther will be change and change is always bad for him.

        • Pocoloco

          10/21/2014 at 11:31 am

          I don’t think that a user who wants a device that is easy to use must be a one track minded, limited person. He may just want to focus on what he really needs in his life. BTW refocusing on the essential and dropping unnecessary weight what made Apple to come back in the nineties and to become a trendsetter not only in technology.

          So, while someone may want to choose from different flavors of ice cream, he will get the best he can get and not eat any crap that is out there just because it can be bought. And if he likes vanilla most, so be it.

  14. Kevin

    03/09/2014 at 3:20 am

    All y’all niggas tripping.. ANDROID IS WAY BETTER AND WILL ALWAYS BE..

    • zeb khan

      04/19/2014 at 7:07 am

      ya sit with android but dont forget that it ts son of ios that with weakness.

      • Derek Mitchell

        04/29/2014 at 5:33 pm

        Just like iOS was son of Windows Phone? Btw android was an OS long before the iPhone even existed.

        • κυριακος

          05/11/2014 at 10:18 pm

          um….no. I’m an Android guy, but in all honesty, iOS happened first.

    • Cotten

      04/27/2014 at 2:17 pm

      Seriously!!!

  15. Josh

    03/09/2014 at 9:31 pm

    Gunther is an idiot. “Apple has one competitor”? Get real. Simple fact is, Apple’s long term success plan is the reason they’re losing market share. Don’t fix what ain’t broken is the slippery slope that will be apples downfall, whereas Samsung being unable to be happy with what they’ve created and throwing more features is changing their BOTTOM LINE greener and greener. “While Woz praised Apple for often saying no to major hardware and software changes to the popular iPhone by saying, “If you have something really good, don’t change it; don’t screw it up.” He also took the moment to bash Samsung for doing the opposite. Samsung can’t just be content with what they’ve created, and they keep tossing more and more features at it.” Who’s losing money and who had record sales last year? iSheep don’t like change and can’t manage a file directory. I use OS X regularly, and its only marginally better at file management than iOS.

    “Would Apple ever actually dive into Android? Probably not. However, the company could fork its own version of Android and put it on an iDevice just like Amazon does with the Kindle Fire. Which is exactly how Samsung and every other phone manufacture releases a device running Android, considering it’s free open-source software, some just have less customization and changes.” Further proof of idiocy by Gunther. What’s he’s referring to is AOSP. Android Open Source Project, licensed under Apache for free use, modification, and distribution so long as the same rights are given to the users. There’s also GMS. Google Mobile services, which is what OEM’s use. They have to play by Googles rules. Bro, do you even educate yourself? Stop being an iSheep and actually do some journalism that doesn’t make you look stupid.

  16. notbiased

    03/11/2014 at 10:37 am

    I dont understand the “iPhone is expensive” and “android phones are cheap”? Any iPhone compared to similar android phone is around the same price, in some cases, the iPhone is actually cheaper. Just because of a difference in materials doesnt make a phone “more expensive”. Personally I prefer the build of my Note 3 to an iPhone.

  17. roguedroid

    03/14/2014 at 12:00 am

    My wife dropped Apple for the note 3 after she saw mine.The only thing to get her back is a big Apple screen.She hates android as it is not as intuitive and user friendly as Apple.

  18. Joe Cassara (@CassaraRadio)

    04/06/2014 at 1:18 am

    Why does anyone pay attention to this irrelevant has-been who gets way too much credit to begin with?

  19. Eric

    04/17/2014 at 9:46 am

    If I wanted a android I would buy one. The first smartphone I ever owned was a iPhone and I’ve enjoyed owning a iPhone ever since. The iTunes store, iCloud, etc…is also why the tablet I bought last year was a iPad, and I haven’t regretted my choice. In the end Apple could make some improvements and there’s some small things I liked more about the older IOS such as I think they’r trying too hard to look like other phones as Apple is it’s own company and should stand on that. I can’t wait to upgrade to the iPhone 6 if only because I’m a bit nerdy and find the fingerprint scanner the 5s has appealing, though i’m hoping for more improvements since I bought my iPhone 4. Some want a huge phone but I find the tablet sized Samsung ridiculous and don’t want a huge iPhone as that’s what a iPad/tablet is for. Here’s hoping for a great IOS and cool iPhone in 2014.

    • Derek Mitchell

      04/29/2014 at 5:52 pm

      The fact that you think you’re nerdy despite only sticking to one OS is, to real nerds, the height of irony. Next time you comment on a tech argument, at least have some experience with both parties, or at least be capable of considering possibilities beyond your Apple-brain-washed world. Seriously, look into researching Android, AOSP, Linux, and modern mobile hardware. You are an Apple Marketing success story.

  20. BK

    04/19/2014 at 6:53 am

    Why have a large tablet? That is what a smartphone is for. It’s all about preference.

  21. Daniel Collins

    04/28/2014 at 7:37 pm

    All I have to say to an Apple Android is DO NOT ADD YOUR OWN SOFTWARE, APPLE! Also, QUIT THE LOW END SPECIFICATIONS AND OVERPRICING, APPLE!! If Apple does these two things, then an Apple Android will be kept from being only a novelty item.

