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Apple Licenses Swiss Railway Clock Design for iPad's iOS 6 Clock App
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no its boring and a damn waste of money.. apple needs to re do the entire IOS ui please
I've just been wondering if Apple or the designer who updated the clock just didn't know it was under trademark?
Mondaine watches are actually licensed to use the design (hence with Swiss Railway branding on the face!). The design might not look anything special, but if you ask anyone who has any slight interest in clock design they'll probably tell you the Swiss Railway clock design is probably the most iconic in the world.
There's also the symbolic association with Switzerland and its reputation for punctuality and accuracy.
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I happen to be a veteran graphic designer. I've actually done a few clock faces in my day, so YES, this is a very basic and derivative design that I might have started out with. It follows all the rules of basic, functional design. But since I find it dull, I wouldn't use it. And I can't remember the last time I said "why didn't I think of that??" .... because in my mind, the Pet Rock was a dumb idea... the Baby on Board car window sign doesn't inspire me... But I did have a moment where I thought I may have been ripped off. I submitted a game board design to hasbro through an associate. It was rejected, but within 18 months, a new, round monopoly game board came out that seemed to borrow elements and ideas from my board. I can't prove it beyond a comparison of the two boards, but it's made me more careful.
I think it's a great design. There is something incredibly clear about it. I don't think you could have designed it any more than you could have designed the iPhone 5. Good design is deceptively simple.
Apple know the value of good design. Not surprised they settled quickly when an infringement was identified.
If you can't figure out how to tell time on a watch without numbers or hashes by now, you should really try learning. This is a similar watch that I have and I can tell you the time without staring at it.
http://www.lordandtaylor.com/eng/Me..._s_Stainless_Steel_Watch-lordandtaylor/158273
So basically you're admitting that you're a freakin' idi0t who can't read watches and furthermore completely ignore the subtle difference between looking at a watch from about 20 metres away (railway watch - and STILL being able to tell the time from that distance!) and from about 50 cm (wrist watch)!
If you don't have other problems than not being able to read watches then I am happy for you and I hope you live a long and happy life. And don't bother us anymore with your nonsense.
Only thing is, this clock was designed in 1944, and has been part of our culture ever since.
Cheers
F
Fair enough.
That said, what you see as derivative is likely only the fact that so many have copied this design since it was created.
It doesn't matter if you think it's a basic design, could have designed it yourself, etc. Funny that some of the same people who defend every single one of Apple's patents - even the ones derivative or so easy a 2 year old could have come up with the design - think that Apple having to license this is silly.
So when I cut out hands for my own clock with a battery-powered movement I bought at a local store, do I have to license the design from any other company that may have a similar clock face?
If it's identical to a copyright-protected design and you intend to sell it, then yes, you do have to license it.
Okay... here's how I define 'art.' If it's something I could copy PERFECTLY in illustrator by having GLANCED at it ONCE... it's not art. Its design is minimal and functional. I think it's an effective design... high contrast with black on white and with varied weights. The red second hand easily separates from the black lines and the white background... and the red dot at the end of the second hand makes it easy to find from a distance. It's A form that follows a function. That's all. And if I were asked to design a clock on those principles and was a in a hurry... a design VERY MUCH like this one would be the first stab.
A master painting hanging in the louvre? DeVinci? Art. Picasso? Art. A basic clock face that is similar to ones I had in my grammar school? Meh.
Some people grew up with digital time and timepieces / clocks. For them, reading a watch face with hash marks without numerals is a problem - because they never learned to do that. They don't wear watches, either, using their phones to see what time it is.