“The makers of the pPod, software that mimics Apple’s iPod digital music player for Pocket PCs, has removed the application from its website after lawyers for Apple contacted the UK company. A lawyer representing computer manufacturer Apple phoned StarBrite last week, and warned them that they are in dangerous waters,” Leigh Phillips writes for DMeurope.com. “Apple’s counsel expressed their client
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Or, put more accurately, “Due to the fact we were blatantly and knowingly infringing on Apple’s patents, we are no longer able to distribute this application.”
Good work, Apple Legal Dept. That one didn’t take very long.
It bugs the heck outta me when companies cannot come up with their own and are “forced” to copy (i.e. Microsoft)
Fucking sheep! Always following, never leading.
This world needs more creators, and less imitators.
Fucking sheep! Always following, never leading.
This world needs more creators, and less imitators.
I think Apple’s beef is with the design, not necessarily the name. A great amount of time, effort and testing when into the menu/interface.
This may also be one of Microsoft’s major headaches with Longhorn if it comes too close to Mac OS X.
Aryugaetu: You mean one of Microsoft’s minor headaches. They’ve already beat a “look and feel” suit from Apple. Since the DOJ backed down, it looks like they can do whatever they want in the US.
Here’s a pict, for those who are curious…
http://www.wired.com/news/images/0,2334,62542-11104,00.html
Chee-rist, they didn’t even make an effort to disguise the fact that they were ripping off the iPod’s design.
Apple has learned it’s lesson well. When they sued Micro$oftopoly over the Windows OS, the genius John Sculley (then Apple CEO) let M$ off the hook for $100,000,000 US. This despite the fact that Apple nailed their butt in court on not only the fact that they lifted approx 70% of their code from the Mac but “look and feel”. If Sculley had any sense he would have settled for a royalty setup instead of up front $ and Apple would be getting $ for every copy of Windows sold. He settled cheap. Never Again.
These guys MUST have known that they would be shut down. I wonder if they were able to stay up long enough to make some cash off it? I hope not.
AMEN NoPCZone. That was a crying shame.
Oh come on…it was a few nitwits producing a piece of 15 pound shareware that had no pretentions of being anything other than a knockoff.
What they should have done is just given it away as open source instead of trying to sell it, but gimme a break, no need to hyperventilate “fucking sheep” over something that was probably done over beers in a couple of weekends, if that much.
its not the hyperventilating thats the problem. people shouldnt be doing that with sheep in the 1st place! 😮
baaaa means no!
i dont blame em for wishing they had an ipod and trying to copy tho
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NoPCZone: You’re account of the look-and-feel suit doesn’t jive with mine. I thought Apple settled because they had no hope of winning the suit. I’ll admit that I don’t have any facts. Do you? If so, please explain or post links.
<<These guys MUST have known that they would be shut down. I wonder if they were able to stay up long enough to make some cash off it?>>
They don’t need to have it up anymore. It’s out! It will now get passed around on unofficial channels. The fact that it has been “officially” pulled will make it even more popular and they can continue to collect fees.
They already know what it needs to function, I doubt it would be difficult to just create a unique control interface that isn’t actually a software iPod knockoff.
“people shouldnt be doing that with sheep in the 1st place! 😮
baaaa means no!”
Hahahahah! Lady Mac Beth strikes again! ROTFL!
Seriously though, I agree that they must have known that Apple would sic the sharks on them, given Apple’s penchant for fiercely protecting their “look and feel”. After all, they’ve gone after people who release Aqua themes for other OS’es.
Has anyone thought that this move might have been unnecessary on apple’s part? Having an ipod interface on a piece of hardware that could never come close to the storage capacity (or true experience) of an ipod (with its tight integration with itunes) may encourage ipod lust. While I doubt that this application would seriously erode ipod sales, it could be seen as advertising for apple. Try out an inherently limited version, then buy the real thing!
well you have to have standards! i may be between partners, but dating a sheep would just make me seem desperate
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cuddly tho.
tumok:
Thanks for the link to the ‘first’ design. Saw it the first time. Then a week later, they changed the design to have the 4 ‘buttons’ under the ‘scroll wheel’ and that’s the only pictures I seen since.
I wondered how HP felt about the pBop. Since the picture show it running on an iPaq and they’re supposed to be selling HP-branded iPods later this year.
Just line those bastards up like bowling pins, and Apple legal will knock them down….
Props Apple….
You are all crazy. Its a great idea and if I had a PDA I’d want to use that interface to play music rather than some crappy one. How can we say people shouldn’t copy when ideas like tabs and buttons and docks are used over and over by different people. Apple’s volume thing is brilliant, and should be copied everywhere, as it is very useful and elegant. If its better, its better. Why create an inferior solution just to be different?