Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak says he would consider returning to an active role at Apple. Furthermore, he believes the consumer electronics giant could afford to be more open than it is. That's what he told Reuters in a recent interview:
"I'd consider it, yeah," the 60-year-old computer engineer said in an interview, when asked whether he would play a more active role if asked. Wozniak, a lifelong hands-on engineer, said he liked technology to be relatively open so that he could "get in there and add my own touches." "My thinking is that Apple could be more open and not lose sales," said Wozniak, but added: "I'm sure they're making the right decisions for the right reasons for Apple."
Apple's products have become very popular due to their exceptional design. That being said, Cupertino's achievements have been under a closed system that locks customers as well as media and software providers into Apple's proprietary iTunes online store and iOS operating system. Many believe that if Apple were to open up this closed system, it would increase its user base, while others argue that the company would not be as successful as it is today with an open system.
Wozniak founded Apple Computer in 1976 with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne, and built the Apple I and Apple II computers. He stopped working for Apple in 1987 but is still on the payroll. He is currently chief scientist at the storage start-up Fusion-io.
Apple may need some leadership help in the coming years. While nobody can replace Apple CEO Steve Jobs, multiple people are going to have to try to keep the company moving forward. Jobs had a liver transplant two years ago and surgery for a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2005. He is currently on indefinite medical leave, his third medical absence. Will Wozniak come back to help?