Why is long-time Apple executive Phil Schiller stepping down from his role as the head of the App Store? According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Schiller's decision to remain involved in the company as an Apple Fellow, working on unspecified projects, is partly driven by a desire to spend more time with his family and on philanthropy.

However, there's another factor at play: new CEO John Ternus and services chief Eddy Cue are looking to improve App Store margins and bring in more recurring revenue. Apple's management of the App Store and its share of App Store payments have long been a source of developer criticism and even major lawsuits.

In Gurman's account, there wasn't a big fight over Ternus and Cue's strategy, but Schiller believed that trying to squeeze more profits from the business would only increase conflict with governments and developers. Rather than risk it all, he decided to step down and avoid getting involved.

The move leaves many wondering if Apple's golden age of innovation is coming to an end. As Schiller steps aside, the future of the App Store and the broader tech industry hangs in the balance.

Regardless of what happens next, one thing is clear: the tech world is about to get a whole lot less sunny.