So a German court has suspended Apple's injunction preventing Samsung selling its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet PC. In principle, and for a short while at least, the 10in Tab is back. For how long, it's impossible to say.
Apple vs Samsung: Tab wars
It's also difficult to assess the impact of Apple's response to Samsung's iPad challenger, and to work out what Apple gains from it, if anything. But that's not going to stop me trying.
We know the history. For years Microsoft told us that Tablets were the future, but no-one listened until Apple came along and released the iPad, simultaneously stimulating and destroying the market. (This was particularly annoying for Microsoft, given that the iPad hit the market just a few months after the now infamous CES keynote in which Steve Ballmer demonstrated an HP 'slate PC' running Windows. That tablet was never released. It may never have existed.)
Eagle-eyed reader HildyJ spotted my schoolboy error here. Of course the Slate was released in the US, just not in the UK. See the comments below for more.
Despite a staggering groundswell of rumour and counter-rumour about the 'i-Slate', details of the iPad were kept under wraps until Steve Jobs launched it early in 2010. But here's the thing: Apple doesn't make anything. Apple designs hardware (to within an inch of its life), and then hires manufacturers to source components and put the devices together. This is why all those 'suicide at the Apple factory' stories were misleading. There's no such thing as an Apple factory.
People in the components and manufacturing industry protect the privacy of their clients. How could they not? So it's not surprising that even as the iPad was being built, confirmed details didn't leak. But that's not to say that components makers didn't know exactly what was going on.
Interesting fact: Samsung is one of the biggest components makers in the world. How involved Samsung is in the manufacture of the iPad, or any Apple product, is a matter for conjecture. I once, naively, asked a junior Samsung marketer if Samsung (the world's biggest display maker) made the screen for the original Macbook Air. Within minutes I was on the phone to a very pleasant, very senior, Samsung PR person telling me, very pleasantly, that Samsung never comments on such things.
No matter. Samsung and Apple have a long and interdependent relationship, and upon the launch of the 10in Galaxy Tab, Apple cried foul, saying that Samsung had copied the iPad and instigating the court proceedings that bring us to our current impasse.
You and I will never know for sure whether Samsung copied Apple's iPad plans. We can be certain that Samsung wouldn't be making the Tab if Apple had never launched the iPad, but the same is true of all Android tablet PCs, as well as the PlayBook and the TouchPad. Just as the Asus Eee PC spawned a thousand immitators, so too the iPad.
Apple dominates the tablet market, but one product does not a market make. Competition stimulates sales, and Apple's actions in the face of a rival make it look scared of a fight. And it makes no sense, I've used a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and it is no iPad.
Stealing patented ideas is clearly plain wrong, and I can only assume that Apple knows it has been wronged and is acting appropriately. But by moving to ban the Galaxy Tab Apple is losing on three counts. On the one hand it's destroying a valuable collaborative relationship. More importantly, it's sending out a message to the world that the Tab is a threat to the iPad. And finally, using the courts to fight off a rival just looks wrong. What happened to Apple's famed belief in the strength of its innovation, design and products?
Comments
arb said: Its a slab of plastic
Condom said: Apple products sell because of the quality of the casing and the hype surounding their products When you get down to the detail many of their products fall short of competitors Camera quality has alwaysbeen poor but because of great screens it has not showed up so much Loclking of products such as the iPhone is a nightmare which they have learned from with unlocked iPads so why not go the whole hog and allow all iPhones to be officially unlocked Try compalining about Apple products on their help site and you are immediately attacked by theirarmy of Ninja warriors who seem to live on thesite It is never Apples problem to them just stupidowners and they are not slow to tell you so What staggers me is that competitors cannot really lower their prices as Apple make such huge profits per item yet get quality finishes when compared to the cheaper finishes of competitors
Matt Egan said: exactly the opposite claim Doh Dr Freud
Matt Egan said: Interesting Im not sure I would be siding with Samsung in that case but it is refreshing to look at it from that viewpoint Its also refreshing to be accused of being biased against Apple - Id say 70 of comments on other stories make exactly the same claim Apple does evoke different emotions because it is well Apple People you and me included respond to praise and criticism of Apple in a more emotive way than praise and criticism of any other tech company Which is a huge tribute to Apple To be clear Im not at all questioning Apples right to defend its intellectual property if Samsung is infringing Apples rights Apple is well within its rights to take action But I dont think it does Apple much good in the eyes of the wider public The iPad is so much better than the Tab that - frankly - Apple shouldnt worry
Harvey Lubin said: Your current questions are similar to ones that I responded to previously or questions that are obviously facetiousIve already answered what makes the iPad good - and better than the restAnd we know that its not a case of fragilityAs I also pointed out previously any 10in tablet is not automatically a copy of the iPad obviously The example I gave was Sonys tablets Please reread my earlier commentsI would hope that you understand that copying a patented design is infringementUsing the FordBMW analogy having a Ford car that looks essentially the same as a BMW model in appearance would lead to loss of sales it looks the same so it must be the same user experience and also a dilution of BMWs unique stylingBut I think you are intelligent enough to already know thisYet I get the feeling that if the tables were turned and if Samsung was suing Apple for copying one of its highly successful products which is highly unlikely in order to capitalize on the its saleability that you would not be siding with Apple in that case either You would probably be supporting Samsung and thinking less of Apple as a corporate entity for trying to cash in on Samsungs successBut having a bias against Apple does not make another companys infringements of Apples intellectual property acceptable other than in your own perception
Matt Egan said: Interesting I suppose my question would be is what makes the iPad good - and better than the rest - so fragile that any other device that includes a similar silver metal edge around the perimeter or is the same dimensions is a threat Is any 10in tablet a copy of the iPad And my main point what benefit does Apple gain from the public relating the Tab to the iPad
