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Dueling designs: Apple v. Samsung (pictures)

Sketches of early Apple designs for the iPhone, iPod, and iPad may impact the outcome of this storied patent infringement battle between Apple and Samsung.

James Martin
James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.
James Martin
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Inspired by, or copied?

Are Samsung's designs simply inspired by Apple's iPhone aesthetics, or, as Apple claims, copy infringement to the tune of $2.5 billion. Judge for yourself by perusing the images submitted to the court in the patent trial between these two companies, which started this week.

In these design renderings, we can see the evolution of the Apple aesthetic, as well as the early sketches for the iPhone, iPad and iPod. The first set of images here are of iPhone designs; iPad images start at slide 15 and iPod images at slide 22.
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An early iPhone prototype

This early iPhone prototype has angled corners rather than the smooth rounded edges, which eventually went into production.
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Early iPhone prototype

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Samsung's pre-iPhone designs

Slides entered into evidence by Samsung during the trial include work ups of phones that Samsung says had been created prior to the release of the iPhone.
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Samsung's pre-iPhone designs

Slides entered into evidence by Samsung during the trial include work ups of phones that Samsung says had been created prior to the release of the iPhone.
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Early iPhone designs, codenamed 'Purple'

Early version of a design for Apple's phone, known then only as "Purple."
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Early iPhone design sketches

Another view of "Purple."
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Early iPhone design sketches

"Purple."
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Early iPhone design sketches

This sketch shows an early versions of design for Apple's phone. The file names referred to the "M68 Phone."
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10 of 27 Federal court documents

Early iPhone design sketches

Early version of design for Apple's phone, known then only as "M68."
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11 of 27 Federal court documents

Early iPhone Autodesk design sketches

Early version of design for Apple's phone, known then only as "Purple."
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12 of 27 Federal court documents

Early sketches of the 'M68 Phone'

Early version of design for Apple's phone. The file names referred to the "M68 Phone."
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13 of 27 Federal court documents

Early sketches of the 'M68 Phone'

Early version of design for Apple's phone.
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Early sketches of 'M68 Phone'

Early version of design for Apple's phone. The file names referred to the "M68 Phone."
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15 of 27 Federal court documents

iPad design sketches

Working sketch of Apple's tablet dated "pre 2004." It would eventually become known as the iPad.
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iPad design sketches

Working sketch of Apple's tablet dated "pre 2004." It would eventually become known as the iPad.
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iPad design sketches

Another working sketch of Apple's tablet dated "pre 2004." It would eventually become known as the iPad.
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iPad design sketches

Another working sketch of Apple's tablet dated "pre 2004." It would eventually become known as the iPad.
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19 of 27 Federal court documents

iPad design sketches

Working sketch of Apple's tablet dated "pre 2004."
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iPad design sketches

Working sketch of Apple's tablet dated "pre 2004."
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iPad design sketches

Working sketch of Apple's tablet dated "pre 2004."
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Early iPod prototype

An early prototype of Apple's iPod music player.
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iPod design sketches

File name on this iPod design sketch refers to the device as "M68 - Pebble."
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iPod design sketches

File name on this iPod design sketch refers to the device as "M68 - Pebble."
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iPod design sketches

File name on this iPod design sketch refers to the device as "M68 - Pebble."
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26 of 27 Federal court documents

iPod design sketches

File name on this iPod design sketch refers to the device as "M68 - Pebble."
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iPod design sketches

File name on these iPod design sketch refers to the device as "M68 - Pebble."

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