Scott Forstall is a noted weasel, so good riddance. Browett has been much discussed in these pages, and I don't think there will be many tears shed. Props to Tim!
Well perhaps, but he's a "weasel" with the talent to do the job. There is, as far as I've ever heard, absolutely no one to take his place.
Despite his personality problems Forestall is probably the most important employee at Apple. He is to software what Ive is to hardware. This announcement should be treated in the same way as if it were announced that Jony Ive was leaving the firm. It's probably very bad news.
If Forestall is leaving cause he's sick or because he just wants to kick back on an island for the rest of his life then fine. If he is leaving to get a job somewhere else, then I would be very, very worried. It's way more likely to be that second option than the first however. A guy like Forestall doesn't typically just stop working.
And come on, this has nothing to do with Maps. If Apple didn't have faith in Maps or thought it had failed, they would have simply switched back.
Apple would never have switched back unless it absolutely had to. 'Not having faith' is not going to do it.
This is a company which is pretty unwilling to acknowledge any flaws in its products. Rolling back to Google maps would be giving such an acknowledgement in a big way.
The Forstall announcement is a bit of a surprise. I'd be interested to learn what's behind it. It has to be more than "mapgate". Given that he'll stay on as an advisor, it may have been Forstall's own desire to leave, rather than Apple wanting him to go. Letting Ive take on responsibility for the UI is welcome news. Someone needs to reign in the craziness and rampant inconsistency.
The only thing surprising about the announcement of the departure of Browett is how soon it came. Based on what I read and heard about his reputation, and his moves in his tenure at Apple, I knew he wouldn't last long. But, I thought he'd last longer than he did. My question is, why the hell did Cook even hire him in the first place? Was he so desperate to replace Johnson that he overlooked Browett's baggage? Browett always seemed like a terrible fit for the role at Apple. I think his hasty departure proves that out.
Good news all around. I'm glad and excited about all these changes. I love all the new responsibilities' heads and how things have been reorganized. I feel like this is Apple cutting out a growing part of itself that wasn't healthy because it was too concerns with beauracratics and competitive drive. They're returning back to building the best and most beautiful things they can with the highest quality possible; and now it's being done by people who really love every aspect of their responsibilities, and don't see the job or "work" in it.
I completely agree. I thought Forstall had outworn his welcome some time ago. I'm certain that there are execs even two levels under him that can build on the great foundation he laid.
I think that Forstall was pissed by the fact they forced him to rush the development of Maps. I also suppose that many of his ideas to update iOS are being slowed down by others.
Like I said in another thread, sometimes the person on the street knows better than the big company.. anyone who visited PCWorld in the UK, knew John Browett was a bad fit for Apple!
Good. I'm glad Scott Forstall is leaving. Maybe now some flexibility will be brought to iOS. I love iOS & how easy it is to use, but no one can deny it's getting a bit long in the tooth.
I'm heartbroken about Scott, a real star in the Cupertino Galaxy - but given his reassignment to the CEO in an advisory capacity, Apple recognizes his value, and this move points to irreconcilable differences between Steve Jobs' two outstanding proteges (no guesses as to who the other one is) and may well be the only possible way to resolve it.
Jony's like Woz. I don't imagine he'd ever want to leave where he loves, and I don't want to see him anywhere else. He has an eye for design, just like Woz had an eye for engineering. Doesn't mean he'd be a good Overseer.
Doing what needs to be done is all part of maturing. Jobs continued to do much of what he liked. However Ive shouldn't be compared point-by-point to Jobs. At least of his appearance outside the company, Ive has a personality of someone who inspires, who can argue persuasively and convincingly, and that people want to work with and please. That Ive is a designer with those qualities makes him well-suited to the position of Apple CEO.
Everyone at Apple knew Browett was a bad choice - except for the senior management. Now they realize it as well. Now the question is who will replace him.
External candidates are not great choices since they don't get the Apple culture (particularly without Steve to say no to them). I'm hoping they look internally
at someone like Steve Cano. He could be a good option (yes, I'm sure there are Apple employees who don't like him but he generally is respected). Atleast
Like I said in another thread, sometimes the person on the street knows better than the big company.. anyone who visited PCWorld in the UK, knew John Browett was a bad fit for Apple!
I can tell you knowing Scott that the leave would be amicable and one where he has planned for some time to allow him the opportunity to run his own start-up. I've known Scott since '96 so it makes sense for him to finally leave the nest from NeXT/Apple and try his own vision out from start to finish.
Best wishes. I know of several of my former colleagues working on start ups.
Forestall has been sacked because of Mapgate. A bridge that appears to be melting (the horror!) and a misspelled city or two (Oh my God!—I can’t remember how to get to work!) have caused an unmitigated consumer confidence catastrophe. No faith nor trust in Apple remain, no one will upgrade to iOS 6, no one will buy the new iPad Mini, top executives are selling stock and jumping ship in droves. This is what every pundit has so long predicted: THE END OF APPLE FOREVER.
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Originally Posted by igriv
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Scott Forstall is a noted weasel, so good riddance. Browett has been much discussed in these pages, and I don't think there will be many tears shed. Props to Tim!
