Apple has eliminated the Product Manager of Automated Technologies role, ending Sal Soghoian's employment with the company. Soghoian revealed the news at the MacTech Conference in Los Angeles, according to Mac Observer. He also posted about the news on his website, which is dedicated to the user automation community.
Q. I hear you no longer work for Apple; is that true?Soghoian was responsible for advancing a number of automation technologies for Apple, including UNIX CLI, Apple Events, JavaScript, AppleScript, Automator, Apple Configurator, scripting support for Photos, iWork, Finder, Mail and other Apple programs as well as Master for iTunes tools and Dictation Commands.
A. Correct. I joined Apple in January of 1997, almost twenty years ago, because of my profound belief that “the power of the computer should reside in the hands of the one using it.” That credo remains my truth to this day. Recently, I was informed that my position as Product Manager of Automation Technologies was eliminated for business reasons. Consequently, I am no longer employed by Apple Inc. But, I still believe my credo to be as true today as ever.
Since Apple eliminated the position, it's unclear what the move means for the future of automation technologies in macOS. Soghoian says the best thing to do for those concerned is to direct any questions or concerns to Apple.
If user automation technologies are important to you, then now is the time for all good men and women to reach out, speak up and ask questions. The macOS user automation technologies include: UNIX CLI (shell, python, ruby, perl), System Services, Apple Events (JavaScript, AppleScript, AppleScriptObj-C, Scripting Bridge), Automator, Apple Configurator (AppleScript, Automator), and Application scripting support in Photos, iWork, Finder, Mail, and other Apple applications.Starting on December 1, Soghoian says he will begin considering opportunities and is available for consulting for user automation services. He also says he's optimistic about the future of user automation. "I've seen the benefits and power of individuals being able to automate critical and repetitive tasks," he wrote on his website. "Solution apps are great, emojis are fun, but there's nothing like really great automation tools."
Photo Credit: Andy Ihnatko
Correction: Original version of this story said that the MacTech Conference took place in San Francisco. It did not, it took place in Los Angeles.
149 comments
Apple has formally apologized to users in China over the hacking of some Chinese accounts in a series of phishing scams that hit the country last week. The successful phishing attacks used stolen...
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen passed away today at age 65 following complications from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Allen earlier this month announced that he was again undergoing treatment for the...
Google's newest flagship smartphones, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, are officially launching later this week. With their high-quality cameras, fast processors, and other improvements, the new...
Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller today made a surprise appearance at Adobe's MAX conference, which saw Adobe previewing a full version of Photoshop on the iPad, set to be released in 2019.
...
Apple design chief Jony Ive sat down with Vogue's Anna Wintour this morning for an interview at WIRED's 25th anniversary event, where he talked about secrecy at Apple, his future with the...
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who often accurately predicts Apple's future device plans, believes the company will continue to offer three iPhones in 2019 with the same general lineup seen in...
Demand for the iPhone XR will be higher than demand for the iPhone 8 last year, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reiterated in a note to investors this morning.
Kuo is predicting better than expected...
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming iOS 12.1 update to developers, one week after seeding the third beta and a month after releasing iOS 12, a major new version of the iOS software.
...
