Apple looking to Immersion for haptic technology on iPhone?

Immersion, the same folks responsible for adding haptic technology (force feedback from touch panels, pretty much) in a fleet of Nokia handsets, could be looking to do the same with Cupertino's one and only. While VibeTonz isn't specifically mentioned by name, a recent report (which should certainly be filed as a rumor for the time being) is suggesting that bigwigs from both outfits are in ongoing meetings "over licensing and implementation issues of iPhone haptics." Interestingly enough, this news is flowing hot on the heels of Immersion appointing Clent Richardson as president and CEO; if that name rings a bell, he previously spent five years pretty high up the ladder at Apple. Of course, all the signs pointing to yes doesn't mean anything in and of itself, so we'll just twiddle our thumbs a bit longer and hope to have some feedback for 'em soon enough.

[Thanks, Chris]

Read - Rumors of Immersion bringing haptics to iPhone
Read - Clent Richardson becomes president / CEO of Immersion

[Mr. S. @ Apr 26th 2008 12:24PM]

I shouldn't have to wiki words like haptic to understand articals... Seriously!

[derX @ Apr 26th 2008 12:27PM]

*wikiwords "articals"*

---
Just jokin' around. *inserts smiley using a D, =, maybe a ) or ] that, in fact, doesn't resemble a human smiling at all*

[Jason Martin @ Apr 26th 2008 12:38PM]

All I had to do was click the first "Read" link to find out. It wasn't hard at all. Besides, it looks like they've now added a parenthetical explanation.

[matt @ Apr 26th 2008 1:45PM]

You wouldn't have to wiki words like haptic if you could spell ARTICLES... Seriously!

[matt @ Apr 27th 2008 2:58AM]

also, a brief definition is in the parenthesis located after "haptic technology".

[mymacllife @ Apr 26th 2008 3:19PM]

No you shouldn't seriously! Get an education instead of feeding your cat.

[roole @ Apr 26th 2008 4:19PM]

@S: Pathetic. I wonder if you can spell d-i-c-t-i-o-....... (heck, why bother to complete the sentence).

[derX @ Apr 26th 2008 12:25PM]

Okay, I don't know much (actually, near nothing) about the design and manufacture process of cell phones, but with a rumored release date in August, shouldn't the implementation of haptic technology for iPhone 2.0 have happened a while ago?

[Daniel Steinberg @ Apr 26th 2008 12:35PM]

You're right, however just because we're hearing about it now, doesn't mean they haven't been exploring it for a while.

You do have to wonder though, at what point will all this battery draining technology get the axe? GPS, haptic feedback, 3G - it has to stop somewhere for now until battery tech catches up to the rest of the tech in the phone.

If they can figure out how to bring those three to the phone, more power to them - I'm getting one regardless. 3G is such a welcome addition.

[clak @ Apr 26th 2008 12:44PM]

@Daniel Steinberg

"You do have to wonder though, at what point will all this battery draining technology get the axe?"

Agreed, if Apple offers this, I hope there is an option to turn it off. Although, I really don't think Apple is going to have GPS in the next phone. For one thing, it will increase the size of the iPhone and for another, if Apple was going to offer GPS, they wouldn't have made the partnership with SkyHook.

But the 3G is definitely coming.

[Greg Spruce @ Apr 26th 2008 6:05PM]

@ Daniel

Look at the multitudes of other phones that have GPS, 3g and now a few have haptic, their battery life doesn't take too much of a hit, and some of them are smaller than the iPhone, so if 2.o doesn't have all three of those plus ipod whatever in a formfacto as small or smaller(read:thin) than the iphone 1, then its just poor designing

[essexspam @ Apr 27th 2008 5:48PM]

@ Daniel: I agree 100%

@ Greg: To which devices are you referring?
I am yet to discover a device that balances GPS & 3G (let alone haptic or additional tech) with good battery life.
While I would describe iPhone(1) as having a satisfactory battery performance, it is far from outstanding and the impact of (much needed) 3G & GPS on said battery life does concern me.

I'm sure all iP users agree 3G is much needed on the iP (and quite frankly a ridicul-arse omission in the first place), I just hope the battery doesn't suffer as a result.

On a related note,
I wish the iP had the feature to select WiFi or network when using data related services (safari etc). I don't like to leave WiFi on all the time (as the battery suffers) but I similarly don't like having to fiddle around with preferences or services to enable wifi when I want to use it.
If only safari popped up a menu like 'connect using network, Switch on and use wifi' and then disable wifi afterwards.

Phew - got my 2 cents..

