Life Imitates Conan O'Brien As Samsung 'Opens Apple Store'
from the which-is-real,-which-is-o'brien? dept
Just a few weeks ago, Conan O’Brien did a satire video about the Samsung/Apple lawsuit, in which someone pretending to be a Samsung VP “defended” the company against charges of copying Apple, but everything he did, obviously, made it look like Samsung was copying Apple:
In that, there’s an amusing part, where the “VP” says “Don’t believe me? Then come to our retail stores where you can talk more about our products with a ‘Samsung Smart Guy.'”
Truth, it seems, often matches fiction. Down in Australia, Samsung has now
opened its own retail store that bears such an uncanny resemblance to the design of Apple’s stores that the always-funny John Paczkowski brilliantly titled his article about it:
Samsung Opens New Apple Store in Australia.
Can you tell which picture was from the Conan O’Brien video and which actually came from this store?
Oh, did we mention that the Samsung store is…
one block away from an Apple store? And, sounding almost exactly like the faux Apple VP in the O’Brien video, an
actual Samsung VP told a reporter that Apple “didn’t even come into the equation” when planning the store.
I’m firmly of the belief that the whole legal fight between the two companies is silly, and that they should just compete out in the market, but you have to admit that the resemblance here is a bit uncanny.
Filed Under: apple store, conan o'brien, copying, retail, samsung store
Companies: apple, samsung
Comments on “Life Imitates Conan O'Brien As Samsung 'Opens Apple Store'”
This is just BRILLIANT! If this store is in Sydney then I’m going! (I live near Sydney)
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Trolling at corporate level. Samsung is doing it right!
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Its at
Sydney Central Plaza, 450 George Street, Sydney
Basically corner of Market and George.
Oh and for those wondering the Apple store in Sydney is not just around the corner it is on the SAME BLOCK and SAME STREET (George St) basically 500ft (150metres) or less from each other.
😉
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I know the maps are not up to date to include Samsung’s store, thanks for the address to the Apple Store though, I was curios to see it in Street View on Google Earth.
i find it strange when lawyers reckon that people dont know one product from another. occasionally this may be true but in the main those interested in buying a particular product know what they want, what to look for and how to recognise the real thing from a fake or a competing product. lawyers may have trouble but even then i would say it’s purposefully induced. Apple are well known for ‘renting’ from other companies without paying but cant take it when the reverse happens. in all cases like this, the sad thing is it’s the customers that lose out.
Re: Re:
AC, that is true of Apple, but it is also very true about just about every other tech company out there. Look at Microsoft they have not had an original product in over 20 years.
Tech companies rarely invent new products, but instead ‘rent’ from other companies. They kind of have to unless they come up with original ideas.
Am I defending Apple or Samsung, no. But there are real things that Apple did with the iPhone no one had before with a smartphone. Those things may not be major (like inventing cellphone technology), but they are new original creations.
The ‘rubberband effect’ is one example.
Someone at Samsung either has a great sense of humor, or has a big set of balls for taunting crApple this way.
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Nope they looked at the Australian market, saw that Aussies actually buy A LOT of Samsung products and said..hmmmm we need a flagship store since we really have never had one other than a few in the burbs that well no one really knew they were Samsung owned.
Also Samsung have less dominance in the Smartphone (and Pad) arena within Australia now than Samsung or HTC. The days of iPhone/iPad having majority market share are well and truly over here thankfully.
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“Nope they looked at the Australian market, saw that Aussies actually buy A LOT of Samsung products and said..hmmmm we need a flagship store since we really have never had one other than a few in the burbs that well no one really knew they were Samsung owned.”
Care to explain away how Samsung chose this time to OPEN a store 500ft (that’s 152.4 meters to you) from an Apple store considering they are defending themselves during a US patent trial?
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US patent trials bear nothing, and I mean that in the strongest terms possible, on Samsung opening or doing ANYTHING within the Australian market.. as long as it is legal within the Australian market.
Re: Re: Re:2 Re:
“US patent trials bear nothing, and I mean that in the strongest terms possible, on Samsung opening or doing ANYTHING within the Australian market.. as long as it is legal within the Australian market.”
You missed the point. I’m pointing out that the TIMING of the opening of that particular Samsing store is close and in parallel to the current legal battle they are engaged in with Apple.
In other words it’s a mind game that Samsung is trying to play.
Now as for the trial, it’s nothing more than what we US citizens call a “penis game” to see whose penis is bigger.
