Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews) David Pogue on How Apple Turned Failure into Breakthrough Innovation
Apr 6, 2026
David Pogue, Emmy-winning tech journalist and author of Apple: The First 50 Years, walks through Apple’s missteps turned breakthroughs. He recounts failed products like the Lisa and Apple III, Jobs and Wozniak’s early collaborations, Jobs’ leadership arc, the iMac/iPod turnaround, Tim Cook’s steadier growth, AI stumbles, China trade tensions, and future bets like AR glasses.
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How Apple Brutally Tested Face ID
- Apple extensively stress-tested Face ID using real-world extremes like Harley Davidson rallies and ski resorts.
- They even hired Hollywood effects artists to create ultra-realistic latex heads to ensure masks couldn't fool the system.
Apple II Kept Apple Alive Amid Costly Failures
- The Apple II powered Apple's early success while later projects like the Apple III and Lisa flopped for technical and price reasons.
- Apple III overheated (chips popped loose) and Lisa cost $10,000 despite pioneering multitasking and protected memory.
Design First Rewrote How Apple Builds Products
- Jobs and Jony Ive flipped Apple's design process to start with design at the table rather than as a final skin.
- That change produced cohesive products like the iMac, iPod, iPad and iPhone where industrial design shaped engineering choices.