[Wisam @ Apr 26th 2008 12:39PM]

I just installed Safari 3.1 on R61 laptop from Lenovo to try it and the scrolling on my pad does not work, they are Noobs. Yet, they claim it is the best browser in the world on Apple website. Talking about Haptic ?
Guess I'll go back to the best browser aka FireFox.

[derX @ Apr 26th 2008 12:43PM]

Wait. What?

[Wisam @ Apr 26th 2008 12:47PM]

I read that Safari has better clear type rendering engine then Gecko. I wanted to try and see. The fonts render smooth. But too smooth for my eyes. The vertical scrolling is broken. I can't use my touch pad to do scrolling while in IE and FF they work just fine.

[clak @ Apr 26th 2008 12:50PM]

Yeah, what the hell does strolling in Safari on a laptop have to do with a topic about Haptic technology on the iPhone? Explain yourself.

[Jason Martin @ Apr 26th 2008 12:50PM]

I have to wonder if that's a problem with your Lenovo. I have Safari 3.1 on 4 different machines (1 Mac, 3 WinXP). They all scroll perfectly, including the Vaio laptop.

[derX @ Apr 26th 2008 12:51PM]

Oh, okay. But what does that have to do with haptic feedback?

I have a strong feeling I am missing something...LOL

[Wisam @ Apr 26th 2008 12:55PM]

Thanks Jason for the help. I guess then it is a Lenovo specific problem. It is very annoying. I tried it again and still no scrolling -.-
Clak, I was talking about scrolling not 'strolling'. Calm down dude.

[ham @ Apr 26th 2008 1:11PM]

Well, that was simply dripping in idiot mac hating. Allow me to show you what is wrong with your comment, so you can learn from this experience:

1. What in the name of god does you not understanding kinetic scrolling have to do with haptic?

2. "they are noobs" talk about the pot calling the kettle black. See number 1.

3. Safari uses the webkit rendering engine which makes most pages load faster. But, as you said, firefox is good too. but it is not "the best" there is no "best" in browsers, as there is no "best" in computers. They all do the same task, but each does it differently. For example, in my house, I use my mac to do things like web design and video editing. but on my windows machine, I do things like run a media server, homework, and I play games. On my linux machine, I run a web server(apache). so calling one "the best" and putting another down for not magically switching your hardware to use certain(proprietary, I might add) scroll pad drivers is on about the same level as 12 year olds arguing whether charizard can beat that kid from yugi-oh or whatever.(trust me, I see it all the time, as I am 13, I am surrounded by stupid people at my school, and funnily enough, they are smarter than most internet commenters)

[Wisam @ Apr 26th 2008 1:20PM]

Ham I absolutely agree with you on your points. Isn't Haptic is all about touch and feedback! well, having a scroll feature on a touchpad not working is not the best haptic experience. I fired up Safari and went to my favorite website "Engadget" and I saw this post. I decided to write :D

Yet, when you go to Apple's website you read:
The world's best browser. Now on Windows. /sarcasm

[clak @ Apr 26th 2008 1:22PM]

@Wisam

"calm down, dude."

Huh? Was I screaming when I asked that question?

[ByronGman @ Apr 26th 2008 4:22PM]

People, please stop feeding the troll.

[Kizorblade @ Apr 26th 2008 4:33PM]

Is it possible to overfeed the troll? Aka spam his inbox?

[manduinspace @ Apr 26th 2008 5:59PM]

my dear Wisam...
I think you are a bit misunderstanding about haptic technology. Haptics are direct feedback, i.e. vibration to your fingers from the key, or an area of the touch screen.
It is not what you seem to suggest, as in it giving 'feedback' on your screen or 'scrolling a website with your scroll pad'.
So, haptic technology is not a software, as you seem to suggest (Safari), but a hardware (which gives vibrations) that integrates with a designated software (apple mobile os... windows mobile etc...) which both combines to give a kinetic feedback to the user when a button is pressed.
If I haven't made it all clear, I suggest you reading the article on Wikipedia
or Howstuffworks.

And people!!! lets not just diss people if they seems to be a 'troll'. Make internet and especially engadget a user friendly place!!!

[Wisam @ Apr 26th 2008 6:57PM]

Ohh, I thought they were the same thing. Thanks manduinspace for the detailed explanation!

[Reader @ Apr 27th 2008 12:13PM]

Hmm... Everyone be nice on Engadget? I think we have a better chance at world peace.

