“Apple wanted to acquire FlickType and then copy it”

from Apple Watch Series 7 Obtains keyboard, making it easier to enter texts. But it already exists: with Flick type Have you been able to enter texts on your device for longer? Apple Watch. Developer Kosta Eleftheriou has created a keyboard app that works well and makes few typing errors, thus putting himself in the spotlight at Apple. Elefthrio went to pitch his app to Apple and received positive feedback, giving the impression that an acquisition was imminent. But now Eleftherio is empty-handed and his ideas are said to have been stolen by Apple. File a lawsuit.

It often happens that applications are “unlocked”: they become redundant because Apple builds the exact same functionality into the operating system as a standard. But in the case of Eleftheriou, something special is happening: he is very critical of Apple, especially when it comes to Scam apps trying to trick you. Eleftheriou doesn’t understand why Apple would approve and demand such apps at the same time The App Store is a safe place. It’s often about copied apps 1-on-1, with ridiculous in-app purchases of, say, a tenner per week. They just aim to get money out of pocket and An apple You not only participate in it, but also benefit by ironing by 30%.

Apple wanted to acquire FlickType

In January 2019, the situation was completely different. Eleftheriou was convinced that Apple wanted to acquire its own FlickType app. I absolutely love the Apple FlickType keyboard leader and declare that “Apple should buy this from you”. During a January 2019 Apple Watch team demo, everyone was excited, too.

That same evening, he received an email that the consoles are on Apple Watch Not allowed by the rules. FlickType will be removed from the file App Store Since then, Eleftheriou has been at odds with Apple’s review team. With each update, Apple pushed hard and Eleftheriou became one of its loudest critics. Last month, the developer announced for Turn off FlickType features for the blindBecause Apple kept making things difficult. Ironically, this has not yet happened because Apple refuses to approve the update that removes the functionality.

In March 2021, the developer has already filed a lawsuit, because FlickType is constantly rejected. “Apparently Apple thought the plaintiff [Eleftheriou] He would simply give away his app and sell it to Apple at a discount.” Now that the FlickType functionality has been copied by Apple, the maker sees more reason to sue the company. Eleftheriou has plenty of money thanks to selling his Fleksy keyboard to Pinterest five years ago.

Keyboard apps on Apple Watch, is this allowed?

There was a time when keyboard apps were banned on the Apple Watch, but An apple The situation was later changed allowing Nano apps (for Reddit), Tweet (for Twitter) employment Lens (for Instagram) allowed. Eleftherio believes its application is targeted. Apple recognizes That it was banned from FlickType at the time was a mistake, but according to Eleftheriou, he had to fight for months to be able to release new updates. When FlickType finally made a comeback in January 2020, it was an instant hit, ranking high on Apple’s list of best-selling apps of 2020.

Lens for Instagram, an app approved in 2019.

Eleftheriou has another reason to be angry: for years he had to get around all the limitations of Apple’s APIs, and the Apple keyboard didn’t have those limitations. This gives Apple an unfair competitive advantage over independent developers.

Apple Watch keyboard from Apple just come on Series 7 Available and may not work in Dutch.