Apple’s Co-Founder Left to Make THIS??

Quick Overview

The CL9 CORE UC-100, a programmable universal remote control designed by Steve Wozniak's company CL9, was mind-blowingly advanced for its time in 1987, featuring 36KB of memory and 16 programmable pages, but it ultimately failed commercially due to its complexity and high price, especially compared to simpler, pre-programmed remotes that emerged later.

Key Points: The CL9 CORE UC-100 remote control, developed by Steve Wozniak's company CL9, was the world's first programmable universal remote control. The device featured 36KB of memory and 16 programmable pages, allowing users to store sequences of commands for multiple devices. It was programmed via a serial interface unit connected to a computer, a complex process that took about 15 minutes, even after the initial setup. The CORE remote retailed for $199.00 in 1987 (equivalent to about $572 today), which was prohibitively expensive. Its complexity and cost, coupled with the later emergence of simpler, pre-programmed universal remotes and the rise of HDMI-CEC, led to its commercial failure. The remote was so advanced that it was reportedly used to control specialized medical equipment, like a Siemens X-ray/C-scan controller, as late as 2007.

Context: This video explores the history and capabilities of the CL9 CORE UC-100, a highly advanced, programmable universal remote control created by CL9, the company founded by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak after he left Apple in 1985. The CORE remote represented a significant leap in home entertainment control technology in the late 1980s, offering deep customization that contrasted sharply with the simpler, single-device or limited-device remotes common at the time.

Detailed Analysis

The video details the CL9 CORE UC-100, a programmable universal remote control created by Steve Wozniak’s post-Apple company, CL9, and released in 1987. The host emphasizes that this device was far ahead of its time, featuring 36KB of memory and 16 programmable pages, allowing users to create complex sequences of commands for multiple devices like TVs, VCRs, and AV receivers using a single controller. Programming required a serial interface unit and software, taking about 15 minutes per setup, and the device cost $199.00 in 1987 (about $572 today). This complexity and high cost, combined with the market shift towards simpler, pre-programmed universal remotes (like those from Harmony launching later), caused the CORE to fail commercially, despite its technical prowess. The host demonstrates programming a simple power command sequence and shows that the remote was even used for specialized equipment like a Siemens X-ray/C-scan controller as late as 2007. The presenter notes that the non-volatile memory retained settings even when the primary AA batteries died, a significant advantage over contemporary devices.