IControlPad
Encyclopedia
The iControlPad is a wireless
game controller
compatible with a variety of smartphone
s, tablets
, and personal computer
s. It is designed for use as either a standalone gamepad
or attached to appropriately sized devices, such as the iPhone
, using a clamp system. In this way, the iControlPad is able to add traditional physical gaming controls to devices which otherwise rely on inputs such as touchscreen
s and accelerometer
s.
, dual analog nubs
, six digital face buttons, and two digital trigger buttons on the gamepad's reverse. The sides of the iControlPad are detachable, with two different attachment types: rubber grips, for using the controller as a standard wireless gamepad; or plastic clamps, for connecting with a suitable handheld, such as a smartphone or iPod Touch
. A mini USB port on the bottom of the iControlPad can be used to charge the internal 1500mAh battery, update the device's firmware
, and charge attached devices using a USB On-The-Go
connection and an appropriate adapter.
The iControlPad, a Bluetooth
device, can be run in a wide variety of modes, including as a HID
keyboard
, mouse
, joystick
, and gamepad, among others, allowing compatibility with equipment which is limited to only certain types of input. One of the iControlPad's modes mimics the protocol used by the iCade
, an arcade cabinet released for the Apple iPad
, facilitating compatibility between apps designed for the iCade and the iControlPad hardware.
Due to the iControlPad's ability to operate as a Bluetooth keyboard—by mapping the D-pad and buttons to standard keyboard keys—it is able to communicate with devices such as those running Apple's iOS, including the iPhone and iPad, which do not support Bluetooth gamepads. Since iOS natively supports keyboards, apps can be developed with iControlPad compatibility using either its own protocol or that of the iCade. Thus, the iControlPad is able to control video games and video game console emulator
s across multiple platforms.
gamepad to connect to an iPhone over the dock connection. Once the serial connection was working, the first prototype iControlPad was produced, using a design styled after the Sony
PSP
. This earliest concept was a one-piece case enveloping the iPhone, with a D-pad
on the left side, and four face buttons on the right in a landscape orientation, and was first revealed in 2008.
By November 2009, a completely redesigned iControlPad prototype was under development. This much larger version moved the controls below the screen and added two analog nubs and two trigger buttons to the controller. This design, which featured clamps to attach it to the iPhone, was much closer to the version that was ultimately released, and would soon go into production.
However, one large change was to occur very late in development. The team had secretly added Bluetooth support to the iControlPad, in order to increase compatibility beyond the iPhone and its proprietary connection. This proved fortunate when Apple began exercising its rights over the dock connector, suing an unlicensed accessory maker. Thus, the iControlPad team were forced to adapt to use the Bluetooth connection for the iPhone, and it was this version which finally became available for order in February 2011.
Supported via iControlPad's iCade
mode.Only on iPad.Requires jailbreaking on iOS.
Requires jailbreaking on iOS.
Supported via iControlPad's iCade mode.
noted that while "patience and geekery" were required to get the controller working, the iControlPad "almost perfectly solves the touchscreen game control conundrum". Gadgetoid homed in on the device's usefulness for classic gaming, remarking that it was "awesome [...] for emulation on the go". TouchArcade's reviewer said of playing games with the iControlPad that "the experience feels great", but that "[he couldn't] recommend that the typical gamer run out right now and grab one," due to its limited support on the iTunes App Store.
Early reviews were mixed on the quality of the controls, with DroidGamers describing them as "very loose", while, conversely, Register Hardware said "the analogue nubs and face buttons work extremely well". The controls' responsiveness was later improved by replacing the original rubber keymat with a larger one. In their review, Gadgetoid lauded the inputs as having "a great tactile feel and a liberal amount of travel with a good response."
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
game controller
Game controller
A game controller is a device used with games or entertainment systems used to control a playable character or object, or otherwise provide input in a computer game. A controller is typically connected to a game console or computer by means of a wire, cord or nowadays, by means of wireless connection...
compatible with a variety of smartphone
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
s, tablets
Tablet computer
A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a complete mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen...
