There have been some recent rumblings regarding Apple supposedly stealing an iPhone idea for a program which would allow users to review information from the iPhone screen while the phone is still locked. In other words, without unlocking the phone, a user would be able to check his/her missed calls, recent text messages, and stock prices etc.
Here’s where the controversy comes in. Recent Apple patent filings have been unearthed showing an iPhone screen that is extremely similar to an already available iPhone application that was rejected from the App store. On the surface, this seems to be highly suspicious, but digging a bit deeper reveals that all finger pointing is misplaced.
The iPhone patents from Apple date back to June of 2007, but the application in question, known as Intelliscreen, is and has only been available on jailbroken iPhones. Iphones weren’t jailbroken until July 2007, so it was impossible for Apple’s patents to copy Intelliscreen’s program. Moreover, if the patents were filed in June of 2007, it’s likely that the idea was thought of weeks, if not months, beforehand. And to put the final nail in the coffin, it seems that Intelliscreen was first released as a beta in May of 2008, a full 11 months after the initial patent filings were made.
Nevertheless, Intelliscreen puts out a kick ass app as evidenced by the screenshots below, and hopefully a similar program will be available for non-jailbroken iPhones sometime in the near future. Click on the images for a larger picture.
September 21st, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I agree with you that Apple is being falsely accused. Even before the application for this patent, and even before the introduction of iPhone 1 on the market, Apple, on 9th january, 2007, informed the whole world that, they have more than 200 patents on this gadget which they intended to protect vigorously. This, may be one of these!
Well, a more than 200 patent list is long, eh?
Beware of patent infringement charges.
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Apple reminds me of the soviet union. They country made great things… but they denied open ideals of the west, which would benefit the people.
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
The larger question is why Apple is perpetuating the ridiculous and broken software patents problem.
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Uhhh, Jiff..the are NOT the first to the Finish Line. I am not even sure what you mean by that.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:07 pm
This program has existed for a while. Its called the “Today” version of a theme on BlackBerry devices. In fact, i’m looking on mine right now and i see who has sent me messages, what appointments i have, and what tasks i have to complete. What a novel original idea apple came up with!
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Apple is not like the Soveit Union, that comparison is just dumb. Apple does, just like most companies, vigorously defends it;s products. It just so happens that people try to modify it’s products more often than just about anything else. Apple makes its products and contracts how THEY want, if YOU don’t like it then you it’s your right to not buy it. That’s it, that’s the situation. If enough people don’t like what Apple does and they stop buying products then Apple will change it’s practices, but until then stop making stupid comparisons and complaining when you ruin your iPhone while ‘jailbreaking’ it.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:24 pm
walled garden just isn’t as pretty as real freedom of choice. i’m constantly reminded of why i chose the symbian platform over apple’s mobile OSX – i was so close to making the mistake of buying an iphone too – on opening day (first gen iphone) i had schedule time off from work, found a set of retail locations and their purported iphone rations (as i called them) and even crated a route in my gps so i could drive by the locations in order of likelihood of small lines (rations/population of interest within 10 miles). it wasn’t a perfect system, but i’d made a plan. then BOOM it hit me: [insert dozens of remarks about video, mms and open support for freelance osoftware devs]. since then there’s been a few waves in the ocean, but nothing to stir regret for choosing symbian os (Nokia N95) and very little rekindle a desire for the jesus-phone.
it’s odd that jail-broken phones appear to be the norm, isn’t it?
-bit
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I feel bad for intelliscreen, the creators of twism are set to become millionaires while intelliscreen, which is probably one of the best apps for iphone wont make much.
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
intelliscreen is being reamed
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
A little late. From 9/20/08….
http://www.isights.org/2008/09/is-apple-steali.html
Basically, Jonathan Zdziarski was once again trying to make a name for himself and drum up controversy where none existed. He writes, “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that this is a clear rip-off of the commercial Intelliscreen product.”
But it does, apparently, take a rocket scientist to do a few Google searches and figure out that 2007 came before 2008.
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Err… hasn’t Microsoft Mobile had this for a number of YEARS?
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
@JFKFan87
“JKFan87 Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Uhhh, Jiff..the are NOT the first to the Finish Line. I am not even sure what you mean by that.”
I think he meant first to the Finish Line shoe store, as in the iPod sport kit.
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:02 pm
The real question is who was the first to develop or produce real output? While we’re at it, what’s the big deal. Every Windows Mobile device I’ve touched in recent years has had a similar “today” screen.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I’m far from an expert on iPhones so this will probably be an educational experience for me but I’m wondering what ground the makers of Intelliscreen would have to stand on here. I never really thought of the iPhone as a platform for anyone but Apple to write and patent programs for (like a Mac or PC). This seems more like an open-source program that the developers released than a patented application for the iPhone. Learn something new everyday I guess…
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:25 am
this same functionality was available as add in for windows mobil applications, I had it on my dell Axim 4 years ago.
why isn’t prior art from microsoft windows CE mobil being show to invalidate the apple patent.
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:28 am
Check out the dell axim sbp app that does this same thing, I had it four years ago for windows mobil on my dell axim. how can apple get a patent for this, sbp should sue.
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:35 am
“JKFan87 Says:
Uhhh, Jiff..the are NOT the first to the Finish Line. I am not even sure what you mean by that.”
Love it. He’s certain Jiff is wrong, but not sure what about.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:12 am
when will apple learn, developers and users make a device and platform powerful.
Since switching to iphone i miss the millions of developers and users on windows mobile that could and would make a phone do anything, a full pda. iphone is capable of being a pda, apple just needs to get out of the way. Can’t wait for windows mobile 7.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:13 am
when will apple learn, developers and users make a device and platform powerful.
Since switching to iphone i miss the millions of developers and users on windows mobile that could and would make a phone do anything, a full pda. iphone is capable of being a pda, apple just needs to get out of the way. Can’t wait for windows mobile 7.
September 26th, 2008 at 12:15 am
The weather icons in that App are taken from Apple’s own weather app. If Apple are being pricks I’ll point it out. This is not one of those times however.
December 1st, 2008 at 3:23 am
Everyone on this website seems extremely biased.
December 29th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I have take some element of your layout for an adult site, if you want to backlink, drop me a mail!