Apple patent filing details possible "remote wand" for Apple TV, again
by Donald Melanson 
posted Mar 12th 2009 at 1:54PM
We've already seen some patent evidence that Apple has at least been considering a Wiimote-like controller for the Apple TV, and a newly published patent filing has now thrown yet more fuel onto the fire, although, as with all Apple patents, that's hardly a guarantee of anything. Still, this latest filing is nothing if not detailed, and it clearly shows the so-called "remote wand" being used to control just about every aspect of the Apple TV, with the wand being twisted and turned to flip through a music library, rotate pictures, and simply control a cursor on the screen -- there's even a glimpse of it being used with a paint application. So, it's certainly possible, perhaps even likely given Apple's increasing distaste for buttons, but just keep all those Apple patents for head-mounted displays in the back of your mind lest you get too excited.
Filed under: Misc, Media streamers, Other hardware, Remotes, Apple
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bozster @ Mar 12th 2009 2:14PM
How long before Apple starts saying that the Wiimote like interface is actually theirs.
burndive @ Mar 12th 2009 4:35PM
This kind of thing doesn't seem remotely patentable. Any ingenuity would have already come from the wireless mice and other pointing devices such as the Wii Remote.
This is just a not-particularly-novel (i.e., "obvious") use of existing technology.