  22. Alex Marino

    04/30/2014 at 3:39 am

    I use a nexus 5, and for $400 I think is the best piece of technology there is, I use my phone like my Xbox and computer, and best of all, its pretty much limitless with what I can do with it, most of my friends and family have iPhones, bit I will always stick with Android, and also with Windows phones,

  23. Hypoxic

    04/30/2014 at 6:31 am

    If there was a market for it, sure, why not? I wouldn’t buy one though. Android is a mess.

  24. Daniel b

    06/03/2014 at 10:23 pm

    This is no different than the Mac vs PC argument apple is a software company and only designs their casings for thier Macs and iDevices the CPU, mother boards, camera’s, displays are all made by their “competition” their iOS and Mac OS are just heavily modified unix/Linux systems so your only paying for their design elements and their name and their overly controlled ecosystem which just makes it easier to work out the kinks between their hardware and software.

    Samsung designed the Retina display used in Mac and I devices with Apple funding and an exclusivity contract they also manufacture the chips apple uses in thier phones

    Gigabyte and Asus make the motherboards in their mac lineup and sell the same boards retail for less than $100 with a uefi chip instead of a darwin efi chip
    Intel sells them the same I series CPU any Intel based pc uses.

    I personally use both android and iOS I also use windows and mac but both I run on either my custom built pc I built for less than $400 or on my rooted android tablet. So if apple really wants to make some money off intelligent people they shouldn’t make an iPhone with android they should give up pretending to be a hardware company sell their pretty cases to the yuppies that were buying the the pretty apple designs and just sell their software and put some effort into making thier Operating systems work with all hardware not just the pieces they pick and choose from thier competition

    • ScottGB

      09/23/2014 at 6:52 pm

      Your last sentence is the best comment I have read here. I will continue to buy and use iPhones because I like them, despite the limitations. Tried but did not like Android phones. But I don’t see myself purchasing other Apple products. Tablet? I bought an Asus T 100 Transformer. Much better capability, 1/2 the price. And Apple laptops and desk tops: ridiculously priced in my mind.

  25. Daniel b

    06/03/2014 at 10:24 pm

    This is no different than the Mac vs PC argument apple is a software company and only designs their casings for thier Macs and iDevices the CPU, mother boards, camera’s, displays are all made by their “competition” their iOS and Mac OS are just heavily modified unix/Linux systems so your only paying for their design elements and their name and their overly controlled ecosystem which just makes it easier to work out the kinks between their hardware and software.

    Samsung designed the Retina display used in Mac and I devices with Apple funding and an exclusivity contract they also manufacture the chips apple uses in thier phones

    Gigabyte and Asus make the motherboards in their mac lineup and sell the same boards retail for less than $100 with a uefi chip instead of a darwin efi chip
    Intel sells them the same I series CPU any Intel based pc uses.

    I personally use both android and iOS I also use windows and mac but both I run on either my custom built pc I built for less than $400 or on my rooted android tablet. So if apple really wants to make some money off intelligent people they shouldn’t make an iPhone with android they should give up pretending to be a hardware company sell their pretty cases to the yuppies that were buying the the pretty apple designs and just sell their software and put some effort into making thier Operating systems work with all hardware not just the pieces they pick and choose from thier “competition”

  26. Sigh

    06/10/2014 at 3:14 pm

    People are going on about this topic like it’s still relevant?

    Old news.

    Technology is moving forward at the speed of light and you guys are staring at your phones.

  27. Jamal

    06/30/2014 at 9:39 pm

    I look At it like this Samsung is a powerhouse in the Android market Apple appeals to its iOS users Apple should make cheaper devices but when you buy a cheap product that’s exactly what it is cheap go Apple go Samsung and I type this on my HTC I just am looking. Into buying a new phone

  28. anthony

    07/30/2014 at 7:21 am

    isheep!!!!! That is awesome. Never heard it before but I love that term. That’s exactly what 90% of iPhone users are. If someone popular tells them bell bottoms are in again they will go buy a pair.

  29. Noah Fletcher

    09/20/2014 at 12:36 pm

    This would be a disaster for Apple. Entering the android market with a iPhone would not kill Samsung, it would just embarrass Apple. The iPhone already has worse specs than most android phones out there. If they put android on it, placing the iPhone on the same level as the Galaxy S5, nothing would change. The reason why people buy iPhones is because of the operating system. If the they only changed the OS, it would fail. Even the iPhone 6 has awful specs compared to the flagship android phones. The Galaxy is already years ahead of Apple. It wouldn’t work.

  30. Bob

    09/25/2014 at 12:06 pm

    Nobody cares what this loser has-been industry outsider thinks anymore. Go ride your segue off a cliff, Woz.

    • Bob Cottrell

      10/11/2014 at 11:27 pm

      The guy’s a genius and just makes you look like a fool for not realizing it. A lot of what he says is still very relevant today if only the fools would listen.

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