Apple Borrows iOS 5's Wi-Fi Sync From Rejected App Submission

[twilson]

I'm forgetting, volume button for camera shutter in iOS5 .

apple couldn't allow tap tap tap to use volume button for Camera+, because they'd have had to allow ANYONE to remap the buttons for ANY USE (thereby causing the confusion Apple referred to).

Also, I think that requires private API calls.

 

[catmistake]

It may be absurd, but if the creator of the Cydia WiFi Sync took Apple to court for it, he could probably win a case. The court would not consider the absurdity of not reusing their own logos.

Doubtful. As others have pointed out the main reason's why the developer should shut up, that he borrowed from Apple first, using the universally recognized wifi symbol and a stylized version of the universally recognized sync symbol, and that he actually is entirely incorrect that wireless syncing was his idea. If he goes to court, Apple will not settle, but could counter-sue on the grounds that the developer broke a legal contract with Apple by agreeing to the terms of the development contract, and then completely ignoring the terms. The dev should count his money and $TFU, or he could lose it all and more.

Wow it's so nice to see that most commenters see right through this developer's contrived drama.

 

[res1233]

if it was the other way around alot of you would say it was stolen from apple if apple gave u crap to eat you would say thank you and eat it alot of you need to stop acting mindless and think for youself guess thats asking too much

PUNCTUATION IS YOUR FRIEND. Thank you.

 

[twilson]

Doubtful. As others have pointed out the main reason's why the developer should shut up, that he borrowed from Apple first, using the universally recognized wifi symbol and a stylized version of the universally recognized sync symbol, and that he actually is entirely incorrect that wireless syncing was his idea. If he goes to court, Apple will not settle, but could counter-sue on the grounds that the developer broke a legal contract with Apple by agreeing to the terms of the development contract, and then completely ignoring the terms. The dev should count his money and $TFU, or he could lose it all and more.

Wow it's so nice to see that most commenters see right through this developer's contrived drama.

I agree whole-heartedly. For anyone to claim wireless sync as "their idea" in 2010, regardless of the platform, is just utterly ludicrous.

Private API issues aside (this was his main problem), it seems he hasn't been able to deliver a totally stable solution, based on some of the comments here.

What a whiny little girl!

 

[rikscha]

so Apple simply took their wifi symbol which every mac user can see in the upper right corner of their mac, and their isync symbol and combined these.

where exactly did they copy anything? Id rather say the other guy was heavily borrowing from apple.

 

[gnasher729]

"Borrowed" implies what was taken from the owner will be given back to the owner.

Very poor choice of words in this context. I believe a better word is "stole".

When Apple does it, people call it "borrowing". When everyone else does it, it is called "stealing".

Double standard much?

Yeah, there's not really any other intuitive way to combine the sync and wifi logos into one icon.

The creator of the app (who did something cool and I hope saw some success) “borrowed” Apple’s WiFi and Sync icons to make a WiFi Sync icon (not that others haven’t used those symbols too).

It’s absurd to think that iOS would never cut the cord as it evolved; that was inevitable regardless of the existence of this app. It was always a matter of time.

And it’s absurd to think that Apple should not have used their already-existing WiFi and Sync icons in combination, just because someone else already combined them! Should Apple have made up two entirely new, unknown symbols for this purpose, not matching the rest of Apple’s products?

People should really look at some other icons to get an idea what has been happening. The important icon here is Apple's old, old iSync icon, shown at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ISync_icon.png which I think is from the year 2003.

If you now compare all three icons, then you'll see that Apple's Wifi sync icon is the same as the old iSync icon, except that the typical design features for iPhone icons were applied (square with rounded corners instead of circle, some fake reflections) and the age old WiFi symbol that you see in the menubar of your Mac was added inside the circle. The supposedly "borrowed" icon on the other hand has a totally different colour, and the two circling arrows are at a different angle.

So the similarities are: General icon shape (but that is in common with _all_ iPhone icons, and that general icon shape was designed by Apple), two circling arrows (which is typical for all syncing applications, just type "sync icon" into Google and you'll find about 100 of them, _and_ it was used by Apple for many years), and the "WiFi" symbol, used by Apple for many years as well.

The differences are: Different colour (whereas the iSync icon has identical colour to the WiFi sync icon), different orientation of the arrows (whereas the iSync icon has the same orientation to the WiFi sync icon).

