Google Warned Samsung Galaxy Tab Was "Too Similar" 251
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."
Re:So they look alike. It's called "form factor." (Score:5, Informative)
that's because seatle's best is owned by starbucks. they are a wholesale brand of starbucks
Re:It's a rectangle. (Score:5, Informative)
The problem is that those lawsuits aren't about rectangles or corners and that it is a bit more detailed then that and also much broader.
Really in all honestly I can't really look at the total package of Samsung tablet offering without having the feeling that they clearly looked for inspiration to some of Apple offerings. You can debate all day long about how stupid is that companies can "patent" designs, but you really must be blind what the source of inspiration was for some things. Look at Samsung Kies for example.
If you take some steps backs and forget about the rectangle stuff and see it in more detail and especially as whole package, the fact that Google warned Samsung that it was to similar may be not that stupid after all.
Then again this is slashdot an this may be the same like "cursing in a church" but hey... .
Re:Why are people obsessing with rounded corners? (Score:4, Informative)
As the summary and article state plainly, Samsung made what amounts to a copy of the iPad.
The article and summary also point out that Apple's internal emails apparently show that they copied Sony's designs. If that is true, it will be interesting to see how Sony respond.
Also interesting to note that Samsung have produced their own before and after [allthingsd.com] graphic for the court, which disproves the Apple fan claims that "all Samsung phones look like the iPhone".
Re:Why are people obsessing with rounded corners? (Score:4, Informative)
Samsung made what amounts to a copy of the iPad.
The British courts disagree: Apple must run "Samsung did not copy iPad" ads. [yahoo.com]
Re:It's a rectangle. (Score:4, Informative)
Look at the design patent Apple is suing over. It is exactly about rectangles and corners. There's not much else to it. Electronic device, flat, rounded corners, glass front, rectangular screen area.
Re:Again? (Score:1, Informative)
if you can't immediately tell the difference between a samsung tab and an apple iPad...
Then you're a Samsung lawyer?
... then you aren't someone who would truly care which one you've got anyway.
And that is _EXACTLY_ what design patents are intended to protect against - confusion in the market place. "I'm going to buy an iPad" turning into "oh, I bought something called a Galaxy Tab instead... Whoops."
Re:So they look alike. It's called "form factor." (Score:5, Informative)
Apart from LG who announced this blatant iPhone ripoff [wikipedia.org] in December 2006, a month before the first iPhone was announced.
Re:Why are people obsessing with rounded corners? (Score:5, Informative)
Apple's internal emails apparently show that they copied Sony's designs.
Found the details. Apple’s iPhone Has Sony Style, Says Samsung (Full Trial Brief). [allthingsd.com] The emails show an iPhone designer being instructed to create a "Sony-like" design, the initial CAD drawings he created even had the Sony logo on. The emails then show the existing iPhone design being abandoned for the new "Sony" design, and the Apple designer has given sworn testimony that his "Sony-style" design changed the course of the project and led to the final iPhone design.
Re:Lots of good reasons not to buy Apple (Score:4, Informative)
Not quite.
Samsung's alternative options cost HALF of what the Apple version does. That is, I can choose a different set of tradeoffs and spend less. It's rather similar to how I use ION nettops in the place of Mac Minis.
A diversity of options is nice this way. I get what I want rather than the singular package deal that some monopoly wannabe wants to offer me.
Re:Lots of good reasons not to buy Apple (Score:2, Informative)
Most things cost half of Apple.
Not just Macs (see my sig) but phones too. My ISP VirginMobile is selling the iphone 4S for $650, if I recall correctly. The non-apple phone with equivalent function is a mere $200..... 1/3rd the cost. The HTC Evo4 with enhanced functionality (4G; larger screen) is $300.
Not Really (Score:5, Informative)
That's the beautiful thing about capitalism and the free market.
The peasantry is in control rather than a few Robber Barons.
With all due respect, you are just flat wrong. Laissez-faire Capitalism puts control primarily in the hands of the people who have the wealth (AKA "capital"). I assume you are referring to the United States. In this country the "peasantry" doesn't have much of a voice because we do not have a real democracy. Some may say we have a Republic but I think it's closer to an Oligarchy at this point. Here the most wealthy 1% control 35.6% of the wealth while the top 10% control 75% of it. The Forbes Top 400 has a combined wealth of $1.37 trillion dollars. That's who is primarily in control not the "peasantry".
Re:So they look alike. It's called "form factor." (Score:4, Informative)
Of course, you're insinuating that Apple scrambled with one month before announcement and redid their entire design to rip off the Prada, which I'm taking from you involves redoing the iPhone to be a touch screen based product. And, of course, this was a blatant copy, but LG never bothered to sue.
Although it is an oft repeated meme on slashdot, Apple did not sue over a curved rectangular design. I know that you've read that here a number of times in highly moderated comments, but that doesn't make it the case. I also know that you've read a number of times that the iPhone was ripped off from the LG Prada, but if you look at front, back, and side profiles, plus screen shots of the GUI, it will be obvious that this wasn't the case.
What Apple sued Samsung for was the fact that the Galaxy lineup copied the iPhone experience as a whole - the appearance of the device beyond a simple front profile, the user interactions, the general feel of screen layouts and icons. Any of these items on their own wouldn't be worth suing over. It is the combination of all of these elements together to create a user experience that is essentially identical to the iPhone that Apple is suing over.
Of course, why wouldn't you make a comment about the iPhone copying the Prada, or Apple suing Samsung over black rounded rectangles? The first visible comment in any story mentioning these items is guaranteed a +5 mod.