iPhone & LG KE850: separated at birth?

Two sparsely-buttoned large, touchscreen phones: the Apple iPhone, and the LG KE850 (which already won the International Forum Design Product Design Award for 2007). Separated at birth, or possible lawsuit number two for Apple? You decide.

[Robert @ Jan 11th 2007 6:21AM]

wow i thought that apple was original? didn't those fan boys tell us that they designed everything themselves. well now i wonder about weather they got the ipod from someone else we just donut know about yet.

wow if the interface is close i am going to laugh when apple has to fork over bilions on a phone that nobody can truly afford to buy...

[bbydon @ Jan 11th 2007 10:00AM]

multitouch is the difference....don't you read anything.
Thats what he was talking about with the revolution...was their patented multitouch.

[Erik @ Jan 11th 2007 3:30AM]

Whoa. My initial reaction is that the two devices and the interfaces look STRIKINGLY similar. However, being unfamiliar with the LG offering and its features, I will reserve judgement.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Jan 11th 2007 4:33AM]

True. Apple here boasts more than just phone: they boast specifically OSX compatibility or more precisely independence from established software chain.

I guess that most phone's design is dictated by what they use: Symbian, Palm OS, Windows Mobile or Linux. Apple wanted to avoid that dependency and made its own platform.

Well, how would it play out - we are to see. But knowing Apple I expect that they would easily hit top 10 of most usable phones.

Also notice, that mobile phone interface is well established. And shaking up well established standards - with clean refreshed design - is what Apple is best known for.

[paul Barton @ Jan 11th 2007 3:35AM]

this is such an inevitable design, surely no lawsuits? It's the design I've been doodling in the back of all my layout pads for years (even down to reorientating the screen when the device is turned). Why have buttons when a touch-screen could be so good for input (and visual output) - especially if most your dialling is from your address book...

[dave M @ Jan 11th 2007 3:39AM]

is it possible LG makes the apple phone? because dosent LG make the apple monitors?

[Intrepid @ Jan 11th 2007 8:54AM]

@dave M
Foxconn or whoever they are makes the iPhone to my knowledge... bu I could be wrong.

Either way, I won't be buying an iPhone because it's a poor attempt at a tablet, not a great attempt at a phone like I expected.

[Erik @ Jan 11th 2007 6:38PM]

LG.Philips LCD makes the monitor panels, to my knowledge the monitors are assembled in Taiwan, however, not Korea.

[Filip Serban @ Jan 11th 2007 3:43AM]

Come on, guys. At a certain time, there was a rumor that Apple is searching for a phone manufacturer to get their iPhone done. Guess who's that manufacturer :D.

[Dave @ Jan 15th 2007 10:07AM]

The company apple was initially in contract talks with was BENQ/Siemens, but that fell apart. Hon Hai won the the contract to build the iPhone though.

[helio9000 @ Jan 11th 2007 3:55AM]

Maybe mystery solved. I had thought it was going to be these guys since the multitouch is the same:

http://tinyurl.com/us6f5

[Ignacio @ Jan 11th 2007 4:04AM]

Well, the iPhone screen covers the entire width whereas it does not on the LG. Also, the LG seems to have several buttons on the sides, and a couple on the front, while the iPhone relies almost exclusively on the multi-touch screen and the "home" button.

But yeah, they are similar in the sense that they are both rounded, black rectangles with a big touchscreen in the middle ;-)

Not sure you can patent a rounded rectangle though. Every Apple product seems to be a rounded rectangle: iPhone, iPod, iMac, Mac mini, Apple TV, MacBook... Apparently Steve Jobs *really* likes rounded rectangles:
http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=Round_Rects_Are_Everywhere.txt

[Albert @ Jan 11th 2007 4:10AM]

The physical constraints of a cell phone inevitably leads to not only morphologically similar phones but also function. Nobody cries foul when companies clone candy bar phones,clam-shell, or a sliding keyboard or a Treo-like keyboard so why are we so surprised to this similarity between iPhone and the LG? This is part of an evolutionary design where function leads to similar solutions. The major difference is that the LG will never have a MacOS embedded and the overall ease and flexibility of the software will give the iPhone the edge.

[damian_piccolo @ Jan 12th 2007 11:41AM]

Hi Albert
I don't understand how you could say that when I'm pretty sure you haven't tested either one. Isn't that being a little bit too fanatic?
I'm planning to wait and see reviews from both before forming my opinion.

[Troy @ Jan 14th 2007 5:59PM]

Um, Research In Motion holds the patent for that "Treo-like keyboard"...

http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6278442&id=NSwIAAAAEBAJ&dq=keyboard+thumbs+research+in+motion

[DM @ Jan 11th 2007 4:45AM]

Ok, I understand that this is touchscreen, but is it smudge-marks proof? or scratch proof? Because otherwise, it would be ugly no matter how innovative it is.

