Apple also stole Launchbar.
- Thread starter senne
- Start date
kendall
Registered
senne said:
launchbar is the only other shareware app aside from konfabulator that i actually pay for. it is so damn useful.
the people who develop launchbar have to be one of the oldest OS X developers, going all the way back to the NeXT OS.
it seems spotlight implements some sort of advanced metadata search engine differentiating it from launchbar some what. it sits up in the corner like launchbar and does basically the same thing.
what a way for Jobs to thank their most loyal of fans, by putting them out of business after almost a decade.
looking at konfabulator and launchbar, i feel i already have Tiger 10.4.
mi5moav
Registered
What, then launch bar stole the idea to put their icon in the menu bar. You've got to be joking me. Everyone seems to be looking at the book for its cover, and that is pathetic. If we didn't have people improving upon other peoples concepts we would still be in the dark ages. Damn, this place should have and IQ and EQ test before allowing people to post.
This is just like saying Ford, Chrysler, GM and thousands of others stole the idea for the car from Mercedez since they were the first to patent the idea. Heck, Mercedez stole the idea from someone Frenchman who invented the gasoline combustion engine 10 years but didn't have the forsight to patent it.
This is just like saying Ford, Chrysler, GM and thousands of others stole the idea for the car from Mercedez since they were the first to patent the idea. Heck, Mercedez stole the idea from someone Frenchman who invented the gasoline combustion engine 10 years but didn't have the forsight to patent it.
Apple has a long history of "stealing" ideas from the shareware or even commercialware world and implementing them. Windowshade and Sherlock are two quick examples. I'm sure if I thought about it, I could remember several more as could you guys.
I'm on the fence. On one level it sucks for developers who get shoved aside, but on the other hand I benefit by now having fully integrated features. Such is the life of a developer I guess.
I'm on the fence. On one level it sucks for developers who get shoved aside, but on the other hand I benefit by now having fully integrated features. Such is the life of a developer I guess.
serpicolugnut
OS X Supreme Being
I know it must really suck to be the authors of either Konfabulator or LaunchBar today. But let's face facts. Apple didn't rip either off. Konfabulator's "widget" idea is nothing new. It is very similar to Apple Desktop Accessories, which were pre System 7. Also, DesktopX was available on Windows three years ago. Apple took an idea and integrated it. Microsoft does the same. It's the name of the game people.
As for LaunchBar...Although the concept is similar to that of Spotlight, the technology behind Spotlight is much more robust. This OS level "improvement" has been under development at Microsoft for years. This is one case of Apple stealing from Microsoft, and actually beating them to market with the product they ripped off. About damn time.
If you are a developer (on either Windows or Mac platforms) you have to be cognizant that at any time, the goliath (apple or MS) will take the general germ of your idea and assimilate it. Such is the case of software.
As for LaunchBar...Although the concept is similar to that of Spotlight, the technology behind Spotlight is much more robust. This OS level "improvement" has been under development at Microsoft for years. This is one case of Apple stealing from Microsoft, and actually beating them to market with the product they ripped off. About damn time.
If you are a developer (on either Windows or Mac platforms) you have to be cognizant that at any time, the goliath (apple or MS) will take the general germ of your idea and assimilate it. Such is the case of software.
mr. k
Registered
Where were the people up and screaming when Apple put Fast User Switching into their OS, "surely it will ruin Microsoft's Windows Software..."
Ideas are ideas, and implementations are implementations. If Konfabulator makes itself worth more then Dashboard, and remains worth the dollars that the developer charges for it, then people will buy it. Otherwise there are always new ideas which can be had and developed and sold to the computer nerds who need them.
If I was Launchbar (or my favorite, Quicksilver) I would get my hands on the Spotlight SDK as fast as I can and figure out how to implement it to accomplish my goals. Apple has said what they will be offering, take that and improve on it, or take a different angle and try to do something else.
It's not like apple is coming out with a product release which will stomp all over your offering - they are giving you a good years warning! Take this time to improve your application and by the time Tiger comes out you will be able to kick the crap out of Spotlight or Dashboard or whatever.
Ideas are ideas, and implementations are implementations. If Konfabulator makes itself worth more then Dashboard, and remains worth the dollars that the developer charges for it, then people will buy it. Otherwise there are always new ideas which can be had and developed and sold to the computer nerds who need them.
