Apple gains a new patent.

[KingVamp]

Looks like Apple patent a new controller to phone interface that allows you to connect any controllers to the their phones. Does this mean Apple want to get more into the gaming world or is just another "why not?" feature? You can look more into it in the sources below.

Source
Via
Source (link to PDF of patent)

 

[chavosaur]

Playing emulators is ever easier now I dont know what to think of this. What do we really need a controller to play? Dont get me wrong, im all for button presses when playing games, but this feature seems much better for the pad not the phone/pod. I guess itll go to all of them but playing on the phone screen is to small.

 

[pokefloote]

Lame. They saw how Microsoft and Nintendo were about to start supporting Android and now they want to lock up that possibility to connect them directly.
Apple will be Apple I guess.

Or maybe Im looking at this wrong. If its how Chavo says, this is a good thing, I think. Seems to be nothing new though, PS3 and wiimotes could connect already (unless on iphone it is a different story, i really dont know)

 

[chavosaur]

Lame. They saw how Microsoft and Nintendo were about to start supporting Android and now they want to lock up that possibility to connect them directly.
Apple will be Apple I guess.

Or maybe Im looking at this wrong. If its how Chavo says, this is a good thing, I think. Seems to be nothing new though, PS3 and wiimotes could connect already (unless on iphone it is a different story, i really dont know)

I believe its different because in the case of wiimote and ps3 connectivity, your device had to be jailbroken, and they were used with emulators. In this case, you can connect a controller without jailbreaking, for use with supported apps or whatever. So baisically if you jailbreak, you can use the controller for apps and emulation

 

[Fear Zoa]

Don't we already have Bluetooth for this?

 

[Langin]

Haha look at that controller!!! It is like a ps2/3 controller lol

Sony, sue them now

 

[chris888222]

Some people will say its stupid just because it's Apple.

Although I admit, this is already possible with Bluetooth. Unless it uses NFC or what then its a different story.

 

[Qtis]

The patent is very vague (at least the pictures). Most of the things revolve around NFC connecting to Apple's devices. Not sure, but currently none of them include NFC? Pairing via NFC is nice and all, but Bluetooth could be used just as well..

Go Apple and their patents I guess?

 

[iFish]

Haha look at that controller!!! It is like a ps2/3 controller lol

Sony, sue them now

You can't sue somebody over a diagram in a patent.
Also, by the logic, Microsoft should sue OnLive for their controller.

Also, I doubt we'll see anything come of this patent. Like most patents we see from Apple. They're just there to have usually.

 

[thegame07]

Haha look at that controller!!! It is like a ps2/3 controller lol

Sony, sue them now

I don't think Apple is making a controller, it's just a way for a controller to connect to their device, Hence they have just used the ps3 controller as a layout to show the concept of their idea.

Ifish beat me! damn you. Ininja'd

 

[FireGrey]

You can connect a wired PS2 controller to it over bluetooth?
Seems legit.

 

[Pleng]

A proprietary wireless controller interface?

That's some s**t hot IP they've got themselves there!

 

[Qtis]

You can connect a wired PS2 controller to it over bluetooth?
Seems legit.

Read the source, this isn't just about iPhone and controller combination. It has all the Apple products included from the iMacs to Apple TVs and iPhones. So technically the wired controller could be an AppleTV connection or a mockup (like almost every time with patents).

 

[Gh0sti]

another patent for Apple to use to sue people isnt that great!

 

[Luigi2012SM64DS]

Stupid idea.
\They should just make a new gaming console.

 

[nando]

If people say this is stupid then rhey must be on to something. Same thing was said abot the iphone and ipad. Tho i think this is not something that will be implemented

 

[Gahars]

Stupid idea.
\They should just make a new gaming console.

Please, no. Just... no.

 

[Carnivean]

This shouldn't hold up really, definitely prior art cases on this.

 

[bowser]

Inb4 Apple made a huge oversight by not including more buttons on the iPhone.

 

[The Catboy]

Looks kinda like a Playstation controller, can they really get away with patenting a design like that? I mean if they actually go through with making and the controller actually looks like that, I won't be shocked if Sony sues them over it.