Michael Jurewitz, a member of Apple's developer outreach team, announced today that he is leaving the company to join software developer and consultancy Black Pixel as a director and partner. Jurewitz, familiar to many developers as @jury on Twitter, provided developers with a conduit for feedback and communication with Apple.
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Writing on his personal website, "Jury" reflected on his seven years at Apple.
For the past seven years I have worked in Apple's Worldwide Developer Relations team helping OS X and iOS developers build the best apps in the world. Working closely with many of you in the developer community has been the highlight of my career. I have loved every minute of helping to answer your technical questions, providing technical, business, or design guidance, planning and visiting with so many of you at WWDC, traveling around the world to share the Tech Talks with you, fielding bug reports, or just being someone at Apple for you to talk to. You have challenged me, helped me grow, amazed me, and inspired me. The iOS and OS X developer community is one of the best in the world. I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with all of you and I am excited to join your ranks.
Black Pixel's Daniel Pasco has more about what Jurewitz's role at the firm will be.
Top Rated Comments
Ah yes, you two are geniuses.
It makes sense that he's leaving his position at Apple (which is clearly ending as a company soon) to then work on software that only runs on hardware that Apple releases.
Reminds me of when we had all those mysterious "bird deaths" a couple years ago; people thought the world was ending because all these flocks of birds were mysteriously falling out of the sky, seems like every couple of days a news report came out.
Turns out that it wasn't actually happening more often than normal, just that people were paying attention to them more.
Those "bird deaths" are still happening worldwide, just as frequently as they were back then, it's just everybody moved on to worrying about different things.
Shall we compile a list of people who have recently left google? Samsung? HTC? Microsoft? Kraft Foods?
I agree with you 100%. I'd even venture out say that some respected him and his genius so much that they delayed retirement until they absolutely had to leave because of illness or family issues. Now that Steve is gone, they're not as fearful of leaving and feeling like they disappointed him. Plus, they feel Apple is in good hands and that it's time for someone else to take the reins and spread the Apple spirit.
for your sanity.
Craig Federighi was a principal architect at NeXT (he wrote EOF, now called Core Data). He had left NeXT before the Apple purchase of NeXT, but Steve lured him to Apple afterward.
I suppose there was a certain allure of working with the "man" who was Steve Jobs, even if it meant putting up with his obsessions. Now these same brilliant minds are working for the "company" that is Apple. In this environment, more basal motivations like wealth or prestige can become the motivation for enduring satisfaction. Many of the key personnel have acquired wealth from their hard work but may be seeking the recognition that comes from leaving their personal footprint on society. With personal fortunes and spectacular resumes, they are poised to pursue personal interests.
This is entirely supposition. And thankfully, there are still some who feel continuing the legacy of Apple is a supreme, worthwhile privilege.