Apple Patent Hints At Secret iPhone Feature
By Will Park on Monday, April 16th, 2007 at 12:44 am PST In AT&T, Apple, Mac OS, Rumors, Technologies, iPhone
Boy, do we love patent applications (especially from the fellas in Cupertino)! This newest snippet from the USPTO gives hint to a possible un-announced feature in the Apple iPhone. The patent mentions a “wireless controller can be a portable remote controller, and the host device can be a personal computer, a home stereo, a portable media player, or a docking station for a portable media player.” Word on the street has it that “compatible handheld devices, such as a mobile phone,” can control a Mac or Apple TV. Cross your fingers Apple fanboys!
Actually, Apple doesn’t specifically refer to the iPhone in the patent, but the “mobile phone” sounds suspiciously like you-know-what. Rumors are flying around that the iPhone may double as a remote control for your Apple TV (if you happen to actually have one) and apps like iTunes on your Mac. If hearsay turns out to be truth, this could be just what Apple needs to market the iPhone as more of a multimedia platform.
Man, how “cool” would I look using my uber-trendy iPhone to control iTunes and Front Row on my still-trendy MacBook? Pretty damn cool, that’s how I’d look!
Via: slashphone
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:44 am
One can already control their mac with almost any bluetooth phone. It even shows the itunes artwork on both my nokia’s and sony’s displays.
http://www.sallingclicker.com
Not enough people use this. It also works with PCs!
Piece,
Jeff
April 23rd, 2007 at 7:49 am
Sorry ’bout that. Gambling’s bad.
It’s http://www.salling.com
September 8th, 2007 at 8:05 am
Why just the Apply TV, why not a normal home TV. If I am not wrong iPhone does not have IR built in. Anyway I would love if iPhone will allow users to control other devices as well and not just stick to Apple periphery.
August 19th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
this can be done already! theres a free remote control application available in your applications store. its to control your itunes on your computer through your iphone but i beleive you need to have wifi.