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Comment by lispm | Hacker News Reader

Copying Apple is not really 'innovation'. Too many go the short route and copy Apple down to the pixel level. Sometimes the hardware looks completely the same.

Kind of refreshing to see that Microsoft can come up with some slightly different UI. Google does a lot of stuff differently than Apple does.

It's simply not that Apple currently makes the best user interfaces and the best software integration. There is a lot of room to innovate.

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The identical hardware argument in particular doesn't really convince me. It seems to me that all phone manufacturers are slowly heading towards minimalism. Given that, I it seems all phones, and including Apple's, are heading towards the same place. It is true that apple is out on front, often because they have better hardware people. However, I am not sure where else I would want hardware to go. Perhaps I am insufficiently imaginative.

Rubbish. Some of Apple's latest updates seem to be copied from Android itself.

Apple isn't leading the pack any more. Used an Android screen keyboard? Way better than the Mac. Notifications? Way better than the Mac.

Going back to an iPhone after entering text with Swype on an Android device is like a bad joke.

Anybody that thinks Android hasn't brought anything new to the table hasn't really used an Android phone.

"Anybody that thinks Android hasn't brought anything new to the table hasn't really used an Android phone."

Not sure who said that anywhere in the discussion, or in the linked article, or anywhere else.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man

Not sure that your "Straw man" link is appropriate - the very first comment in this thread starts with:

Copying Apple is not really 'innovation'

This implies (to me anyway) the notion that Android does not innovate (aka bringing something new to the table) but merely copies Apple. (I assume that Android is meant here because the original article discusses the mobile sector.)

"Copying Apple is not really 'innovation'"

Let's break this down:

a.) Well is it? Is copying Apple 'innovation'? I'd say no

b.) Did it say that Android is only copying Apple without adding something else? I'd say no

c.) Do you say that Android does in no way copy Apple?

I assume the answer to c.) is also no, so how is this not a straw man argument?

Because as I said, I differ in point "b" - I would say it's a "yes".

Eh? cageface is supporting nodata's position. A straw man argument is used to attack a position.

Supporting arguments can't be straw man arguments? Where did you read that?

Totally agree that lack of Swype is hurting apple. I really would like a better data entry than the current keyboard and I hope they license Swype on IOS and not try to do it with Siri. On the other hand, has anyone compared playing "Temple Run" on IOS vs Android, the touch response on IOS totally blows away the competition.

a) Why are you comparing Android to a Mac ?

b) The Mac has had pretty impressive notifications courtesy of Growl for nearly a decade.

It is rather cute that Android users have found a feature to latch onto. Even if it isn't at all unique.

which Apple is kindly ripping off for mountain lion. Plus use volume button for taking picture ton iOS hat got an app banned from the app store.

I'm also guessing that the patented search functionality is not that unique, nor the transforming mail/tel number into link, nor is the "slide to unlock" (I could go on but you probably wouldn't get my point).

> a) Why are you comparing Android to a Mac ?

I'm comparing Android to an iPhone. Apple has filed an injunction against Samsung in the states for the Galaxy Nexus Android phone.

> b) The Mac has had pretty impressive notifications courtesy of Growl for nearly a decade.

iPhone, not Mac. Notifications on the iPhone are (at least in version 4) terrible.

Slightly different UI ? I don't think you've actually used a Windows Phone.

It is completely different in every way from iOS and Android and very obvious that it was designed from scratch. In fact they even pushed a whole new way of approaching app design. http://ux.artu.tv/?p=234

Google OTOH never even had UI guidelines until Honeycomb.

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