Apple's Federighi thrust into spotlight with successful WWDC keynote performance

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  • Reply 61 of 90
    I think everybody felt that he was confident and cool under the spot. He was also funny...remember that moment when he was explaining how to share photos using the new iOS feature airdrop and compared it with the ridiculous "bump the phone with each person you wanna share with" that Samsung phones feature.
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  • Reply 61 of 90
    I think everybody felt that he was confident and cool under the spot. He was also funny...remember that moment when he was explaining how to share photos using the new iOS feature airdrop and compared it with the ridiculous "bump the phone with each person you wanna share with" that Samsung phones feature.
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  • Reply 63 of 90
    19831983 Posts: 1,225member


    I really like this guy, livened up the keynote big time! Haven't enjoyed watching someone present at an Apple keynote this much since Steve. I especially liked his humorous jabs at the now banished skeuomorphism that Forstall was so fond of. Oh and he has a great head of hair - I'm envious ha ha!

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  • Reply 64 of 90
    thebumthebum Posts: 58member
    "So much better than Forstall."

    I couldn't agree more. He seemed less rehearsed than Scott ever did.
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  • Reply 65 of 90
    kdarlingkdarling Posts: 1,640member


    It's pretty clear that he's the one who gives the most demos.


     


    Bosses don't do that.  It's the underlings who have to give dog and pony shows all the time, to keep their job or budget or project going.


     


    image

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  • Reply 66 of 90
    technotechno Posts: 737member
    He made the view feel at ease while drinking the Kool-Aide. Yes, it is okay to tape some sips again. Now, Apple needs to get back the magic of suspense back. People need to drool with excitement at anticipation of "oh, and there is one more thing," at keynotes.
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  • Reply 67 of 90
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    techno wrote: »
    He made the view feel at ease while drinking the Kool-Aide.

    Come off it.
    People need to drool with excitement at anticipation of "oh, and there is one more thing," at keynotes.

    No. That was Steve's.
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  • Reply 68 of 90
    stelligentstelligent Posts: 2,680member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by KDarling View Post


    It's pretty clear that he's the one who gives the most demos.


     


    Bosses don't do that.  It's the underlings who have to give dog and pony shows all the time, to keep their job or budget or project going.


     


    image



    In many cases, this is true. But in many companies, bosses have had plenty of experience making presentations before they become bosses.


     


    This is somewhat irrelevant at Apple, as they take these keynotes and special events very seriously and prepare much more diligently than most companies. Every presenter (including the boss, past and present) rehearses repeatedly. The speakers had similar movements, down to their pacing. It would surprise me if the "bump" gag wasn't just scripted but was in fact rehearsed repeatedly in front of a test audience. Even the "my ass" comment likely wasn't just a spur of the moment ... crack.


     


    The choreography of the keynote is very much consistent as in the past. If you listen carefully, you can recognize some of Jobs's favorite phrases uttered by Federighi - e.g. "I would like to show you ... right now." This suggests they are using the same process, possibly the same speechwriters, as before.

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  • Reply 69 of 90
    malaxmalax Posts: 1,598member

    Quote:

    Whereas Forstall was the previous go-to for iOS announcements, Federighi found himself in the limelight. The position may not have been the most likely for the executive, though, as the WSJ points out, Federighi often declines social get togethers to focus on work.


     


    This part of the article is kinda dumb.  Public speaking and socializing at two completely different things.  Personally, I'd much rather do a presentation in front of a crowd of strangers than make small talk for a couple hours with co-workers and their signficant others.  Now a crowd of thousands and an internet audience of millions, that's another kettle of fish, but it's still got nothing to with the "social get togethers."

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  • Reply 70 of 90
    iqatedoiqatedo Posts: 1,846member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Pendergast View Post





    So we can expect him to spend 7 years in the fields pretending he's a wolf or other animal?


    You can take that literally if you like... can see Scott with a beard down to his toes and mumbling to himself as his new lieutenants come looking for him proclaiming "Sire, your kingdom is restored!"

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  • Reply 71 of 90
    Craig Federighi is a sharp, likable guy, who's showing his worth at Apple. Most notable in his WWDC keynote presentation, however, were his repeated and unnecessary digs at Scott Forstall. Apple's designs and decisions should stand on their own. Federighi's tasteless remarks in that moment undermined and diminished the brilliance of iOS 7 %u2014 regardless of the karma Forstall created at Apple. Firing Forstall was the only statement required by Apple.

    If Federighi is going to be a successful spokesperson for a successful Apple, he may want to match his intelligence and persona with a little more maturity.
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  • Reply 72 of 90
    stelligentstelligent Posts: 2,680member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by larryhorton View Post



    Craig Federighi is a sharp, likable guy, who's showing his worth at Apple. Most notable in his WWDC keynote presentation, however, were his repeated and unnecessary digs at Scott Forstall. Apple's designs and decisions should stand on their own. Federighi's tasteless remarks in that moment undermined and diminished the brilliance of iOS 7 %u2014 regardless of the karma Forstall created at Apple. Firing Forstall was the only statement required by Apple.



    If Federighi is going to be a successful spokesperson for a successful Apple, he may want to match his intelligence and persona with a little more maturity.


    Or else what might happen to him?


     


    Apple doesn't have a habit of "winging" it at keynotes. Take it to the bank that those quips were scripted. Furthermore, why are people insisting those were directed at Forstall? Lest we forget, Jobs was the force behind some of the former design motifs. Was Federighi repeating digs at Jobs too? Of course not. No more than he was jabbing at Forstall. Arguably, this was Apple's way of mocking itself.

