These arguments are paper-thin.
* Tablets are flat because LCDs are flat.
* Tablets are rectangular because LCDs are rectangular.
* Tablets have rounded corners and bezels because it's difficult to manufacture the unit if the screen extends right to the edges.
* Samsung has been touting "slimness" and "world's thinnest" on their phones for almost a decade.
* Samsung has also been doing "non-cluttered" for a long time, e.g. they partnered with Porsche Design back in 2002 for some designs.
* A black front panel and steel rim was common on phones before Apple entered the business. An example from 2006: [1]
The obsession with button counts is sort of understandable, because Apple did pioneer the single-button phone (and they did an amazing job with it).
But they're not going to stick with that same design forever. If Apple moves to a buttonless design as has been rumored, should Nokia sue them because the N9 got there first [2]? Of course not.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_6233
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_N9
* Tablets are flat because LCDs are flat.
* Tablets are rectangular because LCDs are rectangular.
* Tablets have rounded corners and bezels because it's difficult to manufacture the unit if the screen extends right to the edges.
* Samsung has been touting "slimness" and "world's thinnest" on their phones for almost a decade.
* Samsung has also been doing "non-cluttered" for a long time, e.g. they partnered with Porsche Design back in 2002 for some designs.
* A black front panel and steel rim was common on phones before Apple entered the business. An example from 2006: [1]
The obsession with button counts is sort of understandable, because Apple did pioneer the single-button phone (and they did an amazing job with it). But they're not going to stick with that same design forever. If Apple moves to a buttonless design as has been rumored, should Nokia sue them because the N9 got there first [2]? Of course not.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_6233 [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_N9