My only post while battened down. Goodbye skeumorphism. You will NOT be missed. One thought regarding the apology letter Forstall declined to sign. Everyone was so amazed that Tim Cook would suggest and even directly link to other alternative mapping solutions during the maps debacle. It seemed like he was admitting fault and taking a monstrous hit letting users go elsewhere for mapping. But let’s not forget some key facts. Apple gives Maps away for free so there are no sales lost from sending people elsewhere. Maps also can’t be removed from the iPhone. It is ALWAYS there for people to rediscover, retry, and relike. Now here are the two big facts. Apple gets a cut of app sales… AND in-app purchases. Apple made money off of people being upset and going elsewhere. I’m sure that if the mapping issue was as big of a deal to customers as the lovely media would have you believe, and those suggested apps were purchased by the boat loads, then that money Apple made off of upset customers wasn’t chump change. I don’t know if you noticed, but a lot of those mapping apps are $20-$50 and those apps that are free have to be unlocked with a similarly priced IAP. Where was the loss for Apple? Financialy this might have actually been a huge success for Apple. Good thing Forstall didn’t sign that letter. No need to give a bandit extra rounds when the posse is out trying to kill him.
Stay safe East Coasters. I’m out here with you.
