Was the iPod Accessory Port Inspired By a 40-Year-Old Camera? 263
An anonymous reader writes "While Samsung has been accused of repeatedly borrowing everything from Apple's hardware, to packaging and accessories, it appears that all current iDevices share a port which is very similar to one found on a forty-year-old Polaroid camera. It gets more interesting when you realize that camera was the 'supreme achievement' of a man Steve Jobs idolized. Edwin Land was the creator of the Polaroid camera and, if Steve Jobs obsessed over Land's devices the way many do with iPhones, etc. today, there's a chance this similarity is not a coincidence."
Re:Why not? (Score:5, Funny)
They should use that in court against Samsung.
"It's not parent infringement, it's an Easter egg!"
Apologies for my server. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Slashdotted already? (Score:5, Funny)
I accidentally posted this while trying to plug my iPod's charging cable into my old Poloroid camera's flash port. At a bar.
Why are car axles as long as they are? (Score:5, Funny)
Here's something that is barely relevant about standards. At least some of it isn't made up! ;)
Why are (most) automobile axles as long as they are?
Because they were the same length as the then railcar axles (I think railroads were originally narrow Gage).
Why were railcars axles as long as they were?
Because that was the Gage (duh) of the railway.
Why was the Gage of the railway set to be that width?
Because it matched the width of the wagons and carriages used on roads at the time.
Why was the axles of the wagons and carriages standardized on that length? (they were made before mass production so many varying lengths would be more probable).
Because they were made to match the ruts formed in the often muddy roads.
Why were the ruts in the road formed at that particular width?
Because one width was used by one kind of common vehicle (the roman chariot).
Why was that width particularly useful?
Because it was the width of two horses.
(Sort of) Moral: nothing is new and our primary transportation technology is based on horses assess!