New software would let iPhones access to iTunes libraries from anywhere
A new version of Apple's iPhone Software could provide iPhone and iPod touch users with access to their home computer's entire iTunes media library while on the go without having to first download those media items through a traditional sync, a new company filing has revealed.
The Cupertino-based electronics maker notes that downloading media items from a computer to a media player is often a time consuming process, and one that is limited by the player's storage capacity. Therefore, users who are out and about sometimes find themselves without access to some of their content, which sits inaccessible on their home Mac or PC.
New versions iTunes and the iPhone Software could theoretically eliminate this problem by syncing only the metadata -- or tiny files containing the barebones attributes of each media item or playlist but not the content itself -- from a user's iTunes library to their portable devices.
Using this metadata, iPhones and iPods would contain "virtual media items" representing every playlist, video, photo, and mobile game stored on their computer, even if the sum of those files would ordinarily be too large to fit onto the devices' hard disk drive or flash drive. This is possible because metadata capable of representing a media item consumes only faction -- typically less than 1 percent -- of the space required to store the media item itself.
"As a result, the user perceives that the virtual media items may be available on the [the media player]," Apple said. "In this manner, the virtual capacity of an electronic device may be increased."
Users would select virtual media items for display or playback on their handhelds just as they would today under the assumption that the entire contents of the file sit on the device for immediate playback. But instead of accessing the files from the device's built-in storage, the iPhone or iPod would use a wired, Wi-Fi, or cellular connection to remotely access and retrieve the media items from a user's home Mac or PC.
"For instance, a personal computer can be turned on and connected to the Internet to enable a portable device to access the media items stored on the personal computer," Apple said, adding that the files could then delete themselves from the portable device once the user is done listening to or viewing them.
Through similar techniques, users could also manage their iTunes libraries remotely, reorganizing, deleting, or adding files while on the go. During all of these processes, the condition of the handheld's connection to a host source would be under constant surveillance to detect problems or a fading signal, at which time data transfer could be safely paused or stopped.
Alternatively, iPods and iPhones could communicate with one another in a manner similar to that employed by Microsoft's Zune media players.
"This type of communication can be referred to as peer-to-peer interaction. In this regard, one mobile device can communicate directly with another mobile device" or " to a plurality of other mobile devices," Apple said. "In the peer-to-peer environment, one mobile device can communicate with one or more other electronic devices (whether mobile or stationary) in the immediate vicinity. Data sharing can be performed when such communication is available."
The 24-page filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office is credited to Apple employees David Heller and Thomas Mavrakakis.
The Cupertino-based electronics maker notes that downloading media items from a computer to a media player is often a time consuming process, and one that is limited by the player's storage capacity. Therefore, users who are out and about sometimes find themselves without access to some of their content, which sits inaccessible on their home Mac or PC.
New versions iTunes and the iPhone Software could theoretically eliminate this problem by syncing only the metadata -- or tiny files containing the barebones attributes of each media item or playlist but not the content itself -- from a user's iTunes library to their portable devices.
Using this metadata, iPhones and iPods would contain "virtual media items" representing every playlist, video, photo, and mobile game stored on their computer, even if the sum of those files would ordinarily be too large to fit onto the devices' hard disk drive or flash drive. This is possible because metadata capable of representing a media item consumes only faction -- typically less than 1 percent -- of the space required to store the media item itself.
"As a result, the user perceives that the virtual media items may be available on the [the media player]," Apple said. "In this manner, the virtual capacity of an electronic device may be increased."
Users would select virtual media items for display or playback on their handhelds just as they would today under the assumption that the entire contents of the file sit on the device for immediate playback. But instead of accessing the files from the device's built-in storage, the iPhone or iPod would use a wired, Wi-Fi, or cellular connection to remotely access and retrieve the media items from a user's home Mac or PC.
"For instance, a personal computer can be turned on and connected to the Internet to enable a portable device to access the media items stored on the personal computer," Apple said, adding that the files could then delete themselves from the portable device once the user is done listening to or viewing them.
Through similar techniques, users could also manage their iTunes libraries remotely, reorganizing, deleting, or adding files while on the go. During all of these processes, the condition of the handheld's connection to a host source would be under constant surveillance to detect problems or a fading signal, at which time data transfer could be safely paused or stopped.
Alternatively, iPods and iPhones could communicate with one another in a manner similar to that employed by Microsoft's Zune media players.
