“Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview” Available For Rent In iTunes

Six months after its teaser trailer showed up online, Robert X. Cringely’s “lost” interview with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has now available for rent in iTunes for $3.99. In 1995, Cringely interviewed Jobs, who was then running NeXT, and two years out from what would later be his triumphant return to Apple, for a PBS documentary called “Triumph of the Nerds”. However, much of their discussion ended up on the cutting room floor – 70 minutes worth, in fact.

In the un-aired portions, Jobs talked about his approach to product design, team building and product evolution, among other things. At the time, those insights may not have had the impact they do now, as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone and iPad had yet to be invented.

The footage was presumed lost until shortly after Steve Jobs’ passing, when it was discovered by the documentary’s director, Paul Sen, who found it in his garage.

Interestingly enough, Cringely says that Apple has deemed the film “too controversial” and won’t promote it in iTunes because of its “sensitive” nature. But if you search for it, it’s there. (Perhaps Apple didn’t want to promote it because of Jobs’ cocky responses -such as when he riffs on Microsoft, saying they have bad vision and poor taste? Oh, this is going to be good.)

In iTunes, the description reads:

Candid, controversial and funny… the original and unedited interview with Steve Jobs, conducted by tech journalist and former Apple Inc. employee Robert X. Cringely, from 1995 when Steve Jobs was still CEO of NeXT Computer and Pixar.

The rental is only available in the U.S. at present.