Handpicked Software

As you’ve probably heard by now, Microsoft has announced the addition of Sidebar Gadgets to Vista, the next looooong awaited version of Windows. Microsoft’s Sidebar Gadgets bear an uncanny resemblance to Apple’s Dashboard Widgets. Now, I’m not going to engage in the usual Microsoft bashing about how Microsoft is always ripping off Apple’s ideas. There’s plenty of that on Microsoft’s own Gadget Blog. Some people argued that Apple ripped off Konfabulator. Microsoft claims Gadgets date back to a research project called “Sideshow” conducted in 2000-2001. Whatever; these ideas are floating out there in the collective unconscious anyway, and you can’t copyright an idea.

But here’s what gets me: does Microsoft have to copy Apple’s look and feel? The font used on the Microsoft Gadget Blog looks so familiar.

Where have I seen it before?

Actually, I’m pretty sure that Apple uses Myriad and Microsoft is using Lina. They aren’t the same fonts, but they’re damn close.