Ousted Apple exec Scott Forstall reportedly advising startups, focusing on philanthropy
Not much has been heard of former iOS head Scott Forstall since he was fired from Apple in 2012, but a report published on Monday claims to shed some light on the ousted executive's activities over the past year.
Forstall was highlighted in one of technology and business publication The Information's first reports (via Business Insider), which assembled a list of the tech industry's "free agents," or big-name executives no longer attached to a specific company.
Over the past year, Forstall has spent time traveling to Italy and South Africa, possibly as part of a new interest in philanthropy. Exactly what philanthropic activities he participated in is not clear, as the report falls short of providing specifics, only mentioning a focus in education, poverty and human rights.
Perhaps more interesting is Forstall's alleged involvement in unnamed startups. According to the publication, he has advised a number of up and coming tech firms and is still in contact with venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins and Andreessen Horowitz. It is also noted, however, that Apple employees believe the former iOS chief is more likely to start his own company.
Forstall was ousted from Apple in 2012 following a brouhaha over the company's then-new Maps app. The debacle ultimately ended in a public apology from CEO Tim Cook, which sources say Forstall refused to sign.
Credited as the co-inventor of iOS, Forstall was an important figure in Cupertino, to the degree where some believed he could one day be Apple's CEO. The former SVP of iOS Software has been profiled as being "maddeningly political" and reportedly butted heads with other executives, including SVP of Design Jony Ive.
At the time of his departure, it was reported that Forstall would be staying on as a special advisor to Tim Cook until 2013, though his presence at the company effectively ended in October 2012.
Forstall was highlighted in one of technology and business publication The Information's first reports (via Business Insider), which assembled a list of the tech industry's "free agents," or big-name executives no longer attached to a specific company.
Over the past year, Forstall has spent time traveling to Italy and South Africa, possibly as part of a new interest in philanthropy. Exactly what philanthropic activities he participated in is not clear, as the report falls short of providing specifics, only mentioning a focus in education, poverty and human rights.
Perhaps more interesting is Forstall's alleged involvement in unnamed startups. According to the publication, he has advised a number of up and coming tech firms and is still in contact with venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins and Andreessen Horowitz. It is also noted, however, that Apple employees believe the former iOS chief is more likely to start his own company.
Forstall was ousted from Apple in 2012 following a brouhaha over the company's then-new Maps app. The debacle ultimately ended in a public apology from CEO Tim Cook, which sources say Forstall refused to sign.
Credited as the co-inventor of iOS, Forstall was an important figure in Cupertino, to the degree where some believed he could one day be Apple's CEO. The former SVP of iOS Software has been profiled as being "maddeningly political" and reportedly butted heads with other executives, including SVP of Design Jony Ive.
At the time of his departure, it was reported that Forstall would be staying on as a special advisor to Tim Cook until 2013, though his presence at the company effectively ended in October 2012.
Comments
I wonder whether he and Sinofsky have any meaningful contact.
Waits for the idiot(s) to say I hope he comes back to save iOS 7....
Microsoft could sure use him to sort out their phones.
Waits for the idiot(s) to say I hope he comes back to save iOS 7....
hahaha. You should go on the macrumors thread. It's loaded with them.
"...exactly what philanthropic activities he participated in is not clear, as the report falls short of providing specifics..."
Translation: He can't find a job and no one wants him.
Go easy on him. In a parallel universe, where Apple Maps turned out amazing (it's getting there), he's being hailed as the new hero at Apple.
But skeuomorphism (sp?), that's a tough one.....
"...exactly what philanthropic activities he participated in is not clear, as the report falls short of providing specifics..."
Translation: He can't find a job and no one wants him.
Saying that "no one wants [Scott Forstall]" is a bit like saying that someone who wins a silver olympic medal must really suck at their sport. I am no fan of skeumorphic design, but I think it is pretty clear that Forstall contributed greatly to the success of iOS, and to a lesser extent, Apple itself. It's easy to be an armchair quarterback and criticize high-profile people who make high-profile mistakes, but it is awfully hard to be successful enough to become high-profile in the first place.
Waits for the idiot(s) to say I hope he comes back to save iOS 7....
He's probably never seen it. He's probably still in the 26% of people using iOS 6.
hahaha. You should go on the macrumors thread. It's loaded with them.
I saw...MacRumors forums are full of idjits...which is why I don't have an account with them anymore.
"...exactly what philanthropic activities he participated in is not clear, as the report falls short of providing specifics..."
Translation: He can't find a job and no one wants him.
Oh please. Give me a break. That man has more money than you will ever have in a hundred lifetimes. He's not the kind of kind of guy that needs to find a "job". He'll do his own thing, start a company, invest in companies, and the like. He's not going to work for somebody. He'll work WITH somebody perhaps, but he's in a position to write his own ticket.
Is it really necessary for AppleInsider to have this bigass photo of bug eyes? They can't at least scale it down about 50%???
Oh please. Give me a break. That man has more money than you will ever have in a hundred lifetimes. He's not the kind of kind of guy that needs to find a "job". He'll do his own thing, start a company, invest in companies, and the like. He's not going to work for somebody. He'll work WITH somebody perhaps, but he's in a position to write his own ticket.
I agree...I think he'll end up with his own company. He left Apple with millions of dollars in his pocket. He by no means needs to find a job. He'll more likely use his money to start or partner up with his own company.
Let's see how successful he'll be without Apple.
Let's see how successful he'll be without Apple.
Right, because these guys are only smart when they're at Apple. Forstall was a mainstay on the NeXT team. Ron Johnson is the reason Target is where it is today. Tony Fadell is arguably one of the more innovative minds in technology right now. Apple hires smart people because they are smart, they don't instantly become smart once at Apple.
FYI, "consulting agreements" are pretty standard and help justify the golden parachute and more importantly his stock options.
Let's see how successful he'll be without Apple.
He already is successful. What's with the chip on your shoulder? He could not do anything but live on a beach and that would be okay by me. He doesn't need Apple anymore.
Capable high level execs like him are hard to find, I don't think even Apple could afford to let someone like him go (even though they did). Tim Cook should have found *some* way he could stay.
I love the number of negative opinions people have of someone who they never had met. Scott is a brilliant man who much like Steve Jobs had reported difficulties working with people... I wouldn't want to write him off as a bum just yet...