Apple Computer's latest patent (read patent), filed in August and released today, states that, "The portable computing device includes an enclosure that surrounds and protects the internal operational components of the portable computing device. The enclosure includes a structural wall formed from a ceramic material that permits wireless communications there through. The wireless communications may for example correspond to RF communications, and further the ceramic material may be radio-transparent thereby allowing RF communications there through."This highlights that wireless communications will be a part in an upcoming revision of the iPod and / or Apple's rumored mobile phone. With Microsoft's wireless-capable Zune media player, it's anticipated that Apple will add similar capabilities to its iPod. At the very least, this filing demonstrates that Apple's engineers are working on it.

The filing however, contains more information about materials science than electronics. The patent describes the use of ceramics as housing for electronic components. This most likely means that future iPods and Apple phone will be much more resistant to damage and cheaper to manufacture.