Apple Loses The Man Behind Its Mac Operating System

Business Insider ^ | Mar. 23, 2011, 8:43 AM | Jay Yarow

[Swordmaker]

Apple just announced Bertrand Serlet, who ran the Mac software business, is leaving the company. He worked with Steve Jobs for 22 years, joining him at NeXT in 1989. When Apple bought NeXT, Serlet helped develop OSX, which is the software that runs all Macs. With Serlet's deep experience at Apple, he was mentioned as a possible CEO successor to Jobs a few years back. In a release announcing the move, Serlet says he wants "to focus less on products and more on science." Craig Federighi will be taking over for Serlet. He also worked at NeXT, and was in charge of developing Lion, Apple's latest Mac update. Apple's Mac software is less and less important to the company. It's going all in with with iOS, its mobile operating system on iPhones and iPads. For that reason, losing Serlet doesn't seem like a massive blow. Also, Federighi seems to be a competent exec.

[Swordmaker]

Apple loses man behind OSX development! PING!

Please, No Flame Wars, Discuss technical issues, software, and hardware.
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 PLEASE IGNORE THEM!!!

 

Apple Management Changes Ping!

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[Glenn]

"to focus less on products and more on science."

I take this to mean that Steve won't be back and the succession plan has someone else's name in it for CEO.

[BunnySlippers]

This guy wasn’t ever in any succession plan I every heard of.

He says he wants to get back into “science” instead of “product development”. Sounds like a geek. And he’s been with Steve a long time.

[La Lydia]

Maybe the next guy can figure out how to solve the problems with Flash.

[roadcat]

Maybe the next guy can figure out how to solve the problems with Flash.

There are no problems with Flash on the Mac.

[La Lydia]

I have constant problems with Flash on my Macbook. I have done everything recommended, and it still hangs on certain Flash sites. If you can tell me how to fix that, will be forever grateful.

[TXnMA]

Only Adobe can solve the problems with flash — and I doubt their competence / incentiveto do so. Flash is aleady dead, but is slow in rolling tango uniform...

[roadcat]

I would check with Apple support to see what their faqs say. As far as I know, the issue with Flash relates to iOS, not the Mac OS. My MacBook has never had problems, from Tiger through Snow Leopard with Safari. Try running another browser than Safari to see if those websites lockup. What are the websites?

[martin_fierro]

I actually got to work with these neXt units on a gig back in 1995-6. It was one of the first times I used a networked computer.

The units used these (for then) huge 21" Canon CRT monitors.

[rickyc]

What is Flash?

[WVKayaker]

Apple's Mac software is less and less important to the company. It's going all in with with iOS, its mobile operating system on iPhones and iPads.

So, this writer thinks the Mac computer line will be strictly iOS? I'm not too sure of that, myself! I just ordered a new Canon HiDef pro video camera and a Mac Pro to process the product thru Final Cut...

I settled for a eight core with 16 gig RAM and two 2TB HD's, but thought seriously about the 12 core models... It will certainly jump over my 4 yr old MacBook Core2Duo with 4 gigs of memory.

I could have bought a small car, instead! OSX Lion is soon roaring!

[Swordmaker]

I take this to mean that Steve won't be back and the succession plan has someone else's name in it for CEO.

I don't see that in this at all. This was a planned succession with the guy taking over having been running the OSX development for two years. Several other articles in other sources have pointed that out.

[krb]

The only time I consistently have problems with Flash on my mac are when I am running gmail (or any other javascript/ajax intensive web site) in another tab in the same browser. Then almost without fail, my tab running Flash will hang up or fail.

My solution has been to run my gmail page in a completely different browser. I use Firefox for most of my stuff, and I fire up Sarafi for my gmail screen.

[La Lydia]

Right off the bat, I’ll tell you that it happens when Yahoo.com is loading, when I go on Pamela Geller’s site, and on the Jawa Report. Oh and the netflix banner ad makes it slow way down when loading. The WMAL radio website NEVER does load. It just flashes. I have to close the tab. There are others. Drives me nuts. The same thing happens when I am using Firefox. I have fixed my permissions several times, etc. I am now on Snow Leopard, which a certain manufacturer of metal weapons suggested might help. But it didn’t. Finally, I am more or less clueless and don’t know what you mean by iOS, although I understand Mac OS.

[La Lydia]

Flash is dead? What is replacing it? Does this mean there is hope for me and my Flash issues?

[roadcat]

Issues you’re facing are issues with non-Apple operating systems as well, Android, etc. Apple suggests users go to Adobe for support for Flash, as it is an Adobe support problem.

[Swordmaker]

I would check with Apple support to see what their faqs say. As far as I know, the issue with Flash relates to iOS, not the Mac OS. My MacBook has never had problems, from Tiger through Snow Leopard with Safari. Try running another browser than Safari to see if those websites lockup. What are the websites?

Steve Jobs says that the number one reason for crashes on Macs is Adobe FLASH... so I would say that there is a problem on Mac OS and Flash. The problems have been endemic.

[La Lydia]

I am going to try your trick of using two browers at the same time and see if that helps. :)

[La Lydia]

KRB, you are a computer deity. I bow down to your prowess and kiss the hem of your garment. I opened my gmail in another browser, and used this one to go to Pamela and Jawa, and IT DIDN’T HAPPEN! You. Rock.