Apple announced at WWDC this week a number of improvements coming to iPhones with iOS 11, including a so-called Do Not Disturb While Driving feature, which blocks notifications when driving for reduced distraction.
An Apple demo at the developer conference showed that notifications that arrive while driving with this feature enabled are automatically turned to silent, with the screen not lighting up to distract the driver.
And while at first glance this sounds like a very useful addition to the iOS, the Do Not Disturb While Driving feature is very similar to Microsoft's Windows Phone driving mode.
It was apparently only a matter of time before Windows Phone fans accused Apple of stealing this feature from Microsoft, while users on Reddit are now discussing how the iPhone maker also borrowed other mobile technologies from Microsoft, such as live images.
And while Apple can hardly be accused of stealing the feature given that car mode exists on other platforms, the new iPhone Do Not Disturb While Driving does indeed appear to work similarly to Windows Phone. Here's Microsoft's description of Driving Mode:
“Trying to open those funny pictures your friends send you while you’re on the road? Driving Mode can help you reduce distractions from your phone while you’re behind the wheel. Turn on this feature to limit notifications on your lock screen – including messages, calls, and alerts – until you’re safely parked. You can even send automatic replies when someone tries to contact you, so they won’t be alarmed.”
What is important to note, however, is that Windows Phone was not actually the first operating system to implement such a feature, as driving mode also existed in Symbian.
