Apple considers the iPhone as also one of the best iPods it has ever created (we agree) but one of the constraints of the iPhone has been its limited storage capacity. The max capacity of the iPod Classic for example is 160 GB, which for some folks is still too less but is 10 times the max storage capacity of the iPhone which is currently only 16 GB.

As of now, if you have a very large iTunes library which runs into Terabytes, then due to the limited storage capacity of the iPhone you might be selectively syncing content from your iTunes music library to be able to play the content on your iPhone.

Based on a new patent application filed by Apple, it appears that Apple is working on a solution which will allow iPhone users to access their home computer's iTunes media library without having to download or sync content to the iPhone over the air using Wi-Fi or cellular network.

ppleInsider which reported of Apple's patent application explains:

"New versions of iTunes and the iPhone Software could theoretically eliminate this problem by syncing only the metadata -- or tiny files containing the barebones attributes of each media item or playlist but not the content itself -- from a user's iTunes library to their portable devices.

Using this metadata, iPhones and iPods would contain "virtual media items" representing every playlist, video, photo, and mobile game stored on their computer, even if the sum of those files would ordinarily be too large to fit onto the devices' hard disk drive or flash drive. This is possible because metadata capable of representing a media item consumes only faction -- typically less than 1 percent -- of the space required to store the media item itself.

As a result, the user perceives that the virtual media items may be available on the [the media player]. In this manner, the virtual capacity of an electronic device may be increased."

So instead of downloading or syncing the entire media contents of the iTunes library, only directory of the content would be copied to the iPhone. When a user selects to playback, the iPhone could remotely access the iTunes library to stream the content over the air.

However, this streaming of iTunes library is not new, we have already seen an iPhone trick to stream music, video and music from iTunes library. We have also seen iPhone software like Remote Buddy and Dot.Tunes that offer streaming of your iTunes library on your computer to the iPhone.

But after using iPhone Remote which allows you to control the music on your computer or Apple TV from your iPhone, we just can't wait to see Apple bring this functionality to the iPhone.

[via AppleInsider]

1. iPhone GPS Dongle
2. MUST-HAVE Apps for the iPod Touch/iPhone
3. Use Your iPhone as a Barcode Scanner: The iMatrix
4. iPhone Remote
5. iPhone-Golf.com
6. iZoho - Zoho for iPhone
7. IM+ for Skype
8. iPhone Wide Angle Lens
9. VoIP Over GSM on iPhone
10. iPhone network test
11. iPhone Wikipedia gives connection-free reference library
12. Google Reader iPhone Skin
13. DVD to iPhone Converter For Mac Released
14. iPhoneMyeBay
15. Buxfer
16. Ovulation Calendar
17. iSpit - Small & Easy HTTP Server for iPhone
18. iCluless Makes Searching Easy On The iPhone
19. New iPhone game “Trism” combines accelerometer with puzzle gameplay
20. reQall
21. WebShell
22. Kudit
23. PogoNotes
24. iPhone application crashes: preventing and fixing
25. RDM+
26. SoonR
27. Widget Gallery for the iPhone Now Available
28. iPhone apps hands-on: Google, MySpace, eBay and AOL Radio
29. Hackers open core of Apple's iPhone
30. Telekinesis
31. iZoho
32. Earthscape to release Google Earth-like iPhone App
33. The $1000 iPhone app
34. Freeverse posts first look at racing game for iPhone
35. iPhlickr
36. Microsoft looks to cash in on the iPhone
37. Google Translate for iPhone Released