“Having a look at the otherwise impressive Galaxy S II phones from Samsung, I noticed that the USB AC power adapter had a ‘familiar’ feel to it to it,” 9 to 5 Mac reports.
“Turns out, it is almost an exact replica, within a millimeter in every direction,” 9 to 5 Mac reports.
“As you can imagine they both put out the same power, 5V at 1A,” 9 to 5 Mac reports.
See the photos in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As if we needed it, yet another reason to continue avoiding Samsung knockoffs:
Boycott Samsung. We no longer buy Samsung-branded products and advise our millions of readers worldwide to also avoid purchasing Samsung-branded products until they cease stealing Apple’s patented IP.
Apple’s products came first, then Samsung’s:
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Lynn Weiler” and “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Why are Apple’s icons on the wall of Samsung’s store? – September 24, 2011
Verizon sides with Samsung against Apple, asks court to deny preliminary injunction – September 24, 2011
Samsung threatens to step up patent fight with ‘free riding’ Apple Inc. – September 23, 2011
It’s obvious they are completely different.
Ones black, the other is white
Yup. Been boycotting Samsung for a few weeks already.
Been boycotting Samsung for a few years now. It took one error, buying one of their DVD players, to put me on the right path, the one directly away from their crapware.
Now why would Samsung do this, do you think:
1. They hire only engineers straight out of school?
2. They have no industrial designers?
3. They have no OS of there own?
4. Their back is against the wall w/few customers for existing phones.
5. They see the future staring in their face from Apple?
I vote for all of the above.
AND – They were in a DEAL with APPLE to product the iPHONE and other components – it was far too easy NOT to copy.
6. They are Asian. Copying is in their DNA.
Bonus +5 points.
Wish it weren’t so.
Racist comment.
doesn’t mean it is incorrect.
No, but a racist comment is always a little suspect, don’t you think?
No problem Don’t need them.
Don’t want them,dont’need them never liked them and will never buy them……Ever.
1
1
While Apple may indeed have a good case against Samsung the truth of the matter is that all tech companies are using the same factories to produce their products. The fact that their AC to USB power adapters are so similar should not be surprising.
Not at all.
The factories don’t design the products they manufacture for other companies.
The factories build the products to the specs that the companies give the factory.
If the factory is producing a product that is an almost exact replica of another company’s product, that’s not the fault of the factory that is manufacturing the copy.
… reason every phone I’ve ever owned has a different power cord from every other one? Like the design of the frickin’ power cord is some sort of Trade Secret?!? So, Apple needs to spend money – which must be factored into the price of the phone – to design what could – should – be a box-standard cord?
I can understand the IP aspects of the OS, the screen, the electronics – even the form factor of the shape – but the cord? Manufacturers ought to be forced to make the cord to a given standard unless they can prove – in court – that there’s an advantage to a different design. Having proven that, they should have to share the design freely.
Talk about senseless costs!
This is NOT about the *CORD*. It is about the AC to DC converter. Apple designed one that was/is very compact. More compact than almost any one I have ever seen. Up until Apple’s little white cube, I had not seen anything that small and simple.
I don’t have any idea if Apple patented this design. They should have, but maybe they didn’t. However, the Samsung adapter is an obvious rip-off of the Apple design. If Apple didn’t patent it or protect the design in some way, then Samsung is *legally* free to copy it. But even then, it does not make it the right thing to do.
Yes it’s seems obvious that they are ripping of Apples IP. But I just brought a 64 inch Samsung TV recently which is great. I love apple and their products but they don’t make TVs yet! Luckily apply is big enough to fight their own battles without me.
I compared Samsung and some other TV’s. Decided to buy Sharp. It had better black and whiter whites than Samsung. Sharp uses the four pixel “yellow” to increase contrast.
Although I would not buy Samsung now, there are better TV’s.
You’re insane. I have the Samsung PN64D7000 plasma and there is no Sharp made that can hold a candle to it. In fact the only TVs that even compare and/or beat it are the flagship Panasonics and the Kuro’s of yesteryear.
A boycott is ridiculous considering that would have to include many Apple products that have Samsung parts in them.
I was not referring to Plasma. Currently no plasma can overcome the general natural lighting of the room that the large screen is in. Insane would be buying a Plasma. Area is too large and bright- by the Architects design. If I used plasma it would be too dim. I compared to other LED’s and found it better. Insane not.
I live in a large open space loft with a wall of 20 foot windows that fill my place with sunlight. Never had a problem with brightness. In fact once calibrated I had to lower the brightness even for the daytime settings.
You may be right in saying Sharps are better on the LCD side. Wouldn’t know, anymore then which PC vendor makes the better windows box.
My point was simply that Samsung may make derivative, knock-off products in their mobile devices devision, but the folks over in their television R&D do pretty good work. Boycott or don’t boycott, but to try and paint the entire company’s products as inferior is just not substantiated.
