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iPhone Home Button That Transforms Into Gaming Joystick Shown in Apple Patent Application
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I think this will be one of those patents that never really makes it into production. As others have said, it seems really prone to breakage and collection of lint and dirt. On top of that, it adds moving parts to a product that is best improved by minimizing them, and it does so to add a feature that many owners would never use.
The only way I see this becoming a reality is if Apple was interested in making a gaming-focused model, but then you risk app fragmentation.
The only way I see this becoming a reality is if Apple was interested in making a gaming-focused model, but then you risk app fragmentation.
So uh... Let's see.... A spring? That's 1 moving part
I'm no joystick expert so correct me if I'm wrong but that's the only moving part.
Could be a good idea for the new iPod Touch. I doubt they would put this in every iPhone, most people wouldn't care.
Interesting, but what about TouchID? there's no room to integrate the TouchID sensor and have a moveable joystick from the look of it.
And damn that thing would be flimsy and like others said all kinds of dirt and lint would just ruin it.
And damn that thing would be flimsy and like others said all kinds of dirt and lint would just ruin it.
Maybe for iPod Touch
Seems to me more likely a thing they might add to an iPod Touch rather than iPhone or iPad, if they were to really add this at all...
Seems to me more likely a thing they might add to an iPod Touch rather than iPhone or iPad, if they were to really add this at all...
Broken button, stuck button, foreign objects trapped inside, etc....let's see how Apple is going to design this.
I've owned every single iPhone and every single home button wore out. Sometimes twice. Except the 6 but it's just a waiting game for that one...
As a gaming Joystick it is possible the way the placement frees up having a joystick on the screen and could make all that way more usable. Its placed in a good place for gaming.
As for cleaning or moving parts, I don't think there is a problem. We haven't seen it yet. It could work in a way that isn't easily damaged or gets dirty.
But my problem is: the confusion of getting it to pop up, vs just wanting to click it.
How can they make it so you don't accidentally pop out the button when just clicking or double clicking or holding the button for siri?
I don't get how that part would work.
As for cleaning or moving parts, I don't think there is a problem. We haven't seen it yet. It could work in a way that isn't easily damaged or gets dirty.
But my problem is: the confusion of getting it to pop up, vs just wanting to click it.
How can they make it so you don't accidentally pop out the button when just clicking or double clicking or holding the button for siri?
I don't get how that part would work.
What would be neat if the fingerprint sensor identified whether the thumb on the joystick is already a registered finger, and then perfected it's scan/image/impression of that fingerprint while you used the joystick. It seems to me that in the process of playing a game for a short time, you would naturally place your thumb on that sensor in every possible way. The learning should not stop after the initial setup.
This would be like buying a new car with huge spoiler on the back end or a big scoop on the hood .... for kids ... so ... maybe Apple should put out a model called the 'iMatura' ... for those who cannot grow up and keep a more serious model for the rest of us.
Look at the top grossing apps list. At least 80% are games. Games are serious business.
Me neither .....
I realize there were some problems with them, but thought that was chalked up to manufacturing defects and was covered under warranty?
All in all, I think this idea of a pop-up joystick/button combo is pretty clever. Like people say, it has to be implemented right because otherwise it will be a weak spot on the phone that breaks often. Heck - maybe make it so the button is larger and doesn't pop up, but rather, lets you press on the edges to select up/down/left/right or push the entire thing down for a traditional click?
I realize there were some problems with them, but thought that was chalked up to manufacturing defects and was covered under warranty?
All in all, I think this idea of a pop-up joystick/button combo is pretty clever. Like people say, it has to be implemented right because otherwise it will be a weak spot on the phone that breaks often. Heck - maybe make it so the button is larger and doesn't pop up, but rather, lets you press on the edges to select up/down/left/right or push the entire thing down for a traditional click?
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a joy on the iPhone 6.
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I like the idea... but I wonder if it would just make more sense the utilize the touch capabilities of the homebutton for game control and call it a day?
Is this practical for gaming?
Usually you have your joystick and buttons near each other. One thumb to access both.
With this you have a joystick but your buttons are still on the touchscreen.
Seems awkward at best.
Usually you have your joystick and buttons near each other. One thumb to access both.
With this you have a joystick but your buttons are still on the touchscreen.
Seems awkward at best.
I would think they could do an IPod Classic button with wheel. Just a miniature version. Thumb in the center and as you tip your thumb it would make contact with the micro-wheel. I'd assume developers would enable usage per app.