Original iPad prototype was big and ugly
The public received a rare look into Apple’s history today, as court documents surfaced that showed what the original iPad prototype looked like.
It wasn’t pretty.
Jonathan Ive’s original concept of the iPad (I wonder if it was actually called that back then) measured in at 13-inches diagonally and was nearly an inch thick. It also didn’t feature a home button.
Could you imagine holding a 13-inch iPad? That’s the size of Apple’s most popular MacBook! In fact, the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are thinner than the original iPad prototype.
We could also reverse the question and ask — is a 13-inch iPad tempting? There’s been plenty rumors about Apple releasing an iPad Mini, or a 7.85-inch version of its popular tablet this year, but what about a bigger oone? Would graphic designers go goo-goo-gah-gah over it?
Unlikely.
Anyways, the leaked photos came way from a recently unsealed deposition given by Ive, Apple’s head of design, in the ongoing patent lawsuit between Apple and Samsung. A judge ultimately ruled that in fact Samsung did not copy the iPad and even ordered that Apple publish a public notice acknowledging that Samsung did not copy them.
Bloomberg reports: “The order means Apple will have to publish ‘an advertisement’ for Samsung, and is prejudicial to the company, Richard Hacon, a lawyer representing Cupertino, California-based Apple, told the court. ‘No company likes to refer to a rival on its website.’”
Additionally, Apple can’t make public statements — especially in interviews — that the Galaxy Tab infringed upon the iPad design.
Could you imagine if Steve Jobs was still alive and in charge? My guess is that he would have a tough time keeping his mouth shut.
Honestly, we can look at tablets pre-iPad and then look at tablets post-iPad. The iPad definitely set the stage for copycats. The patent wars are getting out of hand. When it requires a judge to force Apple to apologize to Samsung on its website, things have gotten out of hand.
Thoughts?
