System and method for transferring playlists

1. A method comprising:

selecting at least one playlist for transfer, the at least one playlist being stored in a first handheld personal media device and referencing a plurality of media content items;

converting the at least one playlist to a common playlist format, thus generating a first common format playlist, by reformatting metadata pertaining to content of a referenced media content item independent of a storage location of the referenced media content item;

establishing communication with a second handheld personal media device, the communication being initiated by physical contact between the first handheld personal media device and the second handheld personal media device; and

transferring the first common format playlist to the second personal media device separately from the referenced media content items.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving a second common format playlist transferred to the first personal media device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising: converting the second common format playlist into a format useable by the first personal media device, thus generating a reformatted playlist.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising: rendering, on the first personal media device, one or more media data files associated with one or more media content items defined in the reformatted playlist.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising: downloading, from a media distribution system, the one or more media data files associated with the one or more media content items defined in the reformatted playlist.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising: determining if the first personal media device has sufficient subscription rights for rendering the one or more media data files associated with the one or more media content items defined in the reformatted playlist.

7. A computer program product residing on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

selecting at least one playlist for transfer, the at least one playlist being stored in a first handheld personal media device and referencing a plurality of media content items;

converting the at least one playlist to a common playlist format, thus generating a first common format playlist, by reformatting metadata pertaining to content of a referenced media content item independent of a storage location of the referenced media content item;

establishing communication with a second handheld personal media device, the communication being initiated by physical contact between the first handheld personal media device and the second handheld personal media device; and

transferring the first common format playlist to the second personal media device separately from the referenced media content items.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising instructions for performing operations comprising: receiving a second common format playlist on the first personal media device.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising instructions for performing operations comprising: converting the second common format playlist into a format useable by the first personal media device, thus generating a reformatted playlist.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising instructions for performing operations comprising: rendering, on the first personal media device, one or more media data files associated with one or more media content items defined in the reformatted playlist.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising instructions for performing operations comprising: downloading, from a media distribution system, the one or more media data files associated with the one or more media content items defined in the reformatted playlist.

12. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising instructions for performing operations comprising: determining if the first personal media device has sufficient subscription rights for rendering the one or more media data files associated with the one or more media content items defined in the reformatted playlist.

13. A computing device comprising a processor, the computing device configured to perform operations comprising:

selecting, using the processor, at least one playlist for transfer, the at least one playlist being stored in a first handheld personal media device and referencing a plurality of media content items;

converting, using the processor, the at least one playlist to a common playlist format, thus generating a first common format playlist, by reformatting metadata pertaining to content of a referenced media content item independent of a storage location of the media content item;

establishing communication with a second handheld personal media device, the communication being initiated by physical contact between the first handheld personal media device and the second handheld personal media device; and

transferring the first common format playlist to the second personal media device separately from the referenced media content items.

14. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the computing device is further configured to perform operations comprising: receiving a second common format playlist on the first personal media device.

15. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the computing device is further configured to perform operations comprising: converting the second common format playlist into a format useable by the first personal media device, thus generating a reformatted playlist.

16. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the computing device is further configured to perform operations comprising: rendering, on the first personal media device, one or more media data files associated with one or more media content items defined in the reformatted playlist.

17. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the computing device is further configured to perform operations comprising: downloading, from a media distribution system, the one or more media data files associated with the one or more media content items defined in the reformatted playlist.

18. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the computing device is further configured to perform operations comprising: determining if the first personal media device has sufficient subscription rights for rendering the one or more media data files associated with the one or more media content items defined in the reformatted playlist.