Technology History: The Apple iPod

Seven years ago... Apple Computer hired Tony Fadell in early 2001 and assigns him a team of designers, programmers and hardware engineers to develop a new music player called the iPod. Fadell's business idea is to take an MP3 player, build a music sale service to complement it, and build a company around it. Apple CEO Steve Jobs was highly involved with the project since its inception and molded the device's shape, feel and design. The rest, as they say... is history.

Apple Patent for Touch Screen iPod?

Sources: CNet News & Hrmpf.com
Apple Computer has filed Patent Application #20060197750 for an iPod-like device that has a around the display and can touch-sensitive bezeltoggle between different operating states. However, there seems a scepticism on the web about designs becoming reality due to the problems of screen smudging and scratching.
The user interface seems particularly well conceived and relies on on-screen indicators of the control surface’s function. In addition to buttons the surfaces can act as scroll surfaces. The interface works by the user selecting a control to change and then, using the bottom surface to scroll, adjusting the element in real time.

Will this be the next generation iPod? Only Apple knows for sure...
Patent sketch from Hrmpf.com