Creative Has MP3 Player Interface Patent

indie1982 writes "BBC News online is reporting that Creative has been awarded the patent for the interface that many MP3 players use. The patent covers the way files are organised and navigated on a player using a using a hierarchy of menus, a system that Creative's own Nomad jukebox and Apple's iPod range use." Commentary also available at CNet. Reports trend towards an attempt to capitalize on Apple's mistake. From the BBC article: "Creative said the patent applied to its players, as well as some competing products such as the Apple's iPod and iPod mini. The patent covers how files on a music player are organised. Creative was one of the first companies to produce MP3 players but has lost out to Apple which dominates the market. The Creative announcement is the latest salvo in its self-declared war against Apple. "

Comments

Re:Tiny Threats

[treff89]

Creative's product, like most other iPod competitors, is far superiour, being simpler to use with many many more features. The main problem is the brainless masses who are either hooked by the iPod's advertising campaign, hooked by the "coolness" of the iPod (hint: not cool when half of your friends own one), or both.

Re:Creative Apple

[adavidw]

America where you can sue for getting burned from coffee, because it was too HOT

Not this again...

The coffee was an average on 45 degrees hotter than anywhere else. It was so hot it caused 3rd degree burns. McDonalds had been repeatedly warned about the dangers of their coffee and had done nothing about it.

I hope I always live in a country where I have some recourse against a drive for profits causing blatant disregard for my safety.

http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=110708 9

Re:Creative Apple

[exp(pi*sqrt(163))]

got a cup and held it in her lap, parked

Are you sure about her parking immediately afterwards. I personally think that people who drive round with hot coffee on their lap need weeding from the gene pool.

Re:Tiny Threats

[treff89]

Many other players, with more features, are that easy to use. Some are even easier: with a couple of mouse clicks, Linux (which I use because it "just works") will automatically sync my music player when it's plugged in, without being locked to iTunes, an inefficient and low-quality application. The difference is, if I lose all data on my computer, and I am such a n00b that I have to use a program such as iTunes (and thus not know about the repercussions), I _will not_ lose all my songs on my device, and be able to do nothing about it.