In summary, the claim that the icon was "borrowed" is utter rubbish.

There are only so many ways to sync a device over wifi and to make an icon indicating such a function...

There is an almost infinite way of writing code that will sync a device over WiFi, and copyright will protect each of these ways. The _idea_ that you might sync over WiFi is obvious (because syncing exists, wired networks exist, wireless networks exist, syncing over a wired network exists, and combining existing things in a way that creates only the expected results is obvious) and not protectable. The icon can be created in many different ways; the complainer demonstrated that himself by creating an icon that is very distinct in style from the old "iSync" icon. It can be varied by colour, material, orientation of the arrows, how close to 180 degrees the arrows are, their thickness, variation in thickness, differences in the arrow heads, whether they are strict half circles or more in a "bent" or hand-drawn shape, and I am just starting. So there could be no excuse for copying someone else's icon. Which Apple didn't do.

 

[leroypants]

I love how the writer uses the term "borrowed" instead of "stole", apple stole their idea from this app. Of course the apple drones are once again rushing to blindly defend apple.

 

[MacMan86]

I love how the writer uses the term "borrowed" instead of "stole", apple stole their idea from this app. Of course the apple drones are once again rushing to blindly defend apple.

And therefore the developer "stole" the idea from Android and WebOS, because they had Wi-Fi syncing too at the time. How do you rationalise that?

 

[leroypants]

And therefore the developer "stole" the idea from Android and WebOS, because they had Wi-Fi syncing too at the time. How do you rationalise that?

So what you are saying is that apple stole the idea from android and webos?

 

[MacMan86]

So what you are saying is that apple stoe the idea from android and webos?

No, I'm saying that using the word "steal" here is stupid. No one "stole" anything. It's a method of syncing, it's nothing innovative. No one said Apple "stole" USB syncing from Microsoft or Palm when the original iPhone came out.

Having USB syncing is fine but suddenly taking away the cable means someone must have "stolen" something - that's stupid.

 

[Jagardn]

I love how the writer uses the term "borrowed" instead of "stole", apple stole their idea from this app. Of course the apple drones are once again rushing to blindly defend apple.

Yup, I'm a drone defending my Apple Stock!

I don't blame them for not allowing a WiFi sync app that interfaces with one of their pieces of software. If that App were to have bugs where it were destroying the iTunes DB, it would degrade the user experience. If Apple had allowed the App when it was proposed, we now would be discussing that Apple threw the developer of the app by making the feature native. If they would have approved the app and left it out of the native OS, people would be bitching that it wasn't native. "Why is it that with an iPhone, you have to run some app to sync it?"

 

[gorgeousninja]

When Apple does it, people call it "borrowing". When everyone else does it, it is called "stealing".

Double standard much?

No, Apple should just say the icon is 'generic' .... that's what everyone else does to them.

 

[econgeek]

It's no secret that Apple's forthcoming iOS 5 incorporates a lot of new features and ideas that might say the company "borrowed" from third-party developers, but one feature in particular is raising some eyebrows: Wi-Fi Sync.

This kind of amateur hour writing is why I read MacRumors less and less. This used to be a "just the facts ma'am" type of site, and I appreciated it for that.

The idea that Apple steals ideas from third parties has been perpetuated since the claim that they "stole" the idea for Watson. Watson, as it should be noted was an app that copied one of Apple's ideas, embodied in Sherlock. That's why Watson was called Watson in the first place, it was a nod to Apple's sherlock.

Worse, for this story, years ago people leaked that Apple was working on wifi sync. You reported it numerous times. And then some kid goes out and puts together a hack-- clearly inspired by the idea, leaked from Apple's labs.

For you to claim that Apple stole this idea (based on an Apple rumor) is as asnine as to claim that iTunes Match is a ripoff of Amazon or Googles cloud music services (both of which were inspired by a rumor about what Apple was doing.)

Finally, lets address the shoddy writing: "It's no secret" is code for "I'm going to pretend like this is true so I don't have to actually make and defend the claim." And "borrowing" is, of course, code for "stealing", a claim you also can't make or defend. Finally, "raising some eyebrows" is another cliche that implies there's some group of people in-the-know and they're shocked-shocked! That apple did this. Which of course is BS.

This is just some writer who really should be writing for a college newspaper with this kind of crap.

Seriously, if you're going to write like TUAW, then there's no reason I shouldn't read TUAW.

