Steve Sakoman

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Steve Sakoman is an American computing executive. He retired from Apple Computer in 2005 and is now an independent consultant.

He originally worked at Hewlett-Packard as a manufacturing engineer and project manager for the industry's first battery-powered portable MS-DOS PC, the HP 110.

Sakoman moved to Apple Computer in 1984 where he would oversee the hardware groups responsible for the Apple II and Mac product lines. [1] In 1987 he formed the team behind the Apple Newton to realize his vision of the world's first PDA. [1]

Sakoman left Apple in 1990 before the Newton shipped to set up Be Inc. with former Apple executive Jean-Louis Gassée. At Be, he led development of the original BeBox, personally developed BeOS's support for Brooktree video-capture devices, and eventually worked as the company's Chief Operating Officer. During this time, he ran a webcam inside Be's offices using the CodyCam application.

In 1994 he moved to Silicon Graphics as director of Consumer Products & Technologies Group. [2] This included work on the Nintendo 64 graphics system. He then returned to Be in 1996. [2]

PalmSource acquired Be in 2001 and Sakoman took on a role there as Chief Products Officer, where he was a key member of the team behind Palm OS 5 and Palm OS 6. [3] [1]

Sakoman rejoined Apple in 2003 as Vice-President of Software Technology, reporting to Avie Tevanian. [3]

Sakoman also set up GutenTalk in 2004, a site to discuss ebooks specially formatted for PDAs and other hand-held readers.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Ed Hardy (20 February 2003). "Head of OS Development Leaves PalmSource". BrightHand.com. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  2. 1 2 Jean-Louis Gassée (25 March 1998). "Erich Ringewald". Be Newsletter. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. 1 2 Tom Krazit (5 March 2003). "Former PalmSource exec joins Apple". IDG News Service. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
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