News
Apple Remote app developed by single employee
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Tuesday, August 3, 2010
News Category: Apple, Apps + Games, iTunes
Apple’s Remote app was well-received by iPhone and iPod touch users when it was released in July 2008, but after eight months with no updates, many users have wondered what the status was with its development. According to Sachin Agarwal, former Apple employee and CEO of Posterous, the Remote app is written and maintained by a single man—a good friend of his—who has been busy working on other things. Agarwal explains, “Apple doesn’t build large teams to work on every product they make. Instead, they hire very few, but very intelligent people who can work on different projects and move around as needed. One day you might be working on the Remote app, and the next day you might get pulled on to another project that needs your help.” The lack of updates to the Remote app have left it unable to take full advantage of iOS 4, the iPhone 4’s retina display, or the iPad’s larger screen; no timetable has been given for when the app might again be updated.
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1
Sadly, this exemplifies Apple’s tightness on internal resources.
I kow this is happening in other areas as well.
I think it’s smart - to a point. But when you have the money Apple does, you need to keep support of your big sellers in top-form. Seems Steve should pop for more smart programmers within Apple. Little too lite for my liking.
Posted by Sb on August 3, 2010 at 8:38 AM (PDT)
2
“The lack of updates to the Remote app have left it unable to take full advantage of iOS 4, the iPhone 4’s retina display” - it’s a freakin’ remote! What the heck needs to be so beautiful on the retina display?
Posted by DenCimm on August 3, 2010 at 9:21 AM (PDT)
3
This makes me sad, as I use the Remote extensively, especially in conjunction with iTunes DJ, which allows guests at my house to vote on songs they’d like to hear. An extremely neat feature, that, and I’d love to see the app get more/better support.
Posted by Skwid on August 3, 2010 at 10:08 AM (PDT)
4
The man is Alan Cannistraro who created said app and has taught numerous semesters of the iPhone class at Stanford.
Posted by Gil on August 3, 2010 at 8:03 PM (PDT)
5
It is a cool little app. Combine it with a pair of Bluetooth headphones connected to the computer and you can almost imagine what it would be like if the iPod Touch had a graphic EQ. You know, like other MP3 players have… :(
Posted by Paul on August 4, 2010 at 2:52 PM (PDT)