iPhone SDK: Could Motion Controls Make the iPhone a Mini Wii?

Leander Kahney ()

In addition to VOIP, the iPhone SDK may give programmers access to the iPhone’s motion sensors, which may result in all kinds of interesting motion-activated controls.

For example, hacker Erling Ellingsen has already built three homemade iPhone applications that are controlled by tilting, rotating or shaking the iPhone.

Ellingsen’s three demo apps are a virtual Steve Jobs bobble-head that bobs its head when the phone is shaken; a maze that is navigated by tipping and turning the phone; and a virtual box of balls that roll and bounce as he rotates the phone.

In the real world, there might kinds of interesting possibilities for game developers — think handheld portable Wii.

See Ellingsen’s impressive video:

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4 comments »

About the author

Leander Kahney

is the editor and publisher of Cult of Mac, and author of three books about technology culture: Inside Steve’s Brain, the New York Times bestseller about Steve Jobs; Cult of Mac; and Cult of iPod. Leander has written for Wired, MacWeek, Scientific American, and The Guardian in London. Follow Leander on Twitter @lkahney and Facebook.

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Posted in iPod |

  • 01

    So let me get this straight…
    First, Nintendo is going to buy out Apple
    Then, they’re going to merge
    Apple releases the iPhone, which is going after the Nintendo DS due to the touch-screen nature of the device
    Nintendo strikes back with motion sensitivity..a cheap, game oriented iPhone?
    Suddenly, the SDK for the iPhone is coming…iWii is the result?

    Brutal guys….just brutal. Overlapping demographics, sure, but I can’t see the iPhone as the portable wii. Unless the AppleTV starts selling games using the iPhone as the controller. NOW you have me interested….

  • Church of Apple

    “Unless the AppleTV starts selling games using the iPhone as the controller. NOW you have me interested….”

    Genius!
    Except that the controllers would cost as much or more than the counsel…

  • http://www.macnewbtube.wordpress.com Mac Newb

    They are simply stating the possibility of Apple making a run for the portable gaming market. Sources such as The Mac Newb Tube deem it highly possible. Just think, if Apple hits their target of 10 million iPhone (plus iPod touch) users worldwide, they will be solidified at at least # 3 in handheld gaming. Strengthen by the fact that the SDK has just been announced, I think gaming is right around the corner.

    The touch screen will give developer so much freedom (imagine Okami)! Then, after the base is more wide spread, I think we’ll be seeing DS ports by Christmas 2008.

  • iteige

    lol,yh just a lil,
    i would like if nintendo and apple joined together or somin,that would be kl