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Apple blocked the FlickType Watch keyboard then announced a clone of it

inputmag.com

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Re: Apple blocked the FlickType Watch keyboard then announced a clone of it

#131

Post by jclardy »

throwthere wrote: post #98

Meh. The problem is FlickType requires network access during use. The App store licensing is ok with keyboards, it's not ok with keyboards that get network access. This, Apple perceives as a major privacy issue-- one for the possibility of keylogging, but also for the broader possibility of the always-on logging that the weather apps are infamous for. edit: Sorry, I didn't include the source, the Developer License Ag…

You’ll be surprised to know that Apple is quite fine with keyboards using network access. That is literally why the “Full Access” switch exists. Without it, the keyboard is fully sandboxed. It can receive input from the container app, but nothing can get out. It is surprisingly a user choice, something Apple will rarely give up on iOS.

The rejection was only because the app existed on the Apple Watch, and it was only rejected after the reviewer knew the new Apple watch would include the same feature (Note, you can’t use this feature on < 2021 apple watches, you have to pay to play.)

Re: Apple blocked the FlickType Watch keyboard then announced a clone of it

#132

Post by whymarrh »

jdavis703 wrote: post #111
ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does the author stand a chance against the army of ivy league lawyers of a trillion dollar megacorp? I guess it would help if he's also American (don't know where he's from) so he could fight Apple on home turf and use the jury system on his side like "Evil megacorp steals from the little guy" (does it even work like this in the US or did I watch too many movies?), but I'm more curious how a lawsuit would go if he'd…

Legally I’m not sure the small developer has a chance. Not because the courts are unjust, it’s just hard to say whether Apple broke any laws here. It’s not to say they didn’t, it just doesn’t seem like there’s any slam dunk legal argument about wrongdoing (despite who this might feel morally).

The author linked to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Unfair_Competition_... (I can't speak to its relevance)

Re: Apple blocked the FlickType Watch keyboard then announced a clone of it

#133

Post by lotsofpulp »

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #115
jdavis703 wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Legally I’m not sure the small developer has a chance. Not because the courts are unjust, it’s just hard to say whether Apple broke any laws here. It’s not to say they didn’t, it just doesn’t seem like there’s any slam dunk legal argument about wrongdoing (despite who this might feel morally).

>it’s just hard to say whether Apple broke any laws here Doesn't stealing someone's idea for an app/innovation and respinning it into your own implementation count as IP theft? IIRC the Winklevoss twins got paid handsomely as a settlement for Zuckerberg stealing their idea for Facebook. Granted, they were very rich and well connected so that helped.

Ideas are not worth much, and there is no law against executing someone else’s idea. Winklevoss twins (or Connect U rather) got paid to shut up and go away at a time when it was obvious $65M was going to be pocket change for Facebook and their lawsuit was going to cost more in time for people at Facebook than $65M.

Re: Apple blocked the FlickType Watch keyboard then announced a clone of it

#134

Post by jodrellblank »

tmotwu wrote: post #48
abcd_f wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless this guy had a patent, any offer is a good offer. It’s not a terribly complicated feature to do from scratch and it does logically belong to the OS. Blocking it from the store was an ass move, if it indeed happened as described and there’s no hidden context.

These excuses just keep getting funnier. App developers: make sure you file your patents, or else its YOUR fault if Apple decides to participate in blatant 90s style Microsoft anticompetitive behavior.

The parent commentor is not excusing Apple's behaviour, nor saying it was the developer's fault. They said the developer would be in a better position if they had a patent.

Re: Apple blocked the FlickType Watch keyboard then announced a clone of it

#135

Post by germandiago »

scns wrote: post #130
sofixa wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I am against regulations but I still find these practices anticompetitive I really don't know how anyone can see this sort of crap and say they're against regulations. The market obviously isn't fixing itself, do you have any other solution?

For me "The market will fix itself" is just a neoliberal lie, no amount of repeating it will make it true. Sadly many people believe people who speak with conviction. A family member shared similar crap (oh noes, i will have to pay more for gas) in a private group History has shown over and over that left to their own devices people will act in their own self interest. And from a biological point of view it would eve…

it is not my position. Nothing to do with neoliberalism the fact that regulating also has evil incentives. We live in a regulated world where many corporations have de-facto privilege because of overregulation yet people ask for more regulation.

It is as if I am a soldier and hit you and you ask for an army to feel safer on the basis that "soldiers should be good in theory, they are here to protect us"and u see it again and again and ignore the facts.

Re: Apple blocked the FlickType Watch keyboard then announced a clone of it

#136

Post by cblconfederate »

JadeNB wrote: post #61
cblconfederate wrote: post #37

Apple's gig workers have no longer justification to complain when their boss steals from them. They knew where they are going and fully chose it

This sure sounds like "they were asking for it", which is tasteless regardless of context.

implying that ios developers are victims? (not that i disagree)

Re: Apple blocked the FlickType Watch keyboard then announced a clone of it

#137

Post by Bud »

beermonster wrote: post #49

It’s flux all over again. Sometimes they just buy out the app developer. think they did this with Dark Sky?

Apple actually bought Dark Sky, lock, stock, and barrel. (And developers.)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22739839

Re: Apple blocked the FlickType Watch keyboard then announced a clone of it

#138

Post by cainxinth »

slig wrote: post #21
bobowzki wrote: post #7

I believe "Sherlocked" is the term used.

>"The phenomenon of Apple releasing a feature that supplants or obviates third-party software is so well known that being Sherlocked has become an accepted term used within the Mac and iOS developer community" TIL.

I think “Fluxxed” would have been a better term. Really captures the spirit of the thing.

Re: Apple blocked the FlickType Watch keyboard then announced a clone of it

#139

Post by ChuckNorris89 »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #133
ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>it’s just hard to say whether Apple broke any laws here Doesn't stealing someone's idea for an app/innovation and respinning it into your own implementation count as IP theft? IIRC the Winklevoss twins got paid handsomely as a settlement for Zuckerberg stealing their idea for Facebook. Granted, they were very rich and well connected so that helped.

Ideas are not worth much, and there is no law against executing someone else’s idea. Winklevoss twins (or Connect U rather) got paid to shut up and go away at a time when it was obvious $65M was going to be pocket change for Facebook and their lawsuit was going to cost more in time for people at Facebook than $65M.

Thanks for clarifying, although $65M for Apple is pocket change they can scrape from between the couch cushions in Cupertino so they could get the author to shut up immediately if they wanted to.

Re: Apple blocked the FlickType Watch keyboard then announced a clone of it

#140

Post by popcube »

Loic wrote: post #58
caslon wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah, yes, reading documents on a computer. A keyboard. Both of these are things that have never been done outside of the Apple ecosystem before Apple made their copies. I don't like Apple, but come on. Reading documents is what computers have historically proven best at, and a keyboard is a pretty logical extension of any given electronic device. Would sure save everyone a lot of time if these things were built in.

It was the presentation of the books mimicking exactly the work of somebody else. Sorry, I should have explained more. Apple contacted (if I can remember) the original author, had friendly discussions about the way he was doing the stuff, and then simply copied everything into the default app. This is only from memory, but for me, the pattern is the same.

can't they juat hired rhat guy...
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