“Sharp uses the four pixel “yellow” to increase contrast.”
I can’t believe you fell for that marketing scam. The yellow pixel does nothing but make your image *less* colour accurate. RPG already has yellow very well represented, adding a dedicated yellow either does nothing or makes it overrepresented depending on how heavily its used.
Panasonic Plasma’s are the way to go.
Unless the room is too bright for plasma. Then the colors are faded or washed out as well on the screen which will make the color inaccurate.
I just got a 60 inch Sharp Aquos.
It’s pretty damn nice.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and I do respect that. However, to me, there’s no compromise on ethics. There may be grey areas where things aren’t well defined, but if I know something to be blatantly unjust and wrong, I can’t conscientiously support that.
Shiny TVs are enticing, I can understand the dilemmas and temptations, but my personal ethos just aren’t up for these trade-offs. Matter of fact, Samsung, Google, MSs of the world can’t pay me direct to compromise my sense of what is just and unjust. I’m not for sale.
Funny, I was out looking at a new 55 inch TV, I saw a Samsung, it had a nice picture comparable to the LG and Sony… My gut reaction was NOT TO BUY Samsung. I am a Apple fan and the where lack of respect for IP has just gone too far, I am voting with my wallet!
NO Sammy products for me going forward.
“…..going forward”
As opposed to what, going backward?
Most ridiculous, over used, geek speak phrase ever.
“No more….” implies in the future or for all those that studied english at Balmer Institute, going forward. Toids
It’s like the word “basically”. Unnecessary word that just takes up space. Oh, and the word “like” that my kids use every two or three words….
Boycott Samsung? Really? All of my screens are Samsung, I am not sure I can do this.
Samsung are huge, my company have SHI as a client;
http://www.shi.samsung.co.kr/eng/
Samsung Heavy Industries. Massive. Their shipyard in Korea is easily as big as a small town. That’s just one division of Samsung.
I’m not flaming at all, just saying they are way more than a consumer electronics company…
Most of the oil brought to the surface in the middle east is transported across the globe by ships built by SHI, and they have just laid down the plans for the first FPSO ship in the world.
Be careful what you wish for MDN.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business-old/mining-energy/bn-prelude-floating-plant-has-shell-fired-for-lng/story-e6frg9ef-1226059923612
That’s good to know.
Boycott any product arriving on a Samsung ship!
I hope their ships don’t run on Android 🙂
I own nothing built by Samsung and I certainly will not have a ship built in their shipyard. Take that Samdung!!
Boycott Samsund??? MDN is getting desperate. When someone starts making better TV/Screans I may join, now I will pass.
This is completely dumb. How many Apple products use samsung parts should we boycott those as well.
Yes shawn, that’s exactly what MAC daily news wants you to do … stop using MACs
you’re missing the point. If we are going to pick and choose which of their products to boycott than hooray. Count me in. I’ll keep my Mac products, and all the products they make that are best in class from a price performance aspect like my plasma, and boycott (as I usually do) inferior products like their BS phones and tablets. Kind of like Apple buying their chips, and suing them for stealing their IP. This is just a little less Black and white then the usual MacDaily good guys vs villains take.
Sorry, but they make damned fine plasmas IMHO.
There are two reasons to use the word “MAC”:
1) You’re referring to hardware MAC addresses, where MAC refers to Media Access Control:
MAC Address @ Wikipedia
2) You’re a stupid troll who doesn’t know any better.
Samsung is vindictive. They are instigating a war based on retribution, not merits. As a long-time Apple fan, I am offended. I suspect that many other Apple fans feel the same way.
Boycotts are not an attempt to hurt the target. They are an effort to send a message whether the target is an industrial monster or a country.
All Apple fans should boycott Samsung consumer products until Samsung realizes that it’s customers’ opinions matter. There are better alternatives to every Samsung consumer product out there. Apple fans are a sophisticated and discerning group and will find them.
START NOW!
Vindictive and extremely childish. I, too, am offended by Samsung’s behavior. If they keep this up, their days as an Apple supplier may be numbered.
“Samsung is …. instigating a war based on retribution, not merits.”
*DING* Samsung are faking righteousness while actually insisting upon a fictitious right to ripoff IP. They hid behind a paper facade. They will BURN for their vacuous arrogance. They are soooo screwed. I’m enjoying this…
I bought a Samsung 24″ TV/Monitor earlier this year and nothing Samsung since. Don’t get me wrong I am very pleased with my purchase, it is a good TV/Monitor.
Since I do not plan on buying anything Samsung anyway a boycott would be easy.
Samsung means “No Class”.
Sam = Three
Sung = Star
Samsung = Three star
so no, it doesn’t mean ‘no class’ u have no class
You Pedantic filth!
