An 'Open Letter to Apple'

ndpatel writes "It looks like Apple has a a success in Panther, but it also seems like they've ruffled a few feathers over at Proteron by incorporating a new Windows-esque task switcher that mimics (most of) the functionality of Proteron's LiteSwitch X utility for Jaguar. Proteron has written an "Open Memo" to Apple, but it doesn't seem like Apple really cares. Shades of Karelia, Watson, and Sherlock 3? Is Apple screwing its smaller developers, or just refining their software with relatively obvious improvements?"

Comments

Reintroduced copied Windows feature?

[eXtro]

I recall that this was available natively in MacOS 9 but then was dropped for X. So Proteron was more accurately copying a dropped MacOS 9 feature (which may have been copied from Windows) and now Apple's re-including it. I doubt that Apple looked at Proteron but do believe that Apple looked at Microsoft. I don't really see anything to get up in arms about here. Watson v.s. Sherlock was much more obviously a rip off of a 3rd party piece of sofware.

Re:Reintroduced copied Windows feature?

[clifyt]

"Watson v.s. Sherlock was much more obviously a rip off of a 3rd party piece of sofware."

From what I understand, the functionality of Watson was something Apple had been developing and had given betas out to select individuals for a few years BEFORE Watson had come out.

I don't know the entire story behind it except what my friends at Apple have said, but doesn't that sound possible that the third party developer heard about it and decided that either Apple wasn't going to bring it to market (long time to develop something this small) for one reason or another and decided to make the implementation herself.

Apple IS a little more open with new technologies than they should be and they are a little too picky about how and when these should be introduced. I've heard of a few new features that I thought were supposed to have been in Panther, but for some reason never even made it to the betas, but you can still find plist entries for them if you look (even if they make no sense in their current context).

I don't know who to believe with any of this...Apple is very good about admitting they like others technologies and paying folks that they do aquire them from -- to the point of buying developers out of their companies and paying both well. Its definately not microsoftian in nature, nor is it the former NIH (Not Invented Here) that use to be prevalent in the company.

Again, I don't know...just pointing out something I see referenced time and time again with the Watson when I had heard of such features as being possible and probably far before I heard of Watson...

They're doing what MS don't

[Apreche]

Apple is just smarter than MS. Windows is simply missing hundreds of obvious features. Tabbed browsing in IE. The ability to put stuff in the system tray. Virtual Desktops. Etc. These are basic functionalities that should be part of the os. Since MS to this day still does not include any of these tons of necessary features in its os, it is possible to make a business writing software that adds them to windows. As a result you get many incompatible implementations of many things.

Apple is much smarter. They realize that there is a feature that many people want added to the os. They realized the feature is a good thing and a lot of people use it. So they add it in. You can only make money developing applications for OSX. Which is the way it should be. You can't profit by making a piece of software that just adds some missing functionality to the os. This way everyone gets all the features necessary in an implementation that is compatible with the rest of the os. Not like Windows where you have 20 seperate little programs to add in all the missing stuff that should be there in the first place. And not like linux where you add it in yourself.

This is a plus for OSX in my book. I think I'm going to start saving now for the eventual arrival of the 12" G5 powerbook.

why now?

[TomSawyer]

My first reaction to the memo is to question why it's being brought up now if it is to be taken seriously. Mac Developers were the first to legitimately try out Panther and the copy passed out at WWDC had the feature in question. Did they lobby behind the scenes and only now have decided to bring it to the public after being ignored or is this simply a publicity stunt??

Great marketing ploy by LiteSwitch

[mactari]

I wonder how many people have run across this story now and fall into the following category:

1.) Panther is a bit steep right now at $129 and Jaguar is doing just great for now.
2.) They've never heard of LiteSwitchX until now.
3.) They've now downloaded LiteSwitchX and are considering shelling out $15 for it.

I'm not saying the fellow doesn't think his idea's been ripped and burned to the Panther CD, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't think about it being a great marketing ploy for free advertising before he wrote it as well.

To quote Jean-Louis: Get over it.

[RetiredMidn]

Jean-Louis Gassee addressed Apple developers at their World Wide Developers Conference several years ago (after he had left Apple, IIRC), and he touched on this topic then.

To summarize his points, the platform is made richer by creative people writing system enhancements, but don't be surprised if Apple (or any other system vendor) provides those enhancements in a future version of the OS; just move on to another good idea.