Harvey Lubin said: Hi Matt One can look at the similarities with the iPad being coincidental or a conscious effort by Samsung to capitalize on the iPads popularityAt the beginning of this year before the iPad 2 was introduced Samsung came out with the first Galaxy Tab 101The first version was basically a copy of the design of the first iPad including a similar silver metal edge around the perimeter httpxeobitscomwp-content Shortly after the first Tab 101 was introd Apple started selling the iPad 2 which lost the square edge and was made 13 thinnerSamsung responded by quickly redesigning the Tab 101 by losing the square edge and making it 13 thinner than the first version http1876voxcdncomwp-cont which had only been on sale for a few months before this revised model came outDoes Samsungs tablet have to copy the iPad design because of some unknown design constraint NoSome other manufacturers have come out with their own unique designs that dont copy the design of the iPad For example Sonys S1 amp S2 tablets httpgadgetiancom18845son have their own unique lookIf Ford came out with a car that had the same design as a BMW model but slightly narrower and longer BMW would be doing the same thing that Apple is doingOther than the infringement of Apples design is the Taba threat to the iPad Most people would say not currently based on the reception that these tablets have had in the marketplaceI dont believe that an injunction to stop the sale of the current Tab will mean that Samsung will stop selling 10 Android tablets Only that they will need to redesign it with their own unique design rather than copying Apples design And based on how quickly they came out with the second version of the Tab 101 it shouldnt be a problem for them to do this just as quicklyThis outcome will inevitably be good for both Apple and Samsung
Matt Egan said: Harvey do you think the Tab is a copy of the iPad And do you think the Tab is a threat to the iPad Finally if Apple successfully stops Samsung selling the Tab and Samsung has to junk all the stock is that a good outcome for Apple Genuine questions Im interested in your answers
Matt Egan said: All fanboy semantics aside and we can have a fun conversation about what the first tablet was I think my point is clear before the iPad for a long time tablets were consigned to the verticals with Microsoft telling us they were the next big thing
veggiedude said: We know the history For years Microsoft told us thatTabletswere the futureThat was years after the first tablet was launched - the Apple Newton
Harvey Lubin said: Matt you are right Samsung is a big company and Apple may always have some components produced by its frenemy But Apple has been reducing its dependance on Samsung as a major supplier by contracting other large companies that are not competitive with Apple Also Apple has been investing heavily in suppliers facilities and equipment to assure a well-priced uninterrupted supply of components All of these moves are very smartApple has always been in the news with both positive and negative press just like any other large company But this has never had an effect on consumers purchasing Apples productsPeople buy products that suit their needs They dont buy or buy into a companys current legal wrangling when choosing a productConsumers speak with their dollars More than 9 out of 10 tablets being sold to consumers today are iPads As long as the iPad remains the best choice for consumers this wont changePeople buy the iPad not because of price because there are cheaper tablets now that competitors have dropped their prices to move inventory and not because of specifications They buy the iPad because of the user experience which competitors have yet to matchAnd although you view Apple making headlines complaining purchasers of the iPad which are most tablet purchasers generally view Apple defending its property rights as a very positive thingIts easy to understand how a consumer who may be on the opposing side for example if a person is one of the few consumers who have actually purchased a Galaxy Tab 101 would view Apple as complaining since they have invested their dollars in a product that is infringing another companys IPBut overall Apple has nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking infringers to court
Matt Egan said: That is an exceptionally good point And a sign that my memory is getting worse Ill give you a gold star and myself a slap on the wrists And due to your expert diligence I will make it clear Ive changed the story We have great readers
HildyJ said: Just one note The HP Slate PC may never have been released in the UK but it does exist in the US It was released in 4Q10 and Ive owned one and been very pleased with it since thenhttph10010www1hpcomwwpc
Matt Egan said: Thanks Harry And its a pretty plausible alternate I have to say If I may Ill qualify my points in response Firstly Samsung is too big a manufacturer to ignore I very much doubt that it is Apples intention never to work with Samsung again and Samsung is unlikely to turn down the business But its absolutely not in Apples interest to be on bad terms with Samsung or vice versa Point two I take your point from an industry perspective but think about it as a consumer The three questions I get asked the most are Whats the best laptop How do I secure my PC and Is any tablet better than the iPad To the latter question my current short answer is no But if Apple makes headlines complaining that the Tab is a copy of the iPad and the iPad is more expensive plenty of consumers may decide otherwise As to point three I didnt say it is wrong I dont think it is but it looks defensive on Apples part and that is something most members of Joe public have never seen Not gonna help the halo
Harvey Lubin said: Matt here is an alternate way of looking at things In response to your 3 pointsOn the one hand its destroying a valuable collaborative relationship- Apple has been dependant on a competitor mobile phones tablets computers as a major supplier for its own products Moving away from Samsung as a supplier is a very smart move business-wise Apple has recently been making long-term agreements with suppliers that are not in competition with Apple and have no conflict of interest Overall this is a change for the betterMore importantly its sending out a message to the world that the Tab is a threat to the iPad- Steve Jobs and Tim Cook have said on numerous occasions that they will defend Apples IP vigorously The message that these suits against infringers like Samsung and HTC sends to everyone is that Apple was not bluffing It also puts other infringers on notice that they should not expect Apple to turn a blind eye to their actions If anything defending its IP will strengthen Apples business and investment prospects rather than hurt themAnd finally using the courts to fight off a rival just looks wrong- Defending your business against theft never looks wrong It shows that you are a business that is willing to stand up for your rights