The application is for a patent titled "Tagging Media Assets, Locations, and Advertisements" and seems to relate to tagging content (music, video) on portable media devices (think iPod). Per Pallaxo:

Apple’s latest patent filing seeks to expand this ‘tagging’ feature with targeted location based advertisements, while at the same time incorporating this type of technology into the mainstream use by allowing iPod and iPhone users to take advantage of the tagging feature when listening to the radio, watching videos, or even renting movies on their portable media devices.

We started our contest, one a bit different from most others at this year's event. We want you to use your powers of observation and communication skills to help us cover the massive ESRI user conference. In return, the contributor of the best offering, will receive an iPod touch.

Here's how:

Text: Send up to 300 words via text message or e-mail to editors@directionsmag.com. Include your name (first only is ok) and where you are from, as well as an e-mail address (not for publication).

Audio: Call our comment hotline at 206-984-4409 (Why not store it in your cell phone now?) and leave a 2 minute message. Include your name (first name is ok) and where you are from, as well as an e-mail address (not for publication).

We'll take the best contributed audio and messages and include them (edited and credited) in our coverage in Directions Magazine, All Points Blog or the Directions Media Podcasts. We’ll be accepting submissions between Saturday August 2 and Wednesday August 13, 2008. We encourage you to submit during the event so you don’t forget that great tip, trick or thought!

I'm a fan of underdogs, of folks who try out their idea with their own money and try to make it work. Sometimes, it doesn't. The Faneuil Media guys gained fame with some great interactive Google Maps mashups for the New York Times and Boston.com. But their vision for local media tools didn't play out. Rick Burns, with whom I had a pleasant lunch last year in Cambridge, explains why the effort failed and what they learned. Some good insights on Google, the marketplace and more. Both he and the other founder have new gigs as they shut down in the coming weeks.

Our editors review the morning plenary at the 2008 ESRI User Conference. The main focus included enhancements in ArcGIS 9.3; 3D, imagery and announcements from Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of Interior stole the show.

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