Comments on: New iPhone Like Launcher for Palm OS

But maybe now that the iPhone is already a hot commodity, Apple won't bother sending out the threatening letter. They jumped all over people back when the iPhone newly was launched.


"twrock is infamous around these parts" (from my profile over at Brighthand due to my negative 62 rep points rating)

I can pick up a pirated CD of just about any commercial piece of software I want out on the streets here too. Other than possibly having to deal with some kinds of spyware/malware/virus after installing it, it would work just fine and save me a bundle. I choose GNU/Linux instead. It's legal, free, more secure, and quite often better than the commercial stuff anyway.

(And please everybody, don't bother linking to the supposed "research" that shows Windows is more secure than GNU/Linux. What a crock.)


"twrock is infamous around these parts" (from my profile over at Brighthand due to my negative 62 rep points rating)

I also have no idea what all Apple has copyrighted. But I do know from discussions with other developers who tried to "copy" the iPhone look that Apple sent them threatening letters based on them using the copyrighted iPhone icons. I had started out doing that myself, but when I heard about everyone else's problems, I started making my own icon set. (See the link above.) Although there are similarities between my set and Apple's, they are not exact copies. I never heard anything from Apple, and I doubt that what I did violates their copyright in any way. My theme is hosted on a US based website, so if it was a problem I would suspect that they would contact that website first. (I also doubt they can do anything to me personally based on where I am, but like you, I'd rather not try to find out.)

I would gladly offer you free use of any of the icons from my set as replacements if you like them. However, you should know that "some" of those icons were in part created using other graphics that were released under the GPL. Not being a lawyer, I don't know how that might affect your software. Maybe someone else knows. Since my ZLauncher theme was released under GPL, I don't have that problem. As an alternative, I can try to look back and see which icons I believe I created completely myself. Just leave me a note if that is of interest to you and I'll work on it.

I would be surprised if there is any way Apple has a patent on the SMS count. That seems too basic, and you had to write that code yourself. My guess is that it is the icons that might be a problem.

Good luck.


"twrock is infamous around these parts" (from my profile over at Brighthand due to my negative 62 rep points rating)

Why didn't you click the frikkin link I provided to actually *see* what Apple has filed as trademarks with the USPTO? You always jump on other people about "fact" versus "opinion" or whatever and here you are avoiding fact for yourself. It's ALL the icons, with their designs enumerated in detail. SMS is trademarked as it pertains to Apple's distinctive icon for it. The icons designs are probably Copyrighted too, but I don't look up Copyrights, just trademarks.

At any rate, his work is probably all over the Internet by now and probably in places Apple Legal can't find.

nah. probably going for a sprint centro with "simply everything" plan. i need a real keyboard and i like the palm PIMS because "that's what i know". i played with some chick's iphone at the bar last night. she exclaimed "i hate this thing" because she "does a lot of texting and the (virtual) keyboard is terrible." i told her it probably just takes some time to get used to it, but she said she's had it for a while. i tried typing and had lots of errors. this was the first iphone user that i encountered who didn't love it. i'm a minimalist, and i like the size/sleek/simplicity of the centro at this point.

gekko -> I thought you wouldn't get a Centro unless your employer fed ^h^h^h supplied you with one. Did you try the Centro at all yet? Rather small, those buttons.

Eh, some people can do very well with the iPhone for texting. Some, not.

Hmmm ... anyone here looking forward to that rumored HTC Dream phone running Android OS?
http://mikecane2008.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/android-show-me-the-ccp/

Die SSS Die. Give me iPhone!

>Why didn't you click the frikkin link I provided to actually *see* what Apple has filed as trademarks with the USPTO?

twrock was referring to a patent. Unless I am misunderstanding something here, your web site only shows trademarks. So you can't use those icons - but a trademark can't cover a concept like the sms count. A trademark is not a patent.

I test new SW on my Treo all the time. Most of it I delete, and some of it I send my hard earned money to purchase. It's a spade. I called it such and anyone out there including yourself should be thankful that someone posted such.

If the dev wants to send out v2 with a trial, I'll try it out. If it works I'll say so. If it stinks, I'll say that to.

Have to agree with Cain on this one.

Pat Horne

You seem to have some sort of bend toward false accusation here. None of them, by the way, are based in any sort of reality.

What point exactly did I prove? "Negativity no matter what". Is that what you're saying?

Look, when I was a kid, my family once purchased a new Chevy Chevette. The answer to rising oil prices of the 70s and the flood of Japanese imports. I must say that only the Yugo, and the Dobi surpassed this vehicle in being the worst excuses for a useful automobile in the history of transportation. We got more mileage to the dealership and back than elsewhere. Total garbage and another disaster for the aimless US auto industry of the 70s.

Now, if you were theoretically in the market surfing the web in the 70s, and came across and article about Chevy's new eco car, would you want the posters to put lipstick on the pig or tell you straight out that it's swine? How would you feel about me a year after I encouraged you to buy such a breakthrough product? The fact is you would want the truth before investing.

If a Palm OS launcher makes the user experience more complicated, expensive, unstable, and less intuitive, then why would you say it's good? Are you just looking for a reason to tinker with screen settings? If that's what turns you on in software then their are hundreds of titles to tickle that fancy.

Folks around here are quite colorful and extreme sometimes. But, many have invested 1000s of hours in the use of mobile technology. It's amazing what one can learn if they are willing to listen a little.

What exactly are you trying to condemn here?

Pat Horne