@ desktop:

Apple is on a patent binge. Patents don't necessarily lead to products. But they can lead to lawsuits for infringement of ideas that will *never* be used by their creators. Just ask RIM.

(Side note: Some eejit is suing Apple for hearing loss "casued" by his iPod. I hope someone does some investigation to see if Sony was ever thusly sued over the Walkman. And what the Walkman's max volume is/was vs iPod's.)