Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design

#21

Post by brink » Fri, Sep 21, 2012, 3:53 AM UTC

mladenkovacevic wrote: post #12

No, no, no you guys don't understand. This is not a cheap rip-off. It's an homage and the Swiss will be honoured that their famous clock has been elevated to the high-art status of Apple design and innovation. The critical eye of an average iPhone user will appreciate the fine craftsmanship & precision of the painstaking work that went into translating the iconic clock into an exact digital replica.

I can't downvote you. But I think that this is a prime example of the snarky comments that people are complaining about that are hurting HN's comment quality.

Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design

#22

Post by achughes » Fri, Sep 21, 2012, 3:58 AM UTC

zdw wrote: post #4

They also copied the look of Braun's classic calculator and tape deck designs for their calculator and podcasts apps. Is this particular instance copying? Yes. Will it affect the popularity of said designs in a positive manner? Probably. Will they sell more of their $400 clock (see: http://www.momastore.org/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDi... ) as a result? I'd guess at yes. So, in any case, they sell more clocks,…

They do have Dieter Rams blessings in taking inspiration from his work at Braun. Copying the Mondaine clock is just clearly a ripoff and terrible.

Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design

#23

Post by nettdata » Fri, Sep 21, 2012, 3:59 AM UTC

brink wrote: post #21

mladenkovacevic wrote: post #12

No, no, no you guys don't understand. This is not a cheap rip-off. It's an homage and the Swiss will be honoured that their famous clock has been elevated to the high-art status of Apple design and innovation. The critical eye of an average iPhone user will appreciate the fine craftsmanship & precision of the painstaking work that went into translating the iconic clock into an exact digital replica.

I can't downvote you. But I think that this is a prime example of the snarky comments that people are complaining about that are hurting HN's comment quality.

I think you spelled "sarcasm" wrong...

Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design

#24

Post by ryanmolden » Fri, Sep 21, 2012, 4:00 AM UTC

ars wrote: post #8

runjake wrote: post #6

I'm as hopeful that Apple gets served its own medicine like the next guy, but this seems more like a common sense design rather than a copy. In fact, I once made a mechanical clock that looks virtually identical to the iOS example and this was years before iOS was unleashed on the world. It's just thick lines and thin lines thrown together. The hands aren't even tapered like the Mondaine's. This seems like a desperat…

It's the red circle on the second hand that clinches it. It's not identical though, the minute markers are thinner, and the minute hand doesn't reach all the way to the rim. That said, how many way are there already to design a clock?

>That said, how many way are there already to design a clock?

I've seen a lot of clocks in my life, but never one with a big red dot at the end of the second hand. So I would say enough not to blatantly copy what appears to be a non-standard/unique design.

Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design

#25

Post by mladenkovacevic » Fri, Sep 21, 2012, 4:01 AM UTC

brink wrote: post #21

mladenkovacevic wrote: post #12

No, no, no you guys don't understand. This is not a cheap rip-off. It's an homage and the Swiss will be honoured that their famous clock has been elevated to the high-art status of Apple design and innovation. The critical eye of an average iPhone user will appreciate the fine craftsmanship & precision of the painstaking work that went into translating the iconic clock into an exact digital replica.

I can't downvote you. But I think that this is a prime example of the snarky comments that people are complaining about that are hurting HN's comment quality.

I absolutely agree. And I let myself sink to a bit of a troll here; but I don't expect much meaningful discussion can be had on this particular topic so I allowed myself (perhaps undeservedly) to express my indignation in a rather toxic way.

Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design

#26

Post by 10char » Fri, Sep 21, 2012, 4:01 AM UTC

This, and inevitable references to Braun, have no place in comparison with the Samsung trial. Samsung made competing products so similar to the effect, and indeed with the purpose, of confusing consumers.

The recent rise in Apple bashing and calls of hypocrisy is even stranger in historical context[1]. Perhaps more of us should try and empathize with Apple's situation and history before passing fashionable judgement.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_v._Microsoft

Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design

#27

Post by achughes » Fri, Sep 21, 2012, 4:02 AM UTC

mladenkovacevic wrote: post #12

No, no, no you guys don't understand. This is not a cheap rip-off. It's an homage and the Swiss will be honoured that their famous clock has been elevated to the high-art status of Apple design and innovation. The critical eye of an average iPhone user will appreciate the fine craftsmanship & precision of the painstaking work that went into translating the iconic clock into an exact digital replica.

except it doesn't have the pause for 1.5 seconds at the 12 o'clock position... hardly a good copy

Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design

#28

Post by zalew » Fri, Sep 21, 2012, 4:05 AM UTC

They should go thermonuclear war on this.

Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design

#29

Post by mark_l_watson » Fri, Sep 21, 2012, 4:10 AM UTC

mladenkovacevic wrote: post #12

No, no, no you guys don't understand. This is not a cheap rip-off. It's an homage and the Swiss will be honoured that their famous clock has been elevated to the high-art status of Apple design and innovation. The critical eye of an average iPhone user will appreciate the fine craftsmanship & precision of the painstaking work that went into translating the iconic clock into an exact digital replica.

+1 great sarcasm. Apple is allowed to 'borrow' good ideas but not other companies.

Re: Apple accused of ripping off famous Swiss clock design

#30

Post by DigitalSea » Fri, Sep 21, 2012, 4:15 AM UTC

Did Apple think they would get away with copying one of the most iconic clock designs ever without anyone noticing? I am speechless. Are cracks starting to show in a post-Jobs Apple too big to fix? I don't want to bash them, but this is blatant and unlicensed copying at its best. Kind of ironic given the recent events with Samsung.