A new patent application may be hinting at Apple’s interest in supporting iPod and iPhone add-on accessories capable of streaming audio and video.
Attaching directly to a device, the accessory will be able to receive transmitted signals including AM,FM,HD or satellite radio, TV standards such as cable, satellite, over-the-air or IPTV. via iPodNN.
The add-ons have been reported to come in several possible forms, ranging from a simple portable plug-in to more complex options like a dock, stereo or all out computer. The key technology that Apple is describing in the patent is the concept of a “tag” button, that would allow users to pull metadata on whatever it is that they are receiving, be it an artist or track for a song, or title, episode or actor for a TV show…etc. This information can even utilize GPS support to supply location-based information.
When “tags” are synced to a device, the add-on accessory could then supply information that could be used in other circumstances, say for online shopping or to generate personalized web pages.
“Apple’s hardware concept bears some resemblance to an upcoming PacketVideo product called the PV, which should be able to attach to the iPhone and iPod touch to deliver TV by converting WiMAX TV broadcasts into regular Wi-Fi signals.”
