Why You Can Trust CNET Fired Apple Maps boss 'got what he deserved', says iPod bod
A former Apple exec who worked on the iPod in its early days says Scott Forstall deserved to be sacked.
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A former Apple exec, who worked on the first 18 generations of the iPod and was also involved with crafting hardware for the first iPhone, has said sacked software chief Scott Forstall "got what he deserved".
In an interview with the BBC, Tony Fadell, a former vice president of Apple who now works on the Nest thermostat, said Forstall's departure from the company was "justified".
Forstall, who was in charge of iOS when the disastrous Maps update happened, was shown the door several weeks ago amid rumours of rifts with other Apple top brass and an unwillingness to apologise for the rubbish maps app. In the end, Apple chief Tim Cook signed his name to a grovelling mea culpa.
Despite sounding like a delightful comedy double-act, Fadell and Forstall reportedly had a strained working relationship at Apple. While visibly reluctant to be drawn on the subject, Fadell told the Beeb, "If you read some of the reports, people were cheering in Cupertino when that event happened.
"I think Apple's in a great space, it has great products," Fadell said. "There are other amazing people at the company and I think those people actually have a chance to have a firm footing now, and continue the legacy that Steve left."
Meanwhile the manager who was more directly in charge of Apple's mapping team has also been fired, according to reports.
Fadell's Nest thermostat lets you control the temperature of your house using your tablet or smart phone. I went hands-on with the slick-looking gadget back in January, and was impressed by the interface, which certainly beats pulling the front plate off your boiler to try and decode 30-year-old timer symbols.
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