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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

#31

Post by jb1991 »

NKosmatos wrote: post #16

Very typical of Apple, using opaque approval procedures. They're acting like bullies because they didn't get what they wanted and because they have the money/power to do so. Apple wanted to buy FlickType but they didn't agree on the price or Eleftheriou didn't want to sell (I doubt it), and so from then onwards started the downhill ride. I fully support Eleftheriou on this just for the principle, but if I were in his…

> Apple wanted to buy FlickType but they didn't agree on the price or Eleftheriou didn't want to sell (I doubt it)

Man, these Apple threads are always so full of open speculation.

Edit: I find it very interesting that after multiple downvotes, suddenly I'm getting downvotes on lots of older comments of mine also. Are folks just going into comment histories to go on a downvote rampage?

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

#32

Post by abcd_f »

smashah wrote: post #24
jpcrs wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In one blatant example, Eleftheriou said he was approached by Apple’s head of mobile keyboard technology, Randy Marsden. The latter (who created the Swype keyboard) wanted to buy FlickType to add a native QWERTY for the Apple Watch and improve typing on the device. When Eleftheriou rejected Apple, it refused to remove copycat and scam apps from the App Store. I think he lost his chance. https://hitechglitz.com/the-…

You think they lowballed him?

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.

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

#33

Post by LeoNatan25 »

jb1991 wrote: post #31
NKosmatos wrote: post #16

Very typical of Apple, using opaque approval procedures. They're acting like bullies because they didn't get what they wanted and because they have the money/power to do so. Apple wanted to buy FlickType but they didn't agree on the price or Eleftheriou didn't want to sell (I doubt it), and so from then onwards started the downhill ride. I fully support Eleftheriou on this just for the principle, but if I were in his…

> Apple wanted to buy FlickType but they didn't agree on the price or Eleftheriou didn't want to sell (I doubt it) Man, these Apple threads are always so full of open speculation. Edit: I find it very interesting that after multiple downvotes, suddenly I'm getting downvotes on lots of older comments of mine also. Are folks just going into comment histories to go on a downvote rampage?

This is not a speculation, it is according to Kosta Eleftheriou, the developer of FlickType.

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

#34

Post by sodality2 »

jb1991 wrote: post #31
NKosmatos wrote: post #16

Very typical of Apple, using opaque approval procedures. They're acting like bullies because they didn't get what they wanted and because they have the money/power to do so. Apple wanted to buy FlickType but they didn't agree on the price or Eleftheriou didn't want to sell (I doubt it), and so from then onwards started the downhill ride. I fully support Eleftheriou on this just for the principle, but if I were in his…

> Apple wanted to buy FlickType but they didn't agree on the price or Eleftheriou didn't want to sell (I doubt it) Man, these Apple threads are always so full of open speculation. Edit: I find it very interesting that after multiple downvotes, suddenly I'm getting downvotes on lots of older comments of mine also. Are folks just going into comment histories to go on a downvote rampage?

> In one blatant example, Eleftheriou said he was approached by Apple’s head of mobile keyboard technology, Randy Marsden. The latter (who created the Swype keyboard) wanted to buy FlickType to add a native QWERTY for the Apple Watch and improve typing on the device. When Eleftheriou rejected Apple, it refused to remove copycat and scam apps from the App Store.

https://hitechglitz.com/the-creator-of-the-previous-highest-...

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

#35

Post by avh02 »

thought_alarm wrote: post #8

Alternatively, Apple prevented people from wasting their money on a feature that was about to be built into the OS.

this falls in to the same category of reasoning (IMO) as "you're holding it wrong." - it doesn't answer the underlying issue (in this case - that apple's obviously being unreasonable to the developer)

There are other ways to solve the "wasting their money" problem - offer refunds or similar (again, not at the expense of the developer)

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

#36

Post by germandiago »

I am against regulations but I still find these practices anticompetitive.

Not sure what the conclusion should be here.

On one side this runs on Apple platform:"it is my platform, I rule it".

On the other hand, they have a de-facto position to abuse by just kicking out companies at will to enlarge their businesses and monoplolize them...

I wish there was choice beyond Apple and Android. I am myself starting to look for alternatives. Espcially because of privacy concerns. Things like these at the end go against us customers.

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

#38

Post by LeoNatan25 »

aixi wrote: post #25

I don't think this is a very popular take, but swipe keyboards are extremely common right now; I don't believe Apple had an ulterior motive here.

Apple blocked FlickType with the reason that full keyboards are not allowed on Apple Watch. Then they introduced their own. No ulterior motives?

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

#40

Post by [deleted] »

arvinsim wrote: post #29
aixi wrote: post #25

I don't think this is a very popular take, but swipe keyboards are extremely common right now; I don't believe Apple had an ulterior motive here.

That would be believable if Apple allowed Flicktype and released their own version later. The fact that they blocked it does show ulterior motive.

[deleted]
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