Apple Computer is trying to patent the interface for its iPod music player.
In a patent application 20040055446, published Thursday, Apple describes a graphical user interface "and methods of use thereof in a multimedia player." The patent application refers to a hierarchically ordered graphical user interface and lists Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs as one of three inventors, along with Jeffrey L. Robbin and Timothy Wasko.
Robbin was the primary author of SoundJam, the MP3 player to which Apple bought the rights in early 2000 as it sought to make up for lost ground in digital music after it underestimated demand for CD-RW drives. Robbin moved to Apple with the acquisition and later took a lead role on the company's iTunes music download service. Wasko worked with Jobs at Next before moving back to Apple after Jobs took up the post of interim CEO (and later CEO).
This is not the first time Apple has tried to stop others from copying its interfaces.
Aided by continued strong sales of its iPod digital music player, Apple Computer on Wednesday posted second-quarter sales and earnings that topped expectations.
For the quarter ended March 27, the Mac maker said it earned $46 million, or 12 cents per share, on revenue of $1.91 billion. That compares with earnings of $14 million, or 4 cents per share, on revenue of $1.48 billion for the same quarter a year earlier.
Wednesday's results included a restructuring charge of $7 million. Excluding this charge, net profit for the quarter would have been $53 million, or 14 cents per share, well ahead of both analysts' estimates and the company's own forecast. (snip)
The Cupertino, Calif.-based company had another record quarter for its iPod digital music player, selling 807,000 of the devices. It sold 749,000 Mac desktops and laptops, up 5 percent from the same quarter a year earlier.
"Apple had a great quarter, with 29 percent revenue growth and 200 percent earnings-per-share growth, year over year," CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement. ^ - iPod helps Apple earnings sing(News.com) http://news.com.com/2100-1047-5191631.html