Top 10 features Microsoft stole from Mac OS X
In the battle between Windows and Mac OS X, here's a reminder of where Apple supplied the innovation first
October 12, 2009
21 Recommendations
Gadgets and Dashboard Widgets should not even be on this list. Apple stole the entire concept and how it work from another small company that released them way before Apple, with a software called Konfabulator
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And not a mention that they both stole it all from Xerox.
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http://www.mackido.com/Interface/ui_history.html
"Conclusions
Apple did not rip-off the Alto (Xerox-Parc) -- how could they? Apple was a product oriented company that produced a computer on their own. That computer had a few similarities in concept (user interface) with stuff Xerox was doing, but almost NOTHING in common design or implementation. Apple's metaphors went way way beyond what Xerox was doing (though there are other areas where Xerox was beyond Apple). They were trying to achieve different goals -- and from different points of view. Apple was creating the ultimate personal computer. Xerox was doing research tools, and later tried to make a big client-server type document distribution systems. These are about as similar as a motorcyle and a commuter Bus.
Microsoft on the other hand did rip-off Apple. The concept of making a computer easy to use is way to broad to protect, and Apple didn't complain about that. Windows, icons and menus are not ripping Apple off either -- these are broad concepts. Microsoft got sued because they stole design, implementation and finally metaphors (look and feel). They stole the way you manipulate things on the computer -- as well as almost everything underneath. I sometimes swear that if Microsoft had an original thought the company would immediately implode in suprise. Almost Everything good in Windows can be traced directly to the Mac (which the Mac had years before) -- and almost everything bad in Windows can be traced directly to where MS tried to do things different than the Mac and proved they don't know what they hell they are doing."
You can not patent a LOOK AND FEEL...what you can patent is your way of accomplishing that look and feel. As long as the way I did it is not the way you did it then it is a new creation...even if I got the idea from your creation. You can't patent and idea in your head...once you produce a real entity then you can patent the product...you can patent the process.
Just so you know...every concpt of an idea was taken fro something found on this planet. I don't see other nature or God which ever you belive complaining about stolen concepts and ideas. The problem here is greediness and money...that is what patents ate all about...getting paid for an idea you found somewhere else. Can you name any single invention created by a man...that isn't some contraption where the concept can easily be found in nature?
You really want us to believe that? What Apple used as the fpundation for the GUI that appeared on the first Nac is what they had gathered from data they received at XEROX PARC. There are several eye-witness testimony to that fact...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYkZUu9MUxs This video contains testimony from the female who was refusing to give Apple the details on how things worked. Apple has no idea how the relationship of the mouse work with the GUI...it doesn't matter what direct either was heading...the foundation from what Apple had was STOLEN...in fcat Zerox tried to sue the and failed. In the same premise that Apple tried to sue MSFT for the same things. A court decided based on the contract Apple signed...Apple GAVE key features of the OS to MSFT and the few things that did not make the list teh court said things things could not be patented.
The court stated it...so nothing you say can negate said fact. Get over it.
I do agree to concepts of Windows certain gained its concpets and ideas from Mac OS. But MSFT didn't need to steal anything Apple already gave them. Get over it.
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Apple licensed Xerox technology - how is that stealing? Apple created over lapping Windows, not found in the Xerox GUI. Apple created drag and drop. Apple created what Windows calls 'shortcuts' by at least 5 years. Apple computers supported dual monitors in 1987, it took Windows 98 ten years to do the same.
So much was innovated by Apple not found in the original Xerox GUI, but was copied into Windows 95, and now Windows 7.
If Apple licensed everything why did Xerox sue them over it? Just Google it. If a company licensed it to u...why would they sue later. If I sold you my house, how can I come and call the police and said you stole it from me. Can you show written proof Apple licensed the GUI from Xerox.
And to show nobody really knows anything about software. Windows used OLE...which is why it is called DLL hell. Those dynamic linked libraries are object oriented. Mac's OS and the work Xerox did, didn't quite work this way.
If you simply look at the GUI with the necked eye you will assume it must be the same. Try reading technical details and you will see they are not. In fact Steve pawned Xerox work as flawed...yet they copied it and Mac GUI is flawed too..Windows certainly has its falws but in the GUI itself.
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Computer history articles shouldn't be written by children. Anyone who seems to think that anything meaningful in either Windows or MacOS was implemented in the 21st century is too callow to be allowed near a keyboard without supervision. Besides, many of these features were found, as some have pointed out, in operating systems that pre-dated both the Microsoft and Apple implementations, so it's more accurate to say that both stole them (or in some cases, probably licensed them) -- certainly not that either "deserves the innovation credit".
I agree. IF this author isn't chronologically young, he's still mentally a child with limited experience. Nearly every one of these things was IMPLEMENTED on Unix systems in one form or another in the 1990's or early 200's (KDE 3 especially).
There's nothing worse than these writers who stupidly believe that MS and Apple cover the whole sphere of computing...or even desktop computing...or even User Interfaces. The fact is, BOTH of them are usually playing catch-up to more advanced interfaces, on more advanced systems, which the general public completely misses because they never see it on a shelf in a store.
