60beat Gamepad for iOS Offers Dual Analog Joysticks

[Consultant]

Not interesting for me...

It has no sense for me, we have a revolutionary devices with innovative and versatile control methods (gyro, touch) and seems that some people want to step back and build this old control methods!

Some console games require buttons.

Other games such as cut the rope (with multi-touch) cannot be played with physical buttons.

Racing games are great to play with the gyro.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Neg me all you want, but it is ludicrous that Apple comes out with "the future of personal computers", talks proudly about ushering in the "post-pc" era, builds it with a single do-all, 30pin port capable of substantial data throughput, and... no one can plug anything into it.

...No one can get an iPad to work with a car stereo? The only way to screen share onto the device is to set up and maintain a traffic-free still-too-slow wifi connection? The only way to get proper game controls is analog?! This is the future?

I understand 100% wireless looks slick in ads, but the bluetooth implementation is crippled/useless, wifi is not a mobile solution, and is not fast enough to handle everything iOS forces through it.

They're already building the proper, capable hardware. There are so many ways these devices could be useful, if only Apple would catch up with the software.

iOS is starting to feel like a 5 year old OS. I hope someone at Apple is drawing up plans for what the next generation of iOS (and by that I don't mean another few more features tacked on to the same old '07 iOS) is going to be.

 

[APlotdevice]

^ Third parties are allowed to use the 30-pin connector. In fact the Atari joystick controller for the iPad plugs in this way. However they must pay a licensing fee.

 

[2 Replies]

[ignore, comment consolidated]

 

[2 Replies]

Apple needs to license out their magsafe connection for headphone manufacturers so things like this don't destroy the device when overzealous gamers get their hands on accessories like this.

Neg me all you want, but it is ludicrous that Apple comes out with "the future of personal computers", talks proudly about ushering in the "post-pc" era, builds it with a single do-all, 30pin port capable of substantial data throughput, and... no one can plug anything into it.

30-pin is not the future of personal computers. It in itself should be ditched by apple in favor of micro-usb. Micro usb is capable of everything the 30-pin is, with the exception that micro does not have redundant pins that will be used by Apple and broadly adopted by third-party accessory manufacturers, then randomly dumped by Apple in favor of OTHER pins on the 30pin cable (causing all accessories to become obsolete and useless).

30-pin is the LPT of the twenty-tens, and so should be immediately killed by fire and only remembered so as to never be repeated.

iOS is starting to feel like a 5 year old OS. I hope someone at Apple is drawing up plans for what the next generation of iOS (and by that I don't mean another few more features tacked on to the same old '07 iOS) is going to be.

Totally agree. iOS needs an overhaul.
It also needs to dump the stupid universal rounded rectangles and actually put some thought into when their use is appropriate. (Top-screen notifications do not need to be rounded. Seriously.)
Apple also needs to open up iOS to allow custom hooks for certain actions/filetypes. Such as allowing a user to specify which app they want to handle email, or phonecalls, or music.
And allow users to uninstall native apps in favor of better third-party options (such as better camera apps, Apple's native camera is buggy and horribly slow. And WTF Apple, your pushy bookshelf app needs to burn like a cheap IKEA EXPEDIT bonfire).

 

[APlotdevice]

30-pin is not the future of personal computers. It in itself should be ditched by apple in favor of micro-usb. Micro usb is capable of everything the 30-pin is, with the exception that micro does not have redundant pins that will be used by Apple and broadly adopted by third-party accessory manufacturers, then randomly dumped by Apple in favor of OTHER pins on the 30pin cable (causing all accessories to become obsolete and useless).

30-pin is the LPT of the twenty-tens, and so should be immediately killed by fire and only remembered so as to never be repeated.

Capable of everything the 30-pin is? That is bull. A standard USB port is only capable of being a USB host (A-type port) or USB slave (B-type port). That's it. The 30-pin contains both a USB host and slave, as well as a VGA and audio line out.

(A USB host can only plug into a USB slave, and a USB slave can only plug into a USB host)

 

[foobarbaz]

Because those "innovative and versatile" controls are a rather lousy substitute in certain genres. I mean like I've yet to find a virtual d-pad that is as responsive as a physical one for platforming games. And it is really hard to multitask in a FPS game without shoulder buttons.

