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It struck me earlier today that while Windows 95 took many big steps forward, iOS was actually inspired a lot more by Windows 3.1.

Springboard is very much like Program Manager.. every icon is an app, no documents, plus you can build up single depth 'groups' of other apps. iOS 'Files' is basically the same as 3.1's File Manager, without the desktop/explorer approach to file organization offered by 95 onward.

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I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that iOS was in no way, shape, or form inspired by Windows 3.1.

It would certainly be going out on a limb to say that the people involved in designing iOS had not used Windows 3.1 and held no memory of it.

Of course, I am happy to use the word "inspired" in a loose way, like how many modern musicians were inspired by The Beatles or Kraftwerk even if they are not deliberately indulging in pastiche.

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