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analogue SPRINKLES · Mar 4, 2008, 03:57 PM

Now I don't know any history on this or if MacNN and iLounge are owned by the same group but to me the new iLounge and MacNN | Apple, Macintosh and iPod news look very similar in design to me. At least enough for me to wonder if just the same guy did it or if they are under the same wing.

Now I am sure we will get the standard reply of "look nothing alike to me" but for me as a designer they look close enough to make me wonder.

iLounge

MacNN | Apple, Macintosh and iPod news

Cold Warrior · Mar 4, 2008, 05:46 PM

I see similarities on the main site, but their forums don't look nearly as nice.

RAILhead · Mar 4, 2008, 05:49 PM

I prefer iLounge's look, personally.

Dakar the Fourth · Mar 4, 2008, 05:52 PM

Too... much... orange...

analogue SPRINKLES · Mar 4, 2008, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth

Too... much... orange...

I find the dark grey boxes in the middle much more of an eyesore.

Oisín · Mar 4, 2008, 06:10 PM

I can’t imagine Frank being willing to put his name to such a design. That’s type murder, what they’re doing there.

Plus, it doesn’t say at the bottom who did it, which would be odd for a Gesamtbild design, I think.

Very likely that they stole/borrowed/were inspired by part of the MacNN design for their site, though.

- - e r i k - - · Mar 4, 2008, 06:21 PM

From their site:

Web Site Development:
Austin Agarwal - AAI Services
Leslie Camacho - ExpressionEngine
Mitchell Kimbrough - Solspace
Dennis Martin - HTML Guru

So no.

andi*pandi · Mar 4, 2008, 06:30 PM

I like their collapseable boxes though. Did something like that recently.

analogue SPRINKLES · Mar 4, 2008, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - -

From their site:

So no.

In that case MacNN got ripped. Hey iLounge designer... how about not stealing other peoples ideas.

Eug · Mar 5, 2008, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES

iLounge

MacNN | Apple, Macintosh and iPod news

Apple Section - Ars Technica

analogue SPRINKLES · Mar 5, 2008, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

Apple Section - Ars Technica

What about it?

Eug · Mar 5, 2008, 12:45 AM

Not the same interface, but it's got the same rectangular boxes with the blunt corners, with the links inside.

analogue SPRINKLES · Mar 5, 2008, 01:14 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

Not the same interface, but it's got the same rectangular boxes with the blunt corners, with the links inside.

Well for me it is more the 3 piece box thing on the top and bottom both NN and lounge got going on.

turtle777 · Mar 5, 2008, 01:16 AM

I don't see too much of similarity, besides the round corners on boxes.

For me, it doesn't stick out enough to suspect plagiarism.

-t

MacosNerd · Mar 5, 2008, 08:21 AM

Oh no, I saw the color white and a menu bar on the eweek site, they must of ripped that off macnn

Gankdawg · Mar 5, 2008, 09:30 AM

I really dislike both of them. I'm a legacy guy for macnn.

analogue SPRINKLES · Mar 5, 2008, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by MacosNerd

Oh no, I saw the color white and a menu bar on the eweek site, they must of ripped that off macnn

That joke is as un-original as iLounge.

Faust · Mar 5, 2008, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by turtle777

I don't see too much of similarity, besides the round corners on boxes.

For me, it doesn't stick out enough to suspect plagiarism.

-t

I agree with that. Rounded corners are not really anything MacNN's designer invented. Same goes for the information architecture. Except for rounded corners, I see no design similarities.

analogue SPRINKLES · Mar 5, 2008, 11:33 AM

Ya it is ONLY the round corners that I think are the same cuz we all know MacNN invented those

Railroader · Mar 5, 2008, 11:35 AM

Didn't iLounge's current look exist before the MacNN redesign?

Eug · Mar 5, 2008, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by Railroader

Didn't iLounge's current look exist before the MacNN redesign?

Good question. MacNN's redesign was fairly recent.

Rumor · Mar 5, 2008, 12:11 PM

Nothing really sticks out to me. What causes you to think this?

ort888 · Mar 5, 2008, 12:33 PM

They are similar, but hardly plagiaristic or anything.

Faust · Mar 5, 2008, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES

Ya it is ONLY the round corners that I think are the same cuz we all know MacNN invented those

Geez, what's with the aggressive attitude?

Peter · Mar 5, 2008, 12:51 PM

more like iZune!

Oisín · Mar 5, 2008, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by Faust

Geez, what's with the aggressive attitude?

That’s just his personality, you’ll get used to it.

Dakar the Fourth · Mar 5, 2008, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Oisín

That’s just his personality, you’ll get used to it.

There's a joke to be had here, but I can't quite formulate it.

analogue SPRINKLES · Mar 5, 2008, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

Good question. MacNN's redesign was fairly recent.

No ilounge just launched that new one on monday. MacNN is like 2 years old.

effgee · 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES

... wonder if just the same guy did it or if they are under the same wing. ...

Neither.

For the other "questions" ...

Between iLounge and 'NN, MacNN was first (see file creation dates in screenshot below)
Ars' redesign was way after 'NN as well but it doesn't count because a) the visual design approach, aside from the rounded corners, has nothing in common with 'NN/iLounge, and b) the design implementation/coding on their news site is very professional.
No, I didn't invent rounded corners. I did invent the wheel, but never got around to patenting it.
As far as similarities are concerned ... meh.

</eot>

(edited for clarity because I'm not that eloquent a writer)

Peter · Mar 6, 2008, 07:55 AM

first after effgee