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According to the WSJ, Scott Forstall was asked to leave Apple after he “refused to sign his name to a letter apologising for shortcomings” in Apple Maps. Forstall had wanted to address the situation of Apple Maps without apologising to the public, like Apple has done in the past. Tim Cook, however, felt an apology was needed and now Forstall is out at Apple.
Forstall, who had been at Apple for 15 years, was in charge of all things iOS at Apple and thus directly responsible for recent disappointing products like Apple Maps and Siri. There have been reports of him clashing with other Apple executives because he was notoriously difficult to work with and “never fit into the culture of Apple,” according to a WSJ source. The Apple Maps fiasco and unapology was likely the final straw.
If you remember, the apology (which was eventually signed by Tim Cook) was unique for Apple in that it actually suggested competing products for users to download. Seeing Forstall, who was a Steve Jobs protege, get pushed out by Cook, because he wouldn’t take ownership of screwing Apple Maps up, reveals a tiny glimpse of how Apple is now run under Tim Cook’s steady hand. Things done changed. [WSJ]
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This is Good. Forstall could have eventually risen to run Apple and he would have run Apple like the arrogant S.O.B. that Jobs could sometimes be, without the market genius and loving attention to detail Jobs had. Maybe, like Jobs, Forstall needs some time in the wilderness to mature before he comes back to seize control of Apple back from the bean counters.
I agree. Apple could be “super arrogant” when they had Jobs backing it. I believe the consumers perception of it was of a “tolerable part of a genius behavior”. Now there is no Jobs and therefore not so much legitimacy.
What on earth is that picture meant to represent?!!
It was used in an article earlier this year about comments by Jony Ive that he disliked the skeuomorphic design of the apple apps. hence why he’s starring at the stitching on that terrible terrible shirt that probably cost more than I earn in a month (maybe!).
Jony Ive’s hatred of skeuomorphism. I don’t think I’ve seen Scott’s shirt material in any iOS app yet but it was probably on the list of “awesome backgrounds for the next iOS app”.
So, THEK, what’s your take on this news Good/Bad/Don’t Know ?
Good. Fresh pair of eyes over iOS, especially someone like Jony Ive. I’m looking forward to the next iterations of iOS.
It could do with it. Once BB10 launches iOS will be the oldest major mobile OS and it hasn’t changed that much in that time, unlike Android which looks a whole lot different.
Android looks a whole lot different for sure. But iOS is known for its looks, Android doesn’t have the identity iOS does because almost every smartphone maker has slapped their own stuff on top of it.
BB has got to do something because not only is it old but it’s extremely outdate old if you know what I mean. iOS has may be dated to some people but it still performs extremely well.
I think it’s supposed to remind us of all the dodgy leather stitching used in iOS’s contacts and Find my Friends apps.
The picture represents the envy Ive felt of Mr. Forstall. You see, Forstall war so powerful he could get away with using non cool/hipster clothing while inside Apple facilities.
I’m glad. Scott’s hair annoys me. One side seems to stick out quite a bit more than the other. It’s quite ridiculous.
I don’t know if I could trust a man who can’t even control his own hair.
As someone who has perfect hair control I applaud this comment.
I will miss his awesome shirts at Keynotes.
I always hated the way he said “muli-tasking” during keynotes.