Forstall was the mastermind behind Mac OS X, the iPod OS, and iOS. None of those three things was a "failure". In fact, those are the three most successful things in Apple's history.
Wow, Claiming false achievements within Apple!! He wasn't the "mastermind" of anything. He was a senior employee. That's it.
We should probably start with iPod. The hardware was designed by Jon Rubinstein and Tony Fadell. The design and menu by Jonny Ives. Fadell partnered with PortalPlayer to build the OS. Forstall had literally nothing to do with the iPod except iPod OS was chosen as the basis for iOS, which he definitely was the champion for. But he had nothing to do with its development.
So when you say "Mastermind" of Mac OS, you mean he was head of the teams that developed something that had been made before he even got to Apple? But it was first developed by Avie Tevanian and overseen by Jobs himself. MacOS was later handed to Forstall to "oversee". He was probably in charge of those horrible icons we used to have. 🤮 But I will concede that I like Mac OS, especially the later versions.
Same with iOS. I will concede he ran a tight ship that developed iOS over the next few years until he royally stuffed it up! He wasn't the mastermind of anything, though, but he was
in charge. In the exact same way Tim Cook would be the
mastermind of everything since. But I will be the first to say Cook didn't make the Apple Watch. But if that is the bar you are setting.
Airdrop on iOS and Mac OS, iPad OS is my favourite feature and is simply amazing and I use it every day. Oh, yeah, it started in iOS 7, after Forstall was sacked! Continuity is even better.
Forstall was very much into the way things "Looked" but failed in various apps. Like stealing the Swiss Railway Clock and failed to licence it, costing $21M!!
Of course he was the architect of
stuffing Maps up.
Turn left into water...
So what is it? Is he the mastermind of Operating Systems AND the cause of failed everything else? He either takes full responsibility for the good AND the bad (which he made bad) or he bears no responsibility for anything at all, except signing pay cheques.
I will also concede that he is doing some good things over in the Stage Show area now. I guess he has finally found his niche. I wish him luck, and just thankful I don't have fake binders or staples on my iPhone. Apple would be a laughing stock if they did that. Thank God for Ives!
