Hidden TV out features discovered in iPhone 2.2 SDK

So, get a load of this. While tinkering within the iPhone 2.2 SDK, ArsTechnica discovered a neat little tidbit that could lead to some pretty extensible applications. In essence, the MPTVOutWindow class enables your iPhone to beam out video to a connected TV rather than the built-in screen. Of course, dock-connecting iPods / iPhones have been sending out videos for ages now, but this could actually enable applications to be used on the big screen. Sadly, the current code won't allow screen interaction while the TV out function is active, but the accelerometer is still a go. Check out a short demonstration clip after the break, and feel free to let your imagination run wild after peeking the read link.

[Via AppleInsider]

iPhone Video Out from Ars Technica on Vimeo.

[Dopefish @ Nov 27th 2008 3:09PM]

It REALLY should have been there all along! I mean, it was with the older generation iPods....

[Kory @ Nov 27th 2008 3:57PM]

Steve has a way of doing this at the keynotes. Probably some custom firmware or something though...

[VanillaSpice @ Nov 27th 2008 6:58PM]

This is not talking about a TV-out mode. The iPhone already has that. You could watch videos via TV-out since v1.0. This is talking about allowing applications to be seen via TV-Out. Since the "older generation of iPods" do not have applications, they could not have had this "feature".

[)law( @ Nov 27th 2008 3:11PM]

For a second I thought the title said hidden mms feature or copy and paste function found but I guess I let my imagination run quickly to fast. I blame all the turkey I had

[The Number 1 Cubs Fan @ Nov 27th 2008 3:45PM]

Turkey already? I'm waiting for later tonight.
Abyways, imagine taking a picture of the TV with TV-Out enabled.

[Richard Lai @ Nov 27th 2008 9:56PM]

@The Number 1 Cubs Fan:

Live video from iPhone to TV:

http://vimeo.com/2366580

[G @ Nov 27th 2008 3:13PM]

Excuse me, if i understand this correctly you can't use applications on an iPhone while it's plugged in to TV out? This is almost as ridiculous as that bluetooth thing where you can use BT headphones, but you can't send files over BT.


I'm happy that i have a proper phone that can do so many things the iPhone can't :)

[Chris Anderson @ Nov 27th 2008 3:18PM]

Amen!!! Proud HTC Touch Pro owner here :-D

[holycow @ Nov 27th 2008 3:22PM]

Thank you for rubbing it in.

[ace587 @ Nov 27th 2008 4:12PM]

HTC

[imacmatt09 @ Nov 27th 2008 4:31PM]

THC!

[Seanross @ Nov 27th 2008 6:08PM]

Reading is Fundamental....

"Sadly, the current code won't allow screen interaction while the TV out function is active, but the accelerometer is still a go."

Meaning you could start the program/game/whatever THEN plug into TV and have Accelerometer Fun or what have you.

[Daza @ Nov 27th 2008 9:26PM]

Just accept it Seanross, it's useless. There is nothing constructive I could do with an accelerometer on my TV. Even gameplay is extremely prohibitive.

Unfortunately I don't think this 'feature' will ever become something useful.

[lost..civantares @ Nov 27th 2008 3:14PM]

That's a very peppy person there behind the camera...

[MarbleMind @ Nov 27th 2008 3:47PM]

That would be the nice way to say it.

[Valicore @ Nov 27th 2008 3:19PM]

Somebody overdosed on the perky medicine today.

[The Dude @ Nov 27th 2008 4:17PM]

Nothing wrong with perkies.

[gabe @ Nov 27th 2008 3:21PM]

hmm wonder what her face looks like

[Taylor @ Nov 27th 2008 4:17PM]

Sounds like a kid, possibly a boy.
-Taylor

[Saad Rabia @ Nov 27th 2008 7:12PM]

(Comment)
- Signature.

[Towncivilian @ Nov 27th 2008 3:24PM]

According to comments at the original post, here: http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2008/11/26/iphone-2-2-sdk-offers-undocumented-tv-out-features, the presenter was the author's eldest daughter.

[Freak @ Nov 27th 2008 5:29PM]

Wow.. that's creepy dude... find a hobby..

[Paul @ Nov 27th 2008 10:46PM]

The comment exchange was pretty funny:

[begin quote from ericasadun]
quote:
"i just wanted to say that Erica has a cute little voice that was totally unexpected from a hacker of such prowess... "

Not me. Eldest daughter. Shotgun ker-klick
[end quote]

[ducky @ Nov 27th 2008 3:31PM]

Wait, I'm confused. Why is there a "TV Out" section under iPod settings on my iPhone?

