Scott Forstall Reportedly Forced Out of Apple

[o0jelly0o]

Why not have it as an option as part of a skin that can be applied? That is one of the most significant oversights that iOS had, the limits on personalization of the display.

Every theme I've seen from jailbreaking has been literally the most disgusting thing I've seen, and it baffles me that idiots actually use those. That said, I have 100% faith that the design will be much better with Ive's vision.

 

[Sugadaddy]

I'll give you something profound: You can swipe down from the top to reveal notification center. You can't swipe up from the bottom to reveal multitasking bar. How blatantly incompetent can he be for not having this in iOS 5, let alone iOS 6. Not only would it reduce physical wear of the Home Button, it would be much faster and intuitive, given their approach to notification center. Simply put, the iOS team had no ideas, it was pathetic, hopefully now we will see some actual features come to light. It isn't hard to think of great features, which makes me adore the firing of Forstall.

So true... Simple stuff like this, the weather icon showing the weather, stocks icon scrolling stock prices, more info on the lock screen, etc.

 

[o0jelly0o]

iOS really hasn't changed much pre or post Steve's death, and I get the feeling that the lack of advancement has mainly stemmed from Apple's hubris rather than from Forstall's focus. Of course I'm not actually basing my opinion on any evidence other than a gut feeling like so many others posters have done, since we have no idea what goes on behind the scenes.

I'm very curious about how future versions of iOS will look now that Ive has much greater influence, but I have to admit that I love the skeumorphism - it's what gives iOS it's charm. Having said that, skeumorphism has no place in OS X.

It hasn't changed because their team is absolutely terrible, and it was led by Forstall. They had next to no ideas, and all of the ideas they had were just bad. I can't believe how terrible iOS 6 is. The colored menu bars are awful, and the lack of color they inscribed in apps like Music is dumbfounding. I can't wait for Ive's iOS look.

 

[Surf Monkey]

I'm sure Forstall is a great guy. It's clear that he had a long, successful career with NeXT and Apple. I doubt anyone would deny that. But the reality is that iOS is THE core of Apple's ecosystem. It wouldn't be wise for Cook to hold on to the manager of such a key department based on loyalty alone.

We all know that iOS has been getting increasingly long in the tooth over the last 18-24 months. I don't think Apple can afford to stand pat for another 12. If Forstall was standing in the way of Cook's vision for the next generation iOS it makes perfect sense that Forestall would have to go.

And really, this guy isn't going to be homeless now. He's filthy rich. He can do anything he wants at this point. I shed no tear for Scott Forestall and hope that Johnny Ive is up to the task of pushing iOS beyond any other mobile OS out there. Time will tell.

 

[potyec]

My first post :

Hey all Apple Fans !

I specially like that he left and I like much more that Johny got bigger responsibility . Btw I think also Tim Cook Big Cock.

Johny Since you are at Apple I will be the best costumer


Offtopic : iPad mini without Retina ?!!

 

[SatManager]

Every theme I've seen from jailbreaking has been literally the most disgusting thing I've seen, and it baffles me that idiots actually use those. That said, I have 100% faith that the design will be much better with Ive's vision.

And that is a problem right there - why should it take jail breaking the device to allow some level of personalization to the look of iOS. While I wouldn't want a yellow and purple background someone just might. I love the idea of widgets used with android. Let me put the access to info where I want it.

 

[TheJae]

I'll give you something profound: You can swipe down from the top to reveal notification center. You can't swipe up from the bottom to reveal multitasking bar. How blatantly incompetent can he be for not having this in iOS 5, let alone iOS 6. Not only would it reduce physical wear of the Home Button, it would be much faster and intuitive, given their approach to notification center. Simply put, the iOS team had no ideas, it was pathetic, hopefully now we will see some actual features come to light. It isn't hard to think of great features, which makes me adore the firing of Forstall.

profound?? you can't swipe the multitasking bar up because it's already accessible by double clicking the home button. why would you require additional means to access the very same option? go buy some books about design usability.