I know that’s right Allllllesssandro! Go on n’ tell’em hunney!
I find it rather interesting that the filthy, pedantic jezebel can neither write, nor punctuate a complete sentence. The little harlot even failed to capitalize his own name, for cripes sakes.
Jon, you tramp…make note of the following:
[So, no. It doesn’t mean “no class” — you have no class.]
As soon as Apple TV comes out, I will be taking a hammer to my Samsung plasma for YouTube……..
screw samsung.. unapologetic, unoriginal, blatant copiers with apparently no dignity, simple as that
This company is such a scumbag immoral POS. Take them down Apple! Their management is obviously also comprised of morons to pissoff their largest customer worth several BILLION a year. How can you be so stupid? Oh, that’s right, their entire corporate culture is based on “invent nothing, copy everything”.
No thanks.
Boycotts do little in the end, besides im a consumer of both companiess’ products and their issues are between them not me.
Typical Asian business thinking: do the same thing as everyone else, drive the value of what you do to zero due to tons of people doing exactly the same thing. I can’t wait to get back to the states.
Boycott Samsung? Dumb!
I’ll continue to use products from both companies.
Count me in. Boycott Samsung.
To be perfectly fair, 5V is the USB 2.0 spec and 1A is the maximum current that can be supported. Check out any USB A/C-based charger and you will see the same. Computer USB output is usually 500mA max, which is why your iPod charges faster using the wall adapter.
The physical similarity, however, is quite interesting. Perhaps this is just a generic design owned by a 3rd party supplier to Apple?
I believe Apple already patented the design, look, & feel of the USB power adapter.
All of you Apple crybabies on here please ask your parents for your pacifier and shut the hell up. Who cares if the Samsung Galaxy S2 looks like the iPhone. You don’t see Sony suing everyone because all the other plasmas look like it’s plasma.
“Who cares if the Samsung Galaxy S2 looks like the iPhone.”
The law.
P.S.
I’m copying your screen name since you seem totally cool with IP theft. You don’t mind, right? Who cares if my alias looks like yours.
Ok. I totally apologize for calling you Apple crybabies.
Actually I just stole App Geek and said things in his name. See how it works “App Geek”?
Wait, can you run that by me again, I didn’t quite get it.
Back when CRTs were the best monitor in town, the best was the Sony Trinitron. Yes, Sony patented it. Anyone who tried to sell a Sony Trinitron knock-off got sued out of existence. Yes, Sony does protect it’s IP.
Any other worthless examples?
What the fu_k those flat-face and miniature dick Samsung executives from South Korea are thinking?
Begins to sound like a bunch of Klan members here. Do you really have to stoop to racist slurs ???
I’m not boycotting a decent company who makes excellent products just because Apple has a little squabble with them. I have a Samsung TV, sound system and disc changer, 23-inch Samsung display which has always looked fantastic on my Mac. Boycott Samsung’s mobile products fine… but that’s just one division.
I’m impressed at how far Samsung has resurged in the last 20 years to become one of the largest contenders against Sony.
I get a little fed up with all the racism on here. You can take Apple’s side here on actual evidence, not on talk of “flat-face” Koreans or “Asian business thinking”
I resent all racism as well. However, the phrase ‘Asian business thinking’ is descriptive of a region without any direct reference to race. It also, sadly, happens to be a fact. I personally consider this fact to be an aspect of general asian culture, not race. It is entirely changeable. Japan’s business culture did a 180º turn from the general Asian ripoff culture. Several other countries in Asia have done the same. South Korean business is still heavily based in ripoff versus invention. 😯
American troops should leave South Korea ASAP and let North Korea to do whatever “The Dear Leader” please with the South (south of DMZ).
Yeah, that’d be an improvement because North Korea totally respects intellectual property.
Vice Chairman & CEO of Samsung & Boards of Director -> Mr. Gee-Sung Choi
President & CEO of Samsung Electronics N.A. -> Yangkyu Kim
President of Samsung Telecommunications America -> Dale Sohn
President & CEO of Samsung Semiconductor -> Charlie Bae
President of Samsun Austin Semiconductor -> Dr. Woosung Han
Boards of Director -> Yoon-Woo Lee
Boards of Director -> Ju-Hwa Yoon
Boards of Director -> Dong-Min Yoon
Boards of Director -> Char-Woong Lee
Boards of Director -> In-Ho Lee
Boards of Director -> Oh-Soo Park
They are all fu_king as_holes.
I’m struggling to see why some people (excluding Apple shareholders) are getting so emotional about this? Samsung’s behaviour is unacceptable yes, but boycott their products? In doing so the only outcome is that you cut down your own consumer choice. Samsung probably wouldn’t care less. The fact is that Samsung products aren’t bad, the company is not run by murderers or using child labour (which you could say would be reason to boycott), and potentially opting to buy an inferior product because the one you like has got a Samsung badge on it is cretinous. Yes, we all love Apple products, but get a grip people and stop being so pathetic.
