New Apple Patent Suggests An IPod Mobile TV is In the Works
By Chris Weiss
More Apple patent news for your mid-January Friday afternoon: Yesterday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published an interesting Apple patent that points to a future iPod that serves as DVR and mobile TV. The patent refers to iPod devices that will be able to display and record television content. They’re designed to receive programming from over-the-air television, satellite, cable TV and Internet streaming. Of course, they will also handle radio and music programming. The iPod Classic’s scroll wheel functionality will extend to change channels and other models will get a touchscreen tuner.
The patent also includes information on the ability to intuitively suggest and tune to programming based upon a user’s preferences, either user-submitted or electronically generated. This function would operate similarly to the capabilities of TiVo and other services.
Also included in the patents is an add-on device, suggesting that older iPods/iPhones may be given the ability to be fitted with a TV tuner.
If this patent turns reality, it sounds like Apple could streamline television the way that it did music. Will a new Apple mobile TV make your 2010 Christmas list? Keep an eye out. [via Patently Apple]
