Google to dumb down Android search to escape Apple's patent | Hacker News Reader

Google to dumb down Android search to escape Apple's patent

phandroid.com

3 pointsvibrunazo5 comments

I, disagree with Apple's stance on this issue, but at the same time I would be interested in hearing a valid argument for the continuous stream of comments around the web that essentially say: "Apple is destroying innovation through its Android lawsuits." This is, as far as any rational argument is concerned, false.

Innovation refers to the process by which something is rendered more effective by changing or being different. If we accept this definition, Apple is driving innovation through its aggressive pursuit of its patents. They are forcing competitors to do things different, to change, in order to compete. That's innovation.

What I think people actually mean to say is Apple is destroying IMPROVEMENT via its aggressive use of patents.

There is a subtle and profound difference between innovation and improvement.

How would you define "improvement" if not rendering something more effective by changing it or making it different? In this particular case, search on Android is being made more effective by searching contacts and apps.

As Steve Jobs said, "We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas." They just want to stop everyone else from doing it too.

You need to build on existing ideas in order to do things different and to change.

For example, Apple could not have created the iphone were they not allowed to use multitouch gestures. Or HTML rendering. Or batteries. Or email. Or music playback. Or networking. Or touch screens. Or app stores.

They could also not have improved on iOS without taking existing ideas from the Android ecosystem, like Notifications, cloud storage, on the air upgrades, location based reminders, lock screen widgets, turn by turn navigation, mutlitasking UI, voice search etc.

This is why we can't have nice things. Pretty ridiculous that this is happening.

I wonder if there will be a different version of Google's search app for the US, or even a different ROM?

I am really sorry for you guys in the US, but I hope not all of us have to share this downgrade with you.

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