Brian GarnerIn a potential signal that Apple plans on introducing a fully collaborative cloud-based version of iWork, a job posting revealed that Apple is looking for a software engineer well versed in browser technology, scalable internet applications and word processing development.
TechCrunch noted that on its CrunchBoard job board, Apple posted the following job description:
The Productivity team (i.e. iWork) is seeking an energetic, highly motivated software engineer in building a scalable rich internet application. The person will be part of the core development team and engage in an area from design to development of the software system.
Besides exceptional programming skills and devotion to creating great software, we look for one or more of the following kinds of expertise or experience:
• JavaScript language and browser technology - understanding from inside-out, or
• Computer graphics - the mathematics, algorithms and programming, or
• Experience developing scalable rich internet application, or
• Experience developing presentation/collaboration or word processing projects
BS or better in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering
"What caught our eye on this one is the language around building an application, from design to development. That suggests something different than just joining the existing team. Apple is putting together a whole new team, for a new project, and they need outside expertise," notes TechCrunch.
Apple has already started to incorporate cloud computing concepts into its iWork suite with the introduction of iWork.com in January of 2009. It allowed users to upload iWork '09 documents onto the web for online viewing, comments, and notes.
Apple has also made preparations for a large push into the cloud computing arena. This summer, Apple selected a site for its $1 billion server farm, a project that many believe is intended to power a giant cloud computing operation.
MobileMe was Apple's initial foray into the cloud, delivering push e-mail, contacts, and calendars to handheld devices and computers via the internet.
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
62 Comments
It better be free. iWork is short on features and overpriced to begin with.
Apple's work with scripting frameworks (between SproutCore, Gianduia, PastryKit, TuneKit, Coherent etc. and building RIAs is pretty interesting, so it is good to see more resources being devoted in this direction.
It will be interesting to see what the produce. I certainly think we can do better than Google docs.
Let me get this straight......OK?
Apple has how many employees?
And they cannot hire for this job within?
Or, did they post it internally, as per most company's HR requirements, and no one wanted it?
Or,
Do they have to post it externally, while posting for it internally, wherein it is already filled by someone who was promised the job?
So, they are posting for a job that is already filled, giving themselves a marketing disadvantage, or no one internally wants.
Or am I off base here?
Explain.
It is so very hard to get a foot in the door when everyone else is already in the room. Cloud based word processing is still new. Now is the time to do this. I think it's great.
And how many employees Apple has isn't really the issue. They each have assigned tasks. We all saw what happened when the iPhone deadline was nearing. OSX development was postponed so the iPhone could release on time. What Apple has is stretched thin, regardless of the number. Apple needs to expand if this is to be a long-term effort. If Apple's investing a billion dollars in a NOC, then this is long-term thinking.
Let me get this straight......OK?
Apple has how many employees?
And they cannot hire for this job within?
Or, did they post it internally, as per most company's HR requirements, and no one wanted it?
Or,
Do they have to post it externally, while posting for it internally, wherein it is already filled by someone who was promised the job?
So, they are posting for a job that is already filled, giving themselves a marketing disadvantage, or no one internally wants.
Or am I off base here?
Explain.
who knows, but companies only have so many employees to do so many tasks. i don't think it would be something that apple needs to keep secret, it's just some iwork stuff, not something so heavily copied and game-changing like the iphone.