8 ms·

I worked in Scott’s group. He was on top of everything and was passionately involved. We would get in a room and pitch all (yes, all) ideas/changes to him and s

by psaux 6y ago

I worked in Scott’s group. He was on top of everything and was passionately involved. We would get in a room and pitch all (yes, all) ideas/changes to him and sometimes Steve. He had no tolerance for bugs, and quality was number one. He was like that coach you thought hated you, then you realized he cared.

bangonkeyboard 6y ago
Were you around for what came after him?
ksec 6y ago
>He had no tolerance for bugs, and quality was number one. Not something I could say about recent iOS. What are you thoughts on the whole Map fiasco? Still he had stayed at Apple.
- ksec 6y ago
  Still wished* he had stayed at Apple.
Angostura 6y ago
How the hell did he let the original Maps out of the door?
- robenkleene 6y ago
  I don't understand what people wanted Apple to do differently with Apple Maps? Maps is core to the iPhone, given it's a device you use out and about. Google had them under their thumb, because they were dependent on their data, and were denying them features[0]. They couldn't wait until the data was better because that's not how it works, you need to collect data to improve data. I don't see what they could have done differently? Even in hindsight this seems like the right call? This whole situation sounds like people not liking to use a mediocre product, but just because the product is mediocre doesn't always mean it wasn't the right decision to release it, from both a company strategy perspective, and from a consumer benefit perspective (if you believe competition is healthy for consumers). [0]: https://daringfireball.net/2012/09/get_the_fainting_chair https://daringfireball.net/2012/09/get_the_fainting_chair
  - Austin_Conlon 6y ago
    They could've put a "beta" badge on Maps like they did with Safari, and kept Google Maps preinstalled alongside it. Perhaps many people conflated the hilariously bad looking 3D Flyover bugs with core functionality and the initial impression stuck.
    - robenkleene 6y ago
      Have two maps apps installed by default on a new iPhone...? I can't imagine Apple doing that under any circumstances. I'm not sure about the "Beta" tag, it doesn't strike me as a terrible idea. But collecting refining map data is a project measured in decades, when should the Beta tag be removed?
      - Wowfunhappy 6y ago
        Installed by default, I can't imagine. However, Apple has certainly offered beta downloads before. Bootcamp Assistant was an optional "Beta" download before it was included with OS X in Leopard. Safari also began its life as a Beta web browser from Apple, even as there were alternatives from other companies.
    - scarface74 6y ago
      That’s a very Samsung/Microsoft like approach. Besides that, the Maps app was always made by Apple. They used Google’s data. When they switched over to their own data, it still carried your data over.
  - matwood 6y ago
    Exactly. There is no way Apple could wait until feature parity which still may not ever happen in some areas. There comes a point where they have to get what they have out the door and continue to iterate. One could argue Apple released too early, but it was going to be bumpy no matter when they released.
    - Wowfunhappy 6y ago
flowerlad 6y ago
I wish Scott was running Apple today not Tim Cook. I love skeuomorphic interfaces. Tim Cook is a failure in my opinion. There have been no interesting products under him, nor any compelling features added to existing products. He is simply coasting on the trajectory set by Steve Jobs.
- stevievee 6y ago
  I agree we haven't seen the Apple "Blockbusters" everyone got used to. Although many (like yourself?) are looking for leadership in creativity and higher risk endeavors, Tim Cook certainly has more business acumen which should not be undervalued. Does that lead to a boring company? Possibly.
- hylaride 6y ago
  Uh, the apple watch? Airpods? While I personally hate skeuomorphic interfaces, I'll mostly agree with your analysis on Tim Cook. He's an amazing supply chain whiz, but he's not a product guy. The software quality at apple has also plummeted.
  - kick 6y ago
    >mid-spec smartwatch that took three iterations to get to the level of polish its competitors were at during its first one >bluetooth headphones I don't think these count as interesting. I'm glad they exist, but they're pretty dull.

by psaux 6y ago

bangonkeyboard 6y ago

Were you around for what came after him?

ksec 6y ago

>He had no tolerance for bugs, and quality was number one. Not something I could say about recent iOS. What are you thoughts on the whole Map fiasco? Still he had stayed at Apple.

ksec 6y ago
Still wished* he had stayed at Apple.

Angostura 6y ago

How the hell did he let the original Maps out of the door?

robenkleene 6y ago
I don't understand what people wanted Apple to do differently with Apple Maps? Maps is core to the iPhone, given it's a device you use out and about. Google had them under their thumb, because they were dependent on their data, and were denying them features[0]. They couldn't wait until the data was better because that's not how it works, you need to collect data to improve data. I don't see what they could have done differently? Even in hindsight this seems like the right call? This whole situation sounds like people not liking to use a mediocre product, but just because the product is mediocre doesn't always mean it wasn't the right decision to release it, from both a company strategy perspective, and from a consumer benefit perspective (if you believe competition is healthy for consumers). [0]: https://daringfireball.net/2012/09/get_the_fainting_chair https://daringfireball.net/2012/09/get_the_fainting_chair
- Austin_Conlon 6y ago
  They could've put a "beta" badge on Maps like they did with Safari, and kept Google Maps preinstalled alongside it. Perhaps many people conflated the hilariously bad looking 3D Flyover bugs with core functionality and the initial impression stuck.
  - robenkleene 6y ago
    Have two maps apps installed by default on a new iPhone...? I can't imagine Apple doing that under any circumstances. I'm not sure about the "Beta" tag, it doesn't strike me as a terrible idea. But collecting refining map data is a project measured in decades, when should the Beta tag be removed?
    - Wowfunhappy 6y ago
      Installed by default, I can't imagine. However, Apple has certainly offered beta downloads before. Bootcamp Assistant was an optional "Beta" download before it was included with OS X in Leopard. Safari also began its life as a Beta web browser from Apple, even as there were alternatives from other companies.
  - scarface74 6y ago
    That’s a very Samsung/Microsoft like approach. Besides that, the Maps app was always made by Apple. They used Google’s data. When they switched over to their own data, it still carried your data over.
- matwood 6y ago
  Exactly. There is no way Apple could wait until feature parity which still may not ever happen in some areas. There comes a point where they have to get what they have out the door and continue to iterate. One could argue Apple released too early, but it was going to be bumpy no matter when they released.
  - Wowfunhappy 6y ago

flowerlad 6y ago

I wish Scott was running Apple today not Tim Cook. I love skeuomorphic interfaces. Tim Cook is a failure in my opinion. There have been no interesting products under him, nor any compelling features added to existing products. He is simply coasting on the trajectory set by Steve Jobs.

stevievee 6y ago
I agree we haven't seen the Apple "Blockbusters" everyone got used to. Although many (like yourself?) are looking for leadership in creativity and higher risk endeavors, Tim Cook certainly has more business acumen which should not be undervalued. Does that lead to a boring company? Possibly.
hylaride 6y ago
Uh, the apple watch? Airpods? While I personally hate skeuomorphic interfaces, I'll mostly agree with your analysis on Tim Cook. He's an amazing supply chain whiz, but he's not a product guy. The software quality at apple has also plummeted.
- kick 6y ago
  >mid-spec smartwatch that took three iterations to get to the level of polish its competitors were at during its first one >bluetooth headphones I don't think these count as interesting. I'm glad they exist, but they're pretty dull.