Steve Jobs Acknowledges MobileMe Missteps

[Apple Ink]

Article Link: ArsTechnica

In an internal e-mail sent to Apple employees this evening, Steve Jobs admitted that MobileMe was launched too early and "not up to Apple's standards." The e-mail, seen by Ars Technica, acknowledges MobileMe's flaws and what could have been done to better handle the launch. In addition to needing more time and testing, Jobs believes that Apple should have rolled MobileMe's services out slowly instead of launching it "as a monolithic service." For example, over-the-air iPhone syncing could have gone up initially, then web apps one by one (Mail, Calendar, etc.).

Jobs goes on. "It was a mistake to launch MobileMe at the same time as iPhone 3G, iPhone 2.0 software and the App Store," he says. "We all had more than enough to do, and MobileMe could have been delayed without consequence." We agree with that one.
Apple is learning a lot of lessons from its numerous MobileMe foibles, it seems, and has even reorganized the MobileMe team. For one, the entire group will now report to Eddie Cue (you may remember Cue's name showing up in numerous iTunes-related press releases). Cue will now lead all Internet-related services at Apple—including iTunes, the App Store, and now MobileMe—and will report directly to Steve Jobs.

"The MobileMe launch clearly demonstrates that we have more to learn about Internet services," Jobs says. "And learn we will. The vision of MobileMe is both exciting and ambitious, and we will press on to make it a service we are all proud of by the end of this year."

[NotFound]

Sounds like a polite yet firm way of saying "heads will roll if this isn't fixed."

[Apple Ink]

Originally Posted by andrewxps

Sounds like a polite yet firm way of saying "heads will roll if this isn't fixed."

LOL. But guess we were right when we said MobileMe head's gonna get it from steve! And he did get something:demotion/shunt!

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by andrewxps

Sounds like a polite yet firm way of saying "heads will roll if this isn't fixed."

If heads haven't already rolled.

[NotFound]

Originally Posted by alphaod

If heads haven't already rolled.

True. I'm sure a few people have already seen the butt end of Steve over MobileMe. And true, it was a mistake rolling all these new products and services at once... but, you live and learn!

[PlaceofDis]

i said this when mobile me was launched. it made no sense to try and do everything at once. talk about mis-management. moblie me could've been put up earlier actually too if they were ready. which wouldn't have had any consequence either. or started to roll it out a week or two before hand. would've made things a lot easier.

i'm just glad that they're learning form their mistakes. my only complaint right now is how slow the idisk is still. since its launch though i haven't bothered to play around with it too much because it can be frustrating.

[Daveoc64]

I'm really excited about the bit in bold.

[TLewis]

Originally Posted by alphaod

If heads haven't already rolled.

Given that the MM blog hasn't been updated in some time, I think we can assume that something has happened:

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/status/

[Macsterguy]

Originally Posted by TLewis

Given that the MM blog hasn't been updated in some time, I think we can assume that something has happened:

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/status/

Didn't you hear? Steve wrote a letter on his mac... Whoop-te-do!
He says that it will only be 5 more months until MobileMe works well...
I am so excited, I can't wait!

(It really works pretty well for me now, web interface sucks).

[koobcamuk]

Originally Posted by TLewis

Given that the MM blog hasn't been updated in some time, I think we can assume that something has happened:

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/status/

We can assume David G got fired.

Originally Posted by OrleansMac

Launched too early....MobileMe's flaws....they shouldn't be so hard on themselves since only 1% were affected by those problems

Why am I always in this 1%?

[Pooshka]

Damn, Apple, where TF is PHP support??? I so need it.

[Dmac77]

Originally Posted by koobcamuk

We can assume David G got fired.



Why am I always in this 1%?

Hopefully along with some other MM developers.

Don

[r.j.s]

Originally Posted by andrewxps

Sounds like a polite yet firm way of saying "heads will roll if this isn't fixed."

Exactly what I was thinking.

Really, I think they should have waited, who would need the extra services at the iPhone launch if they didn't exist. They should have concentrated on their huge products, then rolled this out.

[rtdunham]

Originally Posted by andrewxps

Sounds like a polite yet firm way of saying "heads will roll if this isn't fixed."

I think when the boss says the launch was poorly executed AND a new management structure is announced, it's reasonable to conclude that's not a bowling ball rolling down the hallway in Cupertino.

Sure, the buck eventually stops with S Jobs, but if he's delegating authority as he should, someone else was in charge of the launch and recommendations surrounding it. Given concerns about SJ's health in recent years, I hope he's delegating properly. I haven't seen or heard anything to the contrary.

It's exciting to hear MM described as a product that won't achieve its potential for another five months. If that's not RDF, it bodes well for the service.

[scotty96LSC]

Originally Posted by andrewxps

Sounds like a polite yet firm way of saying "heads will roll if this isn't fixed."

The responsibility for this, however, is on Jobs. He needs to ensure this gets fixed, he has people in place to get it fixed, and then if it isn't heads will roll.
I would also have liked to see this admittance of too much with too little sooner than a month after the July 11 fiasco.

[imaketouchtheme]

Neither is Windows, but they are still making tons of money.....

[MacRumors]

Ars Technica reports that Steve Jobs sent an internal e-mail to Apple employees this evening admitting mistakes in launching MobileMe.

"It was a mistake to launch MobileMe at the same time as iPhone 3G, iPhone 2.0 software and the App Store," he says. "We all had more than enough to do, and MobileMe could have been delayed without consequence."

In particular, Jobs suggested that Apple should have launched the MobileMe services individually rather than in a single, complicated transition. Jobs also outlined a reorganization of management structure in which Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president for iTunes, will add oversight of the App Store and MobileMe to his duties and will report directly to Jobs.

"The MobileMe launch clearly demonstrates that we have more to learn about Internet services," Jobs says. "And learn we will. The vision of MobileMe is both exciting and ambitious, and we will press on to make it a service we are all proud of by the end of this year."

MobileMe has been plagued by intermittent service at launch, exorbitant preauthorization charges for members signing up for the free trial, and an extended MobileMe e-mail outage affecting approximately 1% of customers that was not resolved until July 29th.

Article Link

[alphaod]

So hopefully things will be resolved ASAP.

[EricNau]

Originally Posted by alphaod

So hopefully things will be resolved ASAP.

One could hope, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Jobs' "end of the year" comment wasn't exactly reassuring.

[MacGeek7]

Wow - that's good to see - at least the RDF isn't keeping him from admitting Apple's/his mistake

[atluten]

Good to know they actually care about making the service work.

[Flynntoo]

sounds like steves been humbled and now theyre gonna make it rock right.

[zombitronic]

“By ignorance we mistake, and by mistakes we learn”

[the vj]

Jobs is so inspirational

I wish I could be half the manager he is.

[syklee26]

my biggest problem with MobileMe is its speed. it takes a pretty long time to load and navigate the page.

plus it's way too damn expensive.