You've been sherlocked
An existential threat to independent programmers or an opportunity?
By G.F. | SEATTLE
THE thing software developers fear most is being "sherlocked". The term was coined in the early 2000s, after Apple updated the Sherlock search tool on its desktop operating system (OS) to do what had just months before been offered by an external application called Watson, created by Karelia Software to complement the Apple tool's earlier version. Ever since, independent programmers have trembled as they await announcements of what the company plans to include in the latest release.
This year sherlocking has already claimed a number of prominent victims. Most notably, at its recent Worldwide Developers' Conference Apple said it would provide new data for the Maps app, which had hitherto relied on Google's cartography. It would also add turn-by-turn satellite navigation (satnav), upsetting Garmin, Navigon and other makers of kit and software for drivers. (TomTom, another leading producer, will license some data to Apple.)
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