Apple Fires Manager Responsible for Maps as Eddy Cue Turns to Outsiders for Help

[MacRumors]

As Apple continues to work toward improving the new Maps service the company rolled out in iOS 6, Bloomberg reports that Apple has fired Richard Williamson, the manager directly responsible for the project.

Richard Williamson, who oversaw the mapping team, was fired by Senior Vice President Eddy Cue, said the people, who asked not to be named because the information wasn't yet public. Cue, who took over last month as part of a management shakeup, is seeking advice from outside mapping-technology experts and prodding digital maps provider TomTom NV to fix landmark and navigation data it shares with Apple.

As part of a management shakeup at Apple announced last month, iOS chief Scott Forstall will be leaving the company next year and his responsibilities have been delegated to other executives. With Eddy Cue now overseeing Maps in addition to his iTunes Store, App Store, iCloud, iBookstore, iAd, and Siri responsibilities, Apple has brought on its "product resuscitator" to help fix the highly criticized service.

Cue is said to be taking a very hands-on approach with Maps, and with his firing of Williamson seems to be looking to build his own team to address the service's many issues.

Article Link: Apple Fires Manager Responsible for Maps as Eddy Cue Turns to Outsiders for Help

[rorschach]

Steve WOULD do that.

[SprodeBoy]

I don't see why. I have found so many cool places my being misguided! After moving to Alabama accidentally while trying to find a Hardee's, I couldn't be happier

[HarryKeogh]

I feel bad for Williamson. After he was fired he couldn't find his way out of the building.

[eda]

Good news for the future. (hopefully)

[nfl46]

Maps may be looking nice for iOS 7 next year.

[dearfriendx]

I've been using the Maps app since like June and haven't had any problems. What's it doing for the rest of you? Like guiding you into a lake? Hahaha you guys are like Dwight Shrute.

[kshitijshah]

As a long time iPhone user outside the USA I feel pretty let down with Maps especially since google is going all out to please a worldwide audience. Apple could definitely do with outside help. iOS 7 please show the world why we love Apple so much.

[RoelJuun]

He'll be heading into other directions.

[bushido]

well ... even the app icon tells u to jump over a bridge sooooo

anyway, so sick of seeing my city in black and white

[Nevzorus]

I actually have 0 problems with maps besides that I don't have flyover in my city. It's pretty good though

[Kilamite]

How this happened originally is crazy. Firing people now is too late - the mess already happened.

[Dr McKay]

Originally Posted by nfl46

Maps may be looking nice for iOS 7 next year.

One would hope so, it tells me my nearest pub is 47 miles away. Anyone living in the UK knows this is impossible.

[splatterific]

I would hate to say it looks like apple has lost it's grip iOS is everything and isn't any better or different in appearance since the original. Beginning to be prehistoric

[macslayer118]

It's hitting the fan hard up at Apple...

[ZacNicholson]

damn everyone seems to be getting fired.

[Tiger8]

Originally Posted by dearfriendx

I've been using the Maps app since like June and haven't had any problems. What's it doing for the rest of you? Like guiding you into a lake? Hahaha you guys are like Dwight Shrute.

It put my residential building as a 'point of interest' and a 'public school'. And that was true, abck in 1903 until 1941

[elberto1]

Apple,

Just buy google already and make their maps (with voice navigation) yours.

You know that the purchase would barely make a dent in your corporate surplus anyways.

What's stopping you? Anti-trust?

[AppleInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by Kilamite

How this happened originally is crazy. Firing people now is too late - the mess already happened.

So what do you suggest they do? Keep the people responsible on staff and give up?

[jimmer-uk]

Originally Posted by Kilamite

How this happened originally is crazy. Firing people now is too late - the mess already happened.

Your right, they are better doing nothing.

[Lucky736]

Originally Posted by roeljuun

he'll be heading into other directions.

[freelancing]

Originally Posted by harrykeogh

i feel bad for williamson. After he was fired he couldn't find his way out of the building.

lol

[macidiot]

Funny thing, I haven't really encountered any problems with maps.

I've used it in Los Angeles, New York, Salt Lake City, Miami, and the respective surrounding regions. Search, turn by turn, etc. Seems to work fine. If anything, its a lot faster and has a cleaner interface.

Go figure.

[Rogifan]

Ok can we now fire who ever approved the changes to the AppStore UI? Or would that require firing Cue himself?

[Liquorpuki]

Originally Posted by dearfriendx

I've been using the Maps app since like June and haven't had any problems. What's it doing for the rest of you? Like guiding you into a lake? Hahaha you guys are like Dwight Shrute.

I used it twice over the weekend - first time was to go to a hotel for a wedding. It sent me to a residential culdesac near the hotel and told me I was there.

Second time was to go to a bday party that turned out to be at a store in an outdoor mall. It sent me to a residential street behind the mall and told me I was there.