Samuel Axon
According to a report in Bloomberg, Tang Tan, vice chairman of Product Design, is leaving Apple, and his departure heralds a shuffle of executives heading up a few of the firm’s most essential merchandise.
Sometimes, you would possibly surprise simply how a lot a particular government influences the grand scheme of issues, however the report claims that folks inside Apple see Tan’s departure as “a blow,” clarifying that he “made essential choices about Apple’s most essential merchandise.” His workforce reportedly had “tight management” over the look and performance of these merchandise.
Tan oversaw major elements of iPhone and Apple Watch design, and he was the manager overseeing equipment and AirPods, as effectively. He reported to John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice chairman of Hardware Engineering, who is probably going a extra broadly identified title.
Richard Dinh, “Tan’s high lieutenant and head of iPhone product design,” will report immediately to Ternus and tackle a few of Tan’s duties, whereas Kate Bergeron, beforehand concerned in Mac {hardware} engineering, will tackle the Apple Watch.
Apple has seen a number of government departures from its product design and engineering teams not too long ago, so many elements of upcoming iPhones and different merchandise will likely be designed with new eyes and maybe new sensibilities, although what which may lead to stays to be seen.
Apple not too long ago shifted the iPhone from the corporate’s proprietary Lightning port to a extra normal USB-C, and it modified the supplies for its Pro line of telephones. Despite tweaks like that, the iPhone’s design and performance has not modified considerably up to now 5 or so years.
The iPhone 16 line in 2024 is predicted to shake issues up slightly extra, a minimum of concerning the telephone’s appear and feel. Rumors have prompt that the brand new telephones might have bigger screens (and greater chassis general) and maybe haptic buttons as a substitute of the present bodily buttons. Other modifications might be in retailer, and Apple’s plans are seemingly not but finalized.