Apple Accused of Stealing Microsoft's Windows Phone Driving Mode

Apple announced at WWDC this week a series of improvements coming to iPhones with iOS 11, including a so-called Do Not Disturb While Driving mode that blocks notifications when behind the wheel for reduced distraction. 

An Apple demonstration at its developer conference showed that notifications arriving when driving with this mode activated are automatically switched to silent, with the screen not turning on to distract the driver. 

And while at first glance this sounds like a very helpful addition to the iOS feature lineup, the Do Not Disturb While Driving feature seems very similar to Microsoft's Windows Phone Driving Mode. 

It was obviously just a matter of time until the hardcore Windows Phone fans accused Apple of stealing this feature from Microsoft, with users on reddit now discussing how the iPhone maker also borrowed other mobile tech from Microsoft, such as live images. 

Symbian, the first to come with driving mode 

And while Apple can hardly be blamed for stealing the feature since a car mode also exists on other platforms, the new iPhone Do Not Disturb While Driving indeed seems to work very similar to the Windows Phone sibling. Here's the description that Microsoft provides for Driving Mode: 

"Tempted to open those funny pictures from your friends while you're on the road? Driving Mode in Windows Phone can help reduce distractions from your phone while you're behind the wheel. Turn this feature on to limit notifications on the lock screen—including texts, calls, and quick status alerts—until you're safely parked. You can even send automatic replies when someone tries to contact you, so they won't worry when you can't get back to them." 

What's important to note, however, is that Windows Phone wasn't actually the first OS to implement such a feature, as a driving mode also existed in Symbian. At the same time, despite the similarities between Microsoft's and Apple's features, blaming one or another for stealing features is pretty much making drama out of a crisis, as tech companies do this all the time and borrow someone else's tech with only small tweaks here and there. 

In the end, probably the worst thing here is that Microsoft was actually one of the innovative players in the mobile business, only that it missed the chance to grow bigger and become a strong rival to Google and Apple.

Source: Apple Accused of Stealing Microsoft's Windows Phone Driving Mode