Avago Technologies develops hybrid, touch-sensitive controller

A Korean company called Avago Technologies has just announced a new control unit for remotes, video games, phones, and media players called the AMRS-2325. The small, touch-sensitive pad is a multi-faceted input device which allows control to vacillate between an iPod-like scroll-wheel, a game joystick, or a four-way navigational pad. The company also produces an electronic controller for the pads, called the AMRI-1000, which is an IC chip used to switch functionality between the various modes. Together, the two technologies make for a supposedly low-power solution which Avago, judging from their artist renderings, seems to think would be equally suited to an Xbox 360 controller, Logitech remote, or Zune / iPhone hybrid -- an idea which should scare the living daylights out of Apple and Microsoft fanatics alike.

[Via Remote Shoppe]

[Joe Smith @ Aug 7th 2007 8:35AM]

Nooooo!!!!!! My two favorite companies, Apple and Microsoft, are both in peril!!!

[Chris Macdonald @ Aug 7th 2007 9:04AM]

How can your 2 favorite companies be Apple and Microsoft... thats just not right

[Dinraj @ Aug 7th 2007 8:47AM]

At first look, before reading the headline, thought it was the Zune Phone :))

[Josh @ Aug 7th 2007 11:29AM]

With iPod Headphones? Riiiiiggght

[Rob @ Aug 7th 2007 8:57AM]

Considering how ridiculous our patents system is these days, how long is it going to take before the companies that own the scroll wheel, joystick, and four-way navigational pad technology start to sue. I'm not saying it's going to happen. But, I already foresee a post on Engadget related to this new development. Oh, and of course it'd be filed in Texas.

Nice combination of features though.

[Greg @ Aug 7th 2007 9:05AM]

i can see this being used in a handheld console/ media devive maybe the xbox zune

[btmnky @ Aug 7th 2007 9:32AM]

Those headphones look remarkably similar to official iPod headphones.. and there ARE rumours of Apple announcing new iPods either today or fairly soon..

Probably just coincidence, I suppose.

[HineyWipe @ Aug 7th 2007 9:36AM]

Could they make it pink? With a little, darker, pop-up in the middle, that pops up when you touch it? Oh joy...

[Rynth @ Aug 7th 2007 9:46AM]

I don't care about the control, give me whatever that device is it's attached to, it looks spiffy as heck!

[1w @ Aug 7th 2007 10:10AM]

Actually avago is not a Korean company.. although the "Avago Technologies Korea", which seems to be a subsidary, released that thing in Seoul, korea. I think avago is american?

[Mike @ Aug 7th 2007 10:29AM]

Avago is American (Formerly the Semi Conductor arm of Agilent, formerly HP). I saw a prototype of this in action at the Fort Collins, CO Campus - I was under the impression that they were the group developing it.

[jwer @ Aug 7th 2007 10:10AM]

I believe you mean "oscillate" not "vacillate".

[nimro @ Aug 7th 2007 12:06PM]

"vacillate

–verb (used without object), -lated, -lating.

1. to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute: His tendency to vacillate makes him a poor leader."

From http://www.dictionary.com

[jwer @ Aug 7th 2007 12:21PM]

An inanimate object has no opinions unless it's being personified. In this context, the inanimate object is NOT being personified. "This control vacillates from bla to bla" might be acceptable in the "it doesn't know what it is" sense, but the above is: "allows control to vacillate" which makes no sense.

Oscillate isn't really right, either, because it suggests periodicity. Since apparently I'm being pedantic, it should be "swap" or as it is below: "switch".

[David Sutton @ Aug 7th 2007 1:36PM]

Looks like a zune.

[Gravity @ Aug 7th 2007 8:22PM]

What player is that?! It looks pretty cool.

[Jason @ Aug 8th 2007 12:12AM]

Avago is not a Korean company. It's a spinoff of Agilent, which is a spinoff of HP. www.avagotech.com

[wWw @ Aug 8th 2007 10:06AM]

DING DING DING DING DING!!!1

We have a WINNER!

[Bogdan @ Aug 8th 2007 11:15AM]

Of, that thing looks so appealing. Kick-ass design. That's what Google Phone should look like.
How about acquiring Avago, Mr. Schmidt?

[Johan S @ Aug 8th 2007 4:48PM]

Are those OLED buttons?