Design

MacPhone and more early Apple designs detailed in new book, ‘Design Forward’

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 28, 2012

The Apple v. Samsung trial in August was a real treasure trove of information that gave us a peek behind the curtain and into Apple's design process. But what about some of Apple's early product designs that never came to fruition? Industrial designer Hartmut Esslinger and his upcoming new book titled 'Design Forward' offers an interesting glimpse into Apple products that never were.

In it, you'll find ten original photographs depicting designs for various computers Apple was researching at the time, including one for a tablet and another for a phone hybrid called the Macphone. We've got images right after the break...

Steve Jobs yacht now free to sail

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

The yacht Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs envisioned after returning from a 2007 cruise from Italy to Turkey should be free to go after a payment dispute with French designer Philippe Starck has been resolved.

According to a French newspaper report yesterday, the yacht has been cleared to leave the port in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where it was detained by authorities over unpaid fees. The 80-meter aluminum craft nick-named 'Venus' had been docked in the harbor since December 8...

Jobs family yacht impounded in Amsterdam over a bill dispute with designer

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

French designer Philippe Starck needs no introduction. He's been designing pretty much everything, from houses to consumer products such as tooth brushes and some think he will also revamp Apple Stores. The 63-year-old is also known for his work on a yacht for Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs, which now belongs to the Jobs family.

But the 80-meter-long mega yacht named "Venus" (after the Roman goddess of love, beauty, sex, fertility, prosperity and victory), revealed by Starck himself last October, has reportedly been impounded in Amsterdam over a payment dispute with the designer...

From Russia without love: iPad patent appeal rejected

Ed Sutherland ∙ November 29, 2012

Apple's two-year attempt to get the iPad design patented in the Russian Federation hit a dead-end, when regulators ruled there was nothing "distinctive" about the tablet's makeup. The company had appealed an April rejection by the Russian Patent Office. This most recent rejection by the Russian Chamber for Patent Disputes seems to close the door on gaining a patent for the best-selling tablet.

In its response to Apple, written in Russian, the chamber ruled the iPad patent application - which describes rounded corners, a flat surface and round button beneath the screen - involves a design that is "traditional for modern communication devices, manufactured by different vendors"...

Apple granted 36 patents covering Siri mic icon design, Lightning, widgets and more

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Apple this morning has received patents covering more than three dozen different technologies, ranging from the obvious to the obscure. The company's patent filings as of late are even inspiring parody treatments like the Apple alphabet patent. Among today's grants are the filings describing ways to interface sports equipment with your iPhone, iPad or iPod, patents for Mac OS X dashboards and the MacBook keyboard and others seeking to protect icons and designs of popular software features.

Most people know of Apple's long-time association with Nike and the Nike+ app that records your running routine. Earlier this year, the Cupertino, California company filed a patent to go one step farther, interfacing your iPhone with a treadmill, or other workout machine at the local gym. Now it appears that patent was granted. But, wait, there's plenty more gadgets and gizmos Apple wants protected...

In time for holidays, Swiss watch maker Mondaine welcomes iPad users to the club

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 27, 2012

A design Apple licensed for the iOS 6 Clock app from the Swiss Federal Railways for an alleged $20 million was also licensed 26 years ago to Switzerland-based watch maker Mondaine. In fact, Mondaine Group CEO André Bernheim had at one point considered legal action against the iPhone maker before Cupertino relented and agreed to sign a licensing agreement. The clock face design is truly timeless: it's withstood the test of time and is still being used in SBB’s stations. Now, in a conveniently timed PR move, Mondaine issues a statement reminding Apple users it's the official licensee of the design for wrist watches and wall clocks, eventually hoping some fans would put Mondaine products on their holiday shopping list...

Apple paid $20 million for iPad Clock design rights

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 10, 2012

Remember legal brouhaha involving Apple and iPad Clock app in iOS 6 on one side and Swiss Federal Railways, which holds rights to the iconic timepiece design, on the other? We praised Apple for doing the right thing after it was reported the intellectual property dispute ended by Apple agreeing to license the SBB station clock design for use on iPads and iPhones. Neither Apple nor the Swiss Federal Railways SBB commented on financial terms of the licensing agreement at the time, but sources now claim Apple paid to the tune of $20 million, or 16.5 million euros, for design IP...

Ive and Forstall were ‘rarely in the same room’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

That SVP and iOS chief Scott Forstall fell out of favor with Apple CEO Tim Cook and other vice presidents because of his abrasive and divisive style is no secret. Forstall, 44, was Apple's youngest vice president. He was also the brains behind OS X since 2006 and the architect of your iPhone's software. The executive was especially at odds with Apple's famed industrial design guru Jony Ive over software design. According to a new report by Bloomberg, bad blood ran so deep that Forstall wouldn't even participate in Ive's meetings where crucial software and hardware design aspects had been discussed...

Jony Ive expected to ditch reality for greater minimalism

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Do you love that linen-like background when logging into your iOS or Mac device? Well, it could be the most visible fatality as minimalism overtakes realism and design chief Jonathan Ive takes the reigns once held by iOS honcho Scott Forstall. That noise you hear is the splintering of the Jobs era and Cook era at Apple.

Forstall, who headed iOS development, was also the chief cheerleader of the late Steve Jobs. Jobs loved what design geeks term skeuomorphism, a Greek word meaning a tool's shape. In computer design, placing realistic objects - such as linen on a screen or ebooks stored in a wooden bookshelf - are used to lend a sense of assurance, like seeing a familiar face among a crowd of strangers.

But with Jobs gone, voices within the Cupertino, California firm which simply hated this sort of design gained volume. A particularly vehement enemy of Forstall's design philosophy: Industrial design guru Jony Ive...

Analysts assure investors that Apple is in good hands without Scott Forstall

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

The departure of Scott Forstall, long-time aide to the late Steve Jobs, leaves Apple "in good hands," analysts are assuring investors. Additionally, Jonathan Ive, the design guru, will likely gain even more power, overseeing both hardware and software. Forstall, head of iOS until Monday, was in charge of the company's move toward Apple Maps. He reportedly was forced out after refusing to sign a public apology letter following the mapping debacle. But friction was building between Forstall and a cadre of executives now surrounding Apple CEO Tim Cook...

Apple wins important patent for the original iPad design

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

We know Apple often patents stuff just so rivals couldn't patent the same invention. That's what other companies are doing as well. But Apple, more than any other company, depends on being able to protect its ideas and leverage patents to prevent copycat products from eating into its sales. The iPhone maker has been on somewhat of a patent spree lately and today has been granted a key patent for design of the original iPad tablet computer...

Apple may have changed the iPad mini’s round shape design

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 9, 2012

Apple tomorrow is allegedly expected to invite select members of the press to an iPad mini-focused media event, likely to be held at some point next week. With part leaks, dummies, schematics, mockups, gorgeous renders and news of manufacturing ramp up all leaking on a daily basis, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the iPad mini design has been set in stone weeks ago.

A new report by a reliable Japanese blog now claims Apple's changed the iPad mini design and one "large OEM mobile accessory maker" had to throw cases it already made, likely based on same leaks and rumors we've been hearing about...