[Jason Martin @ Apr 26th 2008 12:41PM]

So, if we assume this rumor is true and they are only "in ongoing meetings", would that allow them enough time to implement this technology in the next generation iPhone, assuming that the rumored release date of June or July holds true as well?

I don't know how long it would take to retrofit or redesign the iPhone for this kind of thing.

[PenisBoy @ Apr 26th 2008 12:44PM]

I've been dreaming about this feature for the iPhone. If you're going to have an on-screen keyboard, it's almost essential that there be haptic feedback on it.

[northern @ Apr 26th 2008 1:15PM]

Hah I love seeing someone on the internet with the name penisboy have a comment that is actually meaningful.

[Wifiguy @ Apr 26th 2008 12:47PM]

This is more about gaming than keyboard for typing. You look at all the gaming potential you going to need haptic feedback for more of a realistic experience. The Ps3 tried to do without it, but it didn't last long.

[derX @ Apr 26th 2008 12:54PM]

How so? The main reason cell phone companies gave Haptic feedback for their phones is to make up for the lack of a physical keyboard. It seemed to me like using the haptic feedback in cell phones for games is an afterthought.

[Wifiguy @ Apr 26th 2008 1:31PM]

You must not have seen the SDK presentation on the gaming platform that the iPhone and iPod Touch will become.

[Wifiguy @ Apr 26th 2008 1:45PM]

The keyboard on the iPhone is so good tactile feedback is not needed. Think about it. You still have to look at the screen to punch the keys. A vibration does not help. You see the visual feedback as the keys jump out in 3 dimensions, that's very useful. But if your gaming playing Quake or whatever you need haptic feedback to let you now you have been hit. Or when you fire a weapon.

[ham @ Apr 26th 2008 10:38PM]

I do see where you are going with this. Little notification on screen? Rumble. Fire weapon in that little star fighter game they showed at that conference, and you get rumble. Keyboard rumble? Ehhhh. The little "click" noise the keys make is enough for me, thank you very much.

On a side note, did anybody else see a resemblance to starfox in that star fighter thingy they showed? Consider a snes emulator confirmed!

[John @ Apr 26th 2008 12:48PM]

This has got to be the most annoying 'feature' ive ever seen implemented on phones. The Voyager had it.. i hated using the touch screen on the store demo version because of it.

[DeoWulf @ Apr 26th 2008 1:51PM]

They must have overdone it... haptic feedback for touchscreens is only supposed to feel like you pressed a button, not like the whole phone is shaking.

[roole @ Apr 26th 2008 4:23PM]

I would be surprised if there wasn't the option to inactivate the haptic feature.

[Brendan Sheehan @ Apr 26th 2008 1:11PM]

I personally don't need or want haptic-feedback on the iPhone.

If you used and owned for even a week you'd too realize you didn't need it.

[Ellianth @ Apr 26th 2008 1:16PM]

I've held and used one and what I did realize was the keyboard is terrible.

[Kizorblade @ Apr 26th 2008 3:03PM]

Really? How long?

I use mine every day and frankly it's not needed

[austin @ Apr 26th 2008 5:02PM]

i agree. if it had it, i would turn it off. i have used a voyager and, compared to my iPhone, i dont like the haptics

[Darnell @ Apr 26th 2008 1:28PM]

Let's see, haptic feedback, GPS, 3G, bigger HD...
I don't know how the 3rd genration iPhone could get any better than the upcoming 2nd gen.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Apr 26th 2008 2:07PM]

iPhone 3.0 will have voice recognition, handwriting recognition, OLED display, 4G, etc. Besides 90% of the smartphone competition will be gone by then, so it won't really matter. It's the iPod all over again. No matter what the other smartphone vendors offer, only the iPhone haters will buy from them and practically everyone else who matters will be using iPhones.

[MARSHAK @ Apr 26th 2008 3:55PM]

@steffen

shit. I don't like that but I can't convince myself it isn't true. oh well, still can't buy them here in canada.

[Derek @ Apr 26th 2008 1:34PM]

You mean it hasn't had this already? Then why have I been banging on the screen when it hasn't been working correctly???

[Daniel @ Apr 26th 2008 1:39PM]

Immersion is the same company who sued Sony over Dualshock things...

[Jonathan-DBOSS @ Apr 26th 2008 1:58PM]

Get ready for some spoiled apples

[nicleT @ Apr 26th 2008 3:07PM]

It's about time!

[Johan S @ Apr 26th 2008 3:17PM]

While haptics is good, I prefer they put a WVGA or higher resolution LCD in the iPhone. I find the rumors that the 3G iPhone lacks a bump up in resolution hard to believe.