Apple accused of copying app services on new iPhone : NPR

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Many of the features Apple announced replicate services from third-party apps, a technique it calls “Sherlock.” NIC COURY/AFP via Getty Images/AFP .

. NIC COURY/AFP via Getty Images/AFP

TapeACall is one of the most popular call recording apps, with millions of users paying a monthly fee to record phone conversations with the click of a button.

But now the app faces competition from one of the richest and most powerful companies in the world: Apple.

Apple will offer its own recording and transcription service seamlessly integrated into iPhone calls as part of its new operating system, iOS 18, due for release this fall. The Apple service will have access to back-end code that is not accessible to third-party app TapeACall.

A yearly subscription to TapeACalls costs $79.99. Apple's new recording features are free.

“If I were TapeACall, I would say game over,” said Philip Shoemaker, a former executive who once helped oversee Apple's App Store.

TapeACall declined to comment. Long-time observers say TapeACall isn't the only one to have been Sherlocked.

At its Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino earlier this month, Apple announced new services including writing assistant app Grammarly, password manager app 1Password, speech-to-text app Otter, AI emoji app Newji, and mapping app Alltrails. The new AI assistant features perform similar functions to previously hyped AI hardware devices such as RabbitR1 and Humanitys AI pin.

During his time at Apple, Shoemaker said he frequently received complaints from smaller app developers who were upset that Apple had copied their services.

Apple has all the data it needs: It can look at which apps are used most by customers and say, “That's a great idea. If we integrate this into our operating system, we can do a better job,” he said.

Apple has long faced complaints about Sherlock Hound.

This act became known as Sherlocking.

This dates back to the 1990s, when Apple introduced a desktop search tool called Sherlock that was strikingly similar to another desktop search program, Watson, and the term has stuck ever since.

When NPR contacted some of the apps that analysts identified as Sherlocked, the app companies didn't express outrage. Instead, they issued statements saying they welcome competition and respect Apple.

For example, Grammarly spokesperson Yuki Klotz Burwell said in a statement: “We welcome Apple to join this exciting and vibrant space where we've operated for more than 15 years. The reality is that every new entrant in our market increases demand for Grammarly.”

“Despite the speculation and skepticism generated by online critics, the numbers and reactions from our users tell a very different story. We're pleased that Apple shares a similar vision for the future of AI,” RabbitR1 CEO Jessie Liu told NPR.

Rick VanMeter is less optimistic. He is executive director of the App Fairness Coalition, an advocacy group that represents more than 80 popular apps, including Spotify, Match Group and Epic Games, which has been fighting Apple in court for years, accusing the latter of being anti-competitive.

Many of these developers fear retaliation and are very careful when speaking out about Apple. “Unfortunately, this is something we see every day,” he said. “Apple is not only a competitor, they also set the rules of the market.”

Ex-Apple exec says apps are afraid to speak up

That marketplace is the App Store. Apple is the gatekeeper. VanMeter said many app developers consider it too risky to speak out against them, fearing retaliation that could affect their standing in the App Store.

People are afraid of being banned from the App Store for saying or doing the wrong thing, Shoemaker said.

While some companies have fought back and sued Apple, Shoemaker said a more common strategy is to say nothing. Sherlocked apps often pivot to other services or go out of business altogether, he said.

Shoemaker said third-party companies don't want to go against those who benefit them because in most cases that's the only way to get apps installed on devices.

Apple has become a tech giant through billions of dollars of in-house research and development, but it also benefits from ideas inspired by other companies' products and services.

Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, famously said, “We've always been open about stealing great ideas.”

Apple did not respond to a request for comment, but the company has previously said it welcomes healthy competition and that serious competition leads to better services for everyone.

Lobbying Apple is considered fatal

John Gruber, a tech writer who writes the blog Daring Fireball and has covered Apple for more than 20 years and often defends the company, said Apple is simply getting ruthless.

In reality, Apple, like other successful companies, is taking a hardline stance, Mr. Gruber said.

And it's not just Apple, he said.

Small businesses with clever and popular ideas always run the risk of having their services copied by big tech companies.

Gruber said that historically, that's just how the software industry has worked.

Since medical technology company Masimo's experience with a patent dispute drew public attention, some smaller app developers have grown fearful of even being approached by Apple.

Masimo claims that Apple met with the company about potentially incorporating its pulse-tracking technology into iPhones. When talks fell through, Apple hired two executives from Masimo and introduced a service that it claims illegally copied Masimo's technology, charges that Apple denies.

Potential Apple partners point to the Masimo experience as a lesson.

“Apple's interest in a company is a death sentence,” Masimo Chief Executive Joe Kiani told The Wall Street Journal.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos