Abstract: An electrical connector adaptor system for connecting a base media device which has at least one integral electrical connector with one or more detachable second media devices, each having a connector that may differ from a connector of another second media device. A detachable electrical connector adaptor module is provided, for creating at least one bi-directional electrical connection between the base media device and one or more attachable and detachable second media devices, each of the second media devices having at least one integral connector. The adaptor module has a first electrical connector for mating with the base media device integral electrical connector and a second electrical connector for mating with the second media device integral electrical connector.

Abstract: A method of using a controller unit to access content stored on a digital content storage device having one or more records containing metadata associated with the content on the storage device. The method includes downloading from the storage device to a controller unit at least some of the metadata; storing the downloaded metadata in a database accessible to the controller unit; and accessing content on the storage device from the controller unit using at least a portion of the downloaded metadata in the database.

Abstract: An entertainment system comprising a base unit with a transceiver for interacting, at times, with a control unit via a communications link, and a control unit for controlling the base unit, the control unit being dockable with the base unit to establish direct electrical connection between them, and including a transceiver for interacting with the control unit via said link when undocked. The control unit is a separate aspect of the invention or system. The base unit may contain a tuner, preferably with bandless tuning capability, and may be designed to receive into a universal docking arrangement a digitally controllable auxiliary audio source such as a portable MP3 player or other device. The base unit may further provide alarm clock functionality with numerous features including a “fail-safe' volume control system and fail-safe alarm time setting capability.

Abstract: An entertainment system comprising a base unit with a transceiver for interacting, at times, with a control unit via a communications link, and a control unit for controlling the base unit, the control unit being dockable with the base unit to establish direct electrical connection between them, and including a transceiver for interacting with the control unit via said link when undocked. The control unit is a separate aspect of the invention or system. The base unit may contain a tuner, preferably with bandless tuning capability, and may be designed to receive into a universal docking arrangement a digitally controllable auxiliary audio source such as a portable MP3 player or other device. The base unit may further provide alarm clock functionality with numerous features including a “fail-safe” volume control system and fail-safe alarm time setting capability.