Google Warned Samsung Galaxy Tab Was "Too Similar"

tlhIngan writes "Some interesting news has come out of Apple's filings against Samsung. First, Google warned Samsung that their 'P1' (Galaxy Tab) and 'P3' (Galaxy Tab 10.1) tablets were 'too similar' to the iPad. In addition, Samsung's own Product Design Group note it was 'regrettable' that the Galaxy S 'looks similar' to the iPhone. Finally, how designers at a Samsung-sponsored evaluation noted the Galaxy S 'copied the iPhone too much' and 'innovation is needed.' Of course, Samsung has some ammunition of its own, including how Apple copied Sony's designs. In unrelated news, Judge Grewal has sanctioned Samsung for not preserving emails from automatic deletion, even after litigation has begun."

Again?

[neo8750]

Again and again and again.... Cant we just move on? Its an electronic tablet its going to be similar cause well its a tablet. I'm sick of this shit anyone else?

So they look alike. It's called "form factor."

[sandytaru]

My Samsung 40" television looks exactly like a 40" Sony television. My LG washing machine and dryer looks suspiciously similar to a washing machine and dryer from Kenmore. And my Starbucks coffee tureen is the spitting image of the one I have from Seattle's Best! When you are talking about devices that perform similar tasks, they are going to look alike.

There's only so many ways to build a computer, and when you're trying to stuff as many electronics in a slender LCD screen as you can, it's probably going to look like a plastic slab.

Re:Again?

[Anonymous Coward]

If you are sick of it just move on, why comment?

Why are people obsessing with rounded corners?

[ilsaloving]

It's not just rounded corners.

As the summary and article state plainly, Samsung made what amounts to a copy of the iPad. If you have difficulty telling the products apart after covering up the brand logos, then they are too similar. It's that simple. From there, it's not a large leap for the original manufacturer to claim the subsequent manufacturer was riding on the firsts success. Hell, didn't that exactly happen in court a few months ago? Samsung's lawyer was asked to tell the court which tablet was which, and he couldn't.

And when that original manufacturer happens to be Apple... well... That's like pissing off someone high on bath salts and PCP, and then crying foul because they start beating the crap out of you and eating your face.

There are SO many ways that Samsung could have differentiated their products, but they chose to make it as similar to the iPad as they thought they could get away with. Other manufacturers havn't had any difficulty doing so. There are tablets in various colours, with textured non-slip backs, varying kinds of frontal designs. There were an almost limitless number of ways Samsung could have avoided this right from there start. But they chose not to. And now they're paying the price.

Re:Again?

[jkrise]

I would question the IQ of any customer buying a TV or a computer or a tablet device based on how it looks from 10 feet distance; and not bothering what's inside it. I would ban design patents for ALL electronic goods based on the above principle.

Re:Why are people obsessing with rounded corners?

[tom17]

Someone familiar with the two products could tell easily. Sure, someone unfamiliar could not.

With the logos obscured, I doubt someone unfamiliar with the latest Corollas & Civics could tell the difference either...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CVC2012aaa.jpg [wikipedia.org]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2011_Toyota_Corolla_--_NHTSA.jpg [wikipedia.org]

Shocking new: Similar product looks similar!

Re:Lots of good reasons not to buy Apple

[Deorus]

Apple products are way over-priced, and Apple's "control freakery" is a constant annoyance.

Feel free to not buy from them. Other consumers clearly disagree with you, and so does the competition, which is selling products at the same price.

In terms of features, and performance, Apple often lags behind the competition.

What competition? What features? What performance?

Then there is the distastfulness of Apple's business practices. In this regard, Apple is worse than Microsoft by miles. From Apple's slave labor, to Apple's lack of environmental concerns, to Apple constant litigious scams.

Apple is pretty open about their business practices. What exactly is it that you don't trust about them? You may dislike their business practices, but that doesn't mean they can't be trusted.

Regarding the rest of your comment, can you provide evidence regarding that slave labor, lack of environmental concerns, and litigious scams you talk about? Do you even know what you're talking about? Are you aware that it has been shown that none of that is actually true? Please provide evidence so that I can provide counter-evidence.

Re:Why are people obsessing with rounded corners?

[russotto]

As the summary and article state plainly, Samsung made what amounts to a copy of the iPad. If you have difficulty telling the products apart after covering up the brand logos, then they are too similar. It's that simple.

Simple and wrong. LCD displays, keyboards, laptops, cardboard boxes, polo shirts, blue jeans, soda cans, bicycles, heck, even many cars look similar once you cover up the logos.