The RetroMacCast

You know you're getting old when someone calls and asks if you'll do an interview for a 'Retro' podcast aimed at Macintosh (and Apple) collectors.

James from RetroMacCast contacted me and asked if I'd do a podcast interview on eWorld. Sure I said. (hmmm... Are podcasts with specific niche audiences the equivalent of daytime interview shows with out of favor movie or TV star guests? Only here, it's some old tech vs. some old movie or TV show as the topic? hmmm)

I also suggested to James he get in touch with Cleo Huggins, who worked for me and was our primary interface designer for eWorld during the creation phase and he did, indeed, get her to agree and she and I spent an interesting hour recalling some of the old days at Apple and eWorld.

It was about 14 years ago that eWorld was originally announced (1993). Just shortly before Mosaic become Netscape and the internet was (truly) born.

Man, talk about lousy timing.

You have to wonder what would have happened if Apple had embraced the internet sooner. (WARNING: SCOTT APPLE RANT : WARNING) I left the company shortly after this announcement and I haven't seen Apple grok, even today, that the internet was where all this stuff was heading. Yea yea.. it sort of gets the online world, sort of, but not the internet world. It doesn't fully choose to grasp (I think they know, they just don't care) how it could leverage communities/social networks of people in powerful ways.

Why isn't Apple sponsoring a Facebook community? There's plenty there, and they effect Apple and it's brand. But, no official Apple involvement to be found. (sadmac)

I think Apple's relationship with it's customers is a little like the relationship between a 'bad boy' or 'bad girl' and the people that like bad boys and girls. You know who I mean. Those guys with leather jackets, fast cars, and lots of bad habits or the the bad girl... beautiful, a little nasty, spiked heals and leather under an evening gown types.

They love their woman (or man), but are also slightly emotionally abusive and distant and that seems to keep the girl or guy even more interested. That's how many seem to view Apple. A little nasty. Emotionally distant. Elusive. Enticing.

You can participate, if you're willing to put up with the abuse.

Anyway, I digress.

(END OF SCOTT APPLE RANT)

I'll be putting up some artwork that Cleo sent that she'd found in her own private archives of our old work on eWorld as well as some stuff I have in my own archives in some future post(s). I suspect some of the things we were thinking about and trying to implement way back in the early 90's might be worth revisiting now, and obviously, to some point are already happening, like 3D worlds. Stay tuned.