"While Microsoft has struggled to challenge the iPod in the market, the software giant's lawyers have managed to slow Apple Computer's attempt to patent its digital music technology.

"In a ruling issued last month, a patent examiner rejected Apple's attempt to patent some of the user interface concepts behind the popular digital music player, noting that Microsoft developer John Platt filed for similar claims five months before Apple did.

"A Microsoft executive noted on Friday that the company is always open to licensing its technology."

"Apple Computer Inc. will appeal a U.S. patent office denial of an application related to technology in its top-selling iPod digital music and photo."

"Alright, let's just get on with the news of the week. First off we have a stunner in which, after years of trying to get the iPod's unique and innovative interface patented, Apple was defeated because someone else mysteriously filed a patent for the iPod's interface sometime between the time Apple began developing the iPod and the time it publicly launched the iPod. Coincidence? Perhaps, until you get to the part where the "someone else" just happens to be a Microsoft employee. So what does it mean, that Microsoft had a spy within Apple's innovation team who stole the iPod's interface and secretly began the patent application process for it on behalf Microsoft before Apple got around to doing so? Probably. But in any case it looks like Microsoft is now going to attempt to rewrite history by claiming that it, and not Apple, invented the iPod. Don't worry, though, as even most die-hard Windows users are fully aware that any story containing the words "Microsoft" and "invent" must be total crap, so there's little chance of anyone falling for this rather desperate bit of last-ditch nonsense on Microsoft's part, long after it already lost the digital music market to Apple."

"Lately, I've written extensively about Apple Computer's moves in the connected home, and certainly some of the company's well-designed products - especially its best-selling iPod - are hits with users. But as much as Apple's fans would love to believe that one company can go it alone against a consortium of consumer electronics and PC industry titans, both history and current events tell us otherwise. In other words, I've got bad news for Apple: Unless you make some changes, and quickly, you've already lost the game."

"Yesterday, Macworld UK cited a report by Strategy Analytics that basically says music phones suck when compared to the iPod. Read them for yourself, as I’ve never worked for Cliffs Notes, but I think you’ll find that’s the gist of the report. I have yet to use a cell phone/mp3 player, so I can’t really say how accurate this report is, but my first impression was still, “No duh!” Why should a cell phone/pda/mp3 player be as good at playing music as say, oh, I don’t know, a product designed solely to play music?"

"As anyone who has ever spent time meticulously cleaning out fine grains of sand from their camera or has tested the compatibility of their cell phone with a toilet will tell you, the inherent problem with portable electronics is that their go-anywhere convenience compels you to take them places they sometimes don't belong.

"Enter the Lili mini from Eroch Studios and the OtterBox for iPod mini from Otter Products. Both waterproof cases are designed to shield your iPod mini from virtually any environment you may subject it to, but the cases takes a slightly different approach to accomplishing their purpose."