Tech giant Apple has patented a new music system that has caused more speculation over whether the company will announce a cloud-based music offering for iTunes users next month.
The patent, according to Apple Insider, would sync just some parts of music onto a user’s iPhone or iPod device. Combined with a cloud-based streaming system, this would allow Apple to start playing a song, and then not make the user wait for buffering.
“When the electronic device is unaware of the next media item to play back, the electronic device can require undesired pauses between media items,” the patent reportedly states.
“Similarly, when a user skips to a different media item for playback, the electronic device can require a long pause during which no media item is played back as the new media item is streamed to the device.”
Apple is expected to launch a cloud music system next month.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
