I don't fault tablet makers for following in Apple's footsteps and ditching the tablet form factor from the days of ol'. However, if I came up with an
original (please don't send me pictures of images from
2001. I'm referring to real world products) device that became extremely popular, and then saw another company mimicking practically everything I did right down to the
actors from my commercials, I'd be seriously PO'ed someone was trying to make a dollar off my back.
As for "simple design," I find that seems to be something with which most companies have great difficulty. One of the things people for which Jobs was praised was his ability to say "no."
I'll be bold and guess you are referring to Apple's visit to XEROX' PARC. In that event, it is my understanding that XEROX received APPL stock in exchange for access to the Smalltalk development system and any "inspiration." Did Samsung visit Cupertino recently?
Yes, Bill Gates has been trying to sell tablet PCs for years. However, it took Apple to come up with a
new approach that resonated with the public to the point of disrupting the PC industry.
I won't say Apple doesn't have some blood on its hands in its history (ex.
Watson), but didn't the Zune have WiFi sync back in 2007? Also, it was a forgone conclusion at the time that the application was rejected that WiFi syncing was headed to iOS soon. That almost like Apple releasing the iOS without an address book and then being barred from ever doing their own after devs put out address books in the app store. Now if Apple's address book looks almost exactly like or ridiculously similar to another dev's address book, I would gladly ding Apple.
On a side note (and not to start another conversation), I find it interesting the differences between Apple and Microsoft dealing with Android. Apple seems unwilling to compromise on what it believes it pilfering of its work while Microsoft seems very satisfied with licensing agreements.
As for the current score board in the great
Patent Wars, any attorney worth his or her salt will tell you the law is from from perfect, including
Judge Posner.
I just don't believe Samsung has innovation in its DNA when it comes to consumer products and is mimicking Apple beyond the point of good taste. I tell you what, though, if Apple's TV is a ripoff of the craptastic Samsungs I mistakenly bought in 2010 (2 out of 3 went belly up at the 13 month mark - thank goodness for extended warranties!), I will gladly concede.
Thank you for that breakdown! Fascinating. However, I prefer
hard science.
