Chapter 619: Chapter 619: I Can’t Wait to Try It Out Right Now
The first schedule in the U.S. was a visit to Apple's headquarters in Silicon Valley.
This was due to persistent requests from Steve Jobs over the past few days asking me to come.
"Hey! Charlie!"
As soon as Steve Jobs saw me, he cheerfully embraced me.
"How have you been, my friend?"
I responded to Jobs' question with a smile.
"Of course. But you don't look so good, Jobs. It seems you haven't slept properly for days?"
"Hahaha! Well, I had no choice. Come on, let's go inside. I have something to show you—my secret weapon that no one knows about yet."
Secret weapon. From that word, I could only guess what Steve Jobs had created.
His grin widened as he caught my surprised expression.
"Wait… did you already make it?"
"You'll know as soon as you see it. Just follow me for now."
Jobs led me inside.
After going through several security procedures, we finally arrived at an office.
"Where is this?"
"Let's just say it's my personal playground. No one can enter here but me."
Despite the claim, it appeared to be an ordinary space without anything unique.
Jobs opened a safe in the innermost part and retrieved a small square box.
He then opened it and handed it to me.
"What do you think?"
I was astounded by the object inside the box he had opened for me.
No matter how much he hinted, I never expected it would be ready this soon.
"Could it really be completed already?"
It looked a bit different from what I knew, but it was definitely an iPhone.
Steve Jobs shook his head at my question, but his expression remained confident.
"It's just a prototype. It works fine for the most part. Go ahead and turn it on! Do you know how long I've waited to show it to you first?"
I carefully grasped the item from the box.
The compact phone fit snugly in my hand, a familiar sensation akin to the iPhone I knew.
I cautiously pressed the power button. As I navigated through the Apple-styled boot screen, the interface I recognized finally appeared.
"How is it? Is it what you imagined?"
Not responding to his slightly anxious question, I merely checked the iPhone's interface.
It looked almost identical to what I recalled from the early models. At this point, it could be released immediately.
However, one difference stood out: the Apple Store was already integrated.
"Try pressing it. See if it works properly."
I nodded gently and first tapped the app labeled iPod.
The distinctive interface of the iPhone welcomed me as I swiped my finger up and down, testing the response speed.
'It definitely feels a bit sluggish…'
But this was probably a feeling I experienced because I'd been using smartphones from several generations ahead.
For this era, that level of response speed was nothing short of revolutionary.
I continued to tap on other apps one by one to check them out.
While I wasn't fully satisfied, it was good enough.
"The phone and internet don't work yet, right?"
"Yeah, that's true. It's still a prototype that hasn't been revealed to anyone. I'm still tweaking it. Sometimes it crashes…"
I nodded. It was well-known that Apple prepared multiple iPhones for their first demonstration, and if one malfunctioned, they would use another to present.
"Just like we talked about before, you've included the App Store, huh?"
"Exactly! If it weren't for that, it would have launched by now. Creating a system that allows anyone to freely upload apps takes quite a bit of work."
"But I knew you would pull it off, Jobs. So, is everything prepared?"
"I think everything will be ready by the end of this year."
He might say that, but Jobs would never release it unless the quality met his standards.
"When do you plan to launch it, then?"
"At the latest, I aim for 2006. I hope to have it out next year at the earliest. It's still not perfect. I won't unveil it to the world until I'm satisfied with it."
This is why perfectionists are exhausting, I said while shaking the iPhone in my hand.
"This is good enough to sell right now."
"Absolutely not! I'm not satisfied yet. I can't sell something under the Apple name that isn't perfect. There's still room for improvement."
They could always release it and gradually fix it piece by piece.
But that stubborn belief was what made Steve Jobs who he was.
I handed the iPhone back to Steve Jobs.
"I can't wait to try it out right now!"
"Right? I couldn't sleep because I was eager to hear your feedback. After all, this whole project started from our conversation, didn't it? That dreamy idea is now on the cusp of becoming reality."
"I merely provided the idea. You and the engineers at Apple brought it to life. It's typical of Apple, where geniuses gather."
Of course, smartphones existed even now. But those devices that went by the name still felt crude.
They needed plastic buttons for input, making the screens small while the controls were complicated, and they weren't very 'smart' either.
That's why the iPhone Jobs created would change the world.
Just like in my past life, and in this one as well.
I watched Jobs, who was continually smiling, and cautiously asked,
"But Jobs… did you keep our promise?"
"Promise?"
My question made him look puzzled, and I felt a bit uneasy.
"I mean the health check-up."
"Oh, what's that? Yes, I did. They found a malignant tumor in my pancreas. Thanks to you, it was caught early, and I underwent a simple operation. But how did you know something was off with my body years ago?"
"Really? It only required a simple operation?"
Knowing his stubbornness, I found it hard to believe he had already undergone surgery.
But Jobs answered nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.
"Yeah. Your concern made me feel strange, so I got the health check-up. The doctor said if it had been a year later, my survival rate would have dropped below fifty percent. I learned just how scary pancreatic cancer can be at that moment. Anyway, the surgery went well. No issues now."