No more excuses
This should clears up the confusion for consumers who would mistake a Samsung smartphone for the Apple iPhone!
Sell your own innovations
I was in a new grocery store last week where the produce was all laid out on slanted tables and had timed misting devices for the vegetables… just like my USUAL grocery store does. I mean, come on! Can’t they think of their own way to sell things? This blatant copying is harming innovation in America’s food supply.
Re: Sell your own innovations
Most Grocery Stores look a lot similar.
Re: Re: Sell your own innovations
(.)
Re: Re: Re: Sell your own innovations
Hmm I had a lot more in here, which upon thinking about, probably looked a SQL attack to the posting service… Just assume it was funny and move on.
Re: Re: Re:2 Sell your own innovations
I’ll trust you.. voted it as funny.
Re: Re: Sell your own innovations
Yes, but the interior design varies from grociery store to grociery store. In this case of the Samsung Store, it is the EXACT interior design right down to the styling of the tables. Apple won’t be able to sue over the interior design of the store, but the styling of the counters at a distance certainly add confusion from a customers’ perspective.
One of the things that I can easily point out that screams knockoff is that while Apple’s floor staff are job titled as “Genius” and “Expert”, I’ll be wiilling to bet Samsung calls its floor staff “Smart Guy” and “Master”.
Re: Re: Re: Sell your own innovations
> right down to the styling of the tables
Yes, I also noticed those rectangular tables with round corners.
Re: Re: Re:2 Sell your own innovations
Ok, explain to me how your argument rebuttals mine without using the same old misdirected comment “Rectangles”. Is that all you can ever say? It makes you look like a troll when you spam the argument of “rectangles and rounded corners”. So please give me a better argument, otherwise you’re just a troll.
Re: Re: Re:3 Sell your own innovations
How’s this for an argument:
This looks like what Best Buy is doing with their stores. The products go onto a central table to be displayed and even used in a more casual environment. They also do not have the boxes that you can pick up and take to the register, you have to ask for the boxes.
This suggests to me that this idea wasn’t stolen from Apple, but created by a psychologist to help/trick people into buying more things. They may believe that a cafe style environment will relax people, and a relaxed casual shopper will buy more.
So, for my educated guess, Samsung truly didn’t copy Apple. They’re just trying to use mind games (just as Apple has done for decades).
And for the record, as you posted further down, Apple’s tables don’t have rounded corners.
Re: Re: Re:4 Sell your own innovations
You gave me a very wise and insightful rebuttal, and have completely gained my trust. I particularly like this one:
“This suggests to me that this idea wasn’t stolen from Apple, but created by a psychologist to help/trick people into buying more things. They may believe that a cafe style environment will relax people, and a relaxed casual shopper will buy more.”
Chronno S. Triger, you did a far better job at correcting me or at least giving me a better insight. Thank you ^_^
Re: Re: Re:3 Sell your own innovations
I think you’re ignoring that the tables you’re saying are similar in style are literally rectangles with rounded corners on legs. The argument rebuts that argument by pointing out that that’s generally what tables look like.
Re: Sell your own innovations
There’s this network here in Brazil, they sell all sorts of electronic devices and house utilities. They look like Apple store for ages now (before Apple store became Apple store). So it was amusing when they added a section for Apple products that… looked like Apple store. And had Samsung stuff (TVs, mobile, air conditioning) all around it making it a lone island inside the store. Priceless.
A pox on both your houses!
Ummm, the Apple store is just a blatant rip off of Bose stores which were a blatant rip off of Sony Style stores…… So why were there no news articles about this 6 years ago when that copying happened?
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My guess is that there weren’t any lawsuits involving copying and extremely expensive patents, at the time, or at least, weren’t garnering the same kind of attention. I could be wrong though, maybe it simply wasn’t noticed by anyone posting to the site.
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the Apple Store and Samsung Store are different by interior design from the Sony Style Store.
Sony Style Store:
http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://blog.socialepisodes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/sony-style-store-front1.jpg&sa=X&ei=irc3UO-GJo2e6gH7jYCQBQ&ved=0CAwQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNF4-ZAGHqDe89XCH6C3qJMOBteFRQ
Apple Store:
http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.appletruthandrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/applestoredrug.jpg&sa=X&ei=yrc3UL-mEabY6wHNyICACA&ved=0CAkQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNEgLZV8yBMFio9rqFG4BYkSpWY8Pg
Samsung Store:
http://allthingsd.com/files/2012/08/SamsungStore.jpg
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They all look different to me.
