Steve Sakoman
Encyclopedia
Steve Sakoman is an American computing executive. He retired from Apple Computer
in 2005 and is now software project leader at Gumstix
, a maker of very small computers based on the ARM architecture
running Linux
.
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. He then moved to Silicon Graphics
as director of Consumer Products & Technologies Group. This included work on the Nintendo 64
graphics system.
Sakoman moved to Apple Computer in 1984 where he would oversee the hardware groups responsible for the Apple II
and the Macintosh product lines. In 1987 he formed the team behind the Apple Newton
to realize his vision of the world's first PDA
.
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.
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
6.
Sakoman rejoined Apple in 2003 as Vice-President of Software Technology, reporting to Avie Tevanian
.
Sakoman also set up GutenTalk in 2004, a site to discuss ebooks specially formatted for PDAs and other hand-held readers.
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
in 2005 and is now software project leader at Gumstix
Gumstix
Gumstix is a company founded in 2003 by Gordon Kruberg that produces small single-board computers. The name Gumstix refers to the size of the first such computer being the approximate size of a stick of gum....
, a maker of very small computers based on the ARM architecture
ARM architecture
ARM is a 32-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by ARM Holdings. It was named the Advanced RISC Machine, and before that, the Acorn RISC Machine. The ARM architecture is the most widely used 32-bit ISA in numbers produced...
running Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
.
He originally worked at Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
as a manufacturing engineer and project manager for the industry's first battery-powered portable MS-DOS PC, the HP-110. He then moved to Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics, Inc. was a manufacturer of high-performance computing solutions, including computer hardware and software, founded in 1981 by Jim Clark...
as director of Consumer Products & Technologies Group. This included work on the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
graphics system.
Sakoman moved to Apple Computer in 1984 where he would oversee the hardware groups responsible for the Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
and the Macintosh product lines. In 1987 he formed the team behind the Apple Newton
Apple Newton
The MessagePad was the first series of personal digital assistant devices developed by Apple for the Newton platform in 1993. Some electronic engineering and the manufacture of Apple's MessagePad devices was done in Japan by the Sharp Corporation...
to realize his vision of the world's first PDA
PDA
A PDA is most commonly a Personal digital assistant, also known as a Personal data assistant, a mobile electronic device.PDA may also refer to:In science, medicine and technology:...
.
Sakoman left Apple in 1990 before the Newton shipped to set up Be Inc.
Be Inc.
Be Incorporated was an American computer company founded in 1990, best known for the Be Operating System and BeBox personal computer. Be was founded by former Apple Computer executive Jean-Louis Gassée with capital from Seymour Cray....
with former Apple executive Jean-Louis Gassée
Jean-Louis Gassée
Jean-Louis Gassée is a former executive at Apple Computer, where he worked from 1981 to 1990. He is most famous for founding Be Inc., creators of the BeOS computer operating system. After leaving Be, he became Chairman of PalmSource, Inc. in November, 2004.-1980s: Apple Computer:Gassée worked for...
. At Be, he led development of the original BeBox
BeBox
The BeBox was a short-lived dual processor personal computer, offered by Be Inc. to run the company's own operating system, BeOS. Notable aspects of the system include its CPU configuration, I/O board with "GeekPort", and "Blinkenlights" on the front bezel....
, personally developed BeOS
BeOS
BeOS is an operating system for personal computers which began development by Be Inc. in 1991. It was first written to run on BeBox hardware. BeOS was optimized for digital media work and was written to take advantage of modern hardware facilities such as symmetric multiprocessing by utilizing...
's support for Brooktree
Brooktree
Brooktree is an American company founded in 1983 by Henry Katzenstein to commercialize a faster hardware architecture for digital to analog converters, three to eight times faster than the converters on the market....
video-capture devices, and eventually worked as the company's Chief Operating Officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
. During this time, he ran a webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
inside Be's offices using the CodyCam application.
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
Palm OS
Palm OS is a mobile operating system initially developed by Palm, Inc., for personal digital assistants in 1996. Palm OS is designed for ease of use with a touchscreen-based graphical user interface. It is provided with a suite of basic applications for personal information management...
6.
Sakoman rejoined Apple in 2003 as Vice-President of Software Technology, reporting to Avie Tevanian
Avie Tevanian
Avadis "Avie" Tevanian is a former Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Apple Computer from 1997 to 2003, and a former Chief Software Technology Officer from 2003 to 2006. He is a member of the board of embedded software tools company Green Hills Software. Tevanian was responsible for...
.
Sakoman also set up GutenTalk in 2004, a site to discuss ebooks specially formatted for PDAs and other hand-held readers.