Apple iSight is a design rip-off!

[sigamy]

Found this on eBay...look familiar?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3043289273&category=4671

If the link doesn't work look for item 3043289273

[StarmanDeluxe]

Uh, yay? May I ask who cares?

[rainman::|:|]

it's a metal tube. on a stand. pretty basic, it's true to Apple's aesthetic and i think they designed it from the ground up, no matter what products looked like it in the past (and btw, if Apple were going to rip off a design, don't you think it would be better than a very old desk microphone?)

In fact, that the base is so huge on the mic, shows that the similar appearance of the main apparatus is merely coincidental.

pnw

[bwawn]

Oh dear god. They ripped off an ancient microphone design for their modern camera. Why, Apple? Why?

Sorry dude, but these are two different products with two different purposes. If the eBay product you linked to was a camera, then I'd suspect Apple of borrowing a design, but as-is, it's not like Apple can just take any design they want, cram a video camera inside, and market it. There's more to it than that.

[DreaminDirector]

well, I can see your point, but is it that whatever is cylinder in shape, the iSight ripped it off? No.

Besides, it's a mic not a camera. If it was a camera, then I'd be more concerned.

edit: damn, got out typed by mere seconds....

[zimv20]

huh. i've never seen a cylindrical mic before.

[Doctor Q]

I think sigamy is right. I'm packing up my iSight and returning it to Apple right now! ;)

[sigamy]

Damn, I forgot that scarcasm doesn't render well in Safair ;)

Anyway, I was joking. I love Apple and their products. Just saw this mic and it immediately made me think of the iSight. I think any apple fan would have immediately thought of the iSight too, and that at least says something about the similaries.

And what does it matter that one is a camera and one is a mic? Anything can inspire anything. Remember all the products that borrowed the original iMac's colors and plastics? Phones, George Forman grills, etc. Were they rip-offs?

I'm going to look for a vintage typewriter in the style of the Microsoft natural keyboard...watch the M$ flames roll!

[Doctor Q]

Originally posted by sigamy
I'm going to look for a vintage typewriter in the style of the Microsoft natural keyboard...watch the M$ flames roll! A few years ago, I borrowed a 1940s Royal typewriter from a senior citizen and took it to show a class of 5th graders. The kids were very interested when I explained that it had a carriage that moved back and forth (hence "carriage return"). I showed them how the word "TYPEWRITER" could be typed entirely on the top row, which was designed that way to help the typewriter salesmen - because they weren't very good at typing! As I walked back to my car, another teacher saw what I was carrying and asked me what it was. She had never seen a real typewriter in person before!

[Powerbook G5]

Type...writer? *scratches head* :p

As far as the iSight's design, come on, just how many possible shapes could a small video camera have? Just about any web cam I've seen has been either, round, oval, or the basic shape of the iSight. When you fit a round camera lense into a design and try to make it clean and small, it's logical what kind of design it will end up being.

[Schiffi]

I have seen mics like that before. Not in person but on shows taking place in like the 50s. Usually common podium/radio DJ mics I believe.

[Horrortaxi]

You're reaching pretty far for that one.

[Sun Baked]

Oh my god :eek: :eek: :eek:

The iSight looks like an old microphone.

The iMac looks like a lamp.

The eMac looks like a computer monitor.

The PowerMac G5 looks like a metal box.

The Apple Keyboard looks like a keyboard.

The Apple mouse looks like... OK, a one button mouse that is the button is unique.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[MrMacMan]

Originally posted by Sun Baked
Oh my god :eek: :eek: :eek:

The iSight looks like an old microphone.

The iMac looks like a lamp.

The eMac looks like a computer monitor.

The PowerMac G5 looks like a metal box.

The Apple Keyboard looks like a keyboard.

The Apple mouse looks like... OK, a one button mouse that is the button is unique.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Run!

It is attacking you!

http://jimthacker.com/palomar-mic.jpg

Yes. apple always steals designs!

:rolleyes:

[tjwett]

dude, yeah it looks similar but so do lots of things. it also looks like a toilet paper tube, and a flashlight, and miniature can of pringles. you can't accuse someone of ripping off a CYLINDER for chrissakes. it's one of our basic geometric shapes.

[OutThere]

Originally posted by Sun Baked
Oh my god :eek: :eek: :eek:

The iSight looks like an old microphone.

