Apple exploring HD Radio for future iPods & iPhones

Apple Insider reports that Apple may be more interested in radio than it appeared:

A new patent application from Apple this week centers around HD Radio. The application suggests that future handsets from Apple, such as the iPod or iPhone, could embrace HD Radio technology to allow users greater flexibility when listening to broadcast media. The system describes both an external radio receiver, wirelessly transmitting audio and data to the portable device. It also suggests that such data could be shared with a stereo system in a vehicle.

Bloggers once declared that Apple would never put a radio receiver in an iPod.When one appeared in the new Nano, the pundits back-peddled a bit, but still maintained that Steve Jobs had no interest in putting receivers in other Apple products. This patent suggests otherwise.

And there's a good reason. Last September we wrote:

Make no mistake. This move was not designed to help radio. It was designed to give iTunes a revenue boost. Radio stations do share in the download revenue that tagging brings to Apple, but it probably won’t be enough to reinstated the Christmas party.

The real value to radio is the acknowledgment that radio can move product. They were looking for more revenue, and they knew that the Internet couldn’t deliver. There is no other vehicle that can expose people to music like commercial terrestrial radio. The Labels and performers may have forgotten this, but Apple didn’t.

Perhaps Steve Jobs is the one person that can save HD radio. Its survival is far from assured, even if Apple adds an HD receiver to its product line. However, if radio responds by finally creating unique formats for HD that people like, HD just might make it.

Comments

[Greg]

@Richard: The patent is nothing more than an updated patent that was filed earlier. It clearly describes the interaction between a PMD and adaptors, through remote anslog/digital RDS digital metadata, and nothing more, so there is nothing to read into.

Like the failed Zune HD that could not be marketed outside the U.S., because of HD Radio, very doubltful that Apple would ever hardwire HD into any of its devices. The iPod Nano has analog FM tagging, not HD Radio. Royalties would have to be paid to iBiquity, HD power drain is a major problem, and reception is generally problematic. BTW - MS has given up on HD and is mandating analog FM tuners into their cell phones, and same with Google. Plink...

[Richard Harker]

There is no dark secret, Greg.
If you've read this blog, you know that we too have been skeptical of HD Radio and its potential for success. There are potentially insurmountable technical problems along with a lack of commitment on the part of broadcasters. That is why we raise the possibility that even Steve Jobs can't save HD. However, your quote and link totally misses the point of the patent and our reporting of it. Whether it is a "core functional piece" is irrelevant. Apple's imprimatur on the device is what matters. There are already after-market radio and HD devices. Apple wouldn't bother with a patent if they didn't think their idea was better--and could make Apple money.

[Greg]

"The Dark Secret iBiquity Doesn't Want You to Know"

"Hot in the news is a new patent application from Apple for what has been portrayed as HD Radio capability in iPods or possibly even iPhones. What's left out of the news is one important point: We're talking about an accessory here - not a core functional piece of the iPod hardware. That's abundantly clear from the title of Apple's application and completely missed by most of the radio industry trades."

http://tinyurl.com/3xalhs5

The announcement was another huge HD Radio carney-shill.

[John Kline]

HD Radio cannot be saved because of its technology of interference, not format diversity.