Apple filing hints at remote iTunes access via iPhone
A forthcoming Apple software update could enable iPhone and iPod touch users to remotely access their home computer's entire iTunes media library without traditional synchronization, according to a new filing uncovered by AppleInsider. The 24-page United States Patent and Trademark Office filing, credited to Apple employees David Heller and Thomas Mavrakakis, notes that at present, downloading media items from a computer to a media player is a time-consuming process limited by the device's storage capacity; new versions of iTunes and the iPhone Software propose to eliminate the problem by synchronizing only the metadata, not the content itself, from iTunes to the device. The metadata--which requires only a fraction of the space necessary to store the media itself--would translate on iPhones and iPods as "virtual media items" representing playlists, videos, photos and mobile games: Instead of accessing the files directly from the device, the iPhone or iPod would employ a wired, WiFi or cellular connection to remotely access and retrieve the media items from a user's Mac or PC. "As a result, the user perceives that the virtual media items may be available on the (the media player)," the Apple filing notes. "In this manner, the virtual capacity of an electronic device may be increased."
The same protocols would enable users to manage their iTunes libraries remotely, adding and deleting files while on the move. The device will constantly monitor all processes against problems or fading signals, and pause or cancel data transfers as warranted. The Apple filing adds that the software update would also enable iPhones and iPods to communicate with one another. "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," the filing states. "Data sharing can be performed when such communication is available."
For more on the Apple patent filing:
- read this AppleInsider article
Related articles:
Rumor: Apple to launch iPhone nano
Ten million iPhone App Store downloads in first weekend
Comments (2) | Post a comment
Comments
By Stephen Chukumba | Posted 11:55am | August 8, 2008
While Apple should have offered this functionality upon the release of the iPhone, my company currently has a product that allows users to remotely access their entire iTunes library's content remotely from their iPhone or iPod Touch.
The application is called DOT.TUNES, and once the application is downloaded to a user's computer, it enables one to remotely access all the music, videos and photos stored in iTunes, without impacting any of the memory space on the device.
For anyone interested in this feature, its presently available (who knows when Apple with implement this feature), and it works like a dream. The beauty of DOT.TUNES is that we've developed a customized iPhone interface, so it looks and feels like you're in a native Apple environment.
The interface allows you to browse through your iTunes library by playlist, artist, genre, recently played, recently added, etc., and offers the ability to cover browse and turn artwork on and off (thereby reducing the load times). With the DOT.SYNC plug-in, a user's library will be synced whenever new songs are uploaded or playlists added or changed.
All in all, Apple's filing is a glimmer of hope for anyone who was looking for that functionality, but for anyone looking to take advantage of that functionality today, there's DOT.TUNES.
By Anonymous | Posted 2:06pm | August 8, 2008
Sounds like Big Brother (Apple) is going to kill your product.