Twitter implies Facebook stole its iOS app design

Summary: Facebook recently updated its iOS app. It turns out the new version looks a lot like Twitter's iOS app.

By Emil Protalinski for Friending Facebook | September 8, 2011 -- 12:00 GMT (05:00 PDT)

Earlier this week, Facebook updated its iOS app to version 3.5. Twitter mobile designer Bryan Haggerty took a look at Facebook's new app and immediately voiced his displeasure.

Let's just say he was not amused. He sent out these two messages via Twitter:

Seriously Facebook? http://pic.twitter.com/0ifNsdY Ok Facebook, enough with the flattery. http://pic.twitter.com/vSyHdpH

You can see the first comparison screenshot at the top of this article and the second one below (in both cases, Twitter is on the left and Facebook is on the right):

Haggerty is implying that Facebook has copied Twitter's iOS app user interface. The saying goes "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" but clearly Haggerty is not flattered.

In Facebook's defense, both designs reflect a respect for the iOS standard constructs, including placement, sizing, and coloring of the icons. Nevertheless, the screenshots do show a remarkable similarity. What do you think?

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5 comments

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RE: Twitter implies Facebook stole its iOS app design

Well, suing people seems to be what the tech industry is doing right now, so here's to a lawsuit. *raises glass*

Aerowind
8 September, 2011 12:16

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why compete or worry about copying in the first place?

almost everyone I know posts to twitter AND facebook in fact many of us use apps that interect with both in one stream - this is what they should have done in the first place and cut their development costs and as a result each would have gained new audiences. <br>We need one major company to publicly pull out of this nonsense and declare that they will never sue competitors unless they are trying to pass their products off with copy branding. If they all followed suit there would be lower costs for all of them and a lot of fat cat lawyers on the dole. There was a programme on the TV tonight highligting what lawyers bill per hour - it is ludicrous as much as 900 for an hours work - I think they would be pushing it at 90 an hour!

cymru999
8 September, 2011 14:10

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RE: Twitter implies Facebook stole its iOS app design

To be honest I like the way all (well constructed) apps are always very similar on iOS products. People pay a premium for an Apple product and that includes the look and feel. That said it does look quite similar but on reflection how else could you display a status update, which Twitter basically is?

All Apple developers need to follow the standardised "look and feel" in their UI design, just like Macdonalds keeps its burgers uniform across the world, they're all horrible :)

Parassassin
8 September, 2011 15:15

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Isn't that the whole point?

Apple have always been very strong on their UI guidelines (Microsoft have similar (and more exhaustive) guidelines for Windows, but don't really enforce them) and that has been part of their success, that certain actions are found in the same place in all applications.

Given that both apps are trying to accomplish the same task, given Apple Guidelines, it isn't surprising that they look very similar - in fact, I would say that Facebook have followed the guidelines more closely than Twitter.

wright_is
8 September, 2011 23:23

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RE: Twitter implies Facebook stole its iOS app design

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jackson1984-24316069205748857739440257893812
10 October, 2011 19:17

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