Key Apple TV 4 Designer and Chomp Co-Founder Leaving Apple

chompappleemployeeFour years ago, Apple purchased App Store search and discovery company Chomp, gaining Ben Keighran as an employee. Keighran went on to have a pivotal role developing the "look and feel" of the software on the new Apple TV, but according to Re/code, he's now leaving the company.

Keighran participated in the development of tvOS, the software that runs on the fourth-generation Apple TV. tvOS marked a huge step forward from software on previous Apple TV set-top boxes, introducing Siri support and a full App Store. According to Keighran, it also incorporates search and discovery elements that he created with Chomp.

In the tvOS development hierarchy, Keighran worked under Bill Bachman, who oversees Apple's media apps. Bachman reports to Robert Kondrk, Apple's vice president of iTunes content, who reports to iTunes chief Eddy Cue. Going forward, Keighran plans to create his own "iconic company," but says the decision to leave Apple was difficult.

While Keighran wouldn't give Re/code behind-the-scenes details on Apple's television development plans, he says Apple "looked at many different ways of delivering an awesome TV experience."

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Tag: Chomp
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Coming Next Week: Eight Reasons to Upgrade

Thursday September 4, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
We're only days away from Apple's "Awe dropping" fall event scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 9 – and along with the new iPhone 17 series, we're going to get a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time since 2023. By the time the Ultra 3 is unveiled, it will have been two years since the previous model arrived. The intervening period has left plenty of room for...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 AIR Loud Feature

iPhone 17 Air Could Start at $1,099 With 256GB Storage, 1TB for $1,499

Thursday September 4, 2025 2:54 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Air will have a $1,099 starting price providing 256GB of base storage and will max out at $1,499 with a 1TB option, according to the latest TrendForce report. Apple will offer three price/storage tiers for the all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model, which replaces last year's iPhone 16 Plus in the lineup. Here's how TrendForce sees them breaking down: 256GB — $1099...

Top Rated Comments

jclardy Avatar
126 months ago
To be honest, I thought App Store search has only gone downhill since they acquired Chomp. Moving from a list of results to a single page result that you have to flip through is pretty terrible unless you are the number one app already (Good for things like Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/Apple apps/etc, bad for small developers.) It basically turned the App Store from a place where users could discover apps to a showcase for the basic essential apps available on iOS. I can't remember the last time I have actual found a cool new app via the App Store itself, now it is pretty much all via Twitter or Product Hunt and the App Store is now just the distribution platform.

Which is also why the 30% cut Apple is still taking from apps is just painful. For 99.9% of apps now the App Store is just a content hosting and credit card processing service. If you want proof, just look at the Mac App Store that is just straight dying, because buying apps outside of it is just for users in support (Dev's can offer their own refunds/discounts - not possible on the App Store) and better for developers in profits (Fees under 5%, download hosting is nearly free at this point.)
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Oh-es-Ten Avatar
126 months ago
The Mac App Store could be great, if Apple would just overhaul it.

I only use OS X and iOS; Apple has made, and still does make an amazing operating system and apps. But really, the Mac App Store is just painful to use, it easily is one of the worst parts of OS X, other than the click-to-update/install. The search, discovery, the UI (for instance, the tiny description font with no way to increase its size,) crippled interaction, etc. just make it mostly unusable. I only download apps in the MAS if they're not available from a developer's site, i.e. instead they have a MAS link only.
Agree 100 percent. Apple has great taste and design in a lot of areas, however the MAS, and in particular Mac software updates are shocking.... Broken progress bars, stalled, stuck and disappearing updates - it feels like the whole back end is made of Papier-mâché, and is not robust at all. The old Software Update mechanism was excellent and always generally reliable and robust. A big re-engieering is required here, hopefully Schiller will get on the case.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Binarymix Avatar
126 months ago
Good Riddance.

Siri support within other apps/countries is abysmal (Where is the API?). The ATV app store is a mess. And the blindingly white interface on a TV is a joke.

Also my sound system exhibits annoying pops whenever I navigate the home screen, which still hasn't been fixed, and numerous people have complained about (though admittedly probably has nothing to do with this guy).
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
camnchar Avatar
126 months ago
Maybe he was Frustrated by Inability to Reach Deals With TV Programmers for Television Service ('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/01/19/apple-frustrated-by-inability-to-reach-tv-deals/')
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jess13 Avatar
126 months ago
To be honest, I thought App Store search has only gone downhill since they acquired Chomp. Moving from a list of results to a single page result that you have to flip through is pretty terrible unless you are the number one app already (Good for things like Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/Apple apps/etc, bad for small developers.) It basically turned the App Store from a place where users could discover apps to a showcase for the basic essential apps available on iOS. I can't remember the last time I have actual found a cool new app via the App Store itself, now it is pretty much all via Twitter or Product Hunt and the App Store is now just the distribution platform.

Which is also why the 30% cut Apple is still taking from apps is just painful. For 99.9% of apps now the App Store is just a content hosting and credit card processing service. If you want proof, just look at the Mac App Store that is just straight dying, because buying apps outside of it is just for users in support (Dev's can offer their own refunds/discounts - not possible on the App Store) and better for developers in profits (Fees under 5%, download hosting is nearly free at this point.)
The Mac App Store could be great, if Apple would just overhaul it.

I only use OS X and iOS; Apple has made, and still does make an amazing operating system and apps. But really, the Mac App Store is just painful to use, it easily is one of the worst parts of OS X, other than the click-to-update/install. The search, discovery, the UI (for instance, the tiny description font with no way to increase its size,) crippled interaction, etc. just make it mostly unusable. I only download apps in the MAS if they're not available from a developer's site, i.e. instead they have a MAS link only.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
petsounds Avatar
126 months ago
this is really disappointed news, Apple TV 4 it's great product..reminds me of old Apple

Apple should fire the guy who came up with Watch OS and Apple Music design not this guy

I see people here complaining about something that can be fixed with an update, and forget that tvOS it's close to 2007 iPhone OS X and 84 Mac OS in terms of design
iOS 1.0 was a great OS. I don't think tvOS is a disaster, but it certainly has lots of problems that shouldn't have been shipped in the state it is. If this guy was actually responsible for designing tvOS, then this can only be a good thing for Apple.

And the guy who lead the watchOS project is Alan Dye ('http://www.apple.com/pr/bios/alan-dye.html'), who now unfortunately leads UI Design for Apple. He has no UX background and it appears he has no natural eye for it either, given the stuff he's let go out the door. He concerns me.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)