 

[marcusj0015]

Honestly, I think this'll be good for Apple, if he was the man behind the skeuomorphism's, he deserved to be fired. Ive'll create a better UI.

 

[diazj3]

Cook has symbolically fired Steve Jobs in the grave.

Dude... can you be more dramatic?!?!?!? really, let Steve Jobs go! relax!

Am I only the only scared ******** at the thought of giving Jony Ive more power??

Honestly speaking: YES, you are.

Unless, of course, if you were on Forstall's staff and took part on his feud against the rest of Apple top management, or if you had something to do with his technical decisions which led to the current problems.

But I doubt that as an Apple employee in such situation, you would be writing on MacRumors. So, if you are a regular user not working at Apple, my guess is that you are the only one with such fear... hence I urge you to relax - have some hot cocoa and forget about it. And if this anxiety persists, seek professional help, because it's not normal nor healthy.

Cheers - and get well soon!

(just kidding!)

 

[marcusj0015]

profound?? you can't swipe the multitasking bar up because it's already accessible by double clicking the home button. why would you require additional means to access the very same option? go buy some books about design usability.

The whole thing about having an "Accessible UI" is letting users use whichever method's they're most comfortable with, and Apple could deffo take a page from Microsoft's book here, hopefully making it decent to look at at the same time.

I can't believe I'm having to convince people that forcing your customers to use a product only certain ways, is wrong.

 

[frabber]

so far windows 8 is winning the non-skeuomorphism race..

does Forstall actually need a new job?? certainly not financially.
mentally we all need a good job though..

well , since I cannot stand firing up calendar, I am actually pleased. looking forward..

 

[marcusj0015]

After having bought an iPod touch, and most recently a Retina Macbook, Apple's affinity for great hardware was clear, software on the other hand...

and don't get me wrong, I love iOS and Mac OS was well, but There are leaps and bounds of potential that haven't been reached, and the question as to weather Scott Forstall was blocking those leaps, will be answered pretty soon.

----------

Every theme I've seen from jailbreaking has been literally the most disgusting thing I've seen, and it baffles me that idiots actually use those. That said, I have 100% faith that the design will be much better with Ive's vision.

Yup, same for Windows themes almost always (before I switched to Mac) we're insanely ugly and gaudy. Except my theme ofc. <3

 

[TheSilk]

This is truly unfortunate. It is a case of the new Apple Management style headed by Tim Cook, and their lack of ability to be passionate. To be passionate is to fall flat on our faces, sometimes in the public eye; but as a team we defend our product and figure out how to master it to damn near perfection. Ultimately, it is our success that prevails and in the end the consumer is left saying "They really knew what they were doing this whole time." It is what adds magic and mystique to the development process at Apple. Determination for perfection in function and usefulness.

Steve understood this, so did Jony. Unfortunately a lot at Apple don't. I hope they can re-calibrate themselves after this blunder.


-S

 

[marcusj0015]

I actually liked his keynotes.

Besides from that, sure he had issues with the UI, but what about the code that us under the UI. Maybe they could keep him for the coding, and have Ive do the UI design? A waste of time was how the volume slider and time slider change reflection when the phone is moved.

He also seemed overly excited about small things too.

You really think Scott Forstall actually wrote code? He was the head of their department, he simply accepted or rejected ideas...

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Steve Jobs would have fired him sooner

Except that, he's the main if not the only reason Forstall stayed at all...

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Whhaaatt? you can't be serious. What makes you think Ive can do make a better ios? Did he have any background in that area?

Designing Interfaces is remarkably like designing hardware creatively and philosophically... sure the software's different, but it's not at all a big leap.

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Sorry, but the Maps issue is something to blame on a quality control process drive by the Project Managers, not a single person.

There should be quality control points in productions and reports.

... You're kidding right? Forstall WAS the quality control manager for all of iOS...

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Hopefully Apple releases hardware specific builds, like in an iPad 4, there are only Retina images... Optimization is key.

 

[innutum]

Perhaps he demo'd iTunes 11?

 

[marcusj0015]

Personally I like skeuomorphisms...

