1999 iPhone Prediction: Pirates of Silicon Valley Movie

[x999x]

I just recently watched the Pirates of Silicon Valley again because its one of my favorite movies. I admire both people this movie highlights, and although its highly scripted for Hollywood, there is some accuracy behind it. Maybe a little to accurate the more I come to think of it. In fact, Woz has commented on the movie saying every event in the movie actually happened, maybe not in that order, and maybe not the way things were said, but the gist of everything actually happened.

Anyway at about the 5 minute mark of the movie, Woz' character explains his and Steve Jobs' first foray into the world of hacking with the introduction of "Captain Crunch." This person figured out that the whistles that came in the Captain Crunch cereal made the same tone used by the phone operators to connect calls. This meant they could call anywhere for free! So who was this phone company they were sticking it to? AT&T...

Heres a transcript of the scene, starting with Woz opening up with the Captain Crunch introduction.

Woz: Steve and I found this weird guy who was a hero around Berkley, all because he found a way to beat the system. This guy was called Captain Crunch because he figured out this little whistle, <toot toot toot>, that you found in boxes of Captain Crunch Cereal had the same tones as AT&T's long-distance equipment. So you got free phone calls anywhere in the world with, with, this thing I built called the Bluebox, and then we tested it out by calling the Pope.

Steve: You talk to him.

Woz: No, no no, they're not putting you through to the Pope are they?!

Steve: I totally figured it out man... I figured it out, I know what its all about, you know what its all about?.. Its about power.

Captain Crunch: Right on man...

Steve: Its like those weird countries man, where the army guys overthrow the president. And the first thing they take over are the ways people communicate, y'know? Radio, TV, Newspapers...

Captain Crunch: Far out man...

Steve: Information is power...

-----

Now, tell me that doesn't scream iPhone?

Here's the full length movie on Google Video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1552555273778978142

And here is Woz' response to the movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lx9JsSTklI&fmt=18

[Colin]

Welllllll.................not to take away from this great post, I'm not sure that screams iPhone. It's not like they said "power is the internet and a phone and a multimedia device that you hold in your hand"

Still, I really enjoyed that movie would like to see it again. Thanks for reminding me to look for it.

[x999x]

Welllllll.................not to take away from this great post, I'm not sure that screams iPhone. It's not like they said "power is the internet and a phone and a multimedia device that you hold in your hand"

Still, I really enjoyed that movie would like to see it again. Thanks for reminding me to look for it.

Well, he mentions that it's all about "communication" and that "information is power."

I think that covers the two main aspects of the iPhone quite nicely, the phone and the internet.

I mean sure he could have spelled it out even more, but add to the fact that they were pilfering AT&T's long distance just makes this all the more intriguing. I mean 3 out of 4 ain't bad for something that happened over 20 years ago.

[Colin]

I guess you could read it that way. Remember that between 1993 and 1998 Apple sold the Newton Messagepad. The MP2000 (I still have one) featured handwriting recognition, an optional keyboard, 2 PCMCIA slots, one for memory and one for a modem. To me, this predicted the iPhone and it's no coincidence that I have both!

http://guides.macrumors.com/images/5/52/Newt2.jpg

[Colin]

Ahh boo! I guess mac rumors doesn't like linking! Bah!

[Colin]

My Newton side by side with my iPhone

http://satoauto.com/Linking/newton0.jpg

http://satoauto.com/Linking/newton1.jpg

[ColsTiger]

It would have been hard to "stick it" to any other phone company during that era. That was before the SEC broke up Ma Bell and just about everyone paid at&T for long distance service if they lived in the US.

[patrickj]

I'd never seen that before. Pretty damn good. Thanks for posting it ...

[x999x]

@Colin

Omfg that newton is beautiful! I've never seen one, but I've read about all the amazing things the community has been able to do with it. It sounds like a great hobby device, how much you reckon they go for on ebay these days?

@patrickj

No probs, its quite a fun movie if you're into the subject matter thats for sure. I've never thought much of Noah Wiley, but his performance just carries over so well as a young and eccentric Steve Jobs. They really look a lot alike as well, its almost uncanny.

Anthony Michael Hall is awesome in my book, and his portrayal of Bill Gates was spot on. Bill is definitely the kinder of the two, but by no means should that lead you to believe he was easy to work with according to Steve Ballmer.