I guess the complaint is that there are so many straight ports of console game and genre concepts. And then we need accessories to make these even remotely playable.

That's almost like making apps that can only be used with a stylus. My personal take: To hell with genres that don't work with the device. I'll play them on something else. Who wants the iPad to be a more expensive Playstation with a smaller screen?

 

[2 Replies]

Capable of everything the 30-pin is? That is bull. A standard USB port is only capable of being a USB host (A-type port) or USB slave (B-type port). That's it. The 30-pin contains both a USB host and slave, as well as a VGA and audio line out.

(A USB host can only plug into a USB slave, and a USB slave can only plug into a USB host)

Dude don't be obtuse, usb can carry audio and video data. It's retarded to require dedicated pins for on-device digital to analog conversion (processing that Apple does a piss poor job of btw) when the the 30-pin analog is only needed in certain(read rare) situations.
One minimal USB port would be adequate. Then third-party accessories could handle the audio and video processing themselves.

 

[Sol]

The 1990s called. They want their wired controller back.

 

[APlotdevice]

Dude don't be obtuse, usb can carry audio and video data. It's retarded to require dedicated pins for on-device digital to analog conversion (processing that Apple does a piss poor job of btw) when the the 30-pin analog is only needed in certain(read rare) situations.
One minimal USB port would be adequate. Then third-party accessories could handle the audio and video processing themselves.

USB can carry data. Only data. Even with a digital output like HDMI the adapter would need additional hardware to convert the data into a usable signal.

Moreover you completely ignored my point about USB hosts and slaves. A slave is needed to plug the device into a computer. A host is needed to attach accessories. You can't have both in the same standard USB port. Oh, and the dock connector also draws a lot more power than a USB slave can. Which is why the iPad charges much faster from its wall adapter.

I'm not even going to get into all the docks out there which would no longer be supported...

 

[FakeWozniak]

Snore....

Just have Apple support PlayStation Dual Shock 3 controllers. The bluetooth is already there. Or even an Apple Wireless Keyboard if you have to have lots of buttons, which is already supported.

 

[benjones]

I use a similar setup on my PC to connect a DX5i RC transmitter for RC planes and helis. It uses the mic input and the analogue controls are surprisingly accurate.

This could actually work quite well.

 

[0098386]

Snore....

Just have Apple support PlayStation Dual Shock 3 controllers. The bluetooth is already there. Or even an Apple Wireless Keyboard if you have to have lots of buttons, which is already supported.

I'm quite surprised that games don't use the BT keyboard. I'd rather use a (good) controller, but a keyboard would work for some games too.

 

[ryan102]

this is just stupid. The whole point of Apple products is to not have buttons, now there's an external controller, if you want this then just get a Wii.

 

[salacious]

apple has a 80billion dollar reserve... i really dont think ios needs much of an overhaul..

 

[dolphin842]

Good to see some activity in this market. I'd still love an iPhone case that has a d-pad + buttons.

 

[APlotdevice]

I'm quite surprised that games don't use the BT keyboard. I'd rather use a (good) controller, but a keyboard would work for some games too.

The problem is that with the way BT keyboards are currently implemented an app cannot detect when you're holding down the key or when it has been released. iCade, which emulates a BT keyboard, gets around this by producing one key (eg. "Y") when you initially press a button and and a completely different key ("T") when you release it.

 

[Yogomi]

Does anyone here have one of these to report how it works? Just curious.

-Frank

 

[Erkalanger]

Im thinking that..

TV + app support + game controller would be nice (or game controller + streaming iPhone/iPad apps to tv via TV)

 

[theart666]

cool

Exactly why doesn't apple make a bluetooth pad? Just cos they make one, doesn't mean people HAVE to buy it, but for those that want one (like me) then its an obvious and ideal solution. I really don't want a 3rd party cheapo controller linked into my headphone jack though!

After playing GTA III, I can see so much potential for ipad games on par with current games consoles!.

I suppose when Apple release the Ipad 3 or 4 , with retina display and better hardware then we might see them looking more at the ipads games market in 2012.