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Apple has Wii-like Apple TV controller under development

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

May 9, 2008, 5:38 PM

A patent filed in 2006 and published this week indicates that Apple is developing a game controller that would allow for control much like Nintendo's popular console.

The controller will be able to detect which way it is being turned on the first and second orthogonal axes -- in other words, left and right, and up and down respectively -- and the position in the third orthogonal axis -- which is "in" and "out" from the screen.

In the filing Apple mentions that the processing is done within a console, which may suggest the company was referring to the Apple TV (this was a full year before its release).

"[The] console also can have one or more connectors to which accessories can be coupled. Accessories can include cables and/or, game cartridges, portable memory devices, adapters for interfacing with another electronic device, or combinations thereof," the filing states.

Apple makes at least one explicit mention to video games within the filing, although it does also imply the remote control could be used as a mouse of sorts to navigation through a user interface.

Clues as to whether it could be referring to the Apple TV also come in the fact that this technology could be used by the console to zoom in and out of a still image using the third axis, and photo capabilities are a key feature of the device.

Gaming is only something that Apple has recently put a lot of effort into. As part of its iPhone SDK announcement, the company showed off several games from top developers including EA.

Some analysts figured it was only a matter of time before the Apple TV gained such capabilities. In fact, hackers discovered references to gaming on the device last year within iTunes' source code.

News of the filing was first reported by AppleInsider on Friday.

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By foxfyre

posted May 12, 2008 - 11:58 AM

The responses in this thread are a hoot!

Such a rampant display of abject ignorance should provide more than adequate demonstration that so many of the anti-Apple fanboys need to have either a window installed in their stomach, or that window in their stomach cleaned as they obviously can't see where they are going with their heads deposited so far up a nether orifice!

But such are the comments of those who claim so adamantly Not to care about what Apple does - as they demonstrate their complete and utter ignorance of what Apple has done.

And as usual, they ALL fail to mention anything of pertinence regarding the article's focus.

Oh well, just another day on BetaNews... ROFLMAO!

Score: 0

By yountmj

edited May 12, 2008 - 10:58 PM

Of course, these threads would have no value whatsoever without the inevitable witty play-by-play hypocritical psychoanalysis by foxfyre.

Your responses are usually saturated with the very substance (or lack thereof) that you claim others are guilty of. You're consistent, I'll give you that. :)

For your information, only one showcasing such a rampant display of abject ignorance like yourself could completely fail to see the correlation between the arguments in this thread regarding who has ripped off whom in the past and passed it off as innovation, and the meat and potatoes of this Apple "news" article.

Apple and Steve Jobs have excelled at two things: marketing and rhetoric, respectively.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted May 10, 2008 - 1:22 PM

Apple is always innovating, just like Gates taking Xerox's UI / mouse idea and calling it his own.

I don't know whether Gates or Jobs is the bigger loser.

Score: 0

By Bogunch

posted May 10, 2008 - 3:43 PM

Gates??? You mean Jobs with Lisa!!!

Score: 0

By ToeKneeC

posted May 10, 2008 - 6:02 PM

You guys must be young :) Lisa was after the Mac 128 (I had one, and a Mac 512, and an SE and the IICXi). But yes Steve Jobs took the idea from them not Gates. Gates did however have an interesting story on DOS that wasn't very "fair" but that is for another time.

Score: 0

By bousozoku

posted May 11, 2008 - 2:47 PM

Lisa was earlier than Macintosh and was renamed Macintosh XL after the first Macintosh was released.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Lisa

Score: 0

By GS5

posted May 10, 2008 - 9:02 PM

wasn't very "fair"?

C'mon, it was phuck!in' genius, making a deal with IBM before he actually had a working OS. Then buying one for just $50.000. You got to give it to Bill he was smart. Besides, Paterson could have licensed his OS with IBM just like Gates did. But he took the money instead, which turn out not to be the biggest mistake of his life. Man, that could have been a great episode of Deal Or No Deal. LOL

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted May 11, 2008 - 7:49 AM

50k that's a lot of money 40 years ago. And Gates has a vision and a business man. Paterson himself probably just a scientist and never a business man. Even if Paterson hasn't sold it, he will not able to build a Microsoft.

This is just like Google. Google without Eric will not be what Google is today. Yes, Larry and Surgery are both very smart, however, they are not a business person. They bleed money every year, until Eric comes in and implement a business around search.

Score: 0

By bousozoku

posted May 10, 2008 - 2:00 AM

So, when do Nintendo and Apple come to legal blows over this?

It's one thing to have a licence to Nintendo's technology but to have a patent to similar technology?

Score: 0

By auiotour

posted May 12, 2008 - 7:32 AM

The reference to Wii like I believe is so you understand how it works. The Wii Controller uses the Sensor bar to determine how the controller is behaving (at least in some axises). Where this remote sounds more like a Gryo style remote.

I been waiting for this for a long time! Very exciting for me.

Score: 0

By alphatrigon

posted May 10, 2008 - 9:24 AM

well...apple tends to have blind zealots as it's consumers, so they will believe Apple invents all technology.
Strangely this is carried over into the courts, where Apple can sue people/companies/products for things that predate them by several years to even decades.
Go figure

Score: 0

By chesteriei

posted May 10, 2008 - 11:38 PM

I suppose you have a new definition of "blind zealots"?

Do you consider trying a product with an open mind, finding it to be vastly superior and continuing to use it being a "blind zealot"?

Score: 0

By crashoverride

posted May 11, 2008 - 10:06 PM

The power of Jobs compels them.

Score: 0

By pitdingo2

posted May 9, 2008 - 9:42 PM

Games would make sense however i do not believe the Apple TV, at least in its current incarnation has much 3D power.

The iPhone and iPod Touch will be great for mobile gaming when that SDK hits.

Score: 0

By cescam66

posted May 9, 2008 - 9:17 PM

pitdinga come on say something n i g g a!

Score: 0

By yountmj

posted May 9, 2008 - 9:06 PM

Apple's marketing battalion always seem to find a way to make the majority of the iTard population believe they are "innovating" again.

Score: 0

By Setian^Stalker

posted May 10, 2008 - 5:31 AM

There is a particular regular on this site who I expect to be calling this a clone.
At least he should be if he wishes to be consistant and to show he isnt bias

Score: 0

By Bogunch

edited May 9, 2008 - 7:27 PM

"[The] console also can have one or more connectors to which accessories can be coupled. Accessories can include cables and/or, game cartridges, portable memory devices, adapters for interfacing with another electronic device, or combinations thereof,"

...and that description doesn't sound like every other game console, set-top box, or electronic device? Apple is innovating again!!!

How the f*** can you get a patent for a product with that description?

Here comes the iGame!

Score: 0

By auiotour

posted May 12, 2008 - 7:35 AM

It's a matter of beating around the bush to describe your product without releasing large number of things. In order to make it less obvious they list everything and everything that probably won't be. Keeps the public wondering. I remember when the iPhone and the iPod came out so many people were blown away but the creations. That's what they want!

No different then most other companies imo.

Score: 0

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