Future iPhones may sport 'citizen journalist' features

Soon, an iPhones may be all anyone needs to engage in citizen journalism, if a patent application filed by Apple Inc. materializes. Enthusiast site Patently Apple cited a patent application referring to two features as "report" and "interview" modes. "The new features creatively utilize multiplex video streaming techniques whereby dual cameras on the iPhone could automatically switch back and forth between interviewer and interviewee seamlessly for a live report. While Apple may be working on future iPhone features catering to iReporters, I think that their initial features will definitely capture the imaginations of iReporters everywhere," the site said. Latest-generation iPhones have at least two cameras facing in opposite directions, each capable of receiving video streams simultaneously. Under the patent application, the Apple device switches between the first and the second video streams to generate a multiplexed video stream, based on the movement it detects. One situation may involve the device detecting the speech of a person by detecting the lip movement of the person. "The device may include an image analyzer for analyzing the images in the video streams. Based on the lip movement, the device automatically switches between the first video stream and the second video stream to generate a multiplexed video stream," Patently Apple said. The multiplexed video stream may be transmitted to a far-end party by an uplink channel of a live video call. On the other hand, the multiplexed video stream may also be stored in the memory of the handheld communication device for viewing at a later time. iReporter mode Patently Apple said the new features can potentially allow anyone in the public to capture a live event or incident and then disseminate it. It also quoted Apple as saying the video could be transmitted live over various networks or recorded for later editing by the reporter at work or at home. Interview mode An interview mode could be used when a person is recording a conversation with another person or when there are several people participating in a video conference. — TJD, GMA News