iTunes

Apple Insider has spotted a a newly released patent filed by Apple back in late 2007 that shows volume controls that can be integrated into various Web browsers. Described as a way to control "audio signals which may or may not be welcomed by the user" the patent depicts a new panel that sits in the top, right-hand corner of a user's browser and allows per-site controls over incoming audio signals. There's also a mute button that can cut out just the sounds from the browser entirely while leaving sound from other desktop applications untouched.

According to the patent, the key goal is to add a volume control overlay over sites that do not provide it, as well as a system that will remember the user's preferences between browsing sessions. This would be useful in Flash-heavy sites where the controls may be hidden away, or entirely absent. It would also let users create custom sound profiles, so you could have YouTube videos on your computer at work always start out at a low volume level, or your Internet alarm clock site always play at 100 percent.

The patent also describes situations where users can create specific rules that will change how audio can be played back based on whatever other applications are running. So you could theoretically set it to mute all your browser audio only when you're listening to music in iTunes, or using an audio-centric application like Skype, then bring the sound back as soon as you're not getting audio output from those applications. Apple has done something similar on the iPhone by interrupting music when you're getting a phone call, or slightly lowering the volume on notification sounds when you're using other apps.

What makes this patent filing notable is that it's not just for Safari, and is listed as being applicable to multiple browsers, which means it could either be a part of an upcoming OS or as a standalone application. As the usual disclaimer goes though, patents are often filed for technologies that never make it to market.

I've embedded the entire patent after the page break. (Thanks to Patents.com and Scribd for that.)

Update: Several readers have pointed out that Windows Vista has had a similar feature since its release called Volume Mixer that lets you pick out the maximum volume level for each application. However it's worth noting that in Apple's proposed implementation, the user would be able to control it on a per-site basis. … Read more

Silicon Alley Insider is reporting that a dedicated Hulu application is indeed on its way to the iPhone and should be here in just a few months.

SAI says the application will work over Wi-Fi and AT&T's 3G network, meaning that users will be able to view programming anywhere with a fast data connection.

Rumors suggesting that an iPhone-friendly version of Hulu swirled around this time last year, however, they predated the launch of the App Store, and Hulu flat-out denied that one was being worked on.

This time around, though, it's far more plausible, with … Read more

In January, Apple announced that all songs in the iTunes Store would be free from DRM. As part of the announcement, the company said that previous DRM-encumbered purchases would be upgradeable to DRM-free versions, with a higher bitrate as well. This isn't just a point of principle with me--I have a Zune player that automatically adds all the songs in my iTunes library, including AAC files, but which cannot see or play DRM-protected songs.

Today, while doing some shopping for songs I love but don't own (or have only on--gasp--cassette, which I can't digitize because of the … Read more

Correction 5:15 p.m. PDT: This story initially misstated the author of the letter where quoted. It is the Free Press.

An advocacy group on Friday called on the Federal Communications Commission to require wireless carriers to allow consumers access to Skype via smartphones, as well as the ability to connect their devices to the Internet through tethering applications on their cell phones.

The Free Press, in a letter to acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps, expressed concern that wireless carriers were not abiding by the FCC's Internet Policy Statement.

Earlier this week, eBay's Skype made a VoIP … Read more

According to a report in today's Los Angeles Times, Apple's iTunes Music Store will begin offering variable pricing for single-song downloads, raising the price of the most popular tracks to $1.29 while lowering the price of other tracks to $0.69. (CNET's Greg Sandoval broke the original story when Apple announced this variable pricing plan back in January.) Some industry players quoted in the story point out that raising prices in the worst economy since the 1930s doesn't make much sense--especially since, as I've pointed out many times in the past, iTunes competes with … Read more

A clause in the Apple/developer agreement for the App Store, if enforced, could put a financial pinch on developers.

As any App Store developer knows, Apple gets a 30 percent take of every sale made from its store--if an application sells for $10, the developer gets $7 and Apple gets $3. While some argue it's a hefty share for basically being a distributor, the fee includes advertising and access to Apple's loyal user base, as well as an easy way for potential customers to find the developer.

However, TechCrunch has noticed a clause regarding refunds that it … Read more

Apple has switched on its Genius recommendation engine for videos, two weeks after releasing the latest version of iTunes (download for Windows and Mac) without the promised feature.

iLounge spotted the new Genius feature, which recommends movies or television shows you might be interested in purchasing from the iTunes Store based on your current video library. Apple unveiled a similar feature for music last year, but one notable difference with the video version is that it only seems to work with videos that have been purchased from Apple, according to iLounge's early testing.

When iTunes 8.1 shipped earlier … Read more

Updated at 7:33 a.m. PST with clarification from Apple iTunes Web site.

A new feed has popped up on Twitter within the last week that links directly with Apple's iTunes trailers Web site.

The feed describes itself as providing "official trailers and theatrical content updates to Apple iTunes Trailers, Apple TV, and for the iPhone/iPod touch on Twitter."

The author of the feed responded to a question on its legitimacy this way: "Our focus is to tweet theatrical related info for our iTunes Trailers, Apple TV, and iPhone/iPod touch- that's all … Read more

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about how Seattle company Melodeo had created an iPhone application for the band Presidents of the United States of America, which delivers the band's music in a direct stream, rather than forcing users to download (and pay for) each song individually.

On Thursday at South by Southwest (SXSW), digital-marketing and distribution specialist The Orchard announced that it's adding iPhone applications to its arsenal of tools.

The Orchard handles songs from more than 14,000 acts, focusing on musicians on independent labels such as Amphetamine Reptile, Ipecac, and Lookout (just to name three … Read more