springsup
macrumors 65816
It seems more like the joystick on the PSP. That wasn't too bad; not quite as good as a more rounded stick (as on the PSVita), but better than nothing.
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iPhone Home Button That Transforms Into Gaming Joystick Shown in Apple Patent Application
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It seems more like the joystick on the PSP. That wasn't too bad; not quite as good as a more rounded stick (as on the PSVita), but better than nothing.
Nunyabinez
macrumors 68000
As a few have hinted at, patents are issued for ideas that might get used either by the company themselves or someone else in the future. Think of this like when you brainstorm. The rule for brainstorming is that you don't censor ideas because even a crazy idea can become the jumping off point for a truly innovative, great idea.
Later on you look at those ideas critically and decide which actually make sense. That's all this is, an example of institutional brainstorming. And, if someone (Samsung) decides to implement something like this, then Apple can collect a small licensing fee.
If you've followed Apple at all, you know that there are many, many things that they have patented that have not and likely will not ever see the light of day.
Later on you look at those ideas critically and decide which actually make sense. That's all this is, an example of institutional brainstorming. And, if someone (Samsung) decides to implement something like this, then Apple can collect a small licensing fee.
If you've followed Apple at all, you know that there are many, many things that they have patented that have not and likely will not ever see the light of day.
nostaws
macrumors 6502a
Maybe since the 4s, but for sure with the 5, apple figured out their home button woes. The home buttons have been solid since.
Mousse
macrumors 601
Or it could be like playing with the analogy joystick on the PSP (I'm a fan of nearly dead tech and my PSP-2000 is one of them😉). They would have to make the home button/joystick more robust, but I how it would be good for a game like Minecraft or RPGs or platform games like MegaMan.
Edit: OY! springsup has a picture of my PSP.😱
Seems like a cool idea, but as has been pointed out several times... It looks like it could be a reliability nightmare.
sonicrobby
macrumors 68030
Very innovative! This could have many uses! It could be utilized mouse cursor for Remote Desktop apps like splastop, or even a mouse for that rumored OSX iOS hybrid device.
Very original - for example, even Windows CE-based Palm size PC's, back in 1997-1998, had such a combined joystick & action (if you depress the joystick) buttons.
Neat Idea but I also guess that will make the home button even more vulnerable. On every iPhone I have had so far the home button broke at some point.
mdelvecchio
macrumors 68040
please quote their use of the term over use of the home button.
electronic consumer goods have pretty standard warranties -- 1 year. im sure if your home button broke within that year it would be 100% covered. anything beyond that is just like everything else -- not covered. TVs, receivers, head units, remotes, etc..
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what new home button? it's a patent. apple patents things they dont use every single day.
And Lana's huge fingers would just crush that poor little springy home button
-Dutchess
Please for the love of God, NO!! IOS gaming sucks ass! I have nothing to do with it and don't want this absolutely useless feature.
I wonder if they can utilize the existing camera in the TouchID sensor to function as an optical track pad (think Blackberry). That would seem to be the best solution as it does not increase mechanical complexity of an already overused button and would provide functionality beyond just gaming.
For example I would love to be able to slide my finger over the button to move the curser while typing or selecting text.
For example I would love to be able to slide my finger over the button to move the curser while typing or selecting text.
ArtOfWarfare
macrumors G3
Now we just need the - Volume button to be able to slide down the body of the device and we can have a proper controller with a joystick and shoulder buttons.
I don't mind touch screen A/B/X/Y buttons or D Pad - it's just the virtual joysticks and lack of shoulder buttons that make modern console quality games difficult to play on an iOS device (they can play pre-N64 games pretty well. I'm really enjoying A Link to the Past via Floppy Cloud on my iPhone 6+.)
I don't mind touch screen A/B/X/Y buttons or D Pad - it's just the virtual joysticks and lack of shoulder buttons that make modern console quality games difficult to play on an iOS device (they can play pre-N64 games pretty well. I'm really enjoying A Link to the Past via Floppy Cloud on my iPhone 6+.)
Yebubbleman
macrumors 603
Agreed, but I think the real fix for this is a UI re-think. Personally I find that I double tap more than I single tap it. IMHO Apple should have a single tap bring up the multi tasking panel, with the quick launch tray visable at the bottom and the app lancher being brought up with a swipe to the left (like today).
Seems a prime candidate for components from Liquidmetal, which likely wouldn't suffer the same fatigue as conventional metals. They'd need to add touch/force sensors on the opposing bezel of the iPhone. Perhaps the volume buttons could be used as shoulder buttons. Not the most ergonomic, but at a pinch I'd take it.
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Not if Samsung buys the rights to the Blackberry patents lol.😀
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It could also provide increased functionality in other creative applications... For e.g. to tilt a canvas in a 3d application etc.?
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According to the post, it would work with touch ID.
Well, the joystick itself is obviously a moving part. And then add on some sort of a latching mechanism for retracting this silly thing.
I took apart a Nintendo 64 controller once because the analog joystick had stopped working. There's more moving parts than you might expect in any analog joystick. Putting it back together was a feat of dexterity and reverse engineering.
LordVic
Cancelled
I think this is an indication that we're coming around almost full circle. BBRY wasn't entirely wrong with having their precision pointer control.
touch is great. can do 'most' of what we do. But i'm sure i'm not alone when I realize that it doesn't always provide the fine control that you occasionally need, whether it be gaming, selecting text for copying or clicking links, sometimes you just want something to control that pointer with a little more accuracy.
This could be Apples answer, without needing to add anything to the overall look and feel of the iPhone. A physical based control knob isn't unique here, but I will admit, I don't think i've seen anyone do a form of "popup" method on a phone ye.t
(would love to see examples if they do exist for curiosity sake)
touch is great. can do 'most' of what we do. But i'm sure i'm not alone when I realize that it doesn't always provide the fine control that you occasionally need, whether it be gaming, selecting text for copying or clicking links, sometimes you just want something to control that pointer with a little more accuracy.
This could be Apples answer, without needing to add anything to the overall look and feel of the iPhone. A physical based control knob isn't unique here, but I will admit, I don't think i've seen anyone do a form of "popup" method on a phone ye.t
(would love to see examples if they do exist for curiosity sake)
itsOver9000
macrumors 6502
I can see Apple doing away with the home button entirely rather than ever including something like this on iPhone/iPad. But who knows..
teslo
macrumors 6502a
if it's got apple's proven high build-quality, i feel like this wouldn't really 'wear out' at all, unless you're both aggressive and addicted to gaming on the thing 24/7. i like playing golden axe on the train, but an added stick for movement would be great. it doesn't have to be that raised or very loose at all - as long as you get slight directional input.