Apple Executive Behind Breakthrough Hardware Technologies to Retire

[MacRumors]

The Apple executive responsible for the company's multitouch technology, health sensors, Touch ID, and Face ID is set to retire from the company, Bloomberg reports.

Steve Hotelling currently works as a vice president reporting to senior vice president of hardware technologies Johny Srouji. During his tenure, Hotelling significantly contributed to the development of some of Apple's most innovative and complex technologies used in the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro headset. Hotelling's name appears on hundreds of patents, including filings related to multitouch displays and Touch ID.

Hotelling led the company's camera engineering team and was involved in the development of custom sensors. His work oversaw the development of the depth-sensing technologies crucial for augmented reality experiences and components fundamental to haptic feedback and ProMotion displays.

Hotelling has also been a prominent representative for Apple in numerous legal trials throughout his two decades with the company. He was a key figure in a patent case against Samsung in the last decade and recently served as a crucial witness in a trial involving Masimo, which sued Apple over patents related to health sensors.

Despite the significance of his departure, Apple has not yet shared an official statement regarding Hotelling's retirement. His responsibilities are apparently being distributed among several of Srouji's direct reports, with Alan Gilchrist taking over the management of the camera and depth sensor teams, and Wei Chen taking over display technologies. Apple's hardware technologies group continues work on a custom 5G cellular modem, new wireless chips, microLED displays, and a non-invasive blood sugar sensor.

Article Link: Apple Executive Behind Breakthrough Hardware Technologies to Retire

 

[nt5672]

Wonder why: age, health, family, or management?

 

[icanhazapple]

Here's to the brilliant ones! Thank you, Steve!

 

[vertsix]

Wow, I didn't know about this guy. Now I know I should've. I know all about Tony Fadell and how unrecognized he was for his work on the iPod and iPhone, but not this guy. Legend. Hopefully he has an enjoyable retirement.

 

[jz0309]

Happy retirement!

 

[ipedro]

That man deserves a retirement. I hope he's beyond wealthy after everything he's contributed to making Apple a multi trillion dollar company.

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Congratulations. All the best. Enjoy!

 

[I7guy]

Wonder why: age, health, family, or management?

Because he doesn’t want to work anymore? It happens.

 

[evertjr]

It's amazing how many incredible people work at Apple and deliver wonderful things to the world. This man surely deserve a happy retirement and spend time with other things.

 

[MajorFubar]

Happy retirement

 

[DocMultimedia]

Retirement is fun IMO. I know I'm enjoying it. 😀

 

[adrianjagielak]

> Apple's hardware technologies group continues work on a custom 5G cellular modem, new wireless chips, microLED displays, and a non-invasive blood sugar sensor.

So the 5G modem isn't scrapped?

 

[CWallace]

Wonder why: age, health, family, or management?

He's been with the company for 20 years-plus so perhaps he feels he's done enough.

> Apple's hardware technologies group continues work on a custom 5G cellular modem, new wireless chips, microLED displays, and a non-invasive blood sugar sensor.

So the 5G modem isn't scrapped?

If nothing else, continuing to work on their own cellular modem could help with future negotiations with Qualcomm. Qualcomm's fees were a major reason for Apple also using Intel's modems and then taking ownership of the program when Intel decided to shutter it.

 

[Populus]

I wish him a good retirement, full of love, health and joy

I didn’t know his name, but if his contribution has been so significant, I think many of us should be grateful for his work each time we unlock our devices with our thumb or our face, as well as many other innovations.

 

[ElectricPotato]

His Apple LifeClock was blinking red and he had to report to carousel.

 

[Cranslove]

Breakthrough technologies lmao.
All they did was put some improvements to it. But other than silicon chips, they created nothing new.

Although you’ve got to hand them kudos for reselling the same thing over and over and create more revenue and profit.

 

[iBluetooth]

Breakthrough technologies lmao.
All they did was put some improvements to it. But other than silicon chips, they created nothing new.

Although you’ve got to hand them kudos for reselling the same thing over and over and create more revenue and profit.

They actually bought a company that was already making the ARM chips. But, they didn't get so big by not inventing anything

 

[laptech]

Just goes to show there are way to many executive positions at Apple. Here he is being vice president of hardware technologies reporting to the senior vice president of hardware technologies who in turn reports to the president of hardware technologies. It is utterly ridiculous that Apple need 3 executives for what is basically the same job/department, a vice president, a senior vice president and president.

I wonder what the position below Steve Hotelling is, assistant vice president?? lol

 

[rhaezorblue]

Did this executive invent the technologies the title lists? This is misleading - how about giving credit to the actual engineers or analysts to really invented or created these technologies? I have worked in IT for 20 years and I'm tired of suits getting credit for what the workers actually produce. "Behind Breakthrough Hardware Technologies" - you mean to say, the suit that sat in meetings discussing the hard work of other IT people, basically told them "Yes keep working on this" and then somehow gets credit for the invention?

 

[Siliconguy]

His Apple LifeClock was blinking red and he had to report to carousel.

Let's hope not.

On the other hand, getting to run off into the forest with Jenny Agutter might not be so bad.

 

[desslr]

Enjoy your retirement sir! Thank you for bringing happiness to millions

 

[turbineseaplane]

Wonder why: age, health, family, or management?

Probably burnout and being financially set (wildly, I'm sure)

 

[dwaite]

So the 5G modem isn't scrapped?

Why would it be?

Apple isn't going to ship it until it is non-arguably as good or better than Qualcomm's modem, or until Qualcomm decides they want to gamble with Apple's business during contract negotiations.

 

[dwaite]

Did this executive invent the technologies the title lists? This is misleading - how about giving credit to the actual engineers or analysts to really invented or created these technologies? I have worked in IT for 20 years and I'm tired of suits getting credit for what the workers actually produce. "Behind Breakthrough Hardware Technologies" - you mean to say, the suit that sat in meetings discussing the hard work of other IT people, basically told them "Yes keep working on this" and then somehow gets credit for the invention?

It was probably less about giving him credit, and more about falsely implying that the sole inventor of dozens of crucial technologies was quitting Apple.

A headline like "Long-time upper management decides to retire" doesn't get the clicks.

 

[melgross]

He’ll probably work for them on a consulting basis for some time.