During the keynote, Steve was showing the nice presentation of books on wooden shelves on the iPad, as attractive way to show the forthcoming huge market of eBook. The GUI was easy to use and intuitive. Too intuitive?
Having a book on a wooden shelf is nothing new, and happen in many places or homes, however on a virtual location, it clearly reminds a known interface: Delicious Library.
Of course, nothing is more similar than books on 2 different wooden shelves, however, it seems difficult to think that the team that designed such presentation did not know already the GUI of Delicious Library. This is not really the first time that Apple "recycle" a good idea previously released by others (remember the widgets?). While Apple is actively fighting against those trying to copy its innovating products and/or services, it is always a bit weird to catch Apple playing the role of the other side. Some Mac developers might be scared of having their idea/design "recycled" by Apple in future evolution of its OS or iPhone OS...
Will Shipley, editor of Delicious Library, is upset. HE thinks that Apple not only copied its idea, but also recruited its employees who had worked on the development of Delicious Library... If one could consider that having Apple adopting a GUI could be the best way to award a innovative idea, this could also have been done with a standard agreement potentially involving financial licensing...