If I was Launchbar (or my favorite, Quicksilver) I would get my hands on the Spotlight SDK as fast as I can and figure out how to implement it to accomplish my goals. Apple has said what they will be offering, take that and improve on it, or take a different angle and try to do something else.
It's not like apple is coming out with a product release which will stomp all over your offering - they are giving you a good years warning! Take this time to improve your application and by the time Tiger comes out you will be able to kick the crap out of Spotlight or Dashboard or whatever.
hmurchison
Registered
Konfabulator is kinda cool but it's still a solution in search of a problem. Dashboards are fairly simplistic in use. I guess if they kill Konfab them it's more of a reality that Konfab is a toy.
Launchbar is cool but indexing has been around in search for a long time. I doubt their indexer is going to be as good as what's in Tiger. In the keynote Jobs pulls text from the map on a pdf as a seach criterion. That's amazing.
Some tools will just end up being brought into the OS. As a developer if you have a product that can't be patented(probably meaning there is prior art) then you take that risk. No on wants to pay extra for a RSS reader, the browser is the focal point of web browsing. The way to differentiate yourself here is offer must have features that people are willing to pay extra for.
Apple treats their developers fine. Out the the few that they compete with there are thousands upon thousands that they do not. Pick and choose your projects carefully developers.
Launchbar is cool but indexing has been around in search for a long time. I doubt their indexer is going to be as good as what's in Tiger. In the keynote Jobs pulls text from the map on a pdf as a seach criterion. That's amazing.
Some tools will just end up being brought into the OS. As a developer if you have a product that can't be patented(probably meaning there is prior art) then you take that risk. No on wants to pay extra for a RSS reader, the browser is the focal point of web browsing. The way to differentiate yourself here is offer must have features that people are willing to pay extra for.
Apple treats their developers fine. Out the the few that they compete with there are thousands upon thousands that they do not. Pick and choose your projects carefully developers.
JetwingX
iWork for Apple <3
v,v
ok it is going to be implemented weather you all like it or not, think it is fair or not, or care or not.
too bad launch bar and konfab are going to lose money/users just re-implement something above and beyond what apple has done and be sure to patent it next time
And that scott fella (you know... the one who made/hosts that mac site) he sure has some real nerve! If I ever get my hands on him ....
ok it is going to be implemented weather you all like it or not, think it is fair or not, or care or not.
too bad launch bar and konfab are going to lose money/users just re-implement something above and beyond what apple has done and be sure to patent it next time
And that scott fella (you know... the one who made/hosts that mac site) he sure has some real nerve! If I ever get my hands on him ....
Salvo
Registered
IIUC, Launchbar and Quicksilver use their own Proprietary Database, rather that HFS+
If Apple are ripping anyone off with Spotlight, it would be BeOS, but since Be Inc. is now no longer existent, Big deal.
Apple haven't ripped off LaunchBar or Quicksilver (which is better, IMHO), they have mearly re-implemented it using OS Specific Features. It's like saying Apple have ripped off PowerPoint with Keynote, or Acrobat with Preview.
Also, keep in mind that Konfab. is a Hack. What happens when you try to run Software Update when you have Hacks installed? It Fscks everything up. So what does Apple do? Re-implement the good features in Konfab so it isn't a hack; so that Software Update won't crap itself just because Johnny-Try-hard-Geek wants to clutter his Desktop with the "AppleGeeks Comic Status Monitor".
If Apple are ripping anyone off with Spotlight, it would be BeOS, but since Be Inc. is now no longer existent, Big deal.
Apple haven't ripped off LaunchBar or Quicksilver (which is better, IMHO), they have mearly re-implemented it using OS Specific Features. It's like saying Apple have ripped off PowerPoint with Keynote, or Acrobat with Preview.
Also, keep in mind that Konfab. is a Hack. What happens when you try to run Software Update when you have Hacks installed? It Fscks everything up. So what does Apple do? Re-implement the good features in Konfab so it isn't a hack; so that Software Update won't crap itself just because Johnny-Try-hard-Geek wants to clutter his Desktop with the "AppleGeeks Comic Status Monitor".
