Apple Co-Founder predicts "Android Will Win Smartphone Wars"

Steve Wozniak Picks Android to Beat the iPhone

Apple’s Wozniak calls Android the winner in smartphone race

Steve Wozniak: Android will be the dominant platform

Above are just a few of the headlines strewn across the internet after an article surfaced that "Mis-Quoted" Steve Wozniak.  Since then, retractions have been "printed", and the damage control machine is in full swing.

Honestly, I couldn't tell you if he was mis-quoted or not, but I do have my own opinions on whether the quotes or mis-quotes could be right.  Lets look back into the time machine into Apple History for a minute.

In the early '80's Microsoft and Apple were both fighting the battle to see who would be the dominant OS (Operating System) in the newly forming PC (Personal Computer) market.  While both had their positives and negatives, they took a completely different turn.  Microsoft was happy being a Software Vendor and made sure their OS was compatible with a variety of IBM and IBM Clones (IBM was THE PC Manufacturer at the time).   In the Mean time, Apple wasn't happy just selling Software and felt to completely provide the best end user experience, they must also control the hardware side of the business also.

Unfortunately, the dicisions made by Apple and Microsoft led each down a different path.  By maintaining  compatibility with so many different Hardware Vendors, Microsoft gained market share and today is the most widely used PC OS.  Apple on the other hand provided the best user experience, by controlling hte hardware, which allowed them to custom taylor the OS.  The costs for the Apple systems were higher, which slowed their acceptance as a Personal Computer, and today Apple struggles to maintain and grow their market share, which relegates them to a relatively small niche market of the high-end consumer.

What does this have to do with a Smartphone:

Simple really, Apple is still following the same path of controlling the hardware.  Additionally, they are also controlling third party software by limiting who and what Apps can be sold in the App Store.  By maintaining the Hardware and the Software which can be loaded, Apple can control how the the end user interacts with their smartphone.  However, this also limits what can be done and who can sell and use the phone.

Android on the other hand is taking the Microsoft approach of the early '80's.  By allowing the Android software to be loaded on any manufacturers phone and to be used by any carrier.  A significant difference from Microsoft though is the fact that Android is Open Source, which allows any developer to modify or improve the OS source code and provide a better working experience for them.  To date, there are numerous versions of Android Phones on the market, and these phone are becoming more popular with each day.

Do I really which Phone OS will win the battle, NO.  But Apple doesn't appear as though they learned anything form their history with Microsoft.  Keeping in mind...

If we don't learn from history, then we are Doomed to repeat it

Apple seems to be on the path of repetition, but time will tell.  Unfortunately, If Apple does lose, I won't be able to claim to have thought this first, because of all the others who have aparantly "Mis-Quoted" Steve Wozniak.  Or did they actually quote him correctly????????