Quote:
and non-portable devices don't apply


That's not actually the case. When we looked at patenting some of the empeg stuff, we were advised that if it had happened on (eg) a PC, moving such a concept to a car player was an "obvious extension". Though you may get the patent (especially in the USA, where it's relatively easy - compared to Europe - to get patents), it wouldn't be enforceable because someone could just point out that it'd been done before in another arena. In essence, you'd pay all those patent fees to get a worthless bit of paper.

The Rio Receiver had hierarchical content selection menus, based on tags, and was shown publically (though not shipped) in 2000. Depending on how you look at it, the carplayer might also apply, though the tree was user-built.

Still, it's definitely a good PR excercise for Creative!

Hugo