A newly surfaced 1999 video shows Steve Jobs explaining why Wi-Fi technology might never have reached consumers without Apple's intervention. The footage, released by ex-Apple engineer Akira Nonaka, captures Jobs speaking one week after the iBook launch, Apple's first consumer laptop with built-in wireless networking.

Jobs argued that companies like Compaq and Dell would have ignored Wi-Fi because it wasn't an industry standard and didn't work with Windows. He claimed Microsoft wouldn't prioritize it either, citing their massive software backlog. The iBook launch reportedly stunned attendees, with AppleInsider's Mike Wuerthele confirming the audience was amazed by wireless internet in 1999.

This speech came during Apple's turnaround under Jobs' leadership, when the company had just achieved seven consecutive profitable quarters and earned $200 million the previous year. Jobs emphasized Apple's commitment to making great computers rather than chasing enterprise customers, setting the stage for the company's consumer-focused strategy that would define its future success.