Apple Applies for Podcast Navigation Patent

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A new patent application from Apple Computer that describes a hierarchical menu system for navigating podcasts on an iPod surfaced on Thursday. Patent application 20060265637, Utilization Of Podcasts on Portable Media Devices, details how a user would access podcasts stored on a portable media player, and also how the metadata in a podcast file could be displayed.

The patent application defines devices that may use this system as "a portable music player, a mobile telephone or a personal digital assistant." Of course, Apple is describing any type of portable device that may be able to play podcasts, but itis possible this also hints at future product plans.


Podcast menu diagrams.

The patent was originally applied for on June 25, 2005. You can read the patent application in full at the U.S Patent Office Web site.

Thanks to ZDNet for the heads up.

Jeff Gamet

Jeff Gamet

Jeff is the Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and co-host of the Apple Context Machine podcast. He is the author of "The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X" from Peachpit Press, and writes for several design-related publications. Jeff has presented at events such as Macworld Expo, the RSA Conference, and the Mac Computer Expo. In all his spare time, he also co-hosts the We Have Communicators podcast, and makes guest appearances on several other podcasts, too. Jeff dreams in HD.

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