Samsung Galaxy Tab banned from sale in Europe

And here I thought it wasn't possible for me to destest Apple even more.

By lkipper on 9 Aug 2011

Of course Samsung are copying Apple slavishly

@lkipper So you think nobody should respect anybody else's property, designs, patents? You think music should be free downloads on the internet? You think shops can be looted because "rich people" own them?

Grow up.

By SwissMac on 9 Aug 2011

Yeah @SwissMac, because @Ikipper disapproves of Apple's fondness for suing competitors, that makes him no better than a looter.

By Noghar on 9 Aug 2011

The odd thing is that I thought that preliminary injunctions (which is roughly what I assume this must be, though obviously the name and details will be different in German courts) were generally only used where there was clearly a very strong case and that the damage which was being done could not adequately be dealt with through damages. Don't know about the second part, but from those photos, they look %&$ all like an iPad to me, give or take that they are dark and oblong, which are pretty much functional requirements for a tablet.

By bradype on 9 Aug 2011

This doesn't surprise me, remember that Apple had similar lawsuits in the past e.g. MS with the "look and feel" of Windows or emachines for imitating the iMac.

By tech3475 on 9 Aug 2011

So SwissMac, you are already assuming that apple have the right on this matter even when, like tech3475 points out, they have a long history of boohooing about everyone else copying them. What were Samsung thinking? Releasing a tablet with a rectangular touchscreen. The nerve...

I known gallantly defending apple at every oportunity is totally your thing, anyway, so I feel like I must just have become part of a club or something. It's almost flattering.

At the very least, this hopefully will spur Samsung into coming up with more interesting designs. Personally, I've always found the design on both the Galaxy phones and tablets to be a tad on the bland side.

By lkipper on 9 Aug 2011

Boycott Apple now please.

Just about every single tablet on the market looks the same.

It's rectangular.

There are many laptop monitors which look the same. Surely Apple remembers the first tablets were those that had keyboards stuck underneath them with twist and flip monitors - though I do admit those were bulky and touch was resistant back then - but heck they were tablets that were oblong in size - right? And as time progresses so do devices - often getting smaller and thinner.

Apple is notorious for copying - Mr Jobs said so himself.

"Apple copied the iPhone from LG and then stole the name from Cisco - later paying for the name and landing a a fat juicy contract with LG to make screens for them"

Guaranteed, if Apple wins here it'll wipe the floor with all other competing devices claiming they are all imitating their iDevice.

I hope that everybody starts to boycott them and that all component companies raise their prices against Apple. Apple truly are scared of being beaten by what is no doubt the best tablet on the market.

I hope this Judge wakes up and says to Apple you cant patent an oblong.

I hope they leave Asus Transformer alone and atleast give that a chance to grow.

By nicomo on 9 Aug 2011

As tablets get better, Apple get more aggressive

Hmm, anyone would think Apple were getting a little worried that the same thing will happen in the tablet market as happened with smartphones. Android tablets are getting progressively better but it's interesting that Apple are suing Samsung rather than Google when, really, it's the software that defines a tablet. After all, when turned off, the iPad is just a slab of black glass.

The hypocrisy is astonishing, from the company that stole their original "innovation" from Xerox!

By KevPartner on 10 Aug 2011

And if Apple are succesful?

Without wishing to go to unnecessary logical extremes, if Apple succeed in blocking the Tab for general look and feel arguments rather than technical issues with software, isn't this borrowing trouble. Apple then become the dominant player in the market and their tactics can then been seen in the light of anti-competitive behaviour. Effect? EU force them to back down from the position they've fought to assume. I suggest Apple should apply some pragmatism.

By Mistermcee on 10 Aug 2011

I shouldn't worry

the looters that have all the stock from the major stores probably aren't too concerned about the ban on sales. I'm sure you'll find plenty on ebay!

By Skutter on 10 Aug 2011

There's always one bad Apple...

...by pursuing the competition through the courts rather than the market place, Apple really are storing themselves a heap of future trouble.

Truth is, it's Android that's got them scared. It's taken over double the market share that iOS has and in half the time. And like all os, it's evolving.

@KevPartner ...I thought the idea for tablets came from Star Trek: Next Generation circa 1998!

By fingerbob69 on 10 Aug 2011

Packaging

We received a Galaxy S II smartphone this morning and the first thing that struck me, was that the packaging was very similar to Apple packaging - that said, so were the last 3 htc boxes I received.

By big_D on 10 Aug 2011

Might go shopping...

@finger.
Tablets were certainly around by 1996, when I first started to use them. Whilst that manufacturer has stopped making them, I wonder if they have any patents I could buy up?

Anyway, if it's all just a matter of maintaining commercial advantage I think I'll wait to see what Samsung does with its hi res display. They'd be dimwits to supply that to an aggressive competitor.

By Tomble2 on 10 Aug 2011

Oh god....

