The world was shocked when Apple (NASDAQ:
AAPL
) revealed that it planned to replace the former senior Vice
President of iOS, Scott Forstall. In one headline,
Business Insider
wrote that Scott Forstall "may be the most valuable free agent
the tech world has ever seen." Forstall was fired after Apple
launched its first mapping application. Referred to as "Maps,"
the new program replaced the default Google Maps (NASDAQ:
GOOG
) app that had been included with iOS since the iPhone was
released.
Apple heavily promoted the new app on its
website
. While the language has been toned down, the company still
claims that it "gives you a better way to find your way."
Reviewers
strongly disagreed
.
Despite his shortcomings, Forstall has a lot of fans. As
Apple's reported CEO-in-waiting, critics argued that it was the
company's
lack of vision
that ultimately led to his departure. Former Apple engineer
Michael Lopp
referred
to him as the "best approximation of Steve Jobs that Apple had
left."
Forstall is not the only prominent executive on his way out
the door. Monday night, Microsoft (NASDAQ:
MSFT
) announced that Windows and Windows Live President Steven
Sinofsky has left the company.
"It is impossible to count the blessings I have received over
my years at Microsoft," Sinofsky said in a
company release
. "I am humbled by the professionalism and generosity of everyone
I have had the good fortune to work with at this awesome
company."
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said that he is "grateful for the
many years of work that Steven has contributed to the
company."
According to an internal memo obtained by
CNET
, Sinofsky said that he decided to leave the company "to seek new
opportunities that build on these experiences." Those experiences
include a "wide range of Microsoft products" that he helped the
company produce for more than 20 years.
Trip Chowdhry, the Managing Director of Equity Research at
Global Equities Research, has a different view of the matter.
"[The] converged view was that Microsoft Windows 8 or ARM
Processors was a strategic mishap, as it has confused the
customer, which has probably made customers [choose] to not buy,"
he said of Sinofsky's departure.
Chowdhry spoke to three developers who feel that Sinofsky --
who was thought to be Microsoft's next CEO after Ballmer -- added
a lot of value to Windows 8. The analyst mentioned that the
smooth and responsive touch controls are positive features. He
also noted the "high resolution and clear type fonts," as well as
the integrated keyboard.
However, Chowdhry feels that the less desirable elements (such
as the "confusing switching between [the] traditional user
interface and Metro") outweigh its positive features.
Nonetheless, Sinofsky told his former colleagues that he left for
his own reasons, and not because of a so-called Windows 8 mishap.
"Some might notice a bit of chatter speculating about this
decision or timing," he wrote in the memo. "I can assure you that
none could be true as this was a personal and private choice that
in no way reflects any speculation or theories one might read --
about me, opportunity, the company or its leadership."
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