Have you ever been in a situation where you wanted to use your iPod, but you didn't because you couldn't look at your iPod to navigate? Well, it looks like Apple is researching a way to help you out. A new patent would allow your iPod to "speak" to you when you highlight an item on the menu, so users will be able to hear what function they are selecting.

On a similar note, Apple recently filed a patent for a user interface that uses gestures in specific patterns or directions to control the iPod menus. This is similar to the touch-screen interface for the iPod everyone has been waiting for. However, this is an example of the type of tech Apple is now using in over 40% of new cars in the US. In Europe, BMW was the first with an iPod integration feature that allowed songs to be displayed on the center console and used controls on the steering wheel to control the iPod.

So, we may soon have iPods controlled by gestures and iPods that will talk to us. Can voice-controlled iPods be next? What other Apple innovations will be coming down the pipeline?