Apple to get license for Haptic technology?

A recent Engadget post suggests that Apple may be licensing haptic (or force-feedback) technology for the iPhone; this would allow users to 'feel' button presses or other interactions with our favorite touchable UI. Immersion is the company speculated to be bringing this technology to the iPhone, as they've added this kind of feedback tech to the entire Nokia lineup.

Immersion had some interesting news of their own this week, as one of Apple's former executives, Clent Richardson, was appointed as Immersion's president and CEO. Executive swapping doesn't always lead to close collaboration, but it can't hurt.

Original Post by Palluxo

[via Engadget]

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/26/apple-looking-to-immersio…

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A recent Engadget post suggests that Apple may be licensing haptic (or force-feedback) technology for the iPhone; this would allow users to...

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YoJIMbo

"haptic FEEDBACK" Not "haptic" learn your words darling engadget.

April 27 2008 at 3:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to YoJIMbo's comment

(01)

(looks around) Did I jump to Engadget while I wasn't paying attention? I didn't think so....

April 27 2008 at 5:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

kevin

if i'm correct, the "haptic" version of force feedback is trickier than just "ok you pressed a button, i'm going to vibrate now." if it works the way it should work, it will vibrate the phone near the actual button itself, so you not only know that you pressed a button, you know where you pressed a button.

April 27 2008 at 10:29 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

EatingPie

Okay, I'll bite...

Why force feedback on a phone?

I guess I can see *knowing* you press a button. But there's this other thing called "beep" that seems to work quite well... and doesn't require licensing fees or suddenly battery death syndrome.

-Pie

April 27 2008 at 7:19 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mark

And what is this going to do to my already poor battery life?

April 27 2008 at 12:01 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to mark's comment

ItsInTheCave

Kill it.

Just as 3G will kill battery life.

April 27 2008 at 3:14 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Chris Turpin

As ItsInTheCave said, I won't buy the iPhone if it goes 3G, unless Apple *really* knows what it's doing.

I have a Samsung SGH-A737 (on AT&T), it supports 3G, and gets maybe a fourth of what the iPhone gets on battery life. It's totally horrible. To keep it relevant, haptic feedback would only make it worse. That, coupled with 3G, is going to equal an iPhone with seriously diminished battery life.

I only hope Steve keeps good on his word and brings 3G to the iPhone when the time is right. (Certainly not now.)

April 29 2008 at 3:50 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply