Method and device for displaying supplemental information while rendering a playlist
A media player device and method for receiving and playing a playlist is provided. The device has a transceiver to wirelessly send and receive communication, a memory, a control system connected to the memory and the transceiver, and at least one speaker to play the plurality of songs. The control system and method receive a command to log into an account before receiving a playlist, receive and display the playlist identifying a plurality of songs in a menu with context sensitive icons representing different functions, receive and display information associated with an artist from a currently playing song of the plurality of songs in the playlist, receive and display information on a related song that is from a genre similar to that of one of the currently playing song, and receive and display advertising. The method provides for the speaker to play the plurality of songs.
1. An electronic media player device comprising:
a transceiver to wirelessly send and receive communications;
a memory;
a control system connected to the memory and the transceiver and adapted to:
receive a command to log into an account before receiving a playlist identifying a plurality of songs, wherein the playlist defines a sequence for playing the identified plurality of songs;
receive and display the playlist, according to the defined sequence by default, in a menu with context sensitive icons representing different functions;
receive and display information associated with an artist from a currently playing song of the plurality of songs in the playlist;
receive and display information on a related song that is from a genre similar to that of the currently playing song;
receive and display advertising; and
at least one speaker to play the plurality of songs.
2. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , wherein the playlist is a list referencing media items arranged to be played in the sequence.
3. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further adapted to play the playlist when triggered by a settable schedule.
4. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further adapted to change a visual appearance of the menu by customizing a background associated with the menu.
5. The electronic media player device of claim 4 , wherein the control system is further adapted to record user activity for data mining purposes and provide the user activity to a remote source.
6. The electronic media player device of claim 5 , wherein the control system is further adapted to send a request to a second remote source for supplemental information related to at least one of the plurality of songs in real-time while the at least one song is playing.
7. The electronic media player device of claim 5 , wherein the control system is further adapted to receive and display information on merchandise associated with an artist of the currently playing song.
8. The electronic media player device of claim 5 , wherein the control system is further adapted to receive input from a wireless remote control and enable navigation of the playlist via the input from the wireless remote control.
9. The electronic media player device of claim 5 , wherein the control system is further adapted to display information enabling a playback of a sample of a song from an artist associated with at least one of the plurality of songs in the playlist.
10. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further adapted to display classifications for the plurality of songs by artist.
11. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , wherein the controls system is further adapted to send a request to a remote source for supplemental information related to at least one of the plurality of songs in real time while at least one song is the currently playing song and receiving the supplemental information from the remote source.
12. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , wherein the supplemental information comprises information enabling play of at least one sample of the plurality of songs.
13. The electronic media player device of the claim 1 , wherein the supplemental information comprises a title of the currently playing song and a name of a currently playing artist.
14. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further adapted to display at least one song from a currently playing artist.
15. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further adapted to display popup windows with functions including at least one of volume, shuffle, and repeat.
16. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further adapted to create a playlist by at least one of an artist, album and genre.
17. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , wherein the playlist includes information indicating album art.
18. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further adapted to:
receive, at the electronic media player device, information enabling the electronic media player device to request the ones of the plurality of songs from at least one remote source; and
obtain the ones of the plurality of songs from the at least one remote source.
19. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , the control system further adapted to respond to voice commands to control the electronic media player device.
20. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , the control system further adapted to respond to voice commands to scroll through the playlist.
21. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further adapted to display a list of Internet radio stations when in an Internet radio mode of operation.
22. The electronic media player device of claim 1 , wherein the context sensitive icons representing different functions includes at least one of a play icon, a shuffle control icon, and a back to previous menu icon.
23. A method comprising:
receiving a command to log into an account before receiving a playlist identifying a plurality of songs wherein the playlist defines a sequence for playing the identified plurality of songs;
receiving and displaying the playlist, according to the defined sequence by default, in a menu with context sensitive icons representing different functions;
receiving and displaying information associated with an artist from a currently playing song of the plurality of songs in the playlist;
receiving and displaying information on a related song that is from a genre similar to that of the currently playing song;
receiving and displaying advertising; and
providing for at least one speaker to play the plurality of songs.
24. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing software for instructing a computing system to:
receive a command to log into an account before receiving a playlist identifying a plurality of songs wherein the playlist defines a sequence for playing the identified plurality of songs;
receive and display the playlist, according to the defined sequence by default, in a menu with context sensitive icons representing different functions;
receive and display information associated with an artist from a currently playing song of the plurality of songs in the playlist;
receive and display information on a related song that is from a genre similar to that of the currently playing song;
receive and display advertising; and
provide for at least one speaker to play the plurality of songs.