October 29, 2012: Scott Forstall, Apple’s senior vp of iOS software program, is ousted from the corporate after the disastrous Apple Maps launch.
Apple divvies up the roles beforehand dealt with by Forstall, who as soon as appeared on a path to the highest, amongst different high-level execs. Jony Ive assumes management of the Human Interface workforce. Craig Federighi turns into head of iOS software program. Eddy Cue takes management of Maps and Siri. And Bob Mansfield “unretires” to guide a brand new know-how group.
Scott Forstall and his rise at Apple
Forstall’s departure triggered one of many greatest govt shakeups at Apple since Steve Jobs’ return in 1997. An formidable younger worker, Forstall shortly rose by the ranks in Cupertino. As he gathered energy behind the scenes, he additionally started showing extra frequently at Apple occasions.
Forstall labored for Jobs his whole profession. He had been employed at NeXT, the corporate Jobs based throughout his wilderness years outdoors Apple, straight out of Stanford College. With a grasp’s diploma in laptop science, Forstall labored on the NeXTStep working system.
He joined Apple together with various senior staffers when the corporate purchased NeXT in 1996, an acquisition that introduced Jobs again to Apple. Jobs instantly put Forstall in control of designing consumer interfaces for the brand new, improved Mac line. His massive contribution? The liquid-inspired Aqua consumer interface, which integrated design components like translucent icons and reflections.
Forstall then took cost of OS X, which was based mostly on NeXTStep know-how, earlier than changing into one of many main figures in iOS growth. In late 2011, he bought onstage on the iPhone 4s keynote to exhibit Siri for the primary time.
The start of the tip for a rising star
Forstall modeled himself on Jobs, even driving the identical sort of silver Mercedes coupe as Apple’s iconic co-founder. He additionally exhibited excessive consideration to element and the same sort of charisma. (Forstall was extra assured than many tech varieties, having been a toddler actor.) As proof of the previous, he stored a jeweler’s loupe in his workplace, permitting him to look at every pixel on a consumer interface intimately.
Exterior Apple, some individuals assumed Forstall may ultimately develop into CEO of the corporate. However after Jobs’ passing, Forstall appeared to lose momentum inside Cupertino’s halls. One doable purpose? An influence battle with Ive, most likely Apple’s most valued human asset after Jobs. Particularly, Ive and Forstall clashed over skeuomorphism, which Forstall liked and Ive hated.
New CEO Tim Cook dinner additionally most popular a extra harmonious ambiance inside Apple than Jobs ever did. Whereas Jobs appreciated sturdy personalities who clashed, Cook dinner reportedly doesn’t.
Apple Maps launch results in Forstall’s ouster
The inciting incident that resulted in Forstall’s firing was Apple’s disastrous Apple Maps software program. In all probability Apple’s most notable software program failure of all time, the app proved buggy and undeveloped in comparison with its rivals.
Along with that, iOS 6 featured a clock app that illegally borrowed a Swiss railway design, leading to Apple paying out $20 million.
With Maps garnering Apple loads of unhealthy press, an settlement was made to write down a proper apology letter — which Forstall refused to signal. This transfer supposedly satisfied Cook dinner that Forstall ought to go.
Scott Forstall after Apple
After leaving Apple, Forstall remained largely off the radar — except for co-producing a Broadway play and advising Snapchat. In Could 2015, he made one among his few public feedback about Apple to The Wall Avenue Journal, saying he was “delighted” that Cupertino nonetheless makes nice merchandise.
In 2017, Forstall additionally gave a number of interviews to mark the tenth anniversary of the iPhone launch.
What are your recollections of Scott Forstall at Apple? Tell us your ideas within the feedback under.
