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Apple Countersues Creative

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

May 19, 2006, 12:39 PM

Creative may have opened a can of worms with its lawsuit against rival Apple. On the same day it sued the Cupertino company over the so-called "Zen Patent," Apple countersued in a Wisconsin District Court claiming Creative's digital players infringe on four of its own patents. Apple holds nearly an 8-to-1 margin in sales of its player over its smaller rival.

While Creative remained tight-lipped about its own suit, it said it was shocked by the countersuit by Apple. "Creative proactively held discussions with Apple in our efforts to explore amicable solutions," Phil O'Shaughnessy, a spokesman for Creative, told the International Herald Tribune. "At no time during these discussions or at any other time did Apple mention to us the patents it raised in its lawsuit."

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By tscar12

edited May 21, 2006 - 1:58 PM

Lol...thank you all for making me laugh. reading this insane fighting along with a beer is just what the doctor ordered. Of course my doctor is related to Dr. "Feelgood" who keep JFK high on pills and speed but as they say do as your doctor orders.

Score: 0

By xprizex

edited May 20, 2006 - 7:04 PM

Welcome to Court Betting "Apple vs. Creative". It works just like Sports Betting except it's only for corporate law suits. Right now Apple is the favorite @ 14 to 1. Place your bets, min. bet $20 max. bet $5000. (odds may change without notice)

Score: 0

By dvferret

posted May 22, 2006 - 4:58 PM

Whooah, watch out folks, odds now updated to 1 to 9 favoring Creative. :p

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By superdragonpoop

posted May 20, 2006 - 11:15 PM

I'll go with $5000 on Creative for the win. I don't have much to base it on other than apples are yummy and they need to be eaten. Do you like Fuji apples? They're my favorite.

Score: 0

By dvferret

posted May 22, 2006 - 4:59 PM

superdragonpoop, RIGHT ON!!!!! lol Creative all the way. Apples are good to eat.

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By xprizex

posted May 22, 2006 - 7:10 PM

I don't really care much for apples, ever since that whole Adam and Eve thing. Apple just seems like trouble to me, I'll just stick to oranges:-) lol

Score: 0

By 113David

posted May 20, 2006 - 10:18 AM

Hahahaha see Creative... start talking smack and you get what you give. As a company I can't believe how whiney Creative is lol

Score: 0

By cranbers

edited May 19, 2006 - 9:39 PM

Ah well what did you expect. They are very close to the same thing anyway. I mean other then the wheel and interface apply reall is just like every other player out there. Creative is not exactly doing so well and is grabbing at straws. The only problem the straws ended up being electric cables and well, they are in a little bit more trouble then they thought, not to mention they bit off a little more then they could chew. I have no doubt creative gets buried for this.

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By fewt

posted May 19, 2006 - 8:40 PM

21st century capitalism in action.

heh

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted May 21, 2006 - 12:17 AM

Yeah, I swear...

It's like they've never read the Rules of Aquisition.

Silly hoo-mans.

Score: 0

By Black-Wolf

posted May 19, 2006 - 8:27 PM

big fights over 2 giants!! hoho!

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By zridling

posted May 19, 2006 - 6:59 PM

Anyone else noticed that Tech news has now become nothing more than a court docket on who has filed the latest suit?

Patents. Judges. Predator capitalism. Oy.

Score: 0

By unholy

edited May 19, 2006 - 3:13 PM

Apple must die!

Score: 0

By Spongy

posted May 19, 2006 - 11:51 PM

Then where would Microsoft get their ideas?

Score: 0

By klingon379

posted May 20, 2006 - 2:41 AM

If memory serves, Microsoft attempted to develop an OS code named Cairo that would have had the same graphics capabilities as Mac OS X long before Apple thought up their OS.

There's a reason Microsoft waited so long to release an OS like Windows Vista. At the time Windows 9x, 2000 and XP were being developed most computers couldn't even support the basic Aero interface in Vista let alone Aero Glass.

Now, 90% of computers in use fully support the basic Aero interface in Vista, while the other 10% support the additional Glass effects as well.

Score: 0

By M.Sweazey

edited May 20, 2006 - 7:12 PM

Just out of curiousity, where in the hell do you guys get this stuff? Do you just make it up?

Let's see, Cairo was to be the shining capstone of what was to be Windows NT 5 - you know, the OS that was SOOOO delayed that to avoid the bad press it was again renamed Windows 2000! And the single biggest adavance in Windows NT 5 was going to be its object-oriented transformation of storage - a fully documented vision called Cairo.