If anyone here is old enough to remember, there was an original mac rumors site called MacOSRumors.com -- a site that this site "borrowed" the name from-- and a site that this site improved on by getting rid of this bush league writing crap.

MacOSRumors liked to pretend to have super secret info that he was "letting us in on" and engaged this kind of crappy writing all the time.

That is a big reason that MOSR is no longer around, and the clone site- MacRumors is still around.

Keep up these dishonest, fraudulent stories and you'll have no credibility left.

 

[jephrey]

Those of you who claim Apple stole this, or in any way think that Apple is being underhanded:

Please post a reason why? Have you looked around the net for other syncing or wifi icons and noticed any other similarities other than this app? If any of you can clearly state WHY you think so, please do. There are a lot of others here posting very valid arguments that the logo is pretty much the same for everyone that offers this, with slightly different stylings of course. Why won't you give Apple the same "respect" as everyone else who uses a similar icon? Is it because apple's icon wasn't first? Does it always have to be first or they stole it?

I get so curious when to me it feels like people just make posts without researching anything, claiming that everyone else who has is some kind of fanboy.

clearly, the start and stop angles of the arrows are in line with apples old sync icon... If you want to argue stealing, this guy stole apples sync logo... two arrows going in a circle - and added an image from the internet for the wifi part - the interior "wifi" logo. You'd have to say both of them stole that logo, right? I know Apple probably wasn't the first to use that, and this developer obviously wasn't either. And that's all I have to say about that.

finch.

 

[econgeek]

Who are we explaining?

The 20 year old Computer Science student has been tweeting this now. He is too immature to actually understand that both these things are common sense; but still he insists on tweeting that Apple copied his idea and icon.

That's the whole point of these kinds of articles. Giving attention to anyone who can scrape together a claim that Apple did something wrong, no matter how asinine.

Remember when that douchebag wil shipley claimed that apple stole his idea for a bookshelf from delicious library for the iBooks app?

The thing is, I made an app like delicious library in the mid 1990s, and used a bookshelf icon on it... and I did this in Seattle where Wil is located. so I should claim Wil stole the idea from me, right?

I was there nearly half a decade ahead of wil.

But wil, being a douchebag, won't admit that he stole from me (he just douches around as if he's too stupid to understand the concept) and all the bloggers with no credibility carp on about how Apple stole the idea of a bookshelf from will effing shipley.

It is enough to conclude that the movie Idiocracy was right, and it is happening much faster than predicted.

 

[econgeek]

If Jonestown had apologists as good as these, they would never have had to drink their Kool-aid.

Ever notice how, to "certain people", anyone who makes arguments defending Apple is an "apologist" or a "fanboy" or a member of a "cult".

Yet here they are on mac forums (and they are on all mac forums) and all they contribute is characterizations of other participants.

If they spent a bunch of time making arguments to the POINT rather than to the PEOPLE, you might thing they are legitimate.

So, who is it that is engaging in cult like behavior? You who cannot make an argument to the point and so instead calls people cultists?

Or the people who are making arguments to the point that you disagree with?

 

[err404]

Of course the name "Wi-Fi Sync" and concept are generic. So is "App Store".

Apple will easily win any litigation over the Wi-Fi Sync claims, but it's very bad PR. They may be better off just tossing the guy some cash and have him issue a public statement that they "worked things out".

Then again that would just be an invitation to others making similar claims down the road...

 

[AaronEdwards]

This isn't borrowing or stealing. It's like when you have an rectangular area that you want to fill with square shaped icons, a grid layout is the best one and the one most would end up with. Suing for this would be as stupid as suing for a grid layout that looks like your own.

 

[Porco]

This is like if someone registered iCloud domains last year then said Apple copied their idea of using a logo that looks like a bit like a cloud in a technology-kind of way.

Edit: I posted before this article came to light!! : https://www.macrumors.com/2011/06/1...ns-files-suit-against-apple-over-icloud-name/

 

[Maoltuile]

This can't be serious. Both the logo and the icon are the 'obvious' choices. Maybe Apple should hire the original dev, as he clearly has good taste?

And it bears mentioning for those not aware - The Register are professional page-view trolls. They're about as credible as a tabloid.

 

[jettredmont]

When Apple does it, people call it "borrowing". When everyone else does it, it is called "stealing".

Double standard much?

Umm, the original developer "borrowed" two standard Apple icons, skewed one in an ugly way, and then combined them.