"This type of communication can be referred to as peer-to-peer interaction. In this regard, one mobile device can communicate directly with another mobile device" or " to a plurality of other mobile devices," Apple said. "In the peer-to-peer environment, one mobile device can communicate with one or more other electronic devices (whether mobile or stationary) in the immediate vicinity. Data sharing can be performed when such communication is available."
The 24-page filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office is credited to Apple employees David Heller and Thomas Mavrakakis.
Comments
If it does happen, they would probably restrict it for use on a WiFi connection, just like the Music store.
I've been predicting this for more than a year. Think of it as a portable Apple TV.
I have been doing the poor man's version of this for a while, by placing MP3s in my gmail account, and accessing them via the mobile browser...
not very efficient, my method
Maybe they want to put those 3G ship in all those future mac's, imac, macbook(pro) etc
Then also a homebrew chipset would make some sense...
Then the MobileMe environment would make sense also don't you think ?
Plus adding mobile versions of iMovie, iCal, etc. (and that made possible by the next iphone with a stronger cpu made by pa semi)
And a new mac-tablet that features a 3G chip also...
Just making new (mobile ready) macs in the future and software that is adapted to those platforms
making snowloepard paving the way and 10.6 taking the crowne !
that's my rough idea about it
As a stockholder, I like seeing Apple hold back features for YEARS - and keep people coming back for upgrades. As a user it drives me crazy.
I don't question Apple on this too much. I think it helps preserve their delicate placement as a premium brand. MS puts the first Zune out with the ability to 'squirt' songs peer to peer. Nobody cares. If Apple did it we'd see it on the front page of the NYT.
Time after time Apple shows their conservative side, taking their time, making you want it, building up the hype, building up the demand. Everyone else rushes half-baked crap to market. Apple is slowly building the whole system for home media. It's impressive.
I'd definitely pay for this. Even better if it's part of MobileMe.
It would have to be part of MobileMe. That would also mean that Back to My Mac would need to work seamlessly for everyone first. My current ADSL configuration makes me jump through hoops to get it kind of working, and not even all the time.
Maybe all this content should be stored in the cloud using mobileMe, as someone suggested.
By the time they get the new software out, maybe storage costs will make it conveniente for Apple to increase the MobileMe allowance to 50 GB. That would make the whole thing feasible. Including, maybe, actual remote file access from iPhone/iPod touch. (The MacBook Air might take advantage of something like that too.)
There are some major problems with telekinesis that an actual iPhone applications would solve. I have been waiting for apple to make a telekinesis like application almost since the first iPhone's release.
Although Apple may not want to carry the server traffic, this download/sync is analogous "buying" the track through the iTunes Store every time you access it and only paying for it the first time.
I guess the traffic is the difference.
Sound like the software 'nuTsie'
http://www.nutsie.com
or Simplify Media which has been submitted to Apple and is coming to the AppStore.
I definitely don't see how Apple can get a a patent on this one.
During all of these processes, the condition of the handheld's connection to a host source would be under constant surveillance to detect problems or a fading signal, at which time data transfer could be safely paused or stopped.
Somehow "constant surveillance" of connection quality doesn't sound conducive of good battery life.
I still hope that Apple allows Airdisks on Base Stations and Time Capsules to act as a media store for iTunes. That would eliminate duplicate libraries on my computers, and allow streaming to iPhones without keeping the computer on all the time.
Simplify Media does this quite nice for my music. I use it to stream my music to my work pc!
This is already available via PSP and PS3 as well. Not exactly a ground breaking idea.
I'll be a little surprised if they make this a part of MobileMe. It would be pretty easy to build right into iTunes, thus making it accessible to everyone. It would also be a stand-out feature which could inspire greater sales.
I don't question Apple on this too much. I think it helps preserve their delicate placement as a premium brand. MS puts the first Zune out with the ability to 'squirt' songs peer to peer. Nobody cares. If Apple did it we'd see it on the front page of the NYT.
I don't think Apple has any interest in replicating what MS did with the Zune's squirting of what are essentially advertisements of songs that then vanish after a few plays or a few days.
What's probably more likely for P2P communications with other iPhone/iPod touch users is music sharing, not music sending. It'd be just like iTunes music sharing between computers on the same network. This would be faster and more power efficient than sending the actual files back and fourth and of course, you'd only be limited by your distance from the person you're sharing with.
I don't know if Apple could then expand that so you could share your music with others through the internet long-distance. They could surely allow users to stream/share their own music off their computers at home as the new software patent describes, but I'm not sure if the RIAA would be ok with long-distance sharing of other peoples' music.