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Ice Cream Sandwich supports game controllers and HDMI
Google Android engineer Romain Guy announced via Twitter that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich will support USB game pads and HDMI. The 140 character limit message points out that users can essentially turn their Galaxy Nexus into a video game console.
There aren’t too many other details at the moment but it’s clear that users would need a micro USB adapter in order to plug in a game pad and preferably somewhere stationary to sit and place the phone while gaming.
The only other smartphone on the market to offer gamers a similar experience is the “Playstation” phone, otherwise known as Sony’s Xperia Play. The Xperia Play features a slide-out game pad complete with directional pad, four thumb buttons as well as two touch-sensitive joysticks. There are also start and select keys as well as a separate menu button.
Although it wasn’t mentioned in Guy’s post, the idea of using a controller with future Android 4.0 tablets is very appealing. Nvidia’s Tegra 3, codenamed Kal-El, is expected to launch on tablets in the near future and early video demos and benchmark results are extremely impressive. Furthermore, tablets would have a full-sized USB port so there would be no need for a micro USB adapter or any additional accessories to complete the mobile gaming experience.
No specific launch date has been announced for the Galaxy Nexus although the latest rumors point to November 10 at $299 with a two year service agreement. The Galaxy Nexus will be the first Ice Cream Sandwich device available. Other phones like the Motorola Razr are expected to get the update in early 2012.
User Comments: 12
Got something to say? Post a comment-
Just to be clear.
THIS
is innovation.
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ghasmanjr said:
Apple will do this for the iPhone 5 and say they did it first.
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ghasmanjr said:
*coughSiricough*
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This was once called the Nexus Prime right? And it's replacing the Galaxy S II as Samsung's new latest and greatest correct?
I wish they'd just use Korean... then at least I would expect to be confused and wouldn't feel so dumb.
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Tomorrow_Rains said:
Just to be clear.
THIS
is innovation.
Hooking up a game controller that's larger than the phone itself just to play something on a small screen? That doesn't really strike me as 'innovation.'
Maybe Siri just sets the bar that low.
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DokkRokken said:
Hooking up a game controller that's larger than the phone itself just to play something on a small screen? That doesn't really strike me as 'innovation.'
Maybe Siri just sets the bar that low.
The article is really about it working with Android 4, and it's much more applicable to tablets. They mention the phone because it's all we have right now that runs Android 4.
You're right though... i don't see anyone really doing this on their phone. Unless there's some game that they really like that's hard to play without a controller.
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You would use "mirror mode" to dispay the HD resolution game to an HD Television.
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Maybe the ability to use a mini USB controller may get developers to create more Android games
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"Hooking up a game controller that's larger than the phone itself just to play something on a small screen? That doesn't really strike me as 'innovation.' "
Think about it, HDMI to your 46" screen, mini USB to Controller... you got yourself a console...
this IS INNOVATIVE!!!!
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Guest said:
"Hooking up a game controller that's larger than the phone itself just to play something on a small screen? That doesn't really strike me as 'innovation.' "
Think about it, HDMI to your 46" screen, mini USB to Controller... you got yourself a console...
this IS INNOVATIVE!!!!
So you can... what? Play Angry Birds or some cut-down version of Sim City on your 46" screen? Why not just like... buy a real console that plays real games?
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**"So you can... what? Play Angry Birds or some cut-down version of Sim City on your 46" screen?"**
have you seen the capabilities of mobile gfx? soon it will over take console
**"Why not just like... buy a real console that plays real games?"**
because not everyone has money growing on their backs, console games are expensive
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spinach pie said:
micro usb to hdmi on any mobile runing ice cream sandwich? (xperia play running the beta version?)
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