It is easy to imagine a storage model that combined the the querying capabilities of a database, the granular interface of an object-oriented language and the power of associating work items with calendar activities that Outlook dreams of providing. This would do more to improve the productivity of real people in real situations than any amount of Aero Glass eye candy!

But Vista, as we enter the 2nd decade since talk began of Cairo in November 1995 STILL WON'T OFFER THAT!

And let's see...1995...yep, the Mac still hadn't been developed yet! This site is a waste of time if you seek any kind of hard accurate intormation.

So, obviously, memory doesn't serve!

Score: 0

By 3pointshot

posted May 21, 2006 - 8:20 AM

Depending on what flavor of the OS or hardware you're refering to, the Mac was developed in... 1984!!!
You're right about that "accurate info" thing!!!!

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By 113David

posted May 20, 2006 - 10:20 AM

Yeah... ATTEMPTED

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By PC_Tool

posted May 20, 2006 - 1:03 PM

And your point?

Score: 0

By Gerwin

posted May 20, 2006 - 6:02 PM

They just can't. Windows is for morons who believe that shiny=usable.
The usablility of OSX is not in it's look, but in how it works. That's why even Linux's new shiny interface is a failure already and Vista shiny interface is no better than windows95, just more...shiny. They just don't get it, so they have to keep copying the shinyness. And suckers like you keep buying it. LOL

Score: 0

By superdragonpoop

posted May 20, 2006 - 11:00 PM

If Macs had half of the software that Windows has, then maybe I'd be using it. The fact is it doesn't. I'll have to take your word on the usability of OSX because the last time I used a mac was about 10 years ago. It had a one button mouse (and as I understand it you can still enable this functionality if you so wish in your OS of choice) and crashed more than my windows box.

Pardon me for actually wanting to use my PC for something other than just posting on Betanews. Pardon me while I go play Battlefield 2, yet another thing you can't do on a Mac.

Score: 0

By M.Sweazey

edited May 22, 2006 - 2:20 AM

I get a kick out of these folks still fighting the 'which OS is better' issue.

But what has become painfully apparent is just where these folks are really coming from.

Yes, there are more of some types of programs for Windows. But tell me, we have heard this same diatribe for almost 20 years, but just how many spreadsheets do you use? Does it matter that Windows has umpteen of them? And why do the Mac people seem to be pretty productive while not complaining about missing so many of these programs. And don't they have easy access to them if they desire them - especially now? So whats the point?

Seems to me from my experience, that the only reason you need Windows is simply for compatibility with those folks whose world view is limited to Windows only products.

And games - ah! games! This is where we really discover the nature of the folks whining about other platforms! These are the wannabes who fantasize being hot stuff in combat sims who haven't ever served in the military where they might have had the opportunity to really encounter the real thing! And sorry, kids, none of them measure up to any aspect of what situations like VietNam, Panama, Grenada, Bosnia or Iraq presented. And I don't give a damn if you agreed with the politics or not - all that is simply noise compared to the reality! But fantasize away! Gee, just think what you have to look forward to after puberty! Isn't it great to listen to such world weary kids in their teens and 20's - most of who still aren't out of school or whose IT expertise is limited to selling CDs or reloading Windows in a BestBuy.

And the most obvious thing that displays this world view is the idea that Windows runs the big programs in the enterprise back-office - where 64 bit has been the rule since 1997! And Windows gained 64 bit capabilities when? Oh - and that last guy evidently thought the Mac was developed after 1995 (you know - after the vaporware known as Cairo!).
Funny, other platforms have been 32/64bit for 10+ years now, and Windows occupies a small niche there! And just how many processors does Windows support?

And now, we get to listen to someone whine about a one button mouse and claim to have oh so much experience with the Mac 10 years ago! Why do I get the feeling that this was when he was in 2nd grade!? The Mac has always been able to use the 3 button mouse! It just doesn't come bundled with it! And quite frankly, for all of Apple's prowess in system design, their keyboard and hockey puck mouse suck and SHOULD be tossed! But thats' MY personal view, and if someone else likes them and they suit their purposes, fine! That doesn't threaten me!

And regarding the Mac crashing...obviously this guy is full of #$@%! Even if I wanted to trash the Mac I couldn't make this claim with a straight face! 10 years ago we were using the Macs exclusively as front ends for the Cray and RS6000s for use in 3D volumetric imaging projects with programs like Spyglass Transform and Dicer that the PCs simply couldn't handle. And the total Mac hangs and crashes over a 5 year period totalled less then what I encounter on my XP workstation in a week! And I shouldn't even mention the RS6000SP complexes that we routinely have up without ANY crashes and ONLY bring down once or twice a year - not because we have to, but only because there is a scheduled maintenance window. Oh, really!?

