Forstall was an enshittefier too. Apple Maps was exactly what we are talking about.

Apple Maps from day one was skating to where the puck was going to be. They had vector based maps when that stuff was brand new. Possibly before Google deployed it widespread (but I'm not sure on this fact).

But the problem with Apple Maps was easy to see (and can only be fixex over time)... data. Google and others had a decade+ head start on Apple when it came to collecting data for maps. Judge Apple Maps 5 years old vs Google Maps 5 years old. Not Apple Maps brand new vs Google Maps 10 years later.

Forstall is the one that pushed to make iOS based on macOS/Unix. He was definitely a lightning rod but had product sense.

	▲	krackers 15 hours ago \| parent [-]
		From my reading, Forstall was one of the few who actually refused to partake in performative corporate culture, and decided to quit rather than bend over >when Apple issued a formal apology for the errors in Maps, Forstall refused to sign it It's obvious that apple maps would never be able to be a perfect replacement for google maps at launch, and it's possible Forstall in fact voiced these exact concerns but was overruled before launch, only to then be used as cannon fodder when he turned out to be right. Given all the clearly empty corporate-style "we take full responsibility" stuff you see today, someone actually _refusing_ to play those games when it wasn't his fault is a very positive sign for authenticity. (He also did work on Siri, but given that he was booted right after its launch, I don't think it's fair to attribute their present incompetence on that front to him.)

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coldtea 20 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Strange take. Apple Maps was a new product. It's expected it would be behind Google Maps, maybe even forever given all the headstart and resources Google gives it.

In any case, Apple Maps (a NEW then product, in an entirely new space for Apple) being bad, is not at all related to "enshittification".

Apple Maps is absolutely the wrong thing to judge Forstall on.

Not to mention that its main problem is coverage i.e. data quality. Regarding software engineering it's fine, even better than Google Maps in lots of aspects.

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iwontberude 7 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I mean, we had gps nav that worked and Apple maps would instead tell people to go down railroads but okay downvote me.