Welcome to our Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in one handy roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a cup of coffee or tea in the morning, but it’s cool if you want to read it during lunch or dinner hours as well.
stop theft
In a lengthy WSJ report published this week, Apple is accused of courting small businesses for potential partnerships, entering into discussions with them, and then copying their ideas.
Apple, it should be emphasized, insists that it respects intellectual property and does not steal technology. But the assertion, at least in its general form, is not new. The alleged habit even has a name: “Sherlocking,” after Apple’s controversial update to its own Sherlock search app in 2002 that appeared to replicate some features of rival Watson software. If WSJ sources are to be trusted — and most of them are interested parties from potential partners — the company is still indulging in the practice, with one of the legal disputes mentioned in the article continuing at the moment. where I write.
The report documents complaints from five companies whose work Apple allegedly copied over the years, but the company’s MO (which the WSJ calls the “kiss of death”) can be summed up by Valencell’s experience. In 2013, Apple contacted the company, which made the heart monitoring technology, about a possible partnership for the Apple Watch. According to Valencell, Apple “repeatedly sought information” about the technology, but ended discussions shortly before launching the Apple Watch with its own heart detection feature in 2015. When Valencell filed a lawsuit in patent matters, Apple responded by attempting to invalidate the relevant patents and several others that Valencell claimed were unrelated. Apple, reports the WSJ, “has attempted to strike down more patent claims before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board than any other petitioner” since 2012.
The above is based on Valencell’s account of the relationship between the two companies, which Apple disputes, and (apart from the fact that Valencell is far from alone in making such complaints) igamesnews is not able to judge the specific rights and wrongs of the case. What I will say is that whether or not Apple follows the letter of the law, and whether or not it abuses the patent system, the company’s behavior displays an approach to product development and liaison with partners which appears neither ethical nor sustainable. .
Apple builds and manages platforms – the iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, etc. – and then depends on third parties to enrich these platforms with software and accessories. Make no mistake: a platform depends on its developers, as sweaty falsetto Steve Ballmer realized all those years ago. If everyone decided to stop building apps for iOS and only develop for Android, the iPhone would be fried.
Given how important small partners are to Apple’s mission, it seems odd that the company’s management is so happy to give so many of them the kiss of death: challenging their patents, poaching their employees and drive them out of the markets. The truth is that, until now, these small businesses needed Apple far more than Apple needed them, at least on an individual basis. Developers leaving iOS in droves would have been a disaster, but if only a few left the scene, there were plenty to take their place.
But the landscape is changing. Not because developers have unionized, or because Apple’s platforms are facing a mass exodus of third-party talent, but because the company’s methods are under the spotlight. Faced with a regulatory probe across multiple continents and repeated criticism from rivals, partners, lawmakers and other organizations over alleged anti-competitive behavior, Apple was pressured into numerous concessions. It’s moved (in the least cooperative way possible) to accommodate self-service repairs: it’s moved from Lightning to a standardized USB-C charging port on the iPhone; you can use alternative payment systems on the App Store; and all signs point to iOS 17 enabling sideloading, a descent that would have seemed unthinkable a few years ago.
Apple, in short, needs to do its best, and this report comes at a very delicate time. Especially since the company is supposedly planning a classic piece of Sherlocking right now. iPhone owners, it is true, benefit when an excellent third-party service is integrated, made free of charge, and tightly integrated with the rest of the operating system. But this cannot always be done at the expense of the partner. If only to avoid more bad PR, Apple needs to remember Steve Ballmer’s motto and treat developers right.
Trending: Top Stories
If side loading is allowed in iOS17someone will pay for it – and it won’t be Apple, Macalope says.
There are 5 mistakes you should avoid when you buy a new iPhone.
Apples new AR headset has a secret weapon: Old tech.
Apple Card Savings is here! Apple Cardholders can now earn 4.15% interest on their Daily Cash.
Deal alert: This outdated 2013 Mac Pro can be yours for just… $6,400. Wait what?
Podcast of the week
A16, A17, M1, M2, M3… what happens with apple silicon? In this episode of the igamesnews Podcast, we’ll talk about the state of Apple’s chips, where they are right now, what’s in store, and how it will affect you and your Apple devices. It’s all in this show, stick around!
You can watch every igamesnews podcast episode on Spotify, Soundcloud, Podcasts app or our own site.
The rumor mill
Several new MacBooks could arrive at WWDC 2023.
But the 15-inch MacBook Air might not be as exciting as it could have been.
Apples Reality Pro Helmet will blow your mind, according to a well-known leaker. And here’s everything Apple’s headphones will do right out of the box.
THE iPhone 15 Pro the button saga continues with a rumored new “3D Touch” action button.
A report has shed light on Apple’s early plans for a Very different iPhone 15.
watchOS 10 would be so good that no one will care about the new Apple Watch. And its new interface has just been unveiled.
iPadOS 17 is likely to bring iPhone lock screen and permanent display on the big screen.
The MacBook we all thought was dead may receive a 2023 update.
A future iMac may be able to use your wall as second display.
video of the week
Marques Brownlee just bought an original sealed iPhone for $40,000. Watch him open it:
Software updates, bugs and issues
Your Mac may not be immune to Ransomware for much longer.
Google has pushed out an emergency Chrome for Mac update to fix a actively exploited flaw. Wait…here’s another one!
And with that, we’re done for this week. If you want to receive regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters. You can also follow us or on Facebook to discuss the latest news from Apple. See you next Saturday, enjoy the rest of your weekend and stay Appley.
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