Apple Goes Bananas Over iPod PDA Emulator

Published on March 12, 2004 By macrobaye In WinCustomize News

UK developer Starbrite Solutions has a $20 software offering called pBop that may remind you more than a little of Apple's iPod. While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, pBop flattered the iPod too much as far as Apple's legal department was concerned.

"Apple felt pPod was being 'passed off' as an Apple iPod," Starbrite spokesman Ryan Kelly told MacCentral. "We were surprised to hear this as we have heard of no one buying a Windows powered Pocket PC application, being confused they are buying a hardware device."

While no one would mistake a Pocket PC-based PDA for an iPod, the diminutive device can run a variety of software and store a variety of files, including MP3 audio files. Starbrite developed pBop to give Pocket PC PDA users a "functional, easy to use MP3 player" that Ryan Kelly said is inspired by some of the most popular MP3 players on the market, including the iPod.

pBop's resemblance to the iPod was unmistakable, especially when the product first launched: It was originally called pPod, and featured an interface that was practically identical to third-generation iPods. The software included a navigation menu remarkably similar to the iPod's, enabling users to browse stored MP3 files by artist, track name and album. Touch buttons and a touch wheel interface even allowed users to navigate using their thumbs rather than the Pocket PC's stylus -- all in the same placement as Apple's iPod.

Kelly said that Starbrite has "cooperated fully to address Apple's concerns." The developer changed the layout of the software so the touch pad is now located between the menu and the buttons. Starbrite changed pPod's name to pBop, and also put a disclaimer on its Web site stating that the company has no connection to Apple or the iPod.

Comments (Page 1)

TheSkinsFactory

on Mar 15, 2004

was a total ipod interface rip and they deserved apple's wrath.

vormpie

on Mar 15, 2004

What? no way.. what about windows calculator.. i bet that piece of software looks just like a real one...

freegoo

on Mar 15, 2004

bleh. Unless this thing has a virtual hard drive why's apple have their panties in a bunch. Virtually every mp3 player on the market has an ipod skin. I just installed an iPod skin for Quintessential Player - didn't make me think I was using an iPod. Apple and their lawsuits.

CAClark

on Mar 15, 2004

Apple are good at what they do, but they are total ass-hats at the same time..... I guess the issue is that it is charged for commercially... so it's 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. Oh well.

Fuzzy Logic

on Mar 15, 2004

iPlod - who in their right minds would want to copy that

macrobaye

on Mar 15, 2004

Apple really has a case here. If the software were free, then it would be one thing, but this company is (was) making money off of Apple's design... and that's wrong. But yes, Apple has a history of takin legal action against companies trying to copy Apple's designs. Anyone remember the iPC? Or emachine's eMac? Those were gone in about... 3 seconds.

jester2k

on Mar 15, 2004

Apple wants to sell 1 million songs by april Iwounder how many ipods they want to sell by then?

Jeremy Engleman

on Mar 15, 2004

"Hell hath no fury like Apple legal..."

Except Micro$oft Legal. They never sue anyone.

Yeah, who in their right minds would copy an Apple product? Nevermind that 85% of the skins on this site are Apple ripoffs.

-J.

macrobaye

on Mar 15, 2004

Jeremy, not sure if you know, but Apple not only has the number #1 selling mp3 player, but also made the #1 selling computer of all time. And based on all the ipod rips and imac rips (as well as the drawing away from beige boxes), it seems everyone wants to copy Apple products. And you can thank Apple for the look of your computer... and your speakers. And your cell phone. Because we all know that because of the iMac, everything in the world changed from boring/business/bland to modern/cool/new.

macrobaye

on Mar 15, 2004

Jester2k, Apple wants to sell 100 million songs by April, not 1mil. Right now they've got about 50 mil, so 100 is a long shot. But the iPod, which has sold about 2.1 million units, will no doubt continue its sales. Along with the iPod mini, which has 100,000 preorders.

jshare

on Mar 15, 2004

Macrobaye: The #1 selling computer of all time is/was the Commodore 64.

macrobaye

on Mar 15, 2004

i meant pc

JDavidHarper

on Mar 15, 2004

Macro: Beg pardon? Did you just call a Mac a PC?

freegoo

on Mar 15, 2004

Commodore 64 *was* a PC (Personal Computer). Not sure if it was the best selling computer of all time, but I wouldn't be suprised. Assume the computer you are refering to is the Apple II?

michael havard

on Mar 16, 2004

The Commodore 64 is probably the biggest selling machine ever. There were probably tens of millions of units sold world wide in it's 10 year run. Consider today that the remaining machines still sell across ebay, swap meets, pc shows, and garage sales all over the country and there's still an avid hobbyist market for the machines.

The distinction between Apple and PC is idiotic. Apple was one of the first to introduce the Personal Computer to the masses. The real distinction is in hardware architecture which is Motorola vs. Intel. Apple has probably sold tens of millions of machines but that's counted across the entire set of models they've sold over the last 20 years I.E. they've probably sold a couple of million i-macs, a million or so ibooks and g4s and Powermac and apple IIc, and apple II+, etc.

Apple hires marketing and design firms to come up with "cool", "hip", and "popular" designs. In reality most of those designs are based off of other previous designs already available to the public with just minor variations in form or function (i.e. the ipod jog dial). Innovation is simply taking someone elses idea and making it one step or more better. In the case of US patent, trademark, and copyright law there are hefty price tags to getting into the innovation game. Prices that Starbrite has no doubt found out about.

I mean really the all-in-one design of the Apple i-Mac was nothing spectacular there were plenty of other all-in-one designs prior to that - but it came in blue which Apple trademarked as "Blueberry" (I can't believe that someone actually let them trademark "Blueberry"). Then they sued the pants off of any other all-in-one case/computer maker not off of the design but off of the color.

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