, and personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
s. It is designed for use as either a standalone gamepad
Gamepad
A gamepad , is a type of game controller held in two hands, where the digits are used to provide input. Gamepads generally feature a set of action buttons handled with the right thumb and a direction controller handled with the left...
or attached to appropriately sized devices, such as the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
, using a clamp system. In this way, the iControlPad is able to add traditional physical gaming controls to devices which otherwise rely on inputs such as touchscreen
Touchscreen
A touchscreen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touching the display of the device with a finger or hand. Touchscreens can also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus...
s and accelerometer
Accelerometer
An accelerometer is a device that measures proper acceleration, also called the four-acceleration. This is not necessarily the same as the coordinate acceleration , but is rather the type of acceleration associated with the phenomenon of weight experienced by a test mass that resides in the frame...
s.
Overview
The iControlPad's input controls include an eight-directional D-padD-pad
A D-pad is a flat, usually thumb-operated directional control with one button on each point, found on nearly all modern video game console gamepads, game controllers, on the remote control units of some television and DVD players, and smart phones...
, dual analog nubs
Analog stick
An analog stick, sometimes called a control stick or thumbstick, is an input device for a controller that is used for two-dimensional input. An analog stick is a variation of a joystick, consisting of a protrusion from the controller; input is based on the position of this protrusion in relation...
, six digital face buttons, and two digital trigger buttons on the gamepad's reverse. The sides of the iControlPad are detachable, with two different attachment types: rubber grips, for using the controller as a standard wireless gamepad; or plastic clamps, for connecting with a suitable handheld, such as a smartphone or iPod Touch
IPod Touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
. A mini USB port on the bottom of the iControlPad can be used to charge the internal 1500mAh battery, update the device's firmware
Firmware
In electronic systems and computing, firmware is a term often used to denote the fixed, usually rather small, programs and/or data structures that internally control various electronic devices...
, and charge attached devices using a USB On-The-Go
USB On-The-Go
USB On-The-Go, often abbreviated USB OTG, is a specification that allows USB devices such as digital audio players or mobile phones to act as a host allowing a USB Flash Drive, mouse, or keyboard to be attached.- Architecture :...
connection and an appropriate adapter.
The iControlPad, a Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
device, can be run in a wide variety of modes, including as a HID
Human interface device
A human interface device or HID is a type of computer device that interacts directly with, and most often takes input from, humans and may deliver output to humans. The term "HID" most commonly refers to the USB-HID specification. The term was coined by Mike Van Flandern of Microsoft when he...
keyboard
Computer keyboard
In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches...
, mouse
Mouse (computing)
In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons...
, joystick
Joystick
A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. Joysticks, also known as 'control columns', are the principal control in the cockpit of many civilian and military aircraft, either as a center stick or...
, and gamepad, among others, allowing compatibility with equipment which is limited to only certain types of input. One of the iControlPad's modes mimics the protocol used by the iCade
ICade
The iCade is an accessory for the Apple iPad line of devices which functions as a miniaturised, portable arcade cabinet, including a physical joystick and buttons...
, an arcade cabinet released for the Apple iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
, facilitating compatibility between apps designed for the iCade and the iControlPad hardware.
Due to the iControlPad's ability to operate as a Bluetooth keyboard—by mapping the D-pad and buttons to standard keyboard keys—it is able to communicate with devices such as those running Apple's iOS, including the iPhone and iPad, which do not support Bluetooth gamepads. Since iOS natively supports keyboards, apps can be developed with iControlPad compatibility using either its own protocol or that of the iCade. Thus, the iControlPad is able to control video games and video game console emulator
Video game console emulator
A video game console emulator is a program that allows a computer or modern console to emulate a different video game console's behavior. Emulators are most often used to play older video games on personal computers and modern video game consoles, but they are also used to play games translated...
s across multiple platforms.
Development
Development of the iControlPad began in 2007, with testing using a hacked SNESSuper Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
gamepad to connect to an iPhone over the dock connection. Once the serial connection was working, the first prototype iControlPad was produced, using a design styled after the Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
. This earliest concept was a one-piece case enveloping the iPhone, with a D-pad
D-pad
A D-pad is a flat, usually thumb-operated directional control with one button on each point, found on nearly all modern video game console gamepads, game controllers, on the remote control units of some television and DVD players, and smart phones...
on the left side, and four face buttons on the right in a landscape orientation, and was first revealed in 2008.
