Abstract: There is provided a first dock for a portable hard disk, where the first dock is connectable to a host device. There is also provided a corresponding method for accessing content on the host device during use of the dock. It is advantageous that the host device is able to access content from portable hard disks that are docked with the first dock and a second dock.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for enabling karaoke. The apparatus includes a casing for the apparatus; a microphone array incorporated within the casing, the microphone array being concealed from a user by the casing; a controller coupled to the microphone array to at least process audio signals from the user input at the microphone array; a data storage device coupled to the controller, the data storage device being for storing pre-recorded songs used for karaoke, and for storing songs as sung by the user; and an image capturing device coupled to the controller, the image capturing device being for capturing images of the user while the user is singing, with the captured images of the user being stored on the data storage device.

Abstract: There is provided a method for monitoring activities of a first user on any of a plurality of platforms, with the first user having access to a first computing device for use by the first user. The method may include two modes which allows a master user to monitor activities of the first user even when the master user is not connected to the world wide web (offline).

Abstract: There is provided a method for communications involving at least one text message. The method includes a sender apparatus transmitting at least one message, the at least one message including message data and at least one video filmlet; transmitting the message data over a first network and the at least one video filmlet to a server on a second network; and a recipient apparatus receiving the at least one message, the at least one message being combined and generated from the message data received from the first network and the at least one video filmlet received from the server. Advantageously, the at least one message may be generated in a manner as composed by a sender of the at least one message. It is preferable that the sender and recipient apparatus are able to support a data sync protocol on the second network.

Abstract: There is provided an interface viewable on a display for a communications apparatus used during a session for voice communications between at least two parties. The interface includes at least one edge of the display having a row of objects, each object of the row being for representing each of the at least two parties; and a main portion of the display being for showing the object of the party speaking at a particular point in time, with a plurality of the objects being shown when a plurality of the parties are speaking at the particular point in time. Advantageously, the object of the speaking party is shown on the main portion when the speaking party's voice is detected by the speaking party's communications apparatus, a host server receiving information from the speaking party's communications apparatus to aid in displaying the object of the speaking party at the particular point in time.

Abstract: A printed audio format includes a printed encoding of an audio signal, and a plurality of spaced-apart and parallel rails. The printed encoding of the audio signal is located between the plurality of rails and each rail comprises at least one marker. The printed encoding comprises a first portion and a second portion, each portion comprises a plurality of code frames, and each frame represents a time segment of an audio signal. The first portion encodes a first time period of the audio signal and the second portion encodes a second time period of the audio signal. The second portion is encoded in reverse order with respect to the first portion so that the joining part is on the same end of both portions.

Abstract: There is provided a first and second method for processing a composite video image. The methods generally include obtaining a first image of a scene through a first image capturing device with the composite image including a visual representation for directing a receiver's attention to at least one portion of the first image. Preferably, the visual representation may be an arm, a hand, a finger, or an object used for pointing.

Abstract: There is provided a method for monitoring activities of a first user on any of a plurality of platforms, with the first user having access to a first computing device for use by the first user. The method may include two modes which allows a master user to monitor activities of the first user even when the master user is not connected to the world wide web (offline).

Abstract: A digital still camera comprises an imaging system for capturing a single image of printed material containing a printed audio format; a processor for extracting encoded audio data from the image; a decoder for receiving and decoding the encoded audio data to an audio signal; and an audio output for outputting the audio signal as audio.

Abstract: There is provided an assembly for a sound reproduction apparatus included with a communications apparatus. The assembly includes a ear bud earphone that anchors to a ear of a user when the earphone is inserted into a ear canal of the ear of the user; a cable of the ear bud earphone, a portion of the cable being attached to a reel axle onto which the cable is windable, the reel axle being connected to a revolution counter which tracks a number of revolutions of the reel axle in a first direction, the revolution counter being reset to zero when the cable is fully wound onto the reel axle; with a first end of the cable being functionally connected to the communications apparatus to enable sound signals to be reproduced in the ear bud earphone. The functional connection to the communications apparatus may be either via a solder joint or a detachable connector. A corresponding method of using the assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a method of customising live media content with the live media content including at least one dewarped panoramic view of a monitored area. The panoramic view may have a plurality of portions for selection by a user, the method comprising: receiving the live media with audio and video interleaved and/or compressed as a single stream data, receiving a selection of one of the plurality of portions of the panoramic view; and customising the live media based on the selection of the a portion of the panoramic view for display. A system to customise live media content is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided an insert ear bud earphone with variable noise isolation. The earphone includes a housing with a serpentine channel which is able to contain at least one transducer in a main body of the housing; and a cushion which contacts a user's ear canal wall, the cushion being mounted on the serpentine channel. There is preferably at least one opening in either the housing or the cushion which causes leakage and allows ambient noise to enter the user's ear canal. There is also provided a cushion for an insert ear bud earphone. Finally, there is provided a method to enable variable noise isolation in an insert ear bud earphone comprising an inclusion of at least one opening in either a housing of the earphone or a cushion mounted on the earphone which causes leakage and allows ambient noise to enter a user's ear canal.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for reverse printing a plurality of images interlaced with each other on an underside surface of an appropriate flexible lenticular substrate. The method includes analyzing a viewing orientation of either portrait configuration or landscape configuration of at least one of the plurality of images; determining whether the appropriate flexible lenticular substrate is used for the printing of the plurality of images interlaced with each other in accordance with the viewing orientation of one of the plurality of images; analyzing an orientation of a first marker on the underside surface of the appropriate flexible lenticular substrate; and printing the plurality of images interlaced with each other in accordance with the orientation of the first marker on the underside of the appropriate flexible lenticular substrate.

