This is inarguably cool.
A series of audio recordings of the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has been unearthed and is now available online for streaming.
The tapes, which were recorded in 1988, centered around Jobs’ first product reveal since being dismissed from Apple in 1985. At the time, Jobs unveiled a new project called NeXT at a meeting of the Boston Computer Society. An audio recording of the event was unearthed and released as part of a trove of early tech recordings released by Charles Mann, as reported in an extensive feature by Fast Company.
Jobs begins the 90 minute speech by describing the technological limitations of Apple and PC computers, and positions NeXT as a leader in a “fourth wave” of computing, which would focus on creating a machine with more input from academic audiences that is “not just a technological tool, but also a partner in thought.”
He then went on to describe how computing advances included a UNIX operating system that allowed for multi-tasking, a one million pixel display, CD quality sound and a then unprecedented 256 MB of storage. The computer would be completely built by robots rather than a human assembly line, which he said resulted in a defect rate 10 times lower than its competitors. The partnership with academia makes even more sense once you consider the price-tag of $6,500.
The audio is available on Soundcloud, and part of a historical text audio compilation called “The Powersharing Series,” which also included recordings from the ’80s with such figures as Alan Kay of Xerox, Tom Rattigan of Commodore’s Amiga and another rare Jobs recording from 1982 alongside Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via SFGate, Fast Company, and Soundcloud