A key executive within Apple is reportedly leaving the company due to a fallout with design chief Jony Ive. The result is that Ive will directly control even more of how Apple designs its software.
Greg Christie has been getting a lot of attention lately in the Apple vs. Samsung patent trial for his role as an engineer for the original iPhone. And that’s not all he’s known for; the guy has also patented nearly a hundred ideas for Apple, including the iconic “Slide to unlock” patent Apple is using as evidence in the ongoing case with Samsung.
Christie has been heading up Apple’s software design under Craig Federighi. But according to a new report, Ive is basically pushing Christie out because the two haven’t been getting along.
9to5Mac reports that “friction” between Christie and Ive “will result in Christie soon leaving the company, with all software designers now working directly under Ive with the rest of his industrial design team instead of within Federighi’s engineering group.”
Apparently Christie disagreed with Ive on the radical design of iOS 7, and there’s rumored to be a new version OS X in the works that goes in a different design direction as well.
When Ive became head of all design at Apple after the Scott Forstall shakeup, he quickly started getting rid of the iOS 6ish design language in favor of cleaner, flatter interfaces. It’s not clear how Christie disagreed with Ive specifically, but the two were at odds enough for Christie to get the boot.
Christie joined Apple in 1996, and the first product he worked on was the Newton. He worked closely with Forstall and Steve Jobs on the Mac and original iPhone. His influence on the design of OS X and iOS “cannot be overstated,” according to Daring Fireball’s John Gruber.
He has been a key VP at Apple with plenty of trade secrets. He’ll likely be paid handsomely by Apple to keep quiet, just like Forstall.
Once Christie is out of the picture completely, Ive will directly oversee not only all hardware, but all software design.
Update: In a carefully worded statement, Apple has confirmed Christie’s departure:
Greg has been planning to retire later this year after nearly 20 years at Apple. He has made vital contributions to Apple products across the board, and built a world-class Human Interface team which has worked closely with Jony for many years.
Source: 9to5Mac
Image: Eyevine
