Suppose you look up the new Batman soundtrack on Amazon.com. You decide to think it over, and keep surfing. A page or two later, a link to the soundtrack of another new movie, War of the Worlds, shows up on the left side of your screen.

By watching shopping habits, Amazon has learned that many people interested in one product are also interested in the other. They figure you might feel the same way -- and so they give you a little nudge.

This week, Amazon received the latest in a series of patents for this basic idea: That the preferences of shoppers can be recorded and used to make recommendations for other shoppers. Patenting an obvious business concept like this does not sit well with some others in e-commerce.

Guest: Chris Cleveland, CEO of search technology company Dieselpoint, who wants to know: "When will this stupidity end?"

Amazon did not return a call to discuss its new patent on so-called "product viewing histories." It is worth pointing out that the actual Amazon patent of what some see as a simple business concept is 37 pages long. (Jeff Horwich guest-hosts.)

Elsewhere:

"Apple adds director of podcasts to iTunes lineup" (San Jose Mercury News)

"Cows milk benefits of stem cells" (Wired News)

"Indian firms striving for the $100 computer" (CNet's News.com)