Every time you mention the fact that another loser competitor copied Apple, you always get the argument that “Apple didn’t invent that.” That may be true, but let’s look at some of the things that Apple didn’t invent, but made better.
Apple didn’t invent the smartphone, but it made it better.
Apple didn’t invent the mobile OS, but it made it better.
Apple didn’t invent the computer, but it made it better.
Apple didn’t invent the laptop, but it made it better.
Apple didn’t invent the ultra thin laptop, but it… oh wait, yes it did.
Apple didn’t invent the tablet, but it made it better.
Apple didn’t invent the cloud, but it made it better.
Apple didn’t invent consumer software, but it made it better.
Apple didn’t invent the computer operating system, but it made it better.
Apple didn’t invent the MP3 player, but it made it better.
Apple didn’t invent online purchasing, but it made it better.
Remember long, long ago when Apple used to be the poster child for Not Invented Here™? You’ve come a long way, baby.
True for all except cloud…mobile.me and icloud…humm
Apple invented the usable ultra thin tablet.
mobile.me had its issues, but I’ve personally been very happy with iCloud and have not read anything bad about it (except for some minor issues with Photostream). What exactly is wrong with iCloud?
“Apple didn’t invent the ultra thin laptop, but it… oh wait, yes it did.” Sony Z505, way back in the nineties! but Apple certainly made it better
Rumor: Apple to Merge with BASF to Bring Back Marketing Slogan
Let’s go back further. Laser printers, computer CD-ROM drives, desktop scanners, digital cameras… Apple has a history of bringing digital wares to the masses in a way that makes it more usable to the mainstream market.
I was thinking about this same idea earlier today. I was trying to figure out what it is that makes us think that X company “copies” Apple, when Apple didn’t invent any of the core ideas in the first place.
The plagiarism is in the implementation: Nobody is copying how tablets were in 2009. They’re copying how Apple implemented them in 2010. Nobody is copying how smartphones were in 2006. They’re copying how Apple implemented them in 2007.
Yes, Google and Palm came forward with some great enhancements and ideas to advance the core implementation, but Apple had to lay the groundwork for them to see where to take it.
What baffles me is how Samsung’s plagiarism — perhaps the most flagrant of the rip-off merchants — is defended by others by showing that “tablets” and “smartphones” are not original ideas from Apple.
Samsung obviously knows a good thing when it sees it otherwise it wouldn’t be doing what it’s doing. But their copying is of the superficial kind — there’s no depth, no deeper understanding as to why Apple makes and markets products the way they do. Why does Apple succeed? Why are their customers so fervent in their loyalty?
Competition is good, but Samsung should work to understand why Apple’s way is good by looking at its fundamentals, not just its aesthetics.
I can send emails with iCloud but I cannot receive them, since December 14, I called Apple express line 4 times, they’re working to resolve my issue…….
I forgot, I paid to have 50 Go with iCloud
Couldnt’ve said it better.
Did Edison “invent” the lightbulb?
No he did not.
The idea of a lightbulb was in play by others prior to Edison. But Edison ran a development company that went through 1500-1800 different “tries” before they came up with a filament that would burn brightly and not burn out quickly.
Did Edison do all the testing to find out what would work best as a filament? No he did not. His development team did that.
But Edison got the credit for “inventing the lightbulb” (although the true claim would be “perfecting the lightbulb”).
When you read the above and substitute Jobs for Edison and any of the Apple products (Jobs fathered) for the lightbulb you can clearly understand how Jobs and Edison were completely in parallel in developing superior products.
If you understand how products are “invented” then you understand how pointless it is for people to denigrate Apple or Jobs for working tirelessly to make the best product they can (perfect it).
Another parallel with Edison is that his company did not come out with a declaration after try No.2 that they had perfected the lightbulb only to come out with subsequent model (try No. 3) when it was found that No. 2 burned out after a week. The get something out there and then rev it until we get it right is the way that most of the world develops products ( I still have the original Sony fact sheet from 1993 for the first CD player, that claims “perfect sound forever”. It seems to have needed to get more perfect every year since).
The wait until we get it right and then release it is the path Jobs took. The fact that that approach leaves very little room for one-upmanship from competitors is what galls the rest of the industry. The fact that everything has been dialed in to the nth degree means that they have virtually no alternative but to copy Apple.
(Somebody ought to be able to take the paragraph above and work it to show that it is Apples fault that the rest of the companies have to copy Apple designs. Have at it you Androids and Samsungers)
HTH.
RR
That is not good … I guess I don’t use the iCloud email address, but I love its ability to keep all of my devices in sync (photos, contacts, calendar, etc.).
Yeah, sure, 29 mm is “ultra slim.”
I’ve long ago given up on trying to explain the concept that taking an idea and IMPROVING it isn’t the same as blatently copying something and NOT IMPROVING it. Apple bashers will bash no matter what and they rarely show any real logical thought.
add: USB + WiFi
Yeah, and Tolkien didn’t invent Elves either.
Actually, elves invented Tolkien.
Precisely. It’s as if no one believes that effort is required to integrate, simplify and make fully functional the myriad of technologies required for even the most basic computer to function reliably.
Looks like Samsung are way ahead of you on that “not improving” point, proving once again that they just don’t get it:
http://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-will-not-upgrade-galaxy-s-phones-2012-1
Truth is “Samedung” has been plagiarizing other companies for a long time. It wasn’t a big deal until they copied Apple, and Apple sued their butts.
Before iPhone, “Samedung” phones were cloning Blackberries, Motorolas, Nokias, etc. Did those companies sue them, I honestly don’t know since I didn’t follow phones back then.
It’s not just phones. “Samedung” also copied printers from HP. When I was deciding on a laser printer back in the day, “Samedung” had the same look and design as HP, but with a lower price. As poor college student, I ended up getting it.
They’ve done the same thing in TVs. Sony TVs were awesome until a cheaper “Samedung” came out with a lower priced version.
Let’s face it. There will always be clones.
Yes, never more true in light of the fact that Apple has been vilified for championing standards supported by many companies to push out proprietary tech furnished by single companies.
Mitsubishi Pedion, 18mm and it was 1997.
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/01/mitsubishi-pedi/
Samsung makes Sony panels you idiot.
“we have always been shameless about stealing good ideas”.
Can you say Prada Phone?
Did you pray for your God “jobs” today?
What a bunch of nonsense you wrote!
Yes it was thin. It’s all relative to what else was available on the market at the time.
Actually the iPhone’s early succes was primarily due to the large user base of pre-existing Apple users who bought the phone. It’s popularity with said Apple users solidified that particular design as a large industry influence. The iPhone did not appear out of a vacuum. The iPhone heavily borrowed from existing designs.
Please explain the depth you think Apple’s designs have.
You asked very nicely but the answer is no.