Apple fires manager in charge of iOS 6 Maps app

The manager responsible for Apple's map app that launched with iOS 6 in September has been fired from the company.

It looks like Tim Cook was serious when he vowed that Apple would take some serious moves to improve its Maps app in iOS 6. Today Apple fired the manager responsible for spearheading Apple Maps, its navigation app that launched alongside its newest mobile operating system in September.

Senior Vice President Eddy Cue ousted Richard Williamson, who previously managed Apple’s mapping team, according to Bloomberg who spoke with unnamed sources familiar with the situation. Cue is currently recruiting mapping experts from outside the company and is also working with navigation brand TomTom NV to correct the landmark and navigation data it shares with Apple.

One source said that Cue hopes to find a replacement for Williamson, but there are no known candidates at this time. A team at Apple has been working to address some of the most crucial flaws with Apple Maps, one person said to Bloomberg, and some issues such app’s satellite view of the UK and labels for some well-known U.S. landmarks have been fixed.

Apple eliminated the Google Maps app from its mobile software in an attempt to distance itself from Google, two sources familiar with the development of Apple’s maps said to Bloomberg in September. When Apple launched iOS 6, Maps was under fire from critics and users alike who reported bugs with the navigation software. The app was largely slammed for inaccurate landmark searches and a lack of public transportation directions, prompting the Apple CEO to issue a public apology - a rare move for the company.

“At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers,” Cook’s apology began. “With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.”

Apple’s spokeswoman Trudy Muller declined to comment on Cue’s move to fire Williamson.  This just marks yet another switch-up in Apple’s chain of command. After former mobile software chief Scott Forstall announced his departure in October, Apple saw an executive shakeup that placed Cue in charge of iTunes, the App Store, iCloud Services and now Siri. This also isn’t the first time Cue has had to deal with a troubled Apple product. As Bloomberg reports, Cue was assigned to oversee the MobileMe Internet storage service that eventually evolved into today’s iCloud after a series of mishaps.

Back in September, a source told TechCrunch that Apple was “aggressively” recruiting ex-Google workers to assist in developing its own maps, but this has not been publicly confirmed.

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Want to charge your gadgets with just a bag? Meet Phorce

Definitely ideal for anyone that carries several mobile devices, the Phorce smart bag will keep you powered without having to find an electrical outlet.

With a third of the funding goal already raised on Kickstarter, a group located in Amsterdam has developed a “smart bag” that allows users to charge their gadgets when on the go. Called the Phorce, the bag can charge up to three devices through USB at the same time and it can be used as a messenger bag, briefcase or backpack. For instance, a Phorce owner could charge a laptop, smartphone and digital camera all at the same time. 

When the 54Wh battery is at full capacity, it can charge an iPhone 5 completely up to eight times and the Samsung Galaxy III up to six times. Regarding tablets, an Apple iPad Mini can be charged twice and a fourth generation iPad can be fully charged once. A GoPro video camera can be fully charged eleven times and a typical set of noise-cancelling headphones can be charged up to sixty times.  

When it comes to laptops, the creators are offering details in regards to how long the battery will be able to charge specific Apple laptops. For instance, the MacBook Pro with the 15-inch Retina display can be charged for 3.5 hours. However, the MacBook Air in either screen size can be charged for seven hours. The creators are developing a version of the smart bag that specifically increases MacBook charging time.

The laptop pocket within the standard bag can store Windows laptops up to 14 inches and the Phorce bag for Mac users can store the 15-inch MacBook Pro. There is foam padding throughout the bag to protect devices and the fabric has been designed to help clean electronics like tablets and smartphones in order to keep the mobile devices fingerprint free. The outside of the bag is completely waterproof to keep expensive electronics completely dry.

In order to see the remaining power left within the Phorce smart bag, the creators have developed a smartphone application for the iOS and Android platforms. Linking to the bag over Bluetooth, a Phorce owner can view the remaining power left within the bag as well as how the power can be used to charge your gadgets. In addition, the user can turn on notifications that indicate when the battery within the smart bag needs to be recharged.

Interestingly, pairing the Phorce smart bag to a smartphone also enables a handy security feature. If a Phorce owner is in a hurry and happens to leave their bag behind by mistake, a notification will appear on the smartphone as soon as the phone leaves the range of the smart bag. 

To date, the creators of the Phorce smart bag have raised approximately $55,000 of the $150,000 goal to get manufacturing up and running. If the Kickstarter campaign happens to hit $750,000, the creators have promised to increase the battery capacity by ten percent without increasing the overall weight of the smart bag.

The standard version of the bag is currently priced at $219 on the Kickstarter page, but will eventually retail for $349. The version of the bag for Mac users is currently priced at $299, but is expected to retail for $449. According to the timetable, the bag will be delivered to Kickstarter backers by May 2013.

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