Developer “Shocked” to Learn His Rejected App Now a Feature of iOS 5

[Wiley John Wright]

The jailbreak community routinely develops apps and other iOS enhancements that Apple either can’t or won’t come out with on their own. Sometimes, however, Apple does get inspiration from the jailbreak community and releases new features eerily similar to those first found in the Cydia online store. UK jailbreak developer Greg Hughes has now had a first hand experience with this phenomenon. When Apple unveiled iOS 5 earlier this week at the WWDC, he was quite surprise to find Wi-Fi Sync included as a new feature.

Now you may be thinking that Apple was bound to come out with this feature sooner or later. However, Greg Hughes submitted an app called Wi-Fi Sync to the app store about a year ago. “I'd been selling my app with that name and icon for at least a year. Apple knew that, as I'd submitted it to them, so it was surprising to see that.”

It was quickly rejected because of Apple’s claim that it violated the terms of the iPhone SDK. Apple representative did call him personally, however, to inform him of their decision.

According to Mr. Hughes, "They did say that the iPhone engineering team had looked at it and were impressed. They asked for my CV (resume) as well." Since Wi-Fi Sync’s rejection from the App Store, Greg has sold more than 50,000 copies at $9.99 through the Cydia store.

If you look at the two apps side by side, it’s easy to see why Mr. Hughes was "shocked" when he found out about it. Not only do both apps offer the same features, but the icons are remarkably similar as well.

Would Apple have eventually come out with Wi-Fi Syncing. More than likely. Is this a bitter pill to swallow for the developer who first introduced this feature? Absolutely. I wonder what jailbreak features Apple will be inspired to include with next major iOS update?

Source: Gizmodo

[snowdweller]

Can he not sue for plagiarism? An idea he came up with and implemented into a paid product is now a free product with the same icon through apple.

[z3r01]

you win some you lose some to apple

[FoneWeasel]

Why is this a shock? Apple and many others like Microsoft have done this for years, long before the iPhone or even OS X.

[TheBeastSS2]

Can he not sue for plagiarism? An idea he came up with and implemented into a paid product is now a free product with the same icon through apple.

Yeah good luck with that lawsuit...it IS bs though

[sephiroth726]

Can he not sue for plagiarism? An idea he came up with and implemented into a paid product is now a free product with the same icon through apple.

same thing I was thinking, that's dirty...

[Cer0]

Not sure how much difference you can make an item like this. I woudln't say palagerism.

I say that because the wifi symbol is a standard symbol already and the arrow circle that Apple has in the image above is their standard for syncing. You see this same circle while syncing mobileme or timemachine, and several other items of thier's. So pretty natural for Apple to just combine the two.

[JoeStorm]

With apologies to insensitivity here, but does anyone on this planet think for a second that Apple wasn't planning, implementing, and testing WiFi syncing for the past few years?

As for that logo, it wasn't as if he created the twitter fail whale or something original. That is a /standard/ wifi logo encircled by a /standard/ sync logo.

Yeah it sucks that Apple is implementing this, but as Agent Smith says, it was inevitable.

[Cer0]

As for that logo, it wasn't as if he created the twitter fail whale or something original. That is a /standard/ wifi logo encircled by a /standard/ sync logo.

Lol, guess we thought about the same exact thing at the same exact time.

[TheDirtyDiddler]

His app worked like dogshlt on Windows, (meaning it didn't work at all), and offered virtually no support whatsoever, or no warning that it did so despite knowing this very well. It cost me $10 for nothing. Serves him right.

[Lakunsta]

Wow! That sucks big time. He should at least be compensated in some ways.

[thisisasticup]

his app barely worked right, and they didn't steal his code. He also used 2 existing apple icons to make his logo

[J Sweeney]

Can he not sue for plagiarism? An idea he came up with and implemented into a paid product is now a free product with the same icon through apple.

He could sue. I might win. I personally would take this to court. If he wins hi becomes a millionaire.

[punjabi212]

After hearing the app didn't work well on windows, I'm glad I didn't buy it. Sucks for people who did.

[ragecody]

Is this app up now?

[Asaphprod]

Can he not sue for plagiarism? An idea he came up with and implemented into a paid product is now a free product with the same icon through apple.

not unless he patented the idea and use of the icon with that app. i'm sure he didn't. as long as they're not stealing people's property, it shouldn't matter. the whole purpose of the jailbreak is to enable things we WANT anyway. if apple puts it in, great! i guess it's just business smh

[Cer0]

Wifi syncing was not his idea.

[GmAz]

It doesn't matter if apple would have come out with it or not. He has more than enough sales and time between the two and the fact that they are so damn similar, I'd file a suit against apple immediately. **** apple up the cornhole.

[DubbaCTrumpetMSU]

He could sue. I might win. I personally would take this to court. If he wins hi becomes a millionaire.

He's already got half a million in sales...I don't think he'd win a lawsuit for this...especially not the logo and design.

[szs2612]

Winterboard coming to an IOS 6 device near you July 2011

Winterboard coming to an IOS device near you July 2012