Now that it has been revealed that is was a Japanese Apple designer, who "drew inspiration" from Sony, we can now dispel this ridiculous belief by the blind followers that Apple are completely original and are influenced by nobody but themselves. I find it hilarious that they would copy to the extent of even putting the darn brand name of the company they are copying right on the darn prototype. WOW!
This just proves what many have been saying, everyone copies from everyone. But the difference is, when Apple does it, they call it "being inspired by...'
Straight from TheVerge:
A recent court filing by Samsung reveals that in 2006 Apple industrial designer Shin Nishibori was directed to design an iPhone prototype inspired by Sony's aesthetics after Tony Fadell internally circulated an interview with a designer from the company. An assortment of renders reveal his design, complete with a Sony logo — save for one where the logo has been modified to read "Jony," presumably in honor of Apple's Jony Ive.
Apple designer Richard Howarth took note of the renders, and in a 2006 email told Ive that that he felt the design allowed for a "much smaller-looking product with a much nicer shape" for making calls when compared to another prototype...Howarth comments that Nishibori's Sony-inspired look is "only half a step away" from what is now Cupertino's current model. In an amusing aside, Howard also tells Ive that the iPhone 4 design "looks old" when compared to the P2, but that it would be more usable.
And that particular design, is without a doubt pretty much what you see today as the iPhone 4/4S. Thank You Shin, and Thank You Sony.
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