Vratislav Holub It's no secret that Apple faces all sorts of lawsuits from time to time. Currently, developer Kosta Eleftheriou managed to get the attention of the apple world, who got into a cross with the Californian giant. Their whole dispute has been going on practically since 2019 and culminated now, with the introduction of the Apple Watch Series 7. This new generation boasts a larger display, thanks to which Apple was able to incorporate the classic QWERTY keyboard, which will serve as an alternative to dictation or handwriting. But there is a catch. He completely copied this keyboard from the aforementioned developer.
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Moreover, the problem is much deeper. As we mentioned above, it all started in 2019, when the FlickType for Apple Watch app was pulled from the App Store for violating the terms. Since then, the two sides have been constantly arguing. Only after a year, the app returned to the store without explanation, which represents a lost profit for the developer. In its heyday, this program was the most downloaded paid app for the Apple Watch. Eleftheriou is best known as a public critic of Apple, drawing attention to fraudulent apps and other errors, and he filed one lawsuit against the giant a few months ago.
So now we know. See you in court @Apple. https://t.co/hJtPI2Z83J pic.twitter.com/1s7MUSLTpc
- Kosta Eleftheriou (@keleftheriou) September 14, 2021
But let's get back to the current problem. FlickType for Apple Watch was previously disabled due to it being an Apple Watch keyboard. In addition, during the time that the app could not get into the App Store, Apple tried to buy it back - according to the developer, he deliberately blocked it so that he could get it for the smallest amount possible. It all culminated in the introduction of the Apple Watch Series 7 last week, which should directly copy the developer's application. In addition, if this version is true, then this is not the first case when the Cupertino giant deliberately "throws sticks under the feet" of developers who come up with something innovative. How the situation will develop further is, of course, unclear for now. It should be noted, however, that the native keyboard from Apple will only be available for the latest model.
As for the disputes between Apple and the mentioned developer, they go even further. At the same time, Eleftheriou developed a keyboard for iOS, which is supposed to help blind users and is said to be significantly better and better than the native VoiceOver. But he soon ran into a huge problem - he can't get it into the App Store. For this reason, he often criticizes the committee for app approval, because according to him, the very members who decide on the apps themselves do not understand the VoiceOver function and do not have the slightest idea about its functionality.
Of course, I like Apple products and will continue to use them, but if they don't stop doing this, I hope that someone will give them a hard time, because this is just a completely clear thing, if in this way it makes it impossible for someone to have their app in the Store. If the keyboard for the Apple Watch (in my opinion, by the way, makes no sense at all) was simply normally in the Store and Apple somehow copied it, then so be it, but this is just a clear case and I don't understand what is dragging on about it for so long. It's even worse with iOS, because I just absolutely don't understand what they're trying to do when there's an incredible number of keyboards in the store, so why do they have a problem with another one that's supposed to help people.
Well, let's hope that this will be resolved somehow and to the benefit of the users.