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- iPad goes to war
Steve Jobs was horrified when he discovered that Apple’s computers were being used in weapons systems.
In a famous 1985 interview with Playboy, the Apple co-founder revealed his feelings when he discovered the Pentagon used Apple IIs to target nukes.
“I saw a videotape that we weren't supposed to see,” he said. “It was prepared for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. By watching the tape, we discovered that, at least as of a few years ago, every tactical nuclear weapon in Europe manned by U.S. personnel was targeted by an Apple II computer. Now, we didn't sell computers to the military; they went out and bought them at a dealer's, I guess. But it didn't make us feel good to know that our computers were being used to target nuclear weapons in Europe.”
Which makes you wonder how he’d feel about this fascinating story that the Ukrainian military is using iPads to launch missiles from its aging fighter jets.
I suspect he’d be conflicted.
Although, at the end of the quote above, Jobs added this little quip: “The only bright side of it was that at least they weren't [using Radio Shack] TRS-80s! Thank God for that.”
Also in today’s newsletter:
Amazon just kicked off a big sale on AirPods Pro 2, Apple Pencil 2, Studio Display, Apple Watch and more, with prices that match historic lows.
Talking of low prices: Apple refreshed the Beats lineup with new Solo Buds that start at just $79. It also refreshed its bestselling headphones line with the Solo 4 (eight years after the Solo 3!). Details here.
If your iPhone wake-up alarms haven’t been going off recently, you’re not going crazy. It’s a bug, and Apple’s working on it.
Upcoming Matt Damon/Casey Affleck action-robbery-comedy flick The Instigators sounds promising.
According to yesterday’s poll about the European Union labeling iPad as a “gatekeeper” device, readers of this newsletter have a clear viewpoint on the situation. See yesterday’s poll results and comments below.
— Leander Kahney, EIC.
A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team
A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team
Tweetz o’ the day
You wouldn't last an hour in the asylum where they raised me.
— Basic Apple Guy (@BasicAppleGuy)
2:12 PM • Apr 30, 2024
I bought a Klein bottle from Acme Klein Bottles. Many of the best things in my life, that got me here, aren't super functional but they are cool. kleinbottle.com.
I also bought a small Klein bottle earring for Janet.
— Steve Wozniak (@stevewoz)
8:19 PM • Apr 29, 2024
It’s safe to say I’m obsessed with Delta. I repainted this skin I’ve been using to look like a Pokédex and damn it makes me so happy
— Brad Bennett (@TheBradFad)
12:09 PM • Apr 29, 2024
Cannot wait for Apple Watch powered by watchOS 11 and new Siri+. The best AI agent ever with easy access, powered by LLMs on the iPhone. Coming soon.
— Patrice Calligaris (@digicalidesign)
1:13 AM • Apr 30, 2024
One more thing ...
“Some people are saying that we ought to put an IBM PC on every desk in America to improve productivity. It won't work. The special incantations you have to learn this time are 'slash q-zs' and things like that. The manual for WordStar, the most popular word-processing program, is 400 pages thick. To write a novel, you have to read a novel -- one that reads like a mystery to most people. They're not going to learn slash q-z any more than they're going to learn Morse code. That is what Macintosh is all about.”
Today’s poll
How would Steve Jobs feel about Ukrainians using iPads for war? |
Results from yesterday’s poll: Is the EU going too far, or not far enough, as it moves to regulate iPads?
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