It also appears that the apple store has apple products, the samsung store, samsung products and the sony store, sony products.
Are you trying to tell me that a samsung product is exactly the same as an apple product? Why would I buy an apple product then?
The second one is the Real one
The inclusion of the Galaxy name, which is their flagship line cues it in. I am guessing Conan’s folks did not put that in.
That said, I wonder if this is not a deliberate jab from Samsung.
Re: The second one is the Real one
Sorry, it is the last one. The others did not show up in my RSS feed.
Re: The second one is the Real one
Agreed 🙂
Other thing it proves....
“I’m firmly of the belief that the whole legal fight between the two companies is silly, and that they should just compete out in the market, but you have to admit that the resemblance here is a bit uncanny.”
What I see it proving is that Samsung, like almost every other south east Asian company (though not as profitable), is making “competing” products that would usually cause customer confusion. I had to double take the photo shown to make sure I wasn’t seeing what my brain said it was seeing….an Apple Store. There is absolutely no difference in design between the stores I might add.
Re: Other thing it proves....
I know, right! Nothing but walls, screens, employees–same stuff, over and over!
Re: Re: Other thing it proves....
“I’m firmly of the belief that the whole legal fight between the two companies is silly, and that they should just compete out in the market, but you have to admit that the resemblance here is a bit uncanny.”
Notice Mike Mansick points out that he feels BOTH companies have been actually quite stupid in the Lawsuit….but he also sees the uncanny resemblance.
Re: Other thing it proves....
As mentioned above, most grocery stores bear a strong resemblance to each other and I have never once shopped at Kroger thinking I was in a Harris Teeter.
Re: Re: Other thing it proves....
True, but when you look at the employees at a distance wearing the same exact color of blue from the back they look alike. You should be able to identify who they work for.
In the same coin, Samsung claims not to be copying Apple at all and here they are opening a very closely similar, but not exactly the same store. It is to a point which BARELY skirts around becoming knockoff.
Re: Re: Re: Other thing it proves....
And they all look like Best Buy employees to me.
Re: Re: Re:2 Other thing it proves....
I do agree there. Take a look at a distance though.
http://www.iclarified.com/images/news/13957/48100/48100.jpg
Re: Re: Re:3 Other thing it proves....
The distance HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with it.. Sydney City Council fully approved of the store a while ago, I haven’t looked at the public documents but I wouldn’t doubt that Apple tried to stop it, luckily for Samsung this is Australia and unless they can prove that there are a huge amount of similar stores to them to the point of saturation in the area then the other store will be allowed to operate.
It’s called COMPETITION! Something that a lot of American companies don’t quite grasp when they get to our shores since they try to create monopolistic situations. Now I’m not saying that Apple was or wasn’t but they had no claim to stop the store and absolutely have no claim based on your interpretation of passing off (knockoff).
I know you love Apple for some reason Wally and I really don’t care about the brand one way or another, but don’t think that just because they are close, or that they sell similar products that there is something nefarious about the whole situation.
Re: Re: Re:4 Other thing it proves....
” but don’t think that just because they are close, or that they sell similar products that there is something nefarious about the whole situation.”
Neither do I actually….I needed time for my thoughts to gather.
It really is no more than a jab at Apple. Nor did I say it was illegal. But I also agree that the similarity looks uncanny, as if it were a calculated move on Samsung’s part to open it up at this particular time.
Now, I don’t want to be yelled at but I just want confirm the timing of Samsung applying for and receiving the permit. So if you can provide the public documents that have Samsung’s application dates I would be very grateful to know the timing of permit application vs acceptance by the zoning board. That is all I request.
Re: Re: Re:5 Other thing it proves....
Oh Samsung have definitely opened it because of the current landscape in Australia visa vis Apple, what with been Apple having been severely fined for a multitude of things in Australia (Consumer law) and the current non-uptake of Apple products due to the market just NOt wanting them in preference to things that will actually work with our latest technology and lifestyle, and of course there latest loss in the dispute with the Galaxy Tab and how they tried to convince (not well enough it seems) both the courts and the public that Apple was being copied. Our courts saw through, like our public did, with that bullshit.
If Samsung hadn’t of taken advantage of Apple’s current misfortunes both here and in S.E. Asia it would of been a tremendous strategic fail on Samsungs’ behalf.
