[JohnR]

They're a follower in terms of technology, BUT definitely not in terms of design or usability (ie the things that are important to pretty much all consumers, whether or not they understand the genius behind it).

I can't say I agree with that.... Apple pick the best ideas from others in design and usability as well. I'm playing with a new iPad and gosh, I'm really quite pleased that iOS7 now has features I saw in Android three years ago, like multitasking, swipe to close an app, notification pane, etc. Hopefully it won't be too long until they figure out how to put in a universal Back button (or gesture).

They do have the best darn screen though...!!

[RDavidson]

Agree to disagree, but a bit of history is in order here. Pretty much the entire way touch screen smart phones work today (or even computers in general), is based on the MacOS dating back to 1984. Yeah, I understand things have evolved and Google and Apple are battling each other for interface design supremacy (so there are similarities and differences in the details) but Apple pretty much invented the use of icons and folders. I'm pretty positive even the whole idea of an on-screen desktop (ie a virtual workspace that mimics a physical desktop), came from Apple. Prior to Apple, accessing data on a computer was pretty much through command prompts. How do you access apps on all your smart devices today? Icons. Located where? Desktop.

[planet10]

I'm pretty positive even the whole idea of an on-screen desktop (ie a virtual workspace that mimics a physical desktop), came from Apple.

Actually borrowed from Xerox PARC (who didn't think the idea would go anywhere)

dave

[JohnR]

a bit of history is in order here.

As Dave indicated, your history is a little spotty... you probably think Apple invented gestures too. Your earlier comment "They combine the software and hardware to work as a seamless whole" was on the mark, they pinch the best ideas from other people and turn them into great products.

[EDS_]

As Dave indicated, your history is a little spotty... you probably think Apple invented gestures too. Your earlier comment "They combine the software and hardware to work as a seamless whole" was on the mark, they pinch the best ideas from other people and turn them into great products.

Sort of like they stole the idea for a smooth screen smart phone from......wait who did they steal that idea from?

[JohnR]

How would I know? Why don't you do the research for yourself and find out?

[RDavidson]

  Apparently we have some people on here that are more nerdy for this stuff than me. If I'm wrong about a something, that's cool. I appreciate the correction. But, I don't think I'm too far off base, and I'd appreciate it if people didn't put words in my mouth (or anyone else's). It is rude and uncalled for. So let's put the battle axes or the pocket protectors and calculators away.

Back to the discussion.......It is pretty hard to prove anymore who came up with what first these days. Back in the late 70's and early 80's, this wouldn't have been too hard. There are so many nuances to design & utility now. One would have to look through tons of patent documentation to get to the bottom of all this (the invention of gestures included). Unless you were there personally or for some reason have deep knowledge on the topic, we should all just chill and get back to the original topic of Apple offering hi res music downloads.

Oh, and Al Gore invented the internet.

[JohnR]

I didn't put words in your mouth, but then again I can see how I was being dismissive and I'm sorry about that. Gesture-based UIs have been a topic of research for a long time. This is an interesting read (scroll down to "Chronology"): http://www.billbuxton.com/multitouchOverview.html

[scb]

Late to the game, but its actually more nuanced than that. On occasion Apple is a trendsetter (Macbook Air and ultrabooks, for example), but on the whole they are very good followers. The iPad, for example, came out long after the development of tablet computers. The first iPhone was much more limited than a five year old Treo in many ways (no App store, no aGPS geolocation)... When has Apple ever been at the cutting edge in hardware specs? In design yes, but hardware wise its rare.

This is hilarious in so many ways

[harri009]

Actually borrowed from Xerox PARC (who didn't think the idea would go anywhere)

dave

Actually xerox sold the concept to apple

Apple was already one of the hottest tech firms in the country. Everyone in the Valley wanted a piece of it. So Jobs proposed a deal: he would allow Xerox to buy a hundred thousand shares of his company for a million dollars'its highly anticipated I.P.O. was just a year away'if PARC would 'open its kimono.