[patrickj]

@Colin

No probs, its quite a fun movie if you're into the subject matter thats for sure. I've never thought much of Noah Wiley, but his performance just carries over so well as a young and eccentric Steve Jobs. They really look a lot alike as well, its almost uncanny.

Anthony Michael Hall is awesome in my book, and his portrayal of Bill Gates was spot on. Bill is definitely the kinder of the two, but by no means should that lead you to believe he was easy to work with according to Steve Ballmer.

It really is a fun movie. Noah Wiley was excellent, and you're right about the uncanny resemblance - really striking that is. I wasn't as impressed with the portrayal of Gates. I think one of the funniest things is that as boorish as they make Ballmer out to be, it still pales in comparison to the real thing :)

[x999x]

It really is a fun movie. Noah Wiley was excellent, and you're right about the uncanny resemblance - really striking that is. I wasn't as impressed with the portrayal of Gates. I think one of the funniest things is that as boorish as they make Ballmer out to be, it still pales in comparison to the real thing :)

Yeah, whats up with Ballmer? He's like the voice of MS in this film because Gates is portrayed as such an introvert. With regards to Anthony Michael Hall's performance, I'm looking more at all the little nuances that he nailed. Its the little details that sell his portrayal for me.

I mean look at how he captures Bill's trademark smirk:

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/2795/getamacguygatesbe1.jpg

[jjvaldez]

thanks for posting bro I haven't seen this movie but watched it and think that it is really cool..ps I want a nweton too... This was made while jobs was out of the game for a while or was this a jobs thing too??

[x999x]

thanks for posting bro I haven't seen this movie but watched it and think that it is really cool..ps I want a nweton too... This was made while jobs was out of the game for a while or was this a jobs thing too??

You know I totally missed the Newton, I have no clue when it hit to be honest. I thought Jobs' big splash at Apple when he came back was the iMac.

I just checked out ebay for a Newton and man, the people that know what they have won't let them go for less than 300. I'm very interested, if just to have a piece of Apple history.

I'm definitely jealous of you folks with Newtons!

[jjvaldez]

yea I think jobs comeback was the imac osx and iPod I'm not sure he had a apple cube thing that failed ...

Yea man I want one too.. A newton I have a apple 1 computer.. It won't turn on I really wish it would .. I'd pay for someone to get it running ..

[jjvaldez]

i was on ebay looking at newtons... there are many .. anyone know what is the best one??

[Colin]

Newton MessagePad 2000 or 2100 are the ones to get. They use the Strong ARM processor and work the best. I think that the 2100 has more RAM. I regret not getting the modem when I had the chance. I'd love to see how the NetHopper Browser works today.

Jobs comeback was marked by his killing the Newton. Almost like a lion kills the cubs when he takes over a pride, the Newton was Scullys baby and to Jobs it had to go.

[patrickj]

Yeah, whats up with Ballmer? He's like the voice of MS in this film because Gates is portrayed as such an introvert. With regards to Anthony Michael Hall's performance, I'm looking more at all the little nuances that he nailed. Its the little details that sell his portrayal for me.

I mean look at how he captures Bill's trademark smirk:

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/2795/getamacguygatesbe1.jpg

Yeah, not sure why Ballmer was picked as the co-narrator - but it sure was funny. I think Gates seemed - just a tiny bit - goofier than he always seems to me when interviewed etc. these days Then again, movie covers a lot of his younger days ...

[chris]

My Newton side by side with my iPhone

http://satoauto.com/Linking/newton0.jpg

http://satoauto.com/Linking/newton1.jpg

That's an awesome photo and one that I'm sure I'll use in an upcoming story sometime on the site.:wink:

[chris]

If you enjoy this movie, then you need to check out the book Insanely Great (http://www.amazon.com/Insanely-Great-Macintosh-Computer-Everything/dp/0140291776). While I don't think the movie is directly based from the book, the book tells a more complete story of the early beginnings of the Macintosh. Definitely one of my favorites.

[Indy]

Intant geek classic and now ranks as one of my favorites. Thanx x999x:laugh2:

[kokogirl]

My Newton side by side with my iPhone

http://satoauto.com/Linking/newton0.jpg

http://satoauto.com/Linking/newton1.jpg

I had a Newton. I wish I kept it...:frown:

[Colin]

I had a Newton. I wish I kept it...:frown:

Which one did you have? We also had older MP110s that are gone now.