Apple Exploring HD Radio Inclusion Into iPods – What About Satellite Radio
Rumors about a relationship between HD Radio and Apple (APPL) have arisen the past, but reached a new level this week when a patent filed by Apple centered on HD Radio. The speculation is running now that this new patent has been revealed with some imagining future iPods including an HD tuner.
This is not the first time that such rumors have made their rounds. Despite the fact that large companies such as Apple often patent many things that never make it to market, if the rumor involves Apple, it will certainly make the news. Apple’s nano already offers an FM tuner, which enables users to discover new music via terrestrial radio and tag those songs for future purchase on iTunes. This new patent would take things a step further by allowing full HD service.
HD Radio is already a staple in Microsofts Zune HD, but Zune devices seem to be having diminishing market share and simply have not made the strides that fans had hoped for, even while leading the way in HD inclusion. As for satellite radio, a full blown relationship with Apple does not yet seem to be in the cards. Sirius XM (SIRI) does have apps that are available for Apple devices and the SkyDock, but that seems to be the extent of the planning at this point.
For now HD Radio seems to have a leg up on satellite, at least in terms of getting built into an Apple device.
[via AppleInsider]
Position – Long Sirius XM Radio, No Position Apple, Microsoft
“Apple to Jump on the HD Train?”
“The Internet is full of half-truths that people don’t bother to check out. The patent application under discussion was filed February 19, 2009. It clearly describes an accessory to a media player. This disclosure relates generally to radio transmissions, and more specifically to RF tuner accessories that communicate with a media player such as a portable media device. It is a follow-on patent application to HD Tagging in an RF Tuner Accessory, by the same inventors, filed December 14, 2008. That’s iTunes tagging — the radio receiver accessory and the iPhone/iPod PMD. iTunes tagging in actual hardware was introduced in January 2008 at MacWorld, and you have a year to file the patent after the first public enabling disclosure. What the later patent concerns is enhanced modes of interaction between the accessory and the PMD. It’s already on the shelf. It’s iTunes tagging.”
http://tinyurl.com/2dckcj6
Hate to break the bad news, but this was just another HD Radio hoax – this is a follow-on patent for the Gigaware accessory, and nothing more. LOL!
That is basically what I stated saying that patent does not mean anything will come to fruition. If it involves apple, it will make the rumor news.
so why did you even write such an article ?
To keep people in the loop on hat is happening in audio entertainment. Too many people keep their heads in the sand
“This new patent would take things a step further by allowing full HD service.”
Not to argue with you, but this sentence is not accurate, if you ask me, because it is just the basic Gigaware application with a few more thrills. It still only pertains to an accessory, so there is no hint of direct inclusion of HD Radio. As with all things HD Radio, this was wildly spun in the Press. The Zune HD, because it included HD Radio, was unable to be marketed outside the U.S., because HD Radio is almost nonexistent elsewhere. We all know that the Zune HD was a flop. Too bad that MS ended up having to pay iBiquity royalties for a system that simply will never work nearly as well as analog. I can’t imagine Apple ever paying anyone royalties, or confining their products to only the U.S. Besides, HD Radio is a real power-hog, runs hot, and analog chipsets with tagging are probably dirt-cheap.