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  • Reply 73 of 90

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by larryhorton View Post



    Craig Federighi is a sharp, likable guy, who's showing his worth at Apple. Most notable in his WWDC keynote presentation, however, were his repeated and unnecessary digs at Scott Forstall. Apple's designs and decisions should stand on their own. Federighi's tasteless remarks in that moment undermined and diminished the brilliance of iOS 7 %u2014 regardless of the karma Forstall created at Apple. Firing Forstall was the only statement required by Apple.



    If Federighi is going to be a successful spokesperson for a successful Apple, he may want to match his intelligence and persona with a little more maturity.


    I didn't feel that way at all. It was nothing more than a funny -- and apt -- comment about skeuomorphism (sp?).


     


    Weird that you should sound like you're personally wounded....

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  • Reply 74 of 90
    elrothelroth Posts: 1,201member


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Macky the Macky View Post


    Overall I thought all the presenters were a bit more relaxed and polished this year. It was a fun show from end to end. (though I am wistful about no more "one thing more."


     




     


    I was hoping last year that there would be a moment at the end when Tim Cook would say "And there's one more thing..." It could have been an amazing moment - momentary silence, followed by a standing ovation in honor of Steve. Not a dry eye in the house.

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  • Reply 75 of 90
    kdarlingkdarling Posts: 1,640member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by stelligent View Post


    In many cases, this is true. But in many companies, bosses have had plenty of experience making presentations before they become bosses.



     


    Yep.  I meant that he had much more recent experience, no doubt with lots of iOS7 demos to Cook et al.


     


    Quote:



    This is somewhat irrelevant at Apple, as they take these keynotes and special events very seriously and prepare much more diligently than most companies. Every presenter (including the boss, past and present) rehearses repeatedly.



     


    Steve Jobs taught them.  He had every phrase rehearsed and finely tuned to make everything sound more exciting.  (Or as he would say..."magical")


     


    I used to give a lot of dog and pony shows myself, and you get really good at directing attention to the strong points, and away from things that are weak.  Jobs was a total master at this.  He worked hard on his shows, for sure.

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  • Reply 76 of 90
    unicronunicron Posts: 154member
    I thought he was fantastic. His digs at skeuomorphism were really funny. He seems much warmer, more easy going and more personable then Forstall.
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  • Reply 77 of 90
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,585moderator
    Most notable in his WWDC keynote presentation, however, were his repeated and unnecessary digs at Scott Forstall.

    It was Steve who wanted the leather like the leather in his plane. The references made were not directed at anyone in particular but the choices. Everyone has different tastes, some people like tangible design, others like abstract. Abstract appeals to more people because it's less specific so it doesn't evoke a predetermined association, which will inevitably be positive or negative. In other words, abstract design isn't as divisive. They spoke about the design choices in one of the WWDC sessions where they said one of the motivations was deference - the design is submissive in that it doesn't compete for your attention with the content. The same motivation for the toning down of Aqua in OS X.

    We don't even know if Scott had anything to do with the previous designs, nor if they were his decisions. People have just associated the issues together and now make the assumption Craig is attacking Scott. He was just making light of an issue that people have joked about for ages and did it very well. It's not immature or offensive to inject humour into what is normally very dry subject matter. It makes for a very entertaining presentation and I hope it's a format that they follow.
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  • Reply 78 of 90
    malaxmalax Posts: 1,598member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Unicron View Post



    I thought he was fantastic. His digs at skeuomorphism were really funny. He seems much warmer, more easy going and more personable then Forstall.


    Yeah, I don't see those comments as "digs" against any person in particular.  If anything they are digs at themselves.  Personally I really liked the subtle touches like the stitched leather and torn pages, but a change in direction is fine too.  I don't think there was anything mean spirited about any of the presentation.

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  • Reply 79 of 90
    rob55rob55 Posts: 1,291member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by larryhorton View Post



    Craig Federighi is a sharp, likable guy, who's showing his worth at Apple. Most notable in his WWDC keynote presentation, however, were his repeated and unnecessary digs at Scott Forstall. Apple's designs and decisions should stand on their own. Federighi's tasteless remarks in that moment undermined and diminished the brilliance of iOS 7 %u2014 regardless of the karma Forstall created at Apple. Firing Forstall was the only statement required by Apple.



    If Federighi is going to be a successful spokesperson for a successful Apple, he may want to match his intelligence and persona with a little more maturity.


     


    Just my opinion, but I can't disagree more. I didn't, for even a second, wonder if they were directed at Scott Forstall. As Anantksundaram pointed out, it felt like nothing more than a few funny jokes. Yes, Steve and Scott were the ones (AFAIK) responsible for the skeuomorphism implemented in the various designs, but I don't think (to put it bluntly) Steve cares anymore and Scott has other, bigger things to be upset about. That, and the fact that I don't think any of us will lose any sleep over losing the green felt and stitching.  


    Quote:

    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post


    I didn't feel that way at all. It was nothing more than a funny -- and apt -- comment about skeuomorphism (sp?).


     


    Weird that you should sound like you're personally wounded....



     


    Maybe the green felt or the stitching should feel wounded.

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  • Reply 80 of 90
    philboogiephilboogie Posts: 7,675member
    Of all the presentations that I've seen from Apple, is still Steve's commencement speech at Harvard, 2005. The best, bar none.
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