“Apple, during WWDC last week, delivered some significant updates across various parts of its business. It released, among other things, some 4,000 new APIs (and a new programming language) to developers; a renewed, more aggressive effort in cloud services; and some changes across its mobile and desktop operating systems to make them a lot more integrated with the primary way that we use our computing devices these days — to go online and interact with other services,” Ingrid Lunden reports for TechCrunch. “But one area of Apple’s business was nearly nowhere to be found at the main event: Maps.”
“I write ‘nearly’ because it was not an event without any mentions of Maps — Apple gave a quick line to the news that it now offers vector maps and other improvements in China. And there is a feature in iOS 8 that will give venue owners the ability to add more indoor positioning data. But from what we understand this was far from what Apple had intended,” Lunden reports. “‘There were multiple improvements that didn’t make it into iOS8 [sic],’ a source tells us.”
“Why didn’t they appear? One tipster says it was a personnel issue: ‘Many developers left the company, no map improvements planned for iOS 8 release were finished in time. Mostly it was failure of project managers and engineering project managers, tasks were very badly planned, developers had to switch multiple times from project to project,'” Lunden reports. “It’s a take that is both contested and corroborated by our other source. ‘I would say that planning, project management and internal politics issues were a much more significant contributor to the failure to complete projects than developers leaving the group,’ the source said.”
Read more in the full article here.
“Back in March, reports popped up that Cathy Edwards, who happen to be in charge of Maps Quality after joining Apple through the company’s acquisition of Chomp,” Jordan Kahn reports for 9to5Mac. “The reason behind Cathy’s departure was unknown at the time, but we’ve learned from sources that disagreements with employees on the Maps team working under Edwards and an opposition to her management style lead to problems on the Maps team and ultimately her leaving in April.”
Kahn reports, “Apple also lost key Maps team member Jared Waldman from Placebase who worked as Head of Geo at Apple Maps until late last year. In addition, we’ve heard from former employees of the mapping team that recently left the company due to issues with Edwards and management of the Maps team. 9to5Mac has viewed email exchanges between employees regarding several complaints filed about Edwards and requests for investigations by Apple into her treatment of employees.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Who’s ultimately in charge of Maps? Mr. iTunes Radio himself, Eddy Cue.
While basically finished, a source tells us, Apple’s “iTV” languishes in Apple’s labs because Steve Jobs is dead and Eddy can’t get the necessary contracts inked without Steve. The lack of ink is also why Apple needed to spend $3 billion to get Jimmy Iovine. Jimmy’s there to get ink on the dotted line.
Tim Cook needs to be very careful not to fall in love with executives who are not pulling their weight. One highly-placed executive who can’t execute can royally screw up major parts of the company. (See Forstall and Browett.)
Hey, who knows, maybe Eddy will surprise us. It would be very welcome after a string of pretty much nothing beyond some recent PR appearances (Code Conference, a photo op with Tim Cook in Austin) and a string of mediocrity (iTunes Radio, ongoing Maps delays, numerous and ever-changing iOS in the Car initiatives that never seem to go very far) and non-starters (“iTV,” iTunes subscription music service). Sadly, based on the last few years, we’re not expecting to be surprised.
Do your job, Eddy.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Brawndo Drinker” and “Lynn Weiler” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Cathy Edwards, co-founder of Chomp, leaving Apple – March 25, 2014
Apple buys app search startup Chomp for $50 million – February 24, 2012
Apple insiders: Arrogant Apple managers are the reasons why iTunes Radio sucks, Ping failed, and Apple had to buy Beats – June 5, 2014
Jimmy Iovine: Apple’s new music impresario – May 29, 2014
Apple’s Eddy Cue ‘very pleased’ with iTunes Radio, looks to go international ASAP; more than 100 countries targeted – October 4, 2013
Apple’s Eddy Cue racing to overhaul Maps – November 28, 2012
Apple’s Eddy Cue joins Ferrari board of directors – November 7, 2012
Tim Cook takes full control of Apple: John Browett and Scott Forstall out; Jony Ive, Bob Mansfield, Eddy Cue and Craig Federighi get expanded responsibilities – October 29, 2012
