AppleInsider Podcast MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e and special guest David Pogue on the AppleInsider Podcast
Mar 13, 2026
David Pogue, technology writer and author of Apple: The First 50 Years, discusses his research and why certain stories made the book. He talks about Apple myths, access to former employees, and the challenges of writing a definitive history. Conversation also covers rumors and hands-on takes: HomeHub delays, the MacBook Neo’s value play, and the straightforward iPhone 17e.
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Bill Atkinson's Hot Tub Revelation
- David Pogue recounts Bill Atkinson solving overlapping windows and later being told at a nudist colony that Xerox Park never actually solved it.
- The vivid image of Atkinson in a hot tub with an IBM engineer highlights how history and memory around breakthroughs can be surprising and personal.
ARM Investment Fueled Jobs' Return
- Pogue explains John Sculley's early 1990s investment in ARM appreciated massively and provided funds used to buy NeXT and bring back Steve Jobs.
- The tiny $3M-ish stake grew to around $800M, a decisive financial lifeline for Apple.
Validate Memories With Primary Sources
- When writing history, verify conflicting memories by using archives and multiple sources to reduce mistakes.
- Pogue hired a researcher and consulted microfilm, archivists and many interviewees to reconcile divergent recollections.