And what must really confuse the MS fanboys out there is the irony that I am not even griping about Windows! Except to say that there are some very nice alternatives available, and any developments that make them more accessible to more people who desire them, that's an advancement.

So, if you want to talk real cases, and discuss real issues, fine, but this fallacious hype and emotional nonsense gets old really fast, and its easy to see why this board is just a large virtual restroom stall wall instead of a forum for actual discussion that just might lead to greater understanding...

Score: 0

By 3pointshot

posted May 21, 2006 - 8:28 AM

Not counting games, how much of that SOFTWARE do you really use???

Score: 0

By iced

posted May 20, 2006 - 8:31 PM

NT, 2000, XP, Vists IS NOT 95!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited May 20, 2006 - 7:47 PM

And suckers like you keep buying it.

You assume 2 things there, incorrectly.

1.) You assume I've purchased any version of Windows..

I have not. Windows 95, I got from work. Windows NT and 2000 I got from attending tech conferences. Windows XP I got with a PC.

2.) You assume I believe Windows is more usable than Mac OS X.

I do not. I believe Mac is more logical and intuitive unless you are coming from windows and learned the wrong way to do things.

Score: 0

By SorenMD

posted May 19, 2006 - 4:04 PM

Apple is growing in makert share every minute.

LONG LIVE APPLE!

Score: 0

By fewt

posted May 19, 2006 - 6:16 PM

LOL

Sure they are, they have been at 3.something% for what 10 years?

Score: 0

By Spongy

posted May 19, 2006 - 11:53 PM

114,000 viruses...you made the right choice, genius.

Score: 0

By fewt

posted May 20, 2006 - 5:46 AM

wtf are you talking about?

114,000 viruses are a Windows thing not a Mac thing.

If you think I am a "Windows guy" you haven't been here long. :-P

Score: 0

By iced

posted May 20, 2006 - 8:32 PM

because windows can do more and is so much more flexible

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted May 21, 2006 - 12:22 AM

Flexible?

Can one flavor of Windows or Mac be used as either a Domain Controller, Web Server, CAD Station, Mail Server, Media Server, Database server, Hardware Router, Gateway, Data entry terminal, POS device...etc?

Can it be used on a PC, Mac, Sparc, PS2, xbox, iPod, toaster?

No?

Then it's not flexible.

(PS: Linux can do *all* of those things and more)

Or did you mean something else by 'flexible'?

Perhaps you should be a tad more specific next time you wanna play with the big boys.

No offense, of course. ;)

Score: 0

By fewt

posted May 21, 2006 - 10:38 PM

"Can one flavor of Windows or Mac be used as either a Domain Controller, Web Server, CAD Station, Mail Server, Media Server, Database server, Hardware Router, Gateway, Data entry terminal, POS device...etc?"

Not just one flavor, but one flavor and all on the same box. heh

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted May 22, 2006 - 8:58 AM

Not just one flavor, but one flavor and all on the same box. heh

To clear up confusion: To which OS are you referring? Windows, or Mac?

*grin*

Score: 0

By fewt

posted May 22, 2006 - 9:56 AM

uhh - Linux.

heh

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted May 22, 2006 - 11:32 AM

Well then...

I guess I can't argue with that. ;)

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted May 20, 2006 - 7:48 PM

Yeah, he's our resident Linux fanatic. ;)

Score: 0

By lil2short2see

posted May 19, 2006 - 3:39 PM

LONG LIVE APPLE!

Score: 0

By kholdstare

posted May 19, 2006 - 12:53 PM

that actully would be an intreasting website and have a section called the most dumbest cases of the day :)

Score: 0

By Skyfrog

posted May 19, 2006 - 12:48 PM

"Sue you, sue me. Sue me for always, that's the way it should be"

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted May 20, 2006 - 1:03 PM

My ears hurt.

Please stop.

Score: 0

By rijp

edited May 19, 2006 - 2:20 PM

Umm.. Lionel Ritchie's lawyers will be contacting you shortly..

not to mention that was just a really bad rendition..

Score: 0

By Skyfrog

posted May 20, 2006 - 5:10 PM

Sorry but parody is protected under the law, even if it's a really really bad one. :P

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted May 20, 2006 - 7:48 PM

Nah, I think that one counts as libel.

Score: 0

By ogman

posted May 19, 2006 - 10:20 PM

I'm sure the RIAA will think of a way to get to him, too.

Score: 0

By rijp

posted May 19, 2006 - 12:47 PM

We need a new website:

sueorbesued.com

We can discuss who is getting sued and by whom. Sue me? Well double-dumb sue on you!

Score: 0

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