The Origin and Impact of Sherlocking

In 2001, Corella Software introduced Watson for OS X with a three-column design allowing users to search for books, characters, and more. Apple awarded Watson in 2002 but then incorporated its features in OS 10.2 Jaguar through the Sherlock app, essentially copying Watson's UI and functionality. This act of Apple overtaking a third-party's idea and features became known as 'Sherlocking.' While Watson was later acquired by Sun Microsystems and phased out, the term 'Sherlocking' persists in describing Apple's strategy of absorbing features from external apps.