[BK @ Jan 11th 2007 4:50AM]

The phones do look similar but the LG phone interface also looks like the Windows Mobile Phone interface: http://216.69.161.230/images/wm2005/display_6.jpg

[Edward @ Jan 11th 2007 5:01AM]

Meh. They both look like PDAs.
There's only so many ways to put a large screen on a rectangular surface.
If anything, this really shows how much Software, in addition to Hardware, matters.

[Edward @ Jan 11th 2007 5:03AM]

Btw, I love one of the comments there:
----
4. AM I the only one who thinks the interface looks alot like OSX?
perhaps this is what the iphone will be based on?

Posted at 8:55AM on Dec 16th 2006 by gerrynjr
----

Good call Mr.gerrynjr!

[erik brunn @ Jan 11th 2007 5:05AM]

I would like to see the patents for both of them.

[xVariable @ Jan 11th 2007 5:13AM]

Holy shit. 0.o Yeah this is definite lawsuit bait for sure. That's positively *uncanny*.

[JT @ Jan 11th 2007 5:28AM]

It would be easy for Apple to provide with drawings dated before the LG phone, thus making a lawsuit quite irrelevant. Besides, what do people expect when the screen occupies the whole face? My P910i is already like that when you take the keypad out (which is possible by the way). Yep, there will be more of these everywhere.

[forums @ Jan 11th 2007 5:47AM]

They're quite good at back-dating things aren't they.

[Eugene @ Jan 11th 2007 11:26AM]

ZING!

[fraggle_rocker @ Jan 11th 2007 5:54AM]

You are all forgetting you live in america. I personally thought that force feedback in game controllers was a progressive step forward, and one of the few ways to do it simply was with a small spinning motor. However most of the game companys had to pay out big money for the right to use it.

Ipod had to pay out because its interface infringed on creatives, not too long ago if i remember right.

If lg have the interface patented it wont matter at all if its a natural step and if there are only so many ways to do it, apple will have to pay. However apple might have patened the technology and interface long ago and sat on the idea, which could mean lg have to pay.

Its all about when you file your patents, not when your product hits the shelf. Will be intresting to watch.

[John Schneekloth @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:38PM]

Funny because the LG phone is priced at over $700.

[prateeko @ Jan 11th 2007 6:26AM]

Well, those two definitely look quite similar.

Time to take a strong look at the milkman.

[hockey2891 @ Jan 11th 2007 6:34AM]

Didn't Apple say: "And boy, did we patent this. Over 200 patents" or some # like that. What if LG copied Apple? Maybe someone who was working on the iPhone for years left Apple for LG?

I mean, this has been in development for how many years?

[neo @ Jan 11th 2007 6:35AM]

Take a loook at this. Swedish mobile manufacturer Neonode has had a touch screen for years.

http://pencomputing.com/WinCE/neonode-n1-review.html

[amac @ Jan 11th 2007 6:41AM]

actually Motorola has had a touch screen for years e680
http://www.motorola.com/mot/doc/5/5336_MotDoc.pdf
and also in this newer model a1200
http://www.ubergizmo.com/zoom.php?img=motorola-a1200-2.jpg,motorola-a1200-3.jpg,motorola-a1200-4.jpg,motorola-a1200-5.jpg,motorola-a1200-1_large.jpg&page=0

[neo @ Jan 11th 2007 6:52AM]

On the Neonode you just use your fingers to enter data with a combination of sweeps and touch. You don't need any stylus.

http://www.neonode.com/templates/navigationAndFlashPage____86.aspx

I have heard rumours they are releasing a new model soon.
Micht be cool to check out.

[Orchid @ Jan 11th 2007 6:44AM]

IF there's a suit as a result of this, it'll just go to show how lawsuit-happy companies are. Both of them have a touchscreen showing the equivalent of the front of a telephone. What was Apple/LG going to do for the dialing pad? It's not like they could layout the numbers differently. The first shot of the interface (not the dialing pad) is not the least bit similar though the LG phone really does resemble a PDA (like a Visor).

[Kurt @ Jan 11th 2007 7:00AM]

umm pick up any touchtone phone on the market and tell me if they look similar. Just because you are making a virtual keypad doesn't mean it is patentable.

The key to this whole thing is how well it works as a phone and if the technology behind the touchscreen is the same.

[Jeff @ Jan 11th 2007 7:05AM]

"Its all about when you file your patents, not when your product hits the shelf. "

There is a little thing in patent law called "prior art".

[Tech^Cellfish @ Jan 11th 2007 7:06AM]

Well, I think all PDA's look about the same, all clamshells look about the same, and all keypadless phones...

[Luke @ Jan 11th 2007 7:14AM]

Has anybody ever thought that apple let lg use the osx system in exchange for the design? It seems as if this could be the case yet the two settled this a while back and lg has beefed up the phone by adding more external buttons...