"…Post-operative care is also important. Make sure to have regular check-ups at the hospital. If Jobs collapses, Apple will crumble. I don't want that to happen."
In fact, even after Steve Jobs' death, Apple continued to thrive.
Or perhaps it grew even more. But it might be more like a hollow growth.
After Jobs, Apple lost the image of an innovative company and became just another firm that focused solely on profit, draining the wallets of enthusiasts.
The Apple I hoped for was one that continuously innovated, with Steve Jobs leading the charge.
"As a friend and a major shareholder of Apple, I ask you this: your health isn't just your problem."
"Hahaha! I understand. The hospital told me I must increase my protein intake. So lately, I've been trying to adjust my diet to get more protein. It may take time to shift completely, but I'll start adjusting gradually. So don't worry too much. If someone were to overhear, they might think you're my wife."
Steve Jobs attempted to lighten the mood with a joke, causing me to chuckle.
"Alright then. Let's set aside the nagging for now and talk business. What do you think about revealing the iPhone early, even if the launch is delayed?"
"You want to rush the revelation? Why?"
"The quality of the iPhone itself is important, but every app from small developers will also contribute to the iPhone's quality and usability. Just relying on the basic apps Apple provides will limit its functionality in the end."
"…But we can't expect Apple to create every single app out there either."
"Yes, that's right. So, how about we reveal it first and provide the developers with the tools to create their apps in time for the iPhone's launch?"
If we released the development tools at the same time as the launch, it would take a while to see new apps.
It was more efficient to reveal it early and allow the developers to create apps.
"Hmm… That's a good idea, but it might be premature to announce it still."
"I'm not saying you should reveal it right now. It's just something to think about."
"I'll think about it. By the way, how long do you plan to stay in the U.S.?"
"Probably around two weeks. I have various places to visit, so I extended my stay. Besides, I came here first since you kept contacting me so often."
He burst into laughter at my words and pointed at the iPhone.
"You know how much I wanted to show that off, right? Thanks to you, I also resolved the troublesome touch-related patent issues. Oh, and didn't you mention you have connections to a semiconductor company?"
"Yes. Both Il-sung Semiconductor and Jungwoo Semiconductor are connected to me."
"Oh! Then there shouldn't be any problems with semiconductor supply. Naturally, you'll help out, right?"
"Of course. Don't worry about it. I'm in the process of relocating Il-sung Semiconductor to the U.S. We'll produce and distribute it from there."
At my words, Jobs' eyes widened.
"You're relocating Il-sung Semiconductor to the U.S.? Did you get permission from Korea for that?"
"Ah, I plan to move the headquarters to the U.S., but most of the production facilities will remain in Korea. Of course, we will set up a production plant in the U.S. too. Currently, North Korea is engaged in economic cooperation, so I plan to build the new factory there instead of in China."
"North Korea… Can we really trust that place?"
I answered casually despite the concerns and suspicions embedded in his words.
"I think it might be safer than China? Jobs, don't even think about outsourcing the production plant to China. They're the type that would steal technology as soon as possible."
"I'll keep that in mind. Now, let's go grab a bite to eat. But first, let's put this back inside."
Carefully, Jobs placed the iPhone prototype back into the box and then stored it in the safe.
"Alright! Let's go."
I left Apple's headquarters with Steve Jobs and headed to a nearby restaurant.
We shared a meal and engaged in numerous conversations.
"Oh, what's your relationship with that Elon Musk fellow?"
"Elon Musk? He's someone I invested in."
"He came looking for me using your name."
"Musk? Why would he approach you?"
Steve Jobs shrugged.
"Well, I don't know. But after talking with him, I realized he's even more of a dreamer than I am. What? He intends to go to Mars? Do you really think that's possible?"
It seems Musk shared his dreams when he visited Jobs.
If Jobs was reacting this way, Musk must truly be something else.
"Even if he can't go to Mars, he'll likely be able to launch satellites someday. That's why I invested in him."
"Is that really feasible?"
I never even entertained the ridiculous notion of terraforming Mars. My goal was always about satellites.
"No investment comes with a guarantee of success. But I believe his fantasy could become reality. That's why I chose to invest. Imagine launching hundreds, no, thousands of satellites into space. If that becomes a reality, can you fathom how many more iPhones yours will sell? Sure, it's a distant future, but I see the potential."
"Really? Then I might as well invest too. Musk told me to invest in him as well. He probably needs my name more than anything else."
So that's why he had been seeking Jobs while using my name.
At that point, the value of Jobs' name far exceeded mine.
"Well, Jobs, that's your decision to make. I can't force you. But if you invest, you will likely reap significant rewards later."
"Is that so…"
My affirmative made Jobs' eyes brighten.
He would likely meet Musk in the coming days for investment discussions.
"It was a great meeting, Jobs. Next, I'd like to see you announce the iPhone at a conference."
"Sure. I'll be sure to invite you."
Jobs nodded with a smile, agreeing to my words.
After finishing the meal, I shook Jobs' hand and returned to the hotel.
The next day.
I left Silicon Valley and headed to Washington.
There, I met a man.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Charlie."
"I'm Barack Obama. I've heard a lot about you."
The man sitting across from me was Senator Barack Obama.
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