Leader: Apple's patently ridiculous headphone stance

Apple today announced it has learned from its mistakes of the past and is patenting its technology far more effectively - starting with the graphical user interface of its all-conquering iPod MP3 player.

As a proud owner of a new mini-iPod (yes that was mentioned almost purely for the sake of boasting) this writer can vouch for the simplicity and ordered brilliance of the interface. The hierarchical structure makes navigating your music collection - and don't forget the biggest iPods can store a navigation-necessitating 10,000 tracks - an absolute delight and without this patent in place it would only be a matter of time before it is compromised.

Common sense says it will still more than likely be breached but at least Apple will be better positioned to seek legal recompense.

So on one hand Apple is showing good common sense but in another story today the company has revealed a more stubbornly ignorant side to its character.

"People would rather be robbed than wear something less stylish."

That was reportedly the response from Apple to calls to stop shipping the iPod solely with white headphones - which in many parts of the world positively scream 'mug me I'm carrying an iPod'.

While consumers are more than capable of buying black headphones - and blending in with the non-iPod owning 'plebs' (As Apple clearly regards them) - it is the attitude, not the idea, that really offends here.

It wouldn't be so bad if the individual who dreamed up the comment had said: "The iPod ships with white headphones - that's the way we like it and that's the way it comes. If you have a problem with that buy some other headphones".

In that case it would be easier to accept the artistic temperament (for the record, Apple's are the only devices we've seen that tell you where they were designed as well as manufactured) and consumers would know what there were getting into but the crass 'people would rather get robbed' attitude is one which anybody who has been mugged for their iPod would doubtless object to.

But isn't this Apple through and through?

The first question is never 'how will it work?' but 'how will it look?'. And as long as the answer to that second question is 'sexy' then you can bet it is a design destined for the patent office.

The fact it's patented its user interface suggests a slight shift but you can be sure the decision to do so came about long after far more important issues were resolved, such as what colours the iPod should be available in.