MacMinute reports on a new patent Apple has applied for. This patent is for iTunes Producer, which is the application record companies use to encode and send to Apple the songs that will be sold on iTunes Music Store. The patent reveals some user interface screenshots for the first time on the net.

News.com has also reported on another patent Apple has applied for. This one is a fall-detection technology that makes it less likely for the iPod's hard disk to be damaged or to lose data in case the iPod falls. This technology is aimed to improve the iPod's lifetime and quality.