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Well perhaps, but he's a "weasel" with the talent to do the job. There is, as far as I've ever heard, absolutely no one to take his place.
Despite his personality problems Forestall is probably the most important employee at Apple. He is to software what Ive is to hardware. This announcement should be treated in the same way as if it were announced that Jony Ive was leaving the firm. It's probably very bad news.
If Forestall is leaving cause he's sick or because he just wants to kick back on an island for the rest of his life then fine. If he is leaving to get a job somewhere else, then I would be very, very worried. It's way more likely to be that second option than the first however. A guy like Forestall doesn't typically just stop working.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
And come on, this has nothing to do with Maps. If Apple didn't have faith in Maps or thought it had failed, they would have simply switched back.
Apple would never have switched back unless it absolutely had to. 'Not having faith' is not going to do it.
This is a company which is pretty unwilling to acknowledge any flaws in its products. Rolling back to Google maps would be giving such an acknowledgement in a big way.
The Forstall announcement is a bit of a surprise. I'd be interested to learn what's behind it. It has to be more than "mapgate". Given that he'll stay on as an advisor, it may have been Forstall's own desire to leave, rather than Apple wanting him to go. Letting Ive take on responsibility for the UI is welcome news. Someone needs to reign in the craziness and rampant inconsistency.
The only thing surprising about the announcement of the departure of Browett is how soon it came. Based on what I read and heard about his reputation, and his moves in his tenure at Apple, I knew he wouldn't last long. But, I thought he'd last longer than he did. My question is, why the hell did Cook even hire him in the first place? Was he so desperate to replace Johnson that he overlooked Browett's baggage? Browett always seemed like a terrible fit for the role at Apple. I think his hasty departure proves that out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bennytheball
Entirely speculative, but I wonder if Forstall wanted to do something on his own?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton
You mean like drive a UPS truck delivering iPad minis to Apple customers?
Uh…sure, that’s definitely the most likely career outcome for a multi-millionaire.
Just a thought, but the last paragraph doesn't mention iOS AT ALL....
Perhaps iOS and OSX will be more tightly integrated, Forstall was iOS guy
Good news all around. I'm glad and excited about all these changes. I love all the new responsibilities' heads and how things have been reorganized. I feel like this is Apple cutting out a growing part of itself that wasn't healthy because it was too concerns with beauracratics and competitive drive. They're returning back to building the best and most beautiful things they can with the highest quality possible; and now it's being done by people who really love every aspect of their responsibilities, and don't see the job or "work" in it.
The core of Apple: a labor of love.
I completely agree. I thought Forstall had outworn his welcome some time ago. I'm certain that there are execs even two levels under him that can build on the great foundation he laid.
Originally Posted by Shameer Mulji
No disrespect to Ive, but what does a hardware design guy know about software UI design? they're two different worlds.
There IS that, too. Future should be interesting.
Originally Posted by abinitio
Perhaps iOS and OSX will be more tightly integrated, Forstall was iOS guy
Oh, that's gonna happen regardless.
UI design disasters like iOS Game Center and iBooks comes to mind. They look wretched IMHO. Perhaps I'll throw in Notes to a lesser extent.
Trying to force realword design/feel (wood, notepad paper, nasty green felt reminiscent of a cheap casino, etc.) on a modern OS.
Like I said in another thread, sometimes the person on the street knows better than the big company.. anyone who visited PCWorld in the UK, knew John Browett was a bad fit for Apple!
Good riddance.
deleted
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
Jony's like Woz. I don't imagine he'd ever want to leave where he loves, and I don't want to see him anywhere else. He has an eye for design, just like Woz had an eye for engineering. Doesn't mean he'd be a good Overseer.
Doing what needs to be done is all part of maturing. Jobs continued to do much of what he liked. However Ive shouldn't be compared point-by-point to Jobs. At least of his appearance outside the company, Ive has a personality of someone who inspires, who can argue persuasively and convincingly, and that people want to work with and please. That Ive is a designer with those qualities makes him well-suited to the position of Apple CEO.
double post
Everyone at Apple knew Browett was a bad choice - except for the senior management. Now they realize it as well. Now the question is who will replace him.
External candidates are not great choices since they don't get the Apple culture (particularly without Steve to say no to them). I'm hoping they look internally
at someone like Steve Cano. He could be a good option (yes, I'm sure there are Apple employees who don't like him but he generally is respected). Atleast
he's not just a bean counter like Browett.
Quote:
Originally Posted by monstrosity
Like I said in another thread, sometimes the person on the street knows better than the big company.. anyone who visited PCWorld in the UK, knew John Browett was a bad fit for Apple!
Good riddance.
Yup. Dixons? Currys? (bad taste in mouth)
Best wishes. I know of several of my former colleagues working on start ups.
Forestall has been sacked because of Mapgate. A bridge that appears to be melting (the horror!) and a misspelled city or two (Oh my God!—I can’t remember how to get to work!) have caused an unmitigated consumer confidence catastrophe. No faith nor trust in Apple remain, no one will upgrade to iOS 6, no one will buy the new iPad Mini, top executives are selling stock and jumping ship in droves. This is what every pundit has so long predicted: THE END OF APPLE FOREVER.