06/28/2004, 7:15pm, EDT
Monday, June 28th
Apple accused of stealing ideas from developers again
Konfabulator, a $25 shareware application that was released last year, allows third-party developers to create "widgets" that users can download. Over 650 widgets, including games, stock quotes, calendars, clocks, etc., are available to users to Mac OS X Jaguar and Panther now.
Apple, in the past, has also been accused of taking ideas from other shareware programs, which has caused backlash from some develops. Karelia Software, producers of Watson Internet search tool, made similar accusations after Sherlock 2, released with a previous version of Mac OS X, offers virtually identical functionality. After its integration into the system, the company slowed the release of updates, and the company today announced that its technology was sold to a major developer, but did not name the buyer.
Dashboard also bears more than a passing resemblance to Panic's Stattoo utility, which mimics some of the functionality of Konfabulator and was released earlier this year.
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It really works something like this...
Application "A" is announced and shipped.
MS announces vaporware with the same features as application "A".
People wait for the "real" MS version of "A" to appear.
No one buys "A". Eventually "A" and it's developer disappear.
MS version of "A" eventually appears or is cancelled.
MS Wins again.
"Cupertino, start your photocopiers! Why wait 'till 'first half of 2005' when you can get the original Dashboard now?"
Now I gotta agree, this isn't a particularly class move on Apple's part.
B: Konfabulator has been done before, with OneClick and more. Konfabulator was the first one to do it /right/. Then the 18,000 Linux and Windows implimentations. Konfabulator can't go after Apple, because they should have gone after StarDock first. They didn't. Life goes on. I wish Konfabulator had the same autohide that Apple has. ;)
Deep down, I'd like Apple to hand Arlo some money. On the other hand, that would be them admitting they stole anything. They lose either way.
http://www.kaleidoscope.net/What_is_Kaleidoscope.html
Mac OS 8 at one point had support for themes. (Apple later back-peddled and removed theme support.) Before OS 8 was available in shops, the fact that it will have theme support was known. It was at that point that Kaleidoscope 'introduced' theme support for OS 7.
Interesting tidbit was that Arlo Rose had worked at Apple's Human Interface Design Center beforehand. Who 'borrowed ideas' from who?
Perhaps since those days, both Apple and Mr. Rose hold a few grudges against each other?