The iMac looks like a lamp.

The eMac looks like a computer monitor.

The PowerMac G5 looks like a metal box.

The Apple Keyboard looks like a keyboard.

The Apple mouse looks like... OK, a one button mouse that is the button is unique.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

The old iMac mouse looked like a hockey puck. ;-)

[bobindashadows]

Originally posted by OutThere761
The old iMac mouse looked like a hockey puck. ;-)
Yeah, and unfortunately if I can't find my pro mouse I may have to bring it to school... as a backup to my wireless setup, in case batteries die.

[jelloshotsrule]

Originally posted by tjwett
dude, yeah it looks similar but so do lots of things. it also looks like a toilet paper tube, and a flashlight, and miniature can of pringles. you can't accuse someone of ripping off a CYLINDER for chrissakes. it's one of our basic geometric shapes.

also, as he/she stated about 7 posts into the thread... it was said as a joke.

but lots of people tend not to read, just to jump down peoples' throats.


posted by sigamy
Damn, I forgot that scarcasm doesn't render well in Safair

Anyway, I was joking.

[FuzzyBallz]

An observation of forum trends -

a) If people reply in agreement w/ thread starter, he will jump in and add fuel to the flame by elaborating his thoughts on how bad a product is, or in this case, how lame apple is.

2) But if people reply in disagreement w/ the thread starter, he'll wait to see if there are any fellow supporters. If not, he'll act like he didn't read half of the posts and nonchalantly post an one liner saying he was just joking, follow by a bunch of ass kissing remarks about the company he just dissed... Hmmm.... interesting...

[macphoria]

Found this on eBay...look familiar?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...3&category=4671

If the link doesn't work look for item 3043289273
Man, you are overreacting. A lot of things look like a lot of other things.

[cb911]

didn't Steve Jobs once say (along time ago) that good geniuses imitate and great geniuses steal? (or something to that effect) ;) :p :D

[Vector]

Originally posted by cb911
didn't Steve Jobs once say (along time ago) that good geniuses imitate and great geniuses steal? (or something to that effect) ;) :p :D

Good artists copy, great artists steal. - Picasso

[tjwett]

Originally posted by jelloshotsrule
also, as he/she stated about 7 posts into the thread... it was said as a joke.

but lots of people tend not to read, just to jump down peoples' throats.


i was kind of kidding as well. *note: for all those reading my future posts, if it sounds like i'm being a d!ck, i'm not. it can be hard to detect sarcasm in plain text. apologies.

[5300cs]

When I was doing design in school, we sometimes studied basic shapes to help think of designs. A lot of designs, especially print, are based on very basic shapes (circles, squares, etc.) The iSight & G5 have that retro 1950's look, which I like a lot (the iSight kind of reminded me of a .50cal machine gun barrell.)

[JayBee]

Originally posted by Vector
Good artists copy, great artists steal. - Picasso

I always thought it was

"Talent copies. Genius steals."

[montecristo]

"Originality is the art of concealing your source." -- that's what I always say!

;)

Joke or not, I think it's perfectly acceptable for Apple to use their time machine to go back and inspire others from 50 or 100 years ago to invent things that Apple will steal later on.... (*huh?*)

I mean, how do you think M$ invented the typewriter keyboard?!?! And that's how Al Gore invented the internet.

Or maybe Dyna-Mike travelled to the future and stole from Apple! Who stole it right back from them!!!!

(j/k, of course! Hey, we're all just havin' fun here!)

[Bluefusion]

Originally posted by sigamy
Remember all the products that borrowed the original iMac's colors and plastics? Phones, George Forman grills, etc. Were they rip-offs?


Um... yeah, they kind of obviously were...

(If that microphone you linked to had been the standard microphone that everyone recognized on sight 6 months ago, and THEN Apple made the iSight, it would constitute a ripoff)...

But none of that is really the point, lol.

I'm going to go find something that points out where Dell got its ideas from! :D Hehe...

[Bluefusion]

...Now where did I put my iTimeMachine? :)

[doctorhook]

Originally posted by sigamy
Found this on eBay...look familiar?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3043289273&category=4671

If the link doesn't work look for item 3043289273

Kidding or not you sure provoked a lot of BS. Why don't we just say the iSight design was INSPIRED by some cool '50's audio equipment and move on.