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Did Microsoft Invent The iPod?
nate.oo writes "If you think Apple Computer's Steve Jobs invented the technology behind the Apple iPod, don't bet your 60GB, 15,000-song model on it. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, patent applications that cover much of the technology associated with the iPod were submitted by Microsoft."
They also invented the Google start page! I'm too lazy to add a link. To understand joke, see Slashback from 1-2 days ago.
You know, if I listen closely I can hear the laughter of thousands upon thousands of Korean engineers, and I'm in Seattle.
Did Al Gore invent the Internet?
... run their database on MS software? If so, why does Microsoft bother applying for patents? They could just get in through a back door and insert retroactive patents on anything they like.
(Yeah, my tinfoil hat just fell off.)
Hal Spacejock: Science Fiction with Nuts
I'm sorry, but it appears you must have that second-rate news meta DotSlash mixed up with the first-class journalism of Slashdot. It's OK, everybody makes mistakes.
Impossible. Steve Jobs invented the iPod on the 5th day.
Microsoft invented the iPod.
Saddam had WMDs he was going to give to Bin Laden.
Big Brother Loves You.
Care about electronic freedom? Consider donating to the EFF!
Not only have they violated Microsoft's patents, but by copying from anyone at all they have violated /.'s patent on duplication of a pre-existing entity.
English is easier said than done.
"He may run the company, but he is hardly an engineer."
Are you crazy?!? Did you see the new fangled mouse he just invented? It has THREE buttons!
I think that line in the original post should read:
+------+ +--------+
don't bet your | 60GB |, | 15,000 |-song model on it.
+------+ +--------+
________________________________________________
suwain_2
Umm, I belive he said let there be light, not let there be white. The ipod was invented on the 6th day, thats why he accomplished nothing on the 7th.
-William
God is everything science has yet to explain.
Did Microsoft Invent The iPod?
No. And here's proof. With each new release the iPod:
That's not Microsoft.
The Luddites were ahead of their time.
They patented a "portable, pocked-sized multimedia asset player"...
Oh boy will they feel stupid when I patent an "portable, pocked-sized multimedia asset player via a computer network"!
bash$
AND they didn't count the mouse buttons very accurately!
Ghastly term, but it's a proper pain typing "software patents" eighty two times in a discussion like this.
Perhaps you be interested in cross licencing against my "Method and Apparatus for Denoting Excerpted Content Using Italics and Elipses" :)
Don't let THEM immanentize the Eschaton!
From the sound of it the patent wouldn't cover cases where you are playing stolen music on your iPod, because then you're using it as a "portable, pocket-sized multimedia liability player".
D