John Buck — Books.by

Version 2.5b

Inventing The Future

by John Buck

For the first time, a behind-the-scenes look at Apple told through 80+ original stories from key engineers, designers, and product managers who worked there. Read all of the development details for QuickTime®, PowerBook®, LaserWriter®, A/UX®, QuickDraw®, Jonathan and many secret projects like Rosebud, Harpo, Spider and MacSlate.

From famous names like Wozniak and Jobs to brilliant unknowns like Krakower, Mauro and Perlman. These are the people who shaped the digital world we live in today.

This book explains the complex mix of untamable egos, unseen brilliance, and everything in between. In an era when almost everyone thought Apple was done and dusted, amazing individuals joined or stayed at Apple to create the future. Pixel by Pixel, Bit by Bit.

Buy Now · US$29.99 Free Worldwide Shipping

What readers are saying

"This book is an absolute goldmine. I have read almost every book about Apple, but this includes stories and first person accounts I've never seen before. Great stuff."

— Ian Betteridge, popular Mac blogger

"You do not have to be technical or a programmer to enjoy this book."

— Stephen Hackett, MacPower Users and 512 Pixels

"So many stories I'll never forget, and stories I never knew. Truly outstanding job!"

— Mike Potel, former Head of Software Engineering at Apple

More books by John Buck

Timeline 1

1850–1968

The origins of computing and multimedia — from the earliest photographic experiments and motion picture pioneers through to the dawn of the digital age. Covers the visionaries, inventors, and dreamers who laid the groundwork for everything Apple would become.

Buy · US$19.99

Timeline 2

1968–1979

The birth of personal computing. From Xerox PARC and the Alto to the founding of Apple in a Los Altos garage. Steve Wozniak's engineering genius, Steve Jobs' vision, and the creation of the Apple II — the machine that started a revolution.

Buy · US$19.99

Timeline 3

1979–1984

The Macintosh era. The intense internal rivalry between the Lisa and Macintosh teams, the legendary "1984" Super Bowl ad, and the launch of the machine that introduced the world to the graphical user interface. A pivotal, turbulent chapter in Apple's story.

Buy · US$19.99

Timeline 4

1984–1989

The post-Jobs years and the rise of desktop publishing. LaserWriter, PageMaker, and the partnership with Adobe that saved Apple. Plus the creation of HyperCard, A/UX, and the first PowerBook prototypes — all while corporate politics threatened to tear the company apart.

Buy · US$18.99

Timeline 5

1989–1994

The multimedia revolution. QuickTime changes everything. The Newton MessagePad, PowerPC transition, and Apple's bold push into consumer electronics. Behind the scenes, brilliant engineers race to build the future while the company's market share begins to slide.

Buy · US$19.99

Timeline 6

1993–2000

The darkest days and the comeback. Apple nearly dies, Gil Amelio's brief tenure, the NeXT acquisition, and Steve Jobs' return. The iMac, "Think Different," and the foundation of everything that would make Apple the most valuable company in the world.

Buy · US$23.99