...who let SwissMac out of his cell? Oh wait, is this spooky timing with Uncle Steve returning from his latest spell of sick leave? Ignore him while he defends his apple iProducts - some of us have brains of our own though and see this for what it is. Namely sour grapes from Apple as competitors have raised their game and are now producing handsets and tablets that put their apple counterparts to shame. Typical apple and why I would never, ever buy one of their pieces of rubbish.

By everton2004 on 10 Aug 2011

The Playground Bully

Apple are acting like the playground bully.

They have a sizeable chunk of the market already and looks like their trying to use the courts to secure the whole of it.

Products have already followed trailblazers, will the makers of tablet PC's, which pre-dated iPad now sue Apple and force their technology off the shelves until it is solved?

Ridiculous decision by the German court and I hope, when this decision is overturned, Apple are forced to compensate Samsung for the loss of sales.

By Gogster on 10 Aug 2011

Packaging

"We received a Galaxy S II smartphone this morning and the first thing that struck me, was that the packaging was very similar to Apple packaging - that said, so were the last 3 htc boxes I received."

Yeah, I gather apple are suing people for packaging their phones in rectangular cardboard boxes on the grounds that that's how the iphone is packaged.

By qpw3141 on 10 Aug 2011

iEverything

So whats next, apple go and patent something called an iShit and then sue anyone who produces anything similar to their precious product.

No going to the lavvy then!

Apple being its usual self indulgent way. Sue everyone and try to have zero competition, thats the apple way.

By windoesnot on 10 Aug 2011

Definitiely going shopping.

Read that our lucky Dutch friends aren't subject to the injunction.

So, it looks like there's something else to add to my shopping list next time I go to Amsterdam.

By Tomble2 on 10 Aug 2011

just returned the flash-less ipad2 for galaxy:-)

Seriously,Steve jobs f..s with the apple worshipers and give them a no flash no HD screen product and they praise???what is wrong with u ppl?now suing theBETTER product?ipad2 felt like a downgrade after I owned a transformer for about a month..scared apple?get flash and stop stingily offer less feauters and upgrade slower.apple os was total crap too it will stop a (bad looking)video for a notification-for real????

By vanetoj on 10 Aug 2011

Apple's Original Design

We manufacture cars. We're thinking of lauching a new design - it will have 4 seats, 4 wheels and a steering wheel. There will be one wheel at each corner. OMG - nooooooooo, we can't go ahead with this - Ford might sue.

Apple? Thank G for Android.

By barrada on 10 Aug 2011

Apple's Original Design

We manufacture cars. We're thinking of lauching a new design - it will have 4 seats, 4 wheels and a steering wheel. There will be one wheel at each corner. OMG - nooooooooo, we can't go ahead with this - Ford might sue.

Apple? Thank G for Android.

By barrada on 10 Aug 2011

I'd be more concerned about appl.

"We manufacture cars. We're thinking of lauching a new design - it will have 4 seats, 4 wheels and a steering wheel. There will be one wheel at each corner. OMG - nooooooooo, we can't go ahead with this - Ford might sue."

If it's basically rectangular, beware, because apple think they have a patent on basically rectangular things.

By qpw3141 on 10 Aug 2011

Grow up guys...

By Virtue of the fact that a court has upheld the complaint in a preliminary stage, it would seem that people of decent intelligence (unlike most commenting here by the looks of things) have agreed that the products are too similar.

I mean- I accept that there are very few ways to design a tablet but when you decide that the angle of curvature at the corners will be exactly the same, the connection method will be a 30 pin dock connector which only Apple uses in that form for their products then you are asking for it. Interface wise- the issue is with the Touch Wiz UI which replicates the dock at the bottom of the screen- ubiquitous to Apple iOS devices.

At the end of the day- there is one simple reason Samsung has done this. If they can use the same factories that create Apple products- they can get parts for as cheap as Apple. And don't forget that Samsung make parts for iPad and iPhone - so its just as easy to ramp up production for extra devices.

By willdamien on 11 Aug 2011

China to suit UK for using the English language

If China postures as the inventor of English Language and suits UK kings and citizens for using it, these "independent" forumists will sure find that suit righ.

But if any (truly or posturing so) Western company or individual suits a Chinese (or German, French, Polish) so-called "author" for copying a book, they will reply that this is not copying since all books have pages, lines, characters.

Versailles, Thu 11 Aug 2011 10:20:15 +0200

By MichelMerlin on 11 Aug 2011

SAMSUNG BAN

I would like to make what i think is a valid point, since when has a germany court the right to ban this in the EU, THIS SHOULD BE ONLY ALLOW BY THE EU COURTS, NOT BY A GERMANY COURT??

By GOTREK on 11 Aug 2011

More than 1 way to skin a cat..

I would have thought that any reasonable person would be able to look at some of Apple's other competitors & their efforts in this space to realise there's plenty of room to innovate and do things differently..

