Patent ID: 8626952

Claim:
A method for performing synchronization of media items of a portable media player with a host computer and subsequent playback of one or more of the media items on the media player, the media player storing player media information, and the host computer storing host media information, said method comprising: determining whether synchronization of the media player with the host computer should be performed; synchronizing the media player with the host computer when said determining determines that synchronization of the media player with the host computer should be performed, wherein said synchronizing transfers one or more media items to the media player from the host computer, whereby for the one or more media items being transferred, media item data is received at the media player via a first electronic file and stored in a media store at the media player, and media information data is received at the media player via a second electronic file and stored in a media database at the media player, the second electronic file being distinct from the first electronic file, the media information data including at least one quality characteristic, and the at least one quality characteristic includes at least one or more user-specified equalization settings; subsequently receiving a subsequent playback request to play an identified one of the media items; and configuring the media player to play the identified one of the media items, the media player being configured to play the identified one of the media items in accordance with at least one of the one or more user-specified equalization settings corresponding thereto, wherein the media player and the host computer are separate devices.