60Beat GamePad controller works with iOS games through the headphone port
There have been a few game controllers released for iOS devices like the iPad and iPhone, but none that I've seen that work as elegantly as the 60beat GamePad promises it will. The GamePad offers all of the buttons you'd expect on a HD generation video game controller (with analog sticks and triggers and so on), but instead of using the iOS device's 30-pin connector, it hooks up through the headphone port, and apparently passes audio information across there somehow.
Unfortunately, because that's such an interesting connection, the controller only works with two games at the moment, Bugdom and Aftermath. But the company is promising more compatibility next year, and hopefully as more developers jump on board, we'll see more widespread support.
It's certainly an interesting prospect. The controller itself is $50, but as it works with more games, that price will definitely become more and more worth it. I personally have been using the OnLive wireless controller to play those games on my iPad (which still isn't available to the public, unfortunately), and I've been wishing for a controller like this, so hopefully 60beat will get the support it needs from devs.
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There have been a few game controllers released for iOS devices like the iPad and iPhone, but none that I've seen that work as...
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why won't apple just make or allow a bluetooth controller or something so people can use these iPads as game systems on a tv? Thats why i just bought an asus transformer prime 2. I can't use a bluetooth controller and play some of the newer games with a real controller on my big screen tv. If apple allowed this i would get an iPad in a heartbeat.
December 30 2011 at 10:12 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyApple already allows it. It's just that nobody has made a controller and get most games to support it.
December 31 2011 at 2:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAs I understand it, analog controls are not possible via the dock connector because Apple does not allow enough access to the device via the 30-pin connector. The way most other game controllers for iOS have worked so far is by emulating a bluetooth keyboard, which is all well and good for digital controls.
December 30 2011 at 8:22 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYour understanding is incorrect. Analog controls are digitized before their values are sent to the host device (and the software using the controls). This is not a dock connector restriction, it's the only possible way to do it. Any developer can use Apple's API to access devices connected through the dock connector (or Bluetooth) and communicate using any desired protocol.
December 31 2011 at 2:02 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply... WOW. That guy does NOT know how to demonstrate a product.
Although it is a pretty cool product.
David in Houston
They should have used the 30-pin dock connector or a Bluetooth connection. People often play games using their headphones.
December 29 2011 at 11:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYeah, i had the same question. Bluetooth would have required batteries though. Why headphone jack instead of 30pin? No idea.
I went to the website 60beat.com and they say it comes with an audio splitter, so hogging the headphone jack is not an issue. I would have preferred an additional jack on the pad itself, i think it would have been more elegant. But overall i think it's pretty cool!
"it hooks up through the headphone port, and apparently passes audio information across there somehow."
Wow what a mysterious way to get info into a device... until you remember that the headphone jack is actually a multi-function jack that also works as a microphone jack.
Anyway seem like an odd way to connect but I guess they didn't want to license the dock connector and maybe want to make it so at a later date it will work with other devices that also include a multi-jack or mic jack.
Meh... Why not just make a controller for the 30 pin dock?..... It'd definitely have been a lot easier for the company so they could focus on making a BETTER CONTROLLER in general... Also, (im not positive about this, but just based on my assumptions...) it'd probably be easier on developers because they wouldn't have to add support with a separate SDK (which is what the company is probably going to offer to devs; instead of using an already existing SDK, which idk that exists...)
Lastly, making it go through the headphone jack doesn't offer much over a dock connecter in terms of secureness, headphone jacks may be able to withstand more 'nudges' without damaging the device, but i still dont think thats worth it overall.....
-Sean
You can't use the 30-pin adaptor without Apple's OK. First, the hardware is proprietary and making an accessory requires licensing from Apple, which they won't give for a gamepad or one of the bigger companies would have done it already, without being sued for counterfeiting (see monoprice.com). Second, there's no way for applications to access the dock connector directly, you can access system APIs which provide limited access to things plugged into it.
December 30 2011 at 10:22 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYou could use Bluetooth instead if approval were to be an issue.
Applications can access accessories through the dock connector just fine. The 'limited access' is exactly what's needed to communicate with the things plugged in.
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