So the timing of the application is basically moot, and also under our laws it is irrelevant. If you want to think that Samsung is preying on Apple’s weakness at this time.. so be it.. But that is just good business practice ie:survival of the strongest (as long as it’s legal)
The silly part is that Apple Inc would of known about this for a long time and have done nothing whatsoever in the Australian market to negate in even the slightest bit by advertising or whatnot this new store. At there peril be it I say
Re: Re: Re:6 Other thing it proves....
Ok I will point out my request because I saw almost no numbers in that rebuttal.
All I want to know is when Samsung applied for the lease of that spot.
Re: Re: Re:6 Other thing it proves....
“The silly part is that Apple Inc would of known about this for a long time and have done nothing whatsoever in the Australian market to negate in even the slightest bit by advertising or whatnot this new store. At there peril be I say.”
You fail to realize that Apple has done nothing about the Samsung store because it does not have to.
Re: Other thing it proves....
I dunno, I think the word “Samsung” everywhere is a pretty big difference.
I am of the opinion at this point..
That Samsung is deliberately trying to rile Apple up by skirting the bounds of directly copying. I approve.
Re: I am of the opinion at this point..
“That Samsung is deliberately trying to rile Apple up by skirting the bounds of directly copying. I approve.”
Apple hasn’t filed suit over it.
Re: Re: I am of the opinion at this point..
How could they? I bet they’re riled up though.
Ahh, so Apple has the market cornered on stores with flat tables and big screen TVs?
NICE!
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Maybe the tables have rounded corners?
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Look at the photos. The tables clearly have round corners.
http://www.arnnet.com.au/slideshow/434255/pictures_samsung_opens_sydney_store_announces_galaxy_note_10_1_launch/?image=7
Samsung Apple Store
What about the MS Apple store in Houston? If you haven’t heard about it, you need to check it out. It is inside a mall called The Galleria.
Re: Samsung Apple Store
Microsoft has not been known to try to copy products of their competitors in that way.
Neither company in the Apple vs Samsung case have a financial risk when paying $2.5-billion US. Apple’s greatest risk is NOT being able to settle. Apple tried to initiate talks with Samsung before they took their case to court. Both parties were ordered to settle before the jury trial and negotiations failed because of Samsung’s stubbornness.
Samsung’s market shares are not at risk. Their reputation as a valid competitor in the Smartphone/Tablet market (as opposed to being a knockoff) is at risk. So they are bound to make mistakes and legal gaffes, and making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Now we have Samsung opening a store where many devices from across the street look exactly like Apple Products and the only difference is visible difference from across the street or at a distance is in the place where the average consume never looks…..up….to see a storefront sign.
Re: Re: Samsung Apple Store
If you’re across the street or otherwise from a distance, you don’t need to look up, as the signage is already within your view. It’s only if you’re close that you need to look up to see signage.
Otherwise, what’s the goddamn point of signage?
Re: Re: Samsung Apple Store
Samsung’s market shares are not at risk. Their reputation as a valid competitor in the Smartphone/Tablet market (as opposed to being a knockoff) is at risk.
Not In Australia they aren’t. Guess where the store is
Now we have Samsung opening a store where many devices from across the street look exactly like Apple Products and the only difference is visible difference from across the street or at a distance is in the place where the average consume never looks…..up….to see a storefront sign.
Our courts and trade laws are a lot more strict then yours when it comes to passing off and false and misleading practices.. Interestingly we are actually more on the side of the consumer than in the USA that Apple just found out at there peril (4G fiasco) and that Samsung has marketed their new 4G phones (as well as HTC did) due to that.
Alsowe must have less morons in a hurry in Australia since this store is fully compliant with OUR laws no matter what Apple think or want. Remember they tried to state that one of our biggest Employers in the Supermarket/grocery chain had a similar logo to theirs (it was Green.. and still looks like a ‘W’) and EVERYONE including the courts thought that Apple were just being there normal ego self and told em to basically piss off (yes they lost).
Oh and as for the Apple v Samsung case in Australia.. well Samsung 1: Apple 0 at this stage of the game.
Meanwhile, jury in Apple vs. Samsung cannot proceed because jury room table has rounded corners and infringes Apple patent. While they wait for clarification from the judge on how to proceed, they are sending out for Korean food.
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Still spamming your rounded corners argument like a true troll. You’re unbelievable.
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I don’t think it’s trolling so much as making fun of the ‘a rectangle with rounded edges is a groundbreaking innovation’ idea that apple is using in their lawsuit.
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I may have reacted the way I did because I think it not entirely important to the article at this point. As others have said it either seems like a jab at Apple to provoke a reaction. He has a habit of spamming the “rectangles” “joke” when ever this case is remotely brought up in an article and as some jokes get, it is getting sort of old.