You are aware that there's a difference between designing things to look like existing products, and stuff like the iPhone's tilt sensor sun light animation thingy right?

 

[theBB]

Inside Apple author Adam Lashinsky agrees with that sentiment

It is hard to take somebody who calls the new maps "profoundly bad product" very seriously.

 

[macnerd93]

These both fall into the realm of older or aging guys. Icons like this were really designed as visual cues to lend some sense of familiarity and comfort to such a device. If their growth is really being driven by those under thirty, this kind of iconic representation has really lost much of its value.



Most people are unaware of that.

I'm only 19 and I like Skeumorphism touches, the textures are pretty nice, especially on a retina display.

also like the real to real tape recorder adds a touch of nostalgia. I know what one of them is and im under 30 I restored one during the summer fitting new valves in it etc. xD. They should make the Music app like a record player xD more nostalgic touches. I just like them. Gives a sense of attention to detail with all the little animations especially.

But I'm a lover of vintage tech and have quite a lot of different pieces in my room xD

 

[RickyB]

We won't miss ya!

Sir Ive, we are all excited for what you'll have for us in iOS 7

It's Sir Jonathan.

Or Mr Ive.

 

[marcusj0015]

People who like Apple products are not sheep who all have the same opinion.

And Steve Jobs was not a simple character who you just love or hate. He was much more interesting than that. He made some great decisions, and also some poor ones. But you can only avoid mistakes if you are not pushing very hard. Something you cannot accuse Steve Jobs of.

EVERYONE is more interesting than that, nothing in the world is binary. NOTHING.

 

[Biolizard]

iOS is stagnant. Yeah, I said it.

Flame me all you like, you can see that I own enough Apple gear from my sig, but I actually really like the look of Windows 8 Metro. Android is moving quickly as usual. And where is iOS amongst all this? A dodgy Maps app and coloured status bar is what we got this year.

When that's the situation your product is in, it's management that's at fault and a change at the top is what's needed. Doesn't matter how much kudos they've built up over the years, if your senior people aren't effective anymore, then they're hurting your company.

Thanks Forstall for all the good work you've done, but you're clearly not getting the job done anymore, and it's for the best that you've gone.

 

[marcusj0015]

If anyone looked like they had a pole up their ass at keynotes, it was Forstall.
Always struck me as a self important jerk.

Right?!

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No one deserves to be kicked to the street when they have done so much.

I hope Scott lands well and ends up where he can be better appreciated.

Scott Forstall has over 40 million dollars according to http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-businessmen/business-executives/scott-forstall-net-worth/

He'll be just fine.

 

[makingdots]

You really think Scott Forstall actually wrote code? He was the head of their department, he simply accepted or rejected ideas...

Writing code can be done by others. Even typical programmer with sufficient skills can do that even if they aren't that talented and imaginative. It's like there are OTHERS that can do that job. Better focus on a role beyond that. But for sure, he's knowledgeable about programming.

Like Steve Jobs for example, according to Larry Ellison he's not a programmer nor an engineer but he knows enough how those things work. So I think, Steve Job knows that he shouldn't sit all day to write codes because there are OTHER people can do that. Better spent his thinking on other things that most people can't do.

 

[Ryth]

Honestly I think Microsoft did a better job with their METRO UI then Apple has done with anything in iOS...and I think that is part of the reason for the kicking to the curb of Forstall...nothing was happening with iOS in terms of design.

Metro looks awesome and is designed amazingly in terms of the look.

This is better looking then ANYTHING Apple has done in an OS in ages.

and

In fact, it looks like it should have been something Apple came up with.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Metro look had a little to do with his departure...I agree with IVE totally...the look of Apple iOS is pretty ugly and Forstalls design taste is horrible.

Farewell...and dont feel sorry for him...he's got hundreds of millions.

 

[Rogifan]

Can someone explain, does Ive now have a software team reporting to him or is he just advising Federighi's team? I guess I'm wondering what ther delegation of duties is and where Federighi's role ends and Ive's begins.