iControlPad: The answer to mobile gaming control 'mares?
Does the Bluetooth pad push your buttons?
In response to our iOS game reviews, many readers highlight how on-screen controls for such titles are considerably impractical. Behold the iControlPad, which went on sale today and could be the solution we've all been waiting for.
The iControlPad was originally designed for iPhones, but the company feared Apple wouldn't approve of a device that linked directly to its hardware and decided Bluetooth was the way forward.
The iControlPad supports the following smartphones:
iPhone 3, iPhone 3G, iPhone, iPhone 3GS, iPhone4, iPod touch, Motorola Backflip, Lg Optimus S, Lg Ally, Blackberry Touch, Samsung Intercept, HTC Dream, T-Mobile G1, Era G1.
Any devices of a similar size could fit too, but users may have to make slight adjustments to the clamps that hold it in place. The pad also features an internal 1500mAh battery pack, which is able to charge your phone through USB while you play.
The company says iPhone users should jailbreak their phones to use it properly, although it runs fine in keyboard mode. The pad should also 'just work' with any Android app that supports a PC gamepad.
The iControlPad is available now for £47. Shipping begins on Feb 16. ®
COMMENTS
@Gordon 10
> Talk about limiting your market.
... well, sounds like the wanted to make a "clean" iPhone controller but because of the probably Apple restrictions etc they've ended up with something that requires a jailbroken Apple ... or, it seems, any Android phone .... sounds like expanding to the soon to be dominant market to me!
Yay
I've been wondering when somebody will finally make one of these. Hopefully lots of competing versions will be made, but all using the standard bluetooth keyboard protocol... encouraging iOS game makers to support standard bluetooth keys (eg. arrow keys, space) for their games.
Why
Why would you want to talk to someone on your phone?
Umm
"Talk about limiting your market."
You chose to enter that limited market.
/me points at the troll, shouts "it was him" and runs, fast.
improve design
The idea is great but the design downright ugly plus it looks like it's made of rubber or really cheap plastic? Make sure that the design is sturdy and attractive and I'm grabbing one for my Desire HD to play SNES games on it.http://www.reghardware.com/Design/graphics/icons/comment/go_32.png