[Bazza @ Jan 11th 2007 7:17AM]

Thank you for bringing this up, I knew I saw something similar not too long ago when I saw the iphone. Japan, Korea, Finland and Sweden.....check out their concepts and projects.

Fact of the matter is that the only unique thing about Apple's effort is their heavily researched and patented multi-touch system You do remember for several months ago we have seen the patents for the touch screen interface iphone uses. Some of you are new to Engadget, so you wont know.

I commend Apple for designing their own touch-screen interface that fits their device better. Even the most ardent Apple fan must realise that everything else on that phone isn't revolutionary. Apple just decided to release the product, unlike others like LG that are still quite quiet about theirs.

I do hope everyone has calmed down and started to think rationally. Of course some of you have no shame and you will defend to the death how the iphone is the best thing since oxygen. I pity you.

The iphone is fine piece of technology, no doubt and I would give it awards.....but its neither the first, nor revolutionary. I would still get one, when the price is reasonable or another current company comes up with something similar or better....which is very possible.

[Harbinger @ Jan 11th 2007 7:19PM]

What a doofy post. "Nothing new, but I want, but nothing great, but if the price was right, but not all that nice."

[DeaPeaJay @ Jan 11th 2007 7:44AM]

@Bazza

Good points. I agree with most of what you said, except that I still think the iPhone is truly revolutionary, even if the only thing that truly makes it different is the multi-touch screen interface. This is what sets it apart from the LG and all other touch screen gadgets. Touchscreens have been a royal pain to have to use in the past. I think Apple has changed that, and that's what they patented so much, and what makes their phone revolutionary. In a year or two, we'll see how revolutionary it really is.

[Bazza @ Jan 11th 2007 8:29AM]

It is revolutionary to the touch-screen technology, but not really that much. A few have been experimenting at improving the touch-screen interface for many years, Apple just found the solution first.
I totally agree at how its a pain using touch-screen to accomplish certain complex tasks and Apple's tech has fixed that issue. I do doubt that is a complete solution, since its designed for that handset....it may not transfer easily to a different touch dependent handset without modifications.

It will be easy for other manufacturers to overtake the iphone, the cell-phone industry is fast moving and they quickly assimilate any new tech. I really hope that it doesn't stagnate like the MP3 players industry that are only trying to be an ipod instead of surpass it. Tactile feedback has its merits and i a long term its better for the fingertips than tapping on a flat unrelenting hard surface.

There is always something new and interesting, apple just simply released a nice bit of tech candy. Not the saviour of the universe as some die-hard zealots would have you believe.

[allan menezes @ Jan 11th 2007 7:45AM]

OK.....so how many ways do you think you can layout a touch pad dialing device? lets see...0-9 in numbers, a send button, and address button, the number display....wow I think they'll all pretty well look alike!

Is there lawsuits over the basic telephone....I mean they all have the same numbers don't they...? lol

[somit goyal @ Jan 11th 2007 7:59AM]

good article

[mike @ Jan 11th 2007 8:03AM]

Apple recopies the phone!

[mobi fin @ Jan 11th 2007 8:07AM]

Interesting the iPhone has the little star icon and favorites, I think they stole this from IE!

[Whoaness @ Jan 11th 2007 8:16AM]

This might blow you away. Touch screen dial dates back to 2002.

http://www.clubsonyericsson.com/products/p800/p800_16.jpg

By Sony Ericsson's P800.

[John @ Jan 11th 2007 8:20AM]

don't forget that Apple has the patent on multi-touch, so it can't be 'that' similar in functionality. Or maybe Apple will be suing LG.

[Mrfreezie @ Jan 11th 2007 8:26AM]

I always thought it was a mistake for Apple to go into the phone business. This, another (possible) lawsuit over it, only proves it.

[cseabrooks @ Jan 11th 2007 8:28AM]

I have to agree with applesucksLEO. Jobs is good for making you think he invented it. If anyone actually was listening or reading his keynote, he actually said that Apple invented the MOUSE!!! Huh!! Last I looked the mouse was created by Xerox in their vaulted Palo Alto Labs BEFORE Apple was a seed.

[JLL @ Jan 11th 2007 10:02AM]

"If anyone actually was listening or reading his keynote, he actually said that Apple invented the MOUSE!!! Huh!! Last I looked the mouse was created by Xerox in their vaulted Palo Alto Labs BEFORE Apple was a seed."

Didn't he say that Apple brought us the mouse? (which they did).

And perhaps you should check again, Douglas Engelbart invented the mouse.

[Bazza @ Jan 11th 2007 8:29AM]

Stick a phone module in an OQO v2 and you have something much more powerful and better. Actually the OQO2 has a 3G moodule for data calls, but nothing stopping one from installing skype and using that.