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I read that page and sure anyone can find something to support how they look at things. But lets be reasonable. I do agree 100% that Apple was looking for a way to especially improve on the concepts they had done with the Apple II. The article at that link is trying to compare the difference in what Steve saw vs what ended up being released. It doesn't matter bec you can't expect a new idea to be exectly like the previous...however as Steve said out of his own mouth...Xerox had the germ of what the GUI could be...Apple simply innovated the idea into what we have today. Every single device you can name has its roots in a device that is nothing like todays device. Compare today's cell phone to the very first. That is why it is called evolution....the device had evolved from its orginal concept and have new ideas add that maybe they othet didn't have the potential to create. This is what Apple did. However here is my bet...If Setev had never visited Xerox Apple would n't have bene Apple to have what they had...and if MSFT didn't see what Apple had they wouldn't have it either. However this is a bet I will when...MSFT's core business is SOFTWARE...and I am betting MSFT would have had a concpet way before Apple. Apple got lucky bec of Xerox. What did Apple really know about writing code? The only computer they had written code for was the Apple II. Its a childs toy compared to the Mac...Bill Gates was writing code while in high school...while Steve was smoking crack. LOL...
As far as who stole what, based on digging up history it depends on who you ask. Yes Apple did hire a few ppl from Xerox who brought ideas with them...that isn't stealing. What is stealing is whether Apple had a right to further develop beyond what they pain for...which is what came up in court...the court ruled in favor of Apple simply bec as stated...you can't patent ideas.
MSFT too learned much from the Mac protypes...but it was the Lisa that got Bill interested. Windows back then ust have really been so great since Apple had a 5 year head start and lost that lead a couple years later.
What MSFT did to Apple is what Compaq did to IBM. They simply found a LEGAL way to do the same thing in a different way. The only exception is this...according to findings of fact if Apple vs MSFT...Apple has contractually signed many elements of the Mac OS over to MSFT. The 10 or so things that didn't make the list were things the court said are not patentable and are required for the software to work correctly. In other words...to drive a car all of them need a steering wheel. The only thing is mine can't look exactly like yours...but it can carry many of its dsign traits...like Mataphors.
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I'm not sure which is worse, the blatant errors in both articles or the two recommendations each article received. Who recommended these poorly researched pieces, the authors parents?
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Did anyone actually check this article?
"8. Network shares automatically appearing in left sidebar
With Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, Apple started placing auto discovered network file shares in the sidebar at left. Microsoft must have liked the idea, because it added the feature in Windows Vista, dumping the Network Neighborhood of many previous versions."
Windows Vista released Jan 1 2007
OS X 10.5 released Oct 26 2007
How could Vista love a feature from something that wasn't even released yet, and then steal it?
If that is the case, Kudos to Microsoft for inventing time travel to steal a network auto discover feature.
These puerile articles are such a waste, especially when they aren't even correct.
Please fact check your articles before publishing them. This should be an embarrassment.
I dont know when it was released as a feature for OSX but the time-line given is blatantly incorrect. Seriously.
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Wrong...that network thing you are referring to first appeared in a leaked beta of Windows Vista. Since Apple doesn't do beta, how are u going to know who had what first? You can't just go by the RTM. Just bec you release it first...doesn't mean u had it first.
Didn't you learn that in school?
Huh?
You do realize I was saying that OS X 10.5 came out nearly a year after Vista did right? Further, if Vista had a beta leak, and the auto discovery appeared there, that further proves my point simply saying that this guy didnt check his facts.
I guess you can't comprehend what I wrote.
Basically I said fact check in this article was terrible. Vista came out nearly a year before 10.5 - article claims vista stole an item from 10.5, which is not possible given the time line.
If, they both had the item, but OS X was not released until almost a year later, and Vista did have it as well, which was confirmed with a beta leak a year prior, but MS doesnt know what 10.5 has, especially with no beta to go off.. how could they steal something?
I clearly said I don't know who actually had it first, I don't particularly care either. In a double blind, if two people come up with the same thing, cool. On its face it would appear that Apple would have stolen it, but I won't assert that.
What exactly did you learn in school?
#6 is from the other slide presentation (Mac from Win).
Historical knowledge, RDP came after Citrix ICA, who partnered with M$ but still had their idea "stolen".
I agree with other posters that the person writing these articles should be more than a High-Schooler who has mastered Impress slide shows, oops, probably Power Point.
Sheesh only 10?! I think the ratio is skewed like 1000:1 stolen by Redmond.
There is logical error in "Top 10 features Microsoft stole from Mac OS X" / slide 6 / 5. Screen Sharing: Remote Desktop Connection
The correct text at the bottom is "See what Apple stole for Mac OS X from Windows in our companion slideshow."
Now the text is "See what Microsoft stole for Windows from Mac OS X in our "
It is possible to move this text out of slides. It will help to avoid such errors. Probably you need help with coding of the site.
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File Previews were an option that could always be enabled in Windows XP, but was not on by default. If my memory serves me correct, it was a simple registry string that had to be added, so you can take that one off the List. On a side note, I am neither a Mac or Microsoft fanatic, I worked for Apple for 8 years, and supported OS X since it's initial release, which was way too early and should have been pushed back as Apple did not do enough or proper beta testing. I was in tech support and we were required to install OS X 2 weeks before it was released to the public. To give you an idea of how unsure Apple was about the OS, we were require to Partition our drives with 1 partition for OS 9 and the other for OS X as they did not know how it would effect the systems and were worried that it would cause problems, data loss, etc..