Apple quality control manager responsible for iOS 8.0.1 also tied to Maps app debacle
According to a new report, the quality assurance manager in charge of Apple's buggy iOS 8.0.1 update was also leading a team accountable for the much maligned Maps app launched with iOS 6 two years ago.
Citing sources familiar with Apple's corporate structure, Bloomberg on Thursday reported the same Apple manager was in charge of quality assurance teams responsible for the two high-profile missteps.
According to the publication, the manager leads a worldwide team of more than 100 people tasked with detecting and fixing iOS software prior to public release. Sources claim that Apple looks to human oversight for bug finding operations instead of automated solutions, making the team vital to the overarching development process.
These people also said Apple's tight security for new product launches may have contributed to unforeseen issues that cropped up with this week's iOS 8.0.1 rollout, which itself was designed to fix problems pertaining to the new HealthKit framework. Chief executive Tim Cook reportedly allows only senior managers privileged access to unreleased iPhone hardware, meaning testing may not be as comprehensive as assessments of new software built for current models.
When Apple released iOS 8.0.1 on Wednesday, reports came pouring in from iPhone 6 and 6 Plus owners who could not connect with cellular networks or use the Touch ID fingerprint reader. Earlier today, the company issued a second update in iOS 8.0.2 to bring back lost functionality and correct issues addressed with the initial iOS 8.0.1 update. Apple apologized, saying that some 40,000 people were affected by the incident.
As for the Maps debacle, sources said the manager was taken off the team following customer dissatisfaction with unreliable directions, incorrect points of interest and missing data. The launch was critical at the time as Apple had dropped Google Maps backbone for its own in-house solution. Despite the dust up, the manager in question was kept in charge iOS testing and apparently remains in that position today.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to remove the Apple employee's name as Bloomberg's report has yet to be verified.
Citing sources familiar with Apple's corporate structure, Bloomberg on Thursday reported the same Apple manager was in charge of quality assurance teams responsible for the two high-profile missteps.
According to the publication, the manager leads a worldwide team of more than 100 people tasked with detecting and fixing iOS software prior to public release. Sources claim that Apple looks to human oversight for bug finding operations instead of automated solutions, making the team vital to the overarching development process.
These people also said Apple's tight security for new product launches may have contributed to unforeseen issues that cropped up with this week's iOS 8.0.1 rollout, which itself was designed to fix problems pertaining to the new HealthKit framework. Chief executive Tim Cook reportedly allows only senior managers privileged access to unreleased iPhone hardware, meaning testing may not be as comprehensive as assessments of new software built for current models.
When Apple released iOS 8.0.1 on Wednesday, reports came pouring in from iPhone 6 and 6 Plus owners who could not connect with cellular networks or use the Touch ID fingerprint reader. Earlier today, the company issued a second update in iOS 8.0.2 to bring back lost functionality and correct issues addressed with the initial iOS 8.0.1 update. Apple apologized, saying that some 40,000 people were affected by the incident.
As for the Maps debacle, sources said the manager was taken off the team following customer dissatisfaction with unreliable directions, incorrect points of interest and missing data. The launch was critical at the time as Apple had dropped Google Maps backbone for its own in-house solution. Despite the dust up, the manager in question was kept in charge iOS testing and apparently remains in that position today.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to remove the Apple employee's name as Bloomberg's report has yet to be verified.
Comments
Well, this just got awkward...
This is a shitty report. It's a man's livelihood.
Are you saying the story isn't accurate?
I'll second it - pretty shirty for you to report this
Very uncool to call someone out like this. He has contributed significantly to this company for 14 years. And, you have none of the specific details of what happened
I'll second it - pretty shirty for you to report this
Blame Bloomberg. And while you're at it, mercilessly attack the shmuck who made the 'bendy' iPhone video. He's a tick.
the only folks calling it a debacle are the press and trolls and trolls in the press. do you even know what the word debacle means? can you send a "reporter" over to cover the story that is the few issues i still have with google maps. i loathe google and surely those issues, too, are a debacle?
appleinsider is more of a debacle than the apple maps app ever was.
Is this what it's come to? Witchhunting the QA guy because of a bad patch? Well, take your pound of flesh and let's move on, shall we?
And why does the media feel the need to out this employee by name? Appauling.
Bloomberg is a shit news organization, that's why.
iOS and its applications make up a very complex system.
This issue was probably caused by a small glitch in packaging or deploying the update if they were able to fix it so quickly.
Does this update include all the Health and Apple Pay stuff ?
Go Apple, Go Go Go.
The only upside is the individual who is being inhumanly skewered by unscrupulous coworkers and sleaze bag media lowlifes will have a small army of lawyers ensuring he'll never need to work another day in his life. Regular Apple employees who are not officers of the company or public figures are protected by libel laws, which this article unabashedly breaks.
This goes too far. Way too far. Sickening.
I certainly hope this guy seeks legal recourse against Appleinsider, it's anonymous author and other media outlets.
This is perhaps the lowest form "journalism" I have seen in my 14 years of following Apple trends.
Shameful. Disgusting. And harmful to this poor guy's career and reputation.
An immediate apology should be issued by the manages of this operation. I still cannot believe this was published.
I agree with most of the comments here. Blaming a middle man for all of these problems was very sh!tty to say the least. Bloomberg should issue a public apology from the writer and editor to this poor guy. Appleinsider is no better for pushing this trash along with absolutely no accountability of the facts or context of what actually happened. We're rooting for you Josh! I hope Apple donates some high-end lawyers to you so these crapheads don't get away with this junk.
This is a shitty report. It's a man's livelihood.
Well, this just got awkward...
As much as the person responsible should've probably been let go, there's no call for naming him by name. You cannot characterize his career based upon 2 incidents that we do not really know anything about from the inside.
Well if were Steve Ballmer you'd be all for it.
Let's get real- this guy is a major f' up, if true.