It is known that Apple has filed for 33 new patents with the US Patent and Trademark Office. They include a variety of new apps related to face recognition as well as photographs. Thus far Apple is known to have applied for 55 patents in all.

These new technologies will bring revolutionary changes in the way we use our iPhones and iPods. It is also an indication that the iPod is going to be equipped with a camera very soon.

One of the patent pertains to object identification. This is how it works; If you are visiting a museum and point your iPhone at a sculpture the iPhone captures the image and compares it with an image stored in the database. There after the iPhone can provide you all the information pertaining to the object like the artist, vintage, genre, and information regarding related products including online shopping.

Another patent is related to using the handheld GPS and digital compass for local search.
At the end of the journey the iPhone prepares a digital record of your journey to include slideshows and videos. Yet another patent pertains to buying the iPhone with pre loaded digital content.

The iPhone and the iPod are heading us into a new exciting gadget age.