Apple repackaged an existing Android app to make 'Move to iOS'

posted by Daniel P. / Sep 18, 2015, 2:40 AM

Apple repackaged an existing Android app to make 'Move to iOS'

The other day, Apple released its arguably first real Android app, "Move to iOS", to the Play Store, which is a contacts and data transfer software that facilitates your transition from an Android handset to an iPhone. We say first real Android app, as Beats Music was existent in the Play Store when Apple acquired Beats, but it was grandfathered in, and has quickly disappeared since, waiting to be reborn as the official Apple Music app.

Well, it seems that Apple Music will be the first real Android app from the Cupertino gang, as the Move to iOS undertaking appears to be just a repackaged code of an app that already exists in the Play Store, called Copy My Data, which does the same thing. Apple has allegedly licensed the software, created by the UK devs from Media Mushroom, as there are bits of code that are directly copying references as com.mediamushroom.copymydata strings, and even the Android repackaging in the Move to iOS app carries the title android:name="com.mediamushroom.copymydata".

Obviously, Apple has slapped its own graphics and interface on the Move to iOS app, but it is done neither in Google's Material Design guidelines, nor in Apple's typical iOS fashion, but rather has the vibe of a rebranded tool that already existed indeed. Move to iOS is already being smashed with one-star reviews in the Play Store as it is by the fanboy crowd, and just wait when they hear it's a rehashed version of something already there. Oh, well, we'll have to wait for Apple Music to land in the Play Store to gauge Cupertino's real take on an Android interface, it seems.

source: AppleInsider & CopyMyData (Play Store)

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41 Comments

1. sgtdisturbed47

Posts: 960; Member since: Feb 02, 2012

Surprised this didn't happen sooner. They have an amazing ability to grab existing technology, slap a bitten Apple on it, and call it original.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 2:46 AM 18

2. Mxyzptlk unregistered

Like Google right?

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 2:47 AM 0

3. Ordinary

Posts: 2454; Member since: Apr 23, 2015

Find me Move to Android app on AppStore. Wait, find me any app that has Android name on it. I will wait.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 3:10 AM 10

13. Mxyzptlk unregistered

Youtube Android Waze Your move.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 4:36 AM 1

16. Ordinary

Posts: 2454; Member since: Apr 23, 2015

LOL. I am still waiting. I am gonna act like I didnt saw that "Android" app mentioned by you that doesnt even exist.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 4:44 AM 7

17. Ordinary

Posts: 2454; Member since: Apr 23, 2015

Since you are probably still "searching" let me drop this:https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/ Read point 3.1 and see it for yourself.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 5:04 AM 7

36. natypes

Posts: 1110; Member since: Feb 02, 2015

lol Ordinary-1, Mxyzptlk-0

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 12:39 PM 3

38. meanestgenius

Posts: 21485; Member since: May 28, 2014

BOOM!! Goes the dynamite! You got him, he's bumburned for sure. +1.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 3:14 PM 2

33. jeroome86

Posts: 2314; Member since: Apr 12, 2012

Ouch. You burn him pretty bad.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 11:33 AM 2

7. tedkord

Posts: 17133; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Excellent deflection. Nonsensical, but that just adds to its ability to distract from the actual point.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 3:39 AM 6

15. Mxyzptlk unregistered

You would know all about deflecting.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 4:37 AM 0

40. tedkord

Posts: 17133; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

By reading your comments, one can become an expert.

posted on Sep 21, 2015, 3:52 AM 0

18. Martin_Cooper

Posts: 1774; Member since: Jul 30, 2013

To bad most of google famous services apps are someone's work with google logo on them. Youtube, Android and many morehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mergers_and_acquisitions_by_Google That's only 182 companies/services/apps that google bought

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 6:39 AM 1

23. TerryTerius unregistered

While that is true, there is a substantial difference between simply slapping your logo on something and truly making it yours and contributing resorces/intellectual capital to make it into something more. There's no way you're going to tell me that YouTube or Android as it is now is the same as it was at the moment of purchase. The guy that created Android doesn't even work for Google anymore. Yes someone else may have created them, but acting as if Google has had no contribution and deserves no credit is absolutely ludicrous. Absolutely nobody ever said that Google didn't buy companies. But when Google integrates something it heavily invests itself. And when I say integrate...http://www.wired.com/2015/09/google-2-billion-lines-codeand-one-place/ I mean just that.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 8:28 AM 2

24. WallStreetWolf

Posts: 289; Member since: Apr 08, 2013

That isn't the point. The point made by Mxy in the first post was an accurate rebuttal to a person saying that Apple just slaps a logo on things as if no other company does this.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 8:34 AM 1

26. TerryTerius unregistered

The original poster never said that Apple was the only company that did it. So his rebuttal and bringing up Google is irrelevant. If I say "you are the only person in the world that likes yogurt", that's one thing. But if I say "you like yogurt", that isn't in any way denying the reality that there are other yogurt lovers in the world. Google had absolutely nothing to do with this article, nor were they ever mentioned in the post that Mxy responded to. And like I said, the original poster never said it was something only Apple did. So yes, his response was irrelevant. You can't refute a point that was never made.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 8:43 AM 1

