iPod Patent theft by Sonos?

[Jovian9]

I'm not sure if this has been posted yet. In the November issue of Wired there is an ad for a music player which has a very similar wheel on it....it looks almost exactly like the iPod wheel. I thought I had read somewhere that Apple had patented that technology so no other music players could use it. Here is the link:

http://www.sonos.com/

If it is patented this seems like an issue that needs to be brought up.

 

[dotnina]

Link doesn't work.

I assume this is what you're talking about, though?

http://www.engadget.com/entry/0894670680278779/


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Edit: Oops, sorry, Sonos link was down when I posted. It's back up now.

 

[jamdr]

I don't know, its a browsing wheel. The idea isn't really Apple's. Maybe if it was touch sensitive, but if it's just a wheel, I don't think that's Apple's property.

 

[G5orbust]

I dont think Apple jacked the patent, especially since Im sure if Apple wanted it it could easily buy the rights.

 

[Sedulous]

I'm quite certain Apple has the patent for scroll wheel... touch, mechanical, or otherwise.

 

[Jovian9]

I'm quite certain Apple has the patent for scroll wheel... touch, mechanical, or otherwise.

That's what I thought. I think I had read that they had the patent from a thread here dealing with some other mp3 player that tried to use a similar scroll wheel......can't find a link though.

 

[munkle]

When Apple saw this device he commented that it likely violated on Apple's patents. From the Wall Street Journal:

"... when he demonstrated the Sonos device to Mr. Jobs at the conference, Mr. Jobs said he believed the product might violate Apple patents related to the design of the iPod."

link (paid membership required).

It's pretty old news, the device was announced the same time as the Airport Express - great timing there! It looks promising but is way too expensive, likely to violate patents and has been pre-release for so long I don't think it's ever going to see the light of day.