Design

Samsung shows Sony-inspired iPhone mockup

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

The latest in the Apple-Samsung legal drama: according to court documents filed by Samsung, Cupertino has indirectly ripped off Sony for its handset's aesthetics by adopting the Japanese giant's design language. The Galaxy maker points to a 2006 Businessweek interview with Sony's product designers Takashi Ashida and Yujin Morisawa in order to establish prior art and prove that Sony's design philosophy influenced the iPhone’s original design direction.

The iPod Godfather Tony Fadell apparently showed the Businessweek article to Apple's late CEO Steve Jobs and design chief Jony Ive who then allegedly approved use of some of the ideas outlined in the interview for early iPhone mockups...

Apple not required to publicize apology to Samsung before October

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

As we told you earlier in the month, a Judge in the United Kingdom ruled that Samsung's Galaxy Tab tablets don't infringe upon the iPad's design because they're "not as cool".

This was followed shortly by another ruling requiring Apple to publicize the ruling on its website and in Britain's high-profile newspapers.

Today, a London court ordered a stay until Apple's appeal against the ruling is heard in October. As you know, Apple is thought to be unleashing the next iPhone and possibly mini iPads upon the world around September or October...

Apple fighting Samsung adverts on its website, here’s Joy of Tech’s funny take

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 20, 2012

Apple is going to appeal a U.K. court ruling from earlier this week which mandates that Cupertino post a public apology on both its website and in British newspapers, basically free advertisement telling the public that Samsung did not copy the iPad's design, per the court's ruling. As this legal mess is being sorted out, Joy of Tech has an excellent take on what this notice could be like, included right below...

UK judge forces Apple to publicly state Samsung didn’t copy iPad design

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 18, 2012

What goes around comes around. Following a ruling by a United Kingdom court earlier in the month stating that Samsung's Galaxy tablets did not rip off the iPad's design because "they are not as cool" (yeah, it's exactly how the court put it), Judge Colin Birss today ordered that Apple publicize Samsung did not copy the iPad's design for its Galaxy Tab tablet.

The way things are now, we can't help but ask ourselves was it all worth it? If this is what Apple's copyright infringement claim against Galaxy tablets boils down to, maybe Apple shouldn't have sued in the first place. But wait 'till you hear the best part of the ruling...

The verdict is in: Motorola’s Xoom doesn’t copy iPad’s design

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

A German court ruled today that no, Motorola's Xoom tablet doesn't infringe upon the iPad's design, Dow Jones Newswire has it. As a result, Apple won't be able to ban the device across Europe, as it originally planned. It doesn't matter as the Xoom, an inaugural tablet running Android 3.0 Honeycomb, was introduced at CES in January 2011. The device barely passed the one million units mark and in the first quarter of 2012 sold just 100,000 units. The ruling also rejected Motorola's assertion that the iPad's design patent is invalid...

Facebook hires Apple’s UI Design Manager, possibly for a phone project?

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 22, 2012

According to a new report by InsideFacebook, Facebook has recently hired Apple's former Product Design Manager Chris Weeldreyer, as indicated by his Facebook profile. Weeldreyer, who has 8+ year experience as user interface design manager, started his new role at Facebook on June 18, 2012.

This gig is another indication that the social networking giant could in fact be developing a phone of its own (here are the mockups)...

The 2012 Apple Design Award Winners announced

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

Apple yesterday announced this year's winners of its prestigious Design Award that recognizes the best of the best in iOS and Mac app design, innovation and technology adoption.

This is a major recognition for a bunch of apps that Apple's reviewers think are well-designed, state of the art and innovative. Here's the complete list...

iOS 6 could introduce sexy new silver look

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 29, 2012

Today's a leaks day, folks. First we learned that Apple will be kicking off the upcoming WWDC with a 10am PT keynote come June 11, then a cool-looking aluminum backplate surfaced to reveal a couple nuggets concerning a sixth-generation iPhone and now a set of photos from "a trusted source" (aren't they always?) show off the exciting new 3D mapping functionality of the re-worked Maps app in iOS 6.

Oh, and Apple also launched the official WWDC 2012 app. Taking it all in, we can now conclude with a reasonably high degree of probability that folks in Cupertino are ready to ditch the familiar blue theme in iOS and supplant it with a fresh new sexy silver look.

How's that? Read on...

Jony Ive explains design ideas, says he’ll stick around at Apple

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 24, 2012

Apple's design head Jonathan Ive certainly has a busy schedule. In between enjoying healthy meals at Apple's cafeteria, working out in a gym and conceiving that non-TV TV in his secret design bunker at 1 Infinite Loop, he found time to fly to Britain earlier this week to receive a knighthood in honor of his contributions to industrial design.

He also sat for a little one-on-one with The Daily Telegraph's Shane Richmond.

And today, BBC Radio 4 is treating us to a four-minute audio interview with London-born, softly spoken chief of industrial design and vice president at Apple.

Despite concerns that he might feel homesick, Ive has every intention to stick around at Apple and continue churning out great stuff (as he previously said that the best is yet to come)...

New iPhone concept looks surprisingly realistic

Cody Lee ∙ May 23, 2012

There's been no shortage of iPhone mockups this year. Graphic designers are constantly releasing renderings of what they think Apple's next smartphone should look like. Heck, we've even seen a fair amount of video concepts.

But while a number of these mockups tend to border on fantasy, this new design focuses on realism. iTopnews.de's creative director Toby Kick brings his vision for the new iPhone to life using only the most feasible of features...

Video: Princess Royal knighting Sir Jonathan Ive at Buckingham Palace

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 23, 2012

Soft-spoken and shy, design guru Jonathan Ive, one of the key figures at Apple of California responsible for the striking design of iPhones, iPods, iPads, Macs and many other Apple products, flew to his native homeland of Britain to officially receive a knighthood in honor of his contributions to industrial design.

As Cody told you, he sat down for a rare one-on-one interview with The Daily Telegraph's Shane Richmond, hinting that best work is underway now.

As for the knighthood ceremony, we have a video for your viewing pleasure...

Apple’s design guru Jony Ive says best is yet to come

Cody Lee ∙ May 23, 2012

TheNextWeb points to a new piece in The Telegraph this morning, which features a lengthy interview with Jony Ive. The publication caught up with Apple's design guru during his recent trip to the UK to receive an honorary knighthood.

The Cupertino company's Senior Vice President of Industrial Design discussed a number of topics with the paper throughout the course of the interview, but a couple of his comments really stood out...