Apple iOS 8.0.1 Issues Linked to Maps Debacle, Same Manager Oversaw Both Projects

[MacRumors]

Apple's recent iOS 8.0.1 issue, which saw the update disable the cellular connection and Touch ID functionality on numerous iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices, may have links to Apple's 2012 Maps debacle, reports Bloomberg.

According to "people familiar with Apple's management structure," the same mid-level manager was in charge of overseeing quality assurance for both projects, having been moved to the iOS team after being removed from the Maps team.

[The manager] was removed from the maps team after the software gave users unreliable directions and mislabeled landmarks, though he remained in charge of testing for iOS, said one person, who asked not to be identified since the information isn't public.

The employee in question, who has worked at Apple since 2000, is in charge of a team of more than "100 people around the world" responsible for testing the software before it reaches consumers, says Bloomberg.

According to the Bloomberg report, engineers who test the new software often are unable to get the latest iPhones until they are available to customers, "resulting in updates that may not have gone through tests that are are rigorous as those for the latest handsets," and internal issues can also impact Apple's testing, which may explain how such a significant bug got through the testing process.

Internal turf battles also can impact quality testing, according to a former senior manager. Teams responsible for testing cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity will sometimes sign off on a product release, then [the manager's] team will discover later that it's not compatible with another feature, the person said.

Released yesterday, iOS 8.0.1 contained a critical bug that caused the cellular service and Touch ID on iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices to malfunction. Though the update was pulled after approximately an hour and fifteen minutes after it was first released, numerous iPhone users were able to download the software, which effectively disabled their phones.

Apple announced that it was investigating the situation in the afternoon, and yesterday evening, the company released a support document saying iOS 8.0.2 was in the works and directing users to fix the problem via an iTunes restore to iOS 8.

Apple has seen several issues with iOS 8 in recent weeks, including a major bug with HealthKit that caused the company to pull all HealthKit-enabled apps from the App Store ahead of the public release of iOS 8. Apple promised a quick fix, and iOS 8.0.1 was supposed to repair the issue and allow apps that use HealthKit back into the App Store.

Apple has just released iOS 8.0.2 to fix the bugs that were introduced with iOS 8.0.1.

Update: This post has been updated to remove the individual's name.

Article Link: Apple iOS 8.0.1 Issues Linked to Maps Debacle, Same Manager Oversaw Both Projects

 

[farewelwilliams]

sure. link directly to his linkedin and rub it in his face.

 

[Dekema2]

By now he's been fired already

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

No need to fire this guy? Jobs like this are hard to get.

 

[Fuchal]

I hope this is true, otherwise it's a pretty ****** thing to post.

 

[Steviejobz]

If he is this bad at his job perhaps he needs to move on

 

[camnchar]

Steve Jobs would never have allowed him to live.

 

[toptekjon]

sure. link directly to his linkedin and rub it in his face.

Seriously. I'm sure Macrumors won't be the only one, but why ruin this guys reputation/career in such a public way? He's human! Humans make mistakes! There's no way to even know if this actually one mans fault. How could he possibly test millions of phones being used in different ways?

People act like the guy is running the country. It's just a damn phone, give the guy a break! (I love my phone too, but come on)

 

[Flyc17]

Take his ID and have security escort him to the exit.

 

[ethanwa79]

According to "people familiar with Apple's management structure,"

I hope MacRumors did their research to make sure this really was the guy responsible. Otherwise you just f'ed up his life badly.

 

[proline]

Scapegoating is a pointless exercise. The root cause of the QA problems Apple has every fall are the rigid deadline due to the iPhone event combined with the lack of external testing starting in early August onwards necessary to keep new features secret. Until those issues are dealt with there will be bugs no matter who is in charge. Now its quite possible Apple feels that their current way of doing business is worth it from a marketing perspective, black eyes be damned, but that's another issue.

 

[realeric]

"He has to be fired." Multi-million peoples were stranded without cell reception for hours.

 

[budselectjr]

Another challenge is that the engineers who test the newest software versions often don’t get their hands on the latest iPhones until the same time that they arrive with customers, resulting in updates that may not have gone through tests that are are rigorous as those for the latest handsets. Cook has clamped down on the use of unreleased iPhones and only senior managers are allowed access to the products without special permission, two people said.

Internal turf battles also can impact quality testing, according to a former senior manager. Teams responsible for testing cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity will sometimes sign off on a product release, then the team will discover later that it’s not compatible with another feature, the person said.

Apple issued then withdrew the iOS 8.0.1 update this week. The speed of issuing the update was unusual, just days after the introduction of iOS 8, the latest major upgrade to the software that runs iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-25/apple-s-iphone-software-snafu-has-links-to-flawed-maps.html

Sounds like a mess.

 

[diddl14]

Wow, is MacRumors now supporting mobbing?

 

[MacPrometheus]

I don't agree with posting this guy's name on a rumor by an unnamed source (probably a co-worker(s) that wants a B Team player gone).

A ****** thing to do doesn't even start to cover this.

 

[BlueParadox]

I'm imagining this manager in a cozy office at Cupertino, gently stroking a fluffy white Samsung-made robotic cat (which has stopped working, btw), complete with a sinister, self-absorbed grin that cannot be wiped...

 

[sosull]

Directly linking to his LinkedIn profile is pretty unnecessary.

 

[milhouse994]

This makes me very uncomfortable. The fact that this guy's name was leaked to the media suggests that someone inside Apple has an axe to grind. This man is about to be convicted in the court of public opinion with no evidence to suggest he has done a thing wrong, other than perhaps be in wrong place twice.

 

[Mjmar]

You really can attribute all of this to one guy? It's not like he coded this stuff by himself.

 

[jclo]

Directly linking to his LinkedIn profile is pretty unnecessary.

I've removed the link and added additional details.

 

[Crosscreek]

Probably a samsung spy.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

This is pretty low for MacRumors. People make mistakes. You don't have to ruin their careers.

 

[mobilehaathi]

No need to name the person, even if he is responsible.

 

[coolfactor]

According to "people familiar with Apple's management structure,"

I hope MacRumors did their research to make sure this really was the guy responsible. Otherwise you just f'ed up his life badly.

If I was MacRumors' senior editor, I would've passed on this report. But I guess the ad revenue is too irresistable.

 

[RockSpider]

I think Tim Cook should go down with the ship, apparently he sold about $35 million dollars worth of shares just before all these Gates, seems like he knew something.