No need to remember when, 'cause everything old is new again
I'm totally copying a bunch of other people who have already talked about this video. Watch it, and you'll see I'm in good company.
Put aside all your favoritism and brand loyalty for a moment, and think about the smartphone you have in your hands. If you've been around a while, compare it to the first smartphone you ever held in your hands. If not, look at the things other folks who have been spending too much money on gadgets has to say about their old smartphone. None of them are originals.
This particular video does great justice for the camp that says Apple copied everyone, but I promise you someone could make a very similar video for Android, or BlackBerry, or Windows. This is because everybody copies everybody else.
Lawyers get fat off the courtroom squabbles between tech giants, but when you get right down to it, a company that makes great products copying another company that makes great products is a good thing for the people buying all the great products.
I want multitouch on my Android. People using an iPhone want a notification center. Everyone wants a thin phone with a bright screen. This ain't rocket science. Someone has to do it first, and that means someone else has to come along and remix it for themselves. Chances are, they remix it in a way that seems better for the folks used to their platform. Ask an iPhone user, and they'll likely tell you how much better notification center on iOS is than Android's notification shade. This isn't because they are sheep (or any other disparaging term you can come up with) but because it fits in a way they are used to. That's what good software architects and designers do — they remix things to work better in their system.
Now go back and watch the video again. Pay special attention around the 4-minute mark to see Phil, by the way. Hi, Phil! But while you're watching, remember that all this applies to whatever phone you're holding as well.
     |
Comments
Post a Comment