CES: Acer unveils new cloud service, copies Apple's iCloud presentation
In promoting its new AcerCloud service, Acer chose to mimic not only Apple's iCloud, but also directly lifted a slide Apple used to introduce iCloud in a keynote presentation last year.
Acer's "blatant iCloud ripoff was highlighted by The Verge, which noticed the similarities between Acer's promotional image and Apple's keynote slide. The slide in question relates to Acer's "PicStream" service, which has similar rules to Apple's PhotoStream functionality in iCloud.
Both graphics represent their specific services by showing a cloud floating above with content stored in it, and the words "30 days" written. Down below, a trio of devices are shown with photos pushed to them from the cloud.
Any differences between the two images are minimal, and all three show photos being pushed from the cloud to a smartphone, tablet and PC. The offending graphic can still be found in Acer's official press release for AcerCloud.
"Copycat" tactics by the competition have been a major issue for Apple, which has taken to filing patent infringement suits against companies it feels are stealing its ideas. For example, Apple has argued in court filings that Samsung's smartphones and tablets "blatantly imitate" both the software and hardware of Apple's iPhone and iPad.
Acer attempted to call out Apple for starting a so-called "patent war" last July. The company's chairman, JT Wang, accused Apple of being an instigator in taking patent infringement suits against rivals like HTC and Motorola.
Acer was once king of the netbook market, which collapsed thanks, in part, to the release of Apple's iPad in 2010. However, the company has publicly stated its committed to netbooks, particularly in emerging markets.
Acer's "blatant iCloud ripoff was highlighted by The Verge, which noticed the similarities between Acer's promotional image and Apple's keynote slide. The slide in question relates to Acer's "PicStream" service, which has similar rules to Apple's PhotoStream functionality in iCloud.
Both graphics represent their specific services by showing a cloud floating above with content stored in it, and the words "30 days" written. Down below, a trio of devices are shown with photos pushed to them from the cloud.
Any differences between the two images are minimal, and all three show photos being pushed from the cloud to a smartphone, tablet and PC. The offending graphic can still be found in Acer's official press release for AcerCloud.
"Copycat" tactics by the competition have been a major issue for Apple, which has taken to filing patent infringement suits against companies it feels are stealing its ideas. For example, Apple has argued in court filings that Samsung's smartphones and tablets "blatantly imitate" both the software and hardware of Apple's iPhone and iPad.
Acer attempted to call out Apple for starting a so-called "patent war" last July. The company's chairman, JT Wang, accused Apple of being an instigator in taking patent infringement suits against rivals like HTC and Motorola.
Acer was once king of the netbook market, which collapsed thanks, in part, to the release of Apple's iPad in 2010. However, the company has publicly stated its committed to netbooks, particularly in emerging markets.
Comments
"It's not identical, they reversed the position of the phone and computer!"
They DID outright steal Apple's Wi-Fi icon, though.
minor, but still slavish.
Apple should be proud of the flattery.
/s
copy a slide is easy ... but invest in the Data Center to support this service is another story ...
That'll be easier too. They won't be supporting nearly as many customers.
Is it just me, or did they even use Garamond for their font?
It's just you. Serifs, different thicknesses of the lines...
copy a slide is easy ... but invest in the Data Center to support this service is another story ...
they will just use Azure like Apple
jk... but I bet someone will say that somewhere!
It's just you. Serifs, different thicknesses of the lines...
Garamond is a Serif font. Note that I'm not suggesting they copied the font on Apple's slide, just that they used the font that was, for decades, associated with Apple:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typogra...Apple_Garamond
Acer was once king of the netbook market, which collapsed thanks, in part, to the release of Apple's iPad in 2010.
I thought ASUS was always the king of the netbook market?...anyway
I am so sick of these SHAMELESS, CLUELESS, COPYCATS!!!
Oh, Acer. You're getting into services now??? Where's your billion-dollar data center?
With that mention, what is Apple actually using theirs for? I've seen various mentions of Apple using servers belonging to Amazon and Microsoft for their cloud services, and never really clearly understood what the NC facility was intended for. Perhaps the main services are streaming from Apple NC, with Microsoft and Amazon supplying backup or additional storage?
Oh, Acer. You're getting into services now??? Where's your billion-dollar data center?
They don't need a dedicated one because they will only sell a few laptops, netbooks and what other pieces of junk they can manage to ship as oppose to Apple's Gazillion number of iDevices.
Jury: "We're done. GUILTY!"
With that mention, what is Apple actually using theirs for? I've seen various mentions of Apple using servers belonging to Amazon and Microsoft for their cloud services, and never really clearly understood what the NC facility was intended for. Perhaps the main services are streaming from Apple NC, with Microsoft and Amazon supplying backup or additional storage?
Check this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQNQkJGwxsE
directly lifted a slide Apple used to introduce iCloud in a keynote presentation last year.
Surely "directly lifted" would mean that they used it as is from Apple, which they haven't.
I'm sure a majority of designers would have come up with this layout without seeing the Apple version.