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Creative Sues Apple
E IS mC(Square) writes "Looks like Apple's legal problems are not yet over. ZDNet reports that Creative has sued Apple over their iPod interface. From the article: 'Creative Technology said Monday that it has filed two legal actions against Apple Computer, charging the popular iPod infringes on its patented technology. ... In both cases, Creative says that the iPod and iPod Nano infringe on a patent the company has for the interface in its Zen media player, a patent granted last August.'"
Not sucking.
Bonsai Kitten: TNG
I have a creative Zen xtra. I got the 40 gig for about $200 dollars less then the iPod. Sure its not perfect but it works and the huge wad of cash I saved always makes me feel better if the software begins to frustrate me a little or I wish I could put my purchesed music straight on my player.
But Im all for Creative getting a little justice out of this. Apple is a computer company then they come along and act like they invented portable media. For the record there were portable battery powered record players before Steve Jobs hotwired his first PC. Apples innovation can jump off a cliff. They didn't even develop the iPod they just bought it and made it shiny. I believe Creative is greatly under appreciated and maybe not the best company ever but they have done a lot for poratable media. They had a mini half gig player long before apple did and it actually has a screen but people love shiny objects so they go for the apple product.
Sorry rant over.
This is a good sign for Apple, everyone in the mp3 player market is on their last leg. Creative has long since sucked ass on their mp3 hardware and I suspect their lawyers are equally crappy in comparison to the mighty Apple's. go Apple! Go Intel!
I would second that Creative actually just makes a great MP3 players. I have both an iPod nano and a Creative Zen Vision:M. I have to say, my Zen is absolutely awesome and beats my iPod by a long shot. The GUI is much better, the ability to make playlists on the fly is drastically improved, and the interface is roughly on par with Apple (better in some ways, worse then others). Throw on top of it Rhapsody's all you can eat service, and you have one very sick MP3 player. I loaded up a good 50 full albums and found a pile of new music in less then three days. That isn't even possible pirating, and it would have cost me well over 500 dollars using iTunes. I think Creative and Rhapsody have their shit together. They don't have the monster of an advertising machine that iPod has, but I think once the hype blows over people are going to realize that there are some vastly superior iPod/iTunes alternatives out there.