But, it's Apple who "stole" those two standard Apple icons, "unskewed" the ugliness on the one, and combined them?

The icon is definitely not "stealing" in any sense of the word. Unless you are talking about the original developer, who took those icons from Apple. The common Apple iconography is a part of a vocabulary. You are free to use that vocabulary to describe your product, but it's Apple's vocabulary to use as they see fit.

And name? "WiFi Sync"? That utterly imaginative name he thinks Apple stole? That's really weak sauce.

As far as the functionality: the idea of a wireless sync is obvious, to the point that dozens if not hundreds of pundits publicly questioned why Apple hadn't done it up to this point. Unless Apple took this guy's mechanism for doing that, the idea doesn't even meet the thin requirements for a software patent, as it is so obvious that it was "invented" simultaneously by everyone and their brother.

 

[ucmj22]

really....

Granted, I only read the first page of comments, but I expected alot more apple bashing on here so I guess I'll Have to take the lead. As a Graphic Designer who creates logos, this does seem to be a problem. even though the wifi symbol is public domain and the sync symbol by itself is not generally defendable under trademark laws, when the are combined it does create a proprietary symbol that can be trademarked. it would be something like me taking the golden arches, turning them blue and starting a restaurant called McTonalds that sold Big Tacs and Half Half Pounders with cheese. The M logo is just a letter of the alphabet right,... its "universal". Apples case is also hurt by the fact that this logo, along with the name WiFi Sync has already been used to sell a set of proprietary code (AKA Software) successfully means that Greg Huges doesn't even have to have submitted it for a trademark in order to be protected. If Mcdonalds never trademarked their logo it would still be protected because it could be proven that the M logo is recognizable to them and therefore theirs by default. anyone who disagrees should read up on their TM law.
(| worst the it best of times was |) these words are not copywrited however when arranged like so, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," it becomes copywrite protected.
It is not the elements themselves that are the issue, it is how they are perceived as a whole.

 

[MacMan86]

Granted, I only read the first page of comments, but I expected alot more apple bashing on here so I guess I'll Have to take the lead. As a Graphic Designer who creates logos, this does seem to be a problem. even though the wifi symbol is public domain and the sync symbol by itself is not generally defendable under trademark laws, when the are combined it does create a proprietary symbol that can be trademarked. it would be something like me taking the golden arches, turning them blue and starting a restaurant called McTonalds that sold Big Tacs and Half Half Pounders with cheese. The M logo is just a letter of the alphabet right,... its "universal". Apples case is also hurt by the fact that this logo, along with the name WiFi Sync has already been used to sell a set of proprietary code (AKA Software) successfully means that Greg Huges doesn't even have to have submitted it for a trademark in order to be protected. If Mcdonalds never trademarked their logo it would still be protected because it could be proven that the M logo is recognizable to them and therefore theirs by default. anyone who disagrees should read up on their TM law.
(| worst the it best of times was |) these words are not copywrited however when arranged like so, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," it becomes copywrite protected.
It is not the elements themselves that are the issue, it is how they are perceived as a whole.

How about the fact that the Wi-Fi symbol used was directly lifted from Apple?

http://images.apple.com/timecapsule/images/wireless_wirelessicon_20080115.png

That symbol is not public domain and is not the same as the others that are used for Wi-Fi http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=wifi+symbol&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1440&bih=764&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

It would be a brave man to take on Apple when you've used one of Apple's assets in the first place, without permission.

 

[ucmj22]

How about the fact that the Wi-Fi symbol used was directly lifted from Apple?

Image
http://images.apple.com/timecapsule/images/wireless_wirelessicon_20080115.png

That symbol is not public domain and is not the same as the others that are used for Wi-Fi http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=wifi+symbol&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1440&bih=764&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

It would be a brave man to take on Apple when you've used one of Apple's assets in the first place, without permission.

You just showed me a 4 tiered wifi symbol. the one in the ap is a 3 tiered wifi symbol. I suppose you are saying that Apple owns all wifi symbols and is allowing everyone else to use them at their discretion...?

 

[MacMan86]

You just showed me a 4 tiered wifi symbol. the one in the ap is a 3 tiered wifi symbol. I suppose you are saying that Apple owns all wifi symbols and is allowing everyone else to use them at their discretion...?

… And Apple have a smaller scale version of the same symbol with 3 tiers for their mobile devices:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TA38663?viewlocale=en_US