28. WallStreetWolf

Posts: 289; Member since: Apr 08, 2013

That was the implication, because he singled out Apple rather than referencing other OEM's. He could have just as easily put "doesn't surprise me blah blah blah, a lot of companies do this". It is completely possible to infer that the OP's bias is just as present as the bias found in Mxy. Being pedantic about wording doesn't take away from the context. Sgt is far from objective on the subject as I have seen in other posts. Even Mxy can call a person out in this situation, despite his terrible rebuttal to Ordinary.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 8:59 AM 1

29. WallStreetWolf

Posts: 289; Member since: Apr 08, 2013

And you could point to the article being about Apple as reasoning for the statement, but you would also need to understand the context of the OP's own sentiments, which have been grossly biased. This is in any case that I have witnessed in the forums of discussion. We are all guilty of that in one form or another, but it is not even a question in this case.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 9:04 AM 1

30. TerryTerius unregistered

Different words have different meanings, that's why we have them. In this case, clarifying what someone said is not pedantry, it's fact. I would have to take your word on your argument, which is in and of itself an assumption of what the original posters intention was. So I suppose I'm choosing to take what was literally said, and you are choosing to interpret it as meaning something different. I'll be going by the clear context of this article as you noted, because that is what was commentend on. And you're using the (IMO) much less clear (but equally valid, no disrespect intended!) method of extrapolating intent from other sources. I guess my issue with that is I kind of tend to discuss what people say and mean as it relates to the subject matter at hand, and the manner in which they said it. Honestly, that kind of makes me smile. Because I really do like discussing language and its use in general. Blame the author and artist in me. Funny how the most random things can turn into psychological analysis or morph into a study of human communication. Ignore my personal moment, ha.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 9:19 AM 1

41. tedkord

Posts: 17133; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

It's not accurate, because Google doesn't just "slap a logo" on them like Apple did here. All the things listed went through huge changes and reworking. Apple literally kept all the coding, including headers with the originator's company name. They changed a few picture files and put their logo on it.

posted on Sep 21, 2015, 3:55 AM 0

4. yann

Posts: 609; Member since: Jul 15, 2010

Why such a noise for something so small? Apple have right to do it, right? Let them do it. So what? I do not like Apple, but they trying to take a bite from Android and they made it legit. So? Anyone hurt.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 3:16 AM 2

12. zyxxyz

Posts: 25; Member since: Apr 10, 2015

Ask them to allow the same and they will point to several clause and terms of service.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 4:18 AM 1

5. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

Basically Apple just 'borrow' another existing Android app and stick an Apple logo. Typical! I guess the only personal touch from Jony Ive would be the recycle logo and a line of thoughtful crafted text to troll their new user.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 3:19 AM 3

34. AlikMalix unregistered

The app that the article refers to exists on iOS. Copy My Data by Media Mushroom Limitedhttps://appsto.re/us/uOk3Z.i I bet Apple paid for the rights to use their software. The funny thing is "copyMyData" app on android has 4 stars, yet Apple has the same version and it's 1 star. Android Mob is an emotional one. Just saying.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 12:24 PM 0

37. Ordinary

Posts: 2454; Member since: Apr 23, 2015

At the same time there are tons of iOS icons, themes, launchers etc. that get great review. This app is little anti-platform IMO. When you finish the transfer you get the message: "Recycle your Android phone" lol.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 12:46 PM 0

6. Wulfgardr

Posts: 73; Member since: Oct 29, 2014

Uahauah, reviewers gone full plebeian. I welcome further retardation, in this way we will increase the gap between us. After all, there's no room for normies or liberals in this world.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 3:34 AM 0

8. tedkord

Posts: 17133; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

I mean, talking someone else's work and throwing an Apple label on it is kind of their M.O. for the past 30 odd years.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 3:43 AM 3

19. Martin_Cooper

Posts: 1774; Member since: Jul 30, 2013

Yep cause your beloved google is a saint:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mergers_and_acquisitions_by_Google

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 6:40 AM 1

25. TerryTerius unregistered

There's a substantial difference between an acquisition and pretending as if you created things which you simply didn't. That's a really weird way to rebut, because absolutely no one said that Google hasn't bought companies before. But even still, what does anything that Google does have to do at Apple and its behavior? That's like you robbing a store and then pointing out the fact that stores are robbed every day... As if that changes the fact that you still pulled off a robbery or negates reality. Apple has in fact been passing off other companies work for a very long time as their own. That doesn't mean that they don't deserve credit for the innovations they've brought to market. But you can keep two thoughts in your head at the same time. https://youtu.be/wFeC25BM9E0 Watch for yourself.

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 8:37 AM 1

9. promise7

Posts: 894; Member since: Jul 03, 2013

Apple licensed it so I don't see the big deal. Funny that the exact original app 'Copy My Data' by Media Mushroom in the Google Play Store gets 4 stars overall, but when Apple licenses it and puts its name on it it suddenly gets 1 star overall. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mediamushroom.copymydata&hl=en

posted on Sep 18, 2015, 3:55 AM 1

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