Acer tablets have top & bottom metal trimming on their bezels. HTC's Flyer has an all round metal front trim. Dell's tablets have convex sides. Even Samsung's tablets used to look like the Q1. Point is, you wouldn't confuse any of those for iPads..

As for user interfaces, just look at Microsoft's approach with their live-tiles and Blackberry's QNX. Even Android honeycomb managed to differentiate with it's tron-like lines with a desktop metaphor more akin to Windows than iOS.

Now stop whining and grow up.

By ihsan on 11 Aug 2011

Come on iSheep, see this episode for what it is. Six other tablets in all forms and operating systems in the last 6 months did not get a single lawsuit. But come one that's thinner, lighter, faster and cuter than iPad and hey, sulk-sulk, righteous indignation and cries of foul! Such petulant bitchiness is not surprising in a company that has always majored on style over value and customer captivity than customer freedoms. Give it time. It won't work.

By nathan100 on 11 Aug 2011

F*%k Apple and the German Court...

Apple is a corporation who attained it's current market position thieving other people's ideas. Surely a German Court cannot ban Samsung from selling the Galaxy Tab in other EU member states? Have they learned nothing from loseing two world wars trying to control the rest of europe...

By patrickohaire on 11 Aug 2011

Apple are obviously worried, and bloody good job to. Its about time someone rattled their cage. Just hope samsung win, if they dont they (apple) will go after the rest of them.

Cannot believe we are in this situation, but as apple manufacture nothing. Surely it only takes a little effort for the suppliers to control this giant from the outside. Allow the other manufacturers to create the better product and goodbye apple.

By davidk1962 on 11 Aug 2011

No such thing as bad publicity

To a certain extent, Samsung are probably laughing this off & thanking Apple very much.

Talk about giving the opposition a massive publicity boost! Now lots of people will be talking about the Galaxy Tab & how they can get their hands on one.

Piece of advice Apple, take your gun out of your holster before you shoot....

By bronven on 11 Aug 2011

Why the fight?

@willdamien

"it would seem that people of decent intelligence (unlike most commenting here by the looks of things) have agreed"

Is this grown-up? Try anger management.

"the connection method will be a 30 pin dock connector which only Apple uses in that form for their products"

The connectors of iPod Touch, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7, and Dell Streak 5, are physically incompatible. The number 30 has been around for a while.

"the issue is with the Touch Wiz UI which replicates the dock at the bottom of the screen- ubiquitous to Apple iOS devices"

Icons at bottom of display? Common to Apple, Microsoft, and Linux operating systems for years.

AApple are afraid that once a noteworthy Android tablet comes to market, they lose big-time. Their unethical fight against Samsung maintains shareholder value, which they are obliged to protect. They are buying time.

"If they can use the same factories that create Apple products- they can get parts for as cheap as Apple"

The iPad CPU is a custom design not used in Samsung products. Re displays etc, what is wrong with Samsung using its own parts in its own products? Their production dwarfs Apple!

By fogtax on 11 Aug 2011

Where's Paramount's Lawsuit?

In view of Apple's insinstence that their's is the first, and therefore everyone copied them, why have Paramount not sued them? As a Star Trek TNG fan, I would have to say that the PADD came first both in design, functional idea and even the name was blatantly ripped off!

If their trying to complain that the Tablet is their creation, then again they fail.

Only thing which is truly theirs is the iOS, which is where they captured the market and left everyone else playing catch up.

By scooter91170 on 11 Aug 2011

Star Trek

@scooter91170

I agree. ST had it first. Good job they didn't base the iPad on the ST:TOS pads though, or the iPod on the original tricorder.

As for flip-phones, the original ST:TOS communicator was a flip device.

Interesting. As Spock would say.

Of course, by ST:ENT time, real-life tech had caught up with Enterprise instrumentation. We humans are good!

By fogtax on 12 Aug 2011

iPad - 5 Years behind the times

In truth, the idea of a decent tablet was around in 2005 and was a slick bit of kit if setup right.

http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/attachment.php?attachm
entid=445&stc=1&d=1277669375

It was an RM Notate, could have over 6hrs battery life with a replaceable battery, stereo speakers, upgradable harddrive and RAM, vga out, usb ports, docking station etc etc. Maybe RM should sue Apple for ripping off that idea...

By RichGTB on 13 Aug 2011

@RichGTB

Yes, but before that:
1888 - United States Patent US0386815. Elisha Gray - Telautograph.
1915 - United States Patent US1117184. H. E. Goldberg - Controller.
1942 - United States Patent 2,269,599. H.C. Moodey - Telautograph System.
1961 - RAND Tablet
1968 - Alan Kay, Xerox PARC - Dynabook.

There's more - but I'm bored now & don't want to look any further...

By greemble on 13 Aug 2011