So you choose to reward a thief because it suits your personal preference.
Okay. You’ve made your point.
Forget Samsung. How about Google?
Google is on the radar! After their poor showing at this past week’s congressional hearings, their ‘no evil’ mask has been officially removed. (Google are proven blackmailers and liars). The lawsuits against Androids are in full force. The means to thwart their web surveillance of users is trivial to obtain and use. Alternative web search engines continue to proliferate, and I don’t mean Boing.
IOW: No one requires Google. Boycott away, if so inclined. My choice is to ‘use’ Google without them every ‘using’ me. 😀
Seriously? You’re all excited because of a power adapter? The Belkin one looks the same. And omigosh, did you see the cable and the USB port? Almost identical!! Really, this is nit-picking. Form follows function. Pick on function, if you like, but there isn’t much to the shape that you can argue about – like any other device you use (laptop, hard drive, TV, toaster, hi-fi gear, writing utensil, etc.), when you reach its simplest form, you have to expect the same size and shape across most brands.
You make a good point. But when you notice a consistent trend of direct similarity over time, you figure out that ripoff is the process causing the observed result.
Let me start by saying that I am a fan of Apple and very much enjoy the products that they produce. Samsung supplies flash memory, DRAM memory and the applications processor of the iPhone 4. They get paid regardless if you’re a fan or not. These companies have symbiant relationships on many levels. What’s the point of a boycott? Didnt stop me from buying the 520 series washer and dryer and plan on getting the new 65″ D8000 shortly. IMO, Nothing came close when I was researching these particular products. There really is nothing to gain wasting energy debating a few consumer products. Leave it to the attorneys. Consumer products are only a small division of Samsung anyway. They make shipbuilding, construction and engineering equipment as well. I doubt they’ll care.
I’m still curious what they’re strategic business plans were that lead them into this?
Samsung must have known they would put their component sales to AAPL at risk. Did they rationalize that by somehow working out that handset sales in a slim margin business was a business opportunity too fat to pass up?
Maybe they felt they needed to take a shot at getting to the next stage and had to become a market-defining player like the AAPLs, Sonys and MSFTs of the world.
I still can’t quite work out what their strategic planning must be.
I noticed the commercial was an Apple knock-off too.
The narrator even sounds like the guy from The Crazy Ones.
This post is childish, apple is a great company with great products, that’s why I own so many if them… But they are also very monopolistic, and are prone to suing anything that has the letter “I” in it’s name. Apple’s lawyers can do whatever they want to do even if it is unconstitutional, and they seem to get away with it. The news articles about searching the iPhone 5 guy’s house recently illustrates that quite nicely. I think that apple should probably sue any manufacturer that has a phone with any sort of touch screen and an off/on button since I’m sure that they own that “IP” too.
I am not a fan of this article, and believe that you all are better than this. Sincerely Tim
What do you mean by Apple is monopolistic?
What is your proof within the actual meaning of the word “monopolistic”?
Boycott Samsung whilst still having sunSung adverts on the front page of Mac Daily News
Y U NO READ THE FUCKING ARTICLE, BEFORE YOU FUCKING READ THE COMMENTS.
This article is about how Samsung ripped off Apple’s tablet and phone, WHY DO I SEE COMMENTS ABOUT TVs AND MACBOOKS?
*sigh* stupid trolls and kids on the internet.
Anyway, I have to agree, the products do look apealing, but awkwardly familiar to their competitor. And in all honesty, it looks like a ripoff. The reason I like Apple is that they’re the ones trying to take the step forward. They’re the ones who make us get rid of our disty floppy disks to move on to USB (and now PC fanboys claim they’re better cuz they have more USBs… without Apple you’d have floppy disk ports instead… another exemple of ripping off in the industry, just saying) and they’re the one who made touch screens nearly standart in smartphones. Seriously, nearly every smartphone I see or MP3 player looks awkwardly familiar to apple products, but at least, they had their own touch, the company’s own feel. But in this case, it truely looks like Samsung is trying to get Apple’s feel, and is ripping off. I’d boycut samsung cuz I want progress to be done; if companies only make ripoff, we’ll never end up with new, more advanced technology. We need companies to make it new.
And now, lets say that we know Apple are the one who introduced this technology, and obviously will be the ones to improve it and get more technology, and now, samsung rips it off, and its ripoffs are cheaper, apple goes bankrupt, and now samsung has nothing to ripoff and no big improvements are added to the technology, no more progress.
I know this sounds a bit extreme, but I’m just saying, if companies aim to, like samsung, only make cheaper stuff than successful products of other companies, we’ll never get nowhere, and it doesn’t sound like samsung will get us anywhere ripping off.