“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 [patent application] has revealed,” Katie Marsal reports for AppleInsider.
“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,” Marsal reports. “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… 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,” Marsal reports. “Through similar techniques, users could also manage their iTunes libraries remotely, reorganizing, deleting, or adding files while on the go.”
More in the full article here.
Can’t wait for all the extra Safari crashes, sluggishness, hard reboots and overall instability that comes with -that- software update.
Thank you, R2. Good stuff.
The Zune will have this capability too.
Your potential. Our passion.™
Finally…
I’ve wondered since the iPhone came out why I can’t Bonjour my library to my iPhone.
Dunno, R2;
Safari has become more stable, general responsiveness has improved, and I wasn’t even aware that iPhones could be hard booted- The only restarts I’ve ever done were *for* system updates…
Ever think it might be you?
Anywho…
The idea of accessing the 60+GB in my iTunes library sounds AWESOME to me, bring it on!
Thank you, R2. Dream On.
The Zune will have this capability too, when another company buys all the OVERSTOCK.COM Zunes for sale and fixes all the problems that Microsoft PASSION has produced.
Your potential. Our Blunder.™
‘Back to my Mac’ for the iPhone to view all iTunes songs, podcasts, movies, etc while at home (via Bonjour) and away (via 3G)? Sort of like a SlingBox on steroids? Cool…
still want to control Keynote with my iPhone. Not all of us are fortunate enough to have a MBP with accompanying remote.
Just let us turn our iPhones into the little white remote. Call it
“Little White Remote”.app
Oh, and an apple written remote desktop. . . . .
k thanks
I agree with R2, this iPhone OS is one buggy piece of crap.
Even with 2.0.1, I still get regular crashes.
And I am probably Apple’s Number 1 fan, love ’em to bits. But regardless, as it is now, the iPhone is not ready for primetime.
My $0.02
Jamie,
I agree. Love Apple. I’m not going to pretend crap smells like roses. Although, it’s not crap exactly . . . . . it’s just not “1.x.” For Apple’s standards, it’s mediocre.
Kinna feel like somewhere, his Steveness, is sitting there saying “I told you so” (about opening it up for 3rd party apps). After all, we the people, asked for it. My phone always runs like it’s in need of a restart. 1Gen phone was not like that.
Bunsen,
I know exactly what you mean. I’m apprehensive about showing my iPhone to people, because I’m afraid it’ll just crash or restart or (most likely) restart to the Apple logo and go no further.
I’m going on holiday tomorrow for 2 weeks, and I had plans to leave my MacBook at home and just have my “2nd Mac” (iPhone) in my pocket and use that (with VNC App so I can still access my Macs).
But I am going to take my MacBook because there’s a high chance that my iPhone will crap out again and I’ll have no choice but to perform yet another DSU Restore. I just hope my villa has wi-fi so iTunes can re-activate my iPhone after it is restored…
It’s just left such a bitter taste in my mouth. And I know I’m not alone. I have friends who work at an Apple Store and although they don’t say anything to customers, after a few pints they start to talk… and it is not good news as far as they’re concerned, they’ve been told to simply swap broken iPhones for new ones, no questions asked, and the broken ones are being sent away to be examined… it certainly makes you wonder what is actually wrong with this iPhone OS.
Sorry Apple, but you need to let your customers know what is happening. Why are my backups taking 3+ hours, only to turn out to be ‘corrupt’ when I try to restore from it? Why does my iPhone crash so damn much, and I mean literally 5-6 times a day I’ll have a crash, restart etc. etc.
Nothing but whiners and grousers here. Without knowing anyone’s credentials (or jailbreaking penchants), who’s to say what’s wrong with your devices? As a long-time troubleshooter of Mac hardware and software, it is astonishing to see what novices and powerusers alike often do to screw up their systems.
Had my iPhone 3G since it was released, and not one crash, not one hiccup, not one anomaly. My wife’s phone had to be reset (an extremely simple task) to restore “tones” (on 1, 7, and 9) to her dialing keypad . . . but that has been it for her, as well.
This site and Apple’s discussion boards are filled with people who simply MUST believe that all of their crossed stars are Apple’s fault–not theirs. It has been my experience over the past 25 years that most computing troubles (certainly not all) begin AT HOME, not in Cupertino. Yes, even for hackers/powerusers. Especially for them, actually.
Just my $2.00.
Get back in your bubble Randian, before it bursts.
@ Bunsen Honeydew,
You can control keynote with your iPhone as a remote control device. Go to App Store and get Stage Hand for 7.99.
Jamie=whiner.
@iWill
Thanks dude. Have not been to the (app)store lately. Should have looked before I posted.
(is there an easy button on this site?)
@Radian the Canadian
Call it whining call it reporting. Tomato Toemotto.
Apple seeds updates to testers all the time. Why test if problems don’t originate in Cupertino? Apply relies on feed back. Are the testers whiners too?
Having said that, obviously users cause problems. Just don’t sit there all pious and tell everyone what a damn expert you are and therefore you don’t experience problems.
Your logic is that experts don’t face problems. Sounds nice. What about the problems that experts have? Your logic is like microsoft security.
iPhone expert:
• Restore
• Hold the home button
• Hold the home & power button
• Power off
Exotic!
That problems exist and performance lags (compared to iPhone 1.x) in spite of this set of expert tools suggests problems are a result of more than user error – in it’s varied forms.
Also, complaining about complainers = whining, so . . . . .
Mr. Kettle, Mr. Black. Black, Kettle.
Game. Set. Match.
With each passing day, M$ looks more and more dated.
What would be really cool would be the ability to do this with general documents.
“Oh crap, I forgot that shopping list on the iMac. Let’s see, just bring up the iPhone, hit “Back to My Mac”, submit a spotlight search, oh there it is! View.
“Mr. Kettle, Mr. Black. Black, Kettle.”
You really need Pot instead.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot_calling_the_kettle_black)
Mr. Black is an overrated comic actor with a limited range.
FreddyThePig you said “VNC App” (It) ranks #1 in crashing iPhone.”
Where did you get that information please? I have other suspect programs I’d like to know about, thanks.