Abstract: A wireless handheld device able to accept text input, including a display screen and a virtual keypad having a plurality of keys displayed on the display screen, wherein a first key of the virtual keypad is operable to display a first character associated with the first key in a text passage shown on the display screen in response to a first contact of a pointer with a first area on the display screen corresponding to the first key, the first contact including the pointer contacting and moving from the first area along a first direction while the pointer is in continual contact with the display screen, and wherein the first key of the virtual keypad is also operable to display a second character associated with the first key in the text passage shown on the display screen in response to a second contact of the pointer with the first area the display screen corresponding to the first key, the second contact including the pointer contacting and moving fro the first area along a second direction while the pointe

Abstract: A method and system for file distribution, the system comprising: a first data storage device for distributing a content file by seeding the content file for downloading by another data storage device; a second data storage device configured for distributing the content file; a third data storage device configured for distributing the content file; and a data file comprising at least one data entry, a data entry in the data file being associated with the content file, the first data storage device being configured for pushing the data file to the second data storage device, the second data storage device being configured for initiating downloading of the content file if the data entry associated with the content file is present in the pushed data file and the content file is not stored at the second data storage device, and sharing downloaded data of the content file with the third data storage device by simultaneously uploading downloaded data of the content file to the third data storage device while downlo

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus that is connectable wirelessly with a mobile phone. The apparatus includes a casing for encasing components of the apparatus. A display unit is mounted within the casing for the display of content to a user. There is a processor coupled with the display unit to control the content displayed in the display unit. There is also a transceiver coupled to the processor within the casing to enable the wireless connection between the apparatus and the mobile phone. A memory module is coupled to the processor, the memory module being for storage of data and applications. There may be a positioning module coupled to the processor, the positioning module being for provision of a location of the apparatus to the mobile phone. It is preferable that a set of controls is coupled to the processor for controlling the apparatus, and the set of controls may be controllable by the user either via touch or voice.

Abstract: Methods of enabling access to data using a portable electronic device within a private network protected by firewall are disclosed. The data may be transmitted in packets to the portable electronic device and may be consumed either instantly or subsequently. The methods may utilise either at least one web storage or an agent server.

Abstract: There is provided a method for incorporating a soundtrack into an edited video-with-audio recording using a video recording apparatus. The method includes recording the video-with-audio for subsequent playback. Subsequently, at least one soundtrack is incorporated as an audio tag, the at least one soundtrack being selected from a plurality of soundtracks generated from a soundtrack creator dependent on conditions such as, for example, parameters of content of the recorded video-with-audio, user-defined characteristics for the at least one soundtrack, or a combination of both of the aforementioned conditions. Content of the video-with-audio incorporated with the selected soundtrack is reviewed. The user may edit the content of video-with-audio incorporated with the selected soundtrack by removing image frames of the video-with-audio; and rectify the selected soundtrack using the soundtrack creator such that the edited video-with-audio has a fluent soundtrack similar to the selected soundtrack.

Abstract: There is a provided a method and apparatus for enabling a user to amend an audio file, via a user interface for controlling a driver for re-authoring the audio file. The method comprises the following steps: a) associating an icon on said user interface with one or more instruments or sets of instruments in said audio file; b) providing a selection of possible trajectories for each said icon, each trajectory defining the virtual path, relative to said user, of the associated instrument or set of instruments; c) providing a display on said user interface for showing the position of each said icon, each position defining the virtual position, relative to said user, of the associated instrument or set of instruments; d) the user selecting an icon; e) the user assigning a position and/or a trajectory from the selection, to the selected icon; and g) indicating, on said display, the position of the selected icon and whether a trajectory has been assigned to the selected icon.

Abstract: There is provided a communication system including a plurality of content receiver cum transmitter devices connected to a network, each device being for receiving content, selectively storing content and for selectively re-transmitting content. The system may include at least one server for storage of advertisements and transmission of advertisements either directly to the plurality of content receiver cum transmitter devices, or the transmission of advertisements being directed by at least one chaincast manager, the at least one server for storage of advertisements and transmission of advertisements being either online or offline. There may also be at least one content server connected to the network for storage of content and transmission of content either directly to the plurality of content receiver cum transmitter devices, or the transmission of content being directed by at least one chaincast manager.