Leader vs Follower
I don’t give a rat’s ass who wins the lawsuit, and I seriously doubt Apple will sue anyone over the look and feel of their stores.
All this demonstrates for me, is something that I’ve known for a LONG time: The Asian manufacturers are good at imitation and reproduction and TERRIBLE at innovation and invention.
I suspect a cultural difference, but it would appear that Asian culture excels in areas which require structure and repetition, where Western culture seems to excel in innovation and design.
This is why I choose to buy Apple products. They are envisioned and designed by Californians, and manufactured by the Chinese. A perfect combination of Design Superiority and Manufacturing Excellence.
All lawsuits aside, I’d simply rather purchase the real McCoy from the Leader than a knock-off cobbled together by the follower.
COMBB
Re: Leader vs Follower
What complete and utter bull.
As I am sure you are aware, Samsungs countersuit relates to SEPs – essential patents that would prevent the iPhone from even working.
To say the Asian manufacturers are terrible at invention when the phone you are using relies 100% on their technology is simply crazy talk. The patents Samsung hold are for real technology, not minimalist designs with shiny surfaces and rounded corners, or of visual effects that I could produce on a computer when I was 10!
None – not even a single one of Apples patents that are being fought over in this battle – would prevent a Samsung phone from working. iPhones are all pretty effects and shiny shiny. Hell, I could make a 1980’s Skoda look pretty, but it would still be a crap car. Without an engine though it would be completely useless as well!
Re: Re: Leader vs Follower
The telephone was invented by a Westerner
Re: Re: Leader vs Follower
And before you get all uppity about the cell phone being different from the telephone:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Cooper_(inventor)
In retrospect...
I will say this now so everyone gets the idea. Both companies have been extremely stupid in the matter. Yes Apple with its industrial design case (I hate to say it but….”Rounded Corners”). Yes Samsung with cellular wireless technologies it doesn’t own. Yes Apple and Samsung’s Lawyers both jibed by Judge Kho questioning them whether they were smoking crack.
All this amounts to is two companies having a cock fight to see whose penises are bigger.
Under Steve Jobs, Apple would have settled the case by now by negotiating compensations to both parties involved that favored EVERYONE. Not very many people realize that most post 2007 iDevices carry an LG screen. That was how Steve Jobs ran Apple. He negotiated and settled licensing agreements.
Now we have Tim Cook. He decides to take the words of a man who was dying of pancreatic cancer, who at that moment had no idea what he was saying because of the pain he was in, into heart.
For those who do not know how the pancreas works. I will give you a clue….it is meant to lower your blood sugar levels and inject insulin into the system to balance the blood sugar level in your system. Job’s cancer made that process go overdrive. Jobs was diagnosed in 2009. He made his infamous “Going thermonuclear” comment in 2010. When you have low blood sugar, you get REALLY cranky, irrational and have no idea what you are saying.
So really it is a “who has a bigger penis fight” between the two.
There's a Samsung store near Vancouver
Metrotown shopping centre in Burnaby, BC (just outside Vancouver) has the first Samsung store in North America:
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/personal-tech/index.html/Samsung+launches+first+North+American+retail+store+Burnaby+Metrotown/6913314/story.html
Gateway
Just slap some black spots on an Apple Store or a Samsung Store and you have a Gateway Store from the late 90s/early 2000s.
The verdict is in...
And it’s bad news for Samsung. Over $1bil awarded to Apple in damages.
Re: The verdict is in...
Bad news for android actually. No one is going to feel safe using it anymore.
Shockingly
Shockingly, they look just like Telstra stores!
http://www.stratel.com.au/images/telstra-shop-5.jpg
http://www.clarendoncentre.com.au/media/5945/testra%20image%20img_0041.jpg
(Telstra is one of the major telcos in Australia. They used to be shockingly expensive and unreliable but have cleaned up their act and tried to become “hip” and “trendy”)
apple
It’s increasingly bizarre to me that patented industry standard things like 4G LTE might fall under FRAND laws, but basic geometric standards do not. Michael’s argument is a really bizarre spin on the whole issue; somehow, predatory monopolistic behavior over frivolous patents is supposed to stoke innovation. I doubt the irony was apparent when Michael was wording his comment, but “minute details” are pretty much the only things in question, and they shouldn’t matter much. Not to mention the amount of features iOS has taken from Android in the recent years is well-documented.
love it
nice share..thanks for this information