Filed under: Gaming, Hardware, Software, Odds and ends, Apple, Apple TV
by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Dec 31st 2009 at 5:00PM
Apple has
updated a patent that they already held featuring a sort of a Magic Wand -- a remote control for operating a media system by controlling an on-screen cursor. That might sound familiar if you own a Wii -- even the pictures look very similar to the way the Wiimote currently works. And the pictures tell us something else: not only does the patent itself mention a "media system," but the user interface looks very similar to
the current Front Row interface on the Apple TV. So it's likely that if Apple is updating this patent, they're working on a new remote to control their set-top box.
But that doesn't mean it's the only thing they'd use a motion controller for -- I speculated a long time ago that Apple might want to put their now substantial App Store library into play on another platform, and a motion controller would go a long way towards replicating the touchscreen and accelerometer capability of the iPhone. Of course, this patent only means Apple is playing around with these ideas, not actually releasing hardware based on them. But it just shows that they're thinking along the same lines in terms of improving the browsing and interface experience.
Tags: app-store, apple, apple-tv, box, front-row, games, interface, library, magic-wand, motion control, MotionControl, patent, platform, us-patent
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
*** said 5:20PM on 12-31-2009
Sounds like its a violation of this invention though:
http://thewandcompany.com/
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Cleve said 5:34PM on 12-31-2009
You forgot to mention the most important part rof the patent. The AppleTV photoshop application!!
http://9to5mac.com/apple_remote_mac_iphone_controller_20260
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Jordan said 6:09PM on 12-31-2009
So Apple wants to turn the AppleTV into a video game system via the app store, eh....
I haven't even seen it, nor do I really know that's what they want, but I can already tell you I would not buy.
Reply
cowfodder said 7:43PM on 12-31-2009
But that's only because you're a stupid troll.
SIP said 8:28PM on 12-31-2009
What cowfodder said
Jordan said 2:19AM on 1-01-2010
No, that's because I want REAL games, ie, not 5 minute apps that are a complete waste of money. This, the way it's being pictured, is nothing but a Wii, and we all know how fun and lasting the Wii games are....
But let me guess, because you love Apple you're going to aruge that the games would somehow be better...
madoon said 4:04AM on 1-03-2010
I recently had to come up with a concept for the redesign of a product (as an assessment in college). I chose Apple TV and the wand; this is a mockup of a poster for it: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30871089&l=da570bd31c&id=1422707622
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