Scott Forstall Led the Secret Team That Built iPhone's Touch Interface

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Scott Forstall, nicknamed "Mini-Steve" inside Apple, led the secretive "Purple 2" software team that developed the touch-driven interface that impressed audiences at the original 2007 iPhone launch. His approach beat a rival hardware-based plan after Steve Jobs chose his stripped-down, multi-touch operating system. Forstall championed skeuomorphic design, using real-world textures and shadows to help early users understand how to operate software on glass. His tenure ended in 2012, after the poorly received Apple Maps launch in iOS 6 and his refusal to co-sign a public apology letter. He left Apple shortly afterward and later pursued a career as a Broadway producer.

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