By November 2009, a completely redesigned iControlPad prototype was under development. This much larger version moved the controls below the screen and added two analog nubs and two trigger buttons to the controller. This design, which featured clamps to attach it to the iPhone, was much closer to the version that was ultimately released, and would soon go into production.
However, one large change was to occur very late in development. The team had secretly added Bluetooth support to the iControlPad, in order to increase compatibility beyond the iPhone and its proprietary connection. This proved fortunate when Apple began exercising its rights over the dock connector, suing an unlicensed accessory maker. Thus, the iControlPad team were forced to adapt to use the Bluetooth connection for the iPhone, and it was this version which finally became available for order in February 2011.
Apple iOS
| Title | Developer | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atari's Greatest Hits | Atari Atari Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in... |
06 Apr 2011 | Supported since launch. |
| Compression HD | Little White Bear Studios | 17 May 2010 | Supported since version 1.3. |
| HungryMaster | xionchannel | 02 Jul 2011 | Supported since version 1.12. |
| iMAME4All | David Valdeita | 16 Aug 2010 | Supported since version 1.7. |
| IronStar Arena | Appracatappra | 06 May 2011 | Supported since version 02.00. |
| Mos Speedrun | Physmo | 06 Apr 2011 | Supported since version 1.4. |
| Sideways Racing | Bjango | 23 May 2011 | Supported since version 1.0.2. |
| Velocispider | Retro Dreamer | 31 May 2011 | Supported since version 1.2. |
| "Flashback: The Quest for Identity" | manomio | 18 Aug 2011 | Supported since version 1.5. |
ICade
The iCade is an accessory for the Apple iPad line of devices which functions as a miniaturised, portable arcade cabinet, including a physical joystick and buttons...
mode.Only on iPad.Requires jailbreaking on iOS.
Multiplatform
| Title | Developer | Release date | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GBC.emu | Robert Broglia | 23 Apr 2011 | Android, iOS, webOS | Supported since launch. |
| MD.emu | Robert Broglia | 28 Jun 2011 | Android, iOS, webOS | Supported since launch. |
| NES.emu | Robert Broglia | 09 Feb 2011 | Android, iOS, webOS | Supported since 1.3.13. |
| PCE.emu | Robert Broglia | 27 Aug 2010 | Android, iOS, webOS | Supported since 1.3.13. |
| Snes9x EX | Robert Broglia | 16 Mar 2011 | Android, iOS, webOS | Supported since launch. |
Apple iOS
| Title | Developer | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commodore 64 | Manomio | 05 Sep 2009 | Support expected in next update. |
| iAmiga | Manomio | TBA | Support expected at launch. |
| Interstellar Force | David Molnar | 10 Mar 2011 | Support expected in next update. |
| No Gravity | Realtech VR | 24 Mar 2011 | Support expected in next update. |
Reception
Reception for the iControlPad has been mostly positive. Register HardwareThe Register
The Register is a British technology news and opinion website. It was founded by John Lettice, Mike Magee and Ross Alderson in 1994 as a newsletter called "Chip Connection", initially as an email service...
noted that while "patience and geekery" were required to get the controller working, the iControlPad "almost perfectly solves the touchscreen game control conundrum". Gadgetoid homed in on the device's usefulness for classic gaming, remarking that it was "awesome [...] for emulation on the go". TouchArcade's reviewer said of playing games with the iControlPad that "the experience feels great", but that "[he couldn't] recommend that the typical gamer run out right now and grab one," due to its limited support on the iTunes App Store.
Early reviews were mixed on the quality of the controls, with DroidGamers describing them as "very loose", while, conversely, Register Hardware said "the analogue nubs and face buttons work extremely well". The controls' responsiveness was later improved by replacing the original rubber keymat with a larger one. In their review, Gadgetoid lauded the inputs as having "a great tactile feel and a liberal amount of travel with a good response."
See also
- PandoraPandora (console)The Pandora is a handheld game console designed to take advantage of existing open source software and to be a target for homebrew development...
, a handheld game console developed by the iControlPad team