[EdZ @ Nov 27th 2008 3:37PM]

Because you can output video, but NOT applications.

[Ankur @ Nov 27th 2008 3:32PM]

Is that 'ages now' link broken? or something wrong at my end...

[Nihility @ Nov 27th 2008 5:05PM]

broken here too

[James D @ Nov 27th 2008 3:49PM]

How pathetic. There are too many things you can't do on an Iphone. Get the Touch Pro or the ATT Fuze. You can have a real TV out with 640 X 480 pixels, great for remote desktop use like online poker. 480 x 320 on the Iphone is not enough.
Add to the fact that you don't have stereo bluetooth, a video camera, real GPS, etc. And the Iphone is shown as the primiative device that it is.
Wait till the HTC Touch HD is released to the general population and then mainstream America will know that the Iphone sucks.

[go seki @ Nov 27th 2008 3:56PM]

Yes its pathetic..
Don't get your hopes up for the general population, mainstream America wouldn't know a decent phone if it bit them on the arse...
And yeah - new trick for iPhone, yawn for devices that have been doing this (better) for years .. eg N95

[ace587 @ Nov 27th 2008 4:14PM]

as long as companies dnt pump up advertising like apple does then it will continue

[R031E5 @ Nov 27th 2008 4:11PM]

Imagine a game where the iPhone/iPod would be the steering wheel (controlled by the accelerometer) and you could see the race track on the screen.

[aahatimy @ Nov 27th 2008 4:49PM]

You then get slapped by the universe for an illogical idea. Jeez get a fucking games console instead.

[nohone @ Nov 27th 2008 4:12PM]

Microsoft hides APIs or does not document every single one of them, and the DOJ is breathing down their neck, EU fines them billions, and the Internet fumes about how evil Microsoft is for not providing equal access to everyone.

Apple hides APIs, "Oh, how cool!!!!11!!! Maybe one day Dear Leader will grace us by giving us information about this API, until then, he is keeping it private for our own good and benefit!!"

[Dale @ Nov 27th 2008 4:55PM]

lol @ "Dear Leader"

[Ted @ Nov 27th 2008 6:57PM]

Microsoft has been convicted by a federal court for illegally abusing their monopoly status. When you control software that runs on 90% of the worlds computers you have to play by different rules. Apple's OS runs on maybe 2% of the cell phones in the world. They're free to do basically anything they want.

[Saad Rabia @ Nov 27th 2008 7:15PM]

Who is OS, and why is he or she running?

[nohone @ Nov 27th 2008 7:58PM]

@Ted:

All iPhone users should be angry that Apple thinks it is OK to keep some APIs to themselves (to be clear - I am not talking about exposing every single function used to create an OS), to arbitrarily disprove applications because they may compete with an application created by Apple or a partner, or lock down the device for no real reason. Instead, you prove my point perfectly. Yell at others for for bad behavior, but give Apple a pass for the same bad behavior.

[xtom @ Nov 27th 2008 4:24PM]

Now we are waiting for remote multitouch API, to get multitouch docking from 5 to 82 inch like this

http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/27/samsung-kicks-out-new-touchscreen-lcds-for-your-public-smudging/

[Chizzed @ Nov 27th 2008 4:24PM]

I wish the video was a little better. It sounds like a cheap kiddy pr0n " See now it's up..now down..up, down...see?"

[andres @ Nov 27th 2008 4:27PM]

i wouldnt know what high quality kiddy pr0n is like, wait a minute, how do you?

[Jamie @ Nov 27th 2008 6:34PM]

Jesus. Show a little respect.

[Wwhat @ Nov 28th 2008 1:31PM]

Yeah, Chizzed; keep it real pls thanks.

[iEye @ Nov 27th 2008 4:31PM]

So now we can play games with the accelerometer on a TV?

I thought that was what the Wii is for...

[Saad Rabia @ Nov 27th 2008 7:18PM]

I thought on a Wii you play wireless!

[Messymeese @ Nov 27th 2008 4:33PM]

I recall seeing multiple threads on Apple Discussions saying, "I bought the Video-out cable for the iPod touch, but how can I show my screen on a TV while I play games or use apps?"

I still wish you could do that(when I get an iPhone)

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Nov 27th 2008 4:42PM]

Nokia 5800 has TV out.

[G @ Nov 27th 2008 4:52PM]

So do almost all of the N series Nokias released in the last year. Playing Doom 2 on a TV with my N95 is very nice :)

[The Police @ Nov 27th 2008 4:57PM]

Quake 3 Arena was just released for the Nokia N95/N82/E90. Playing it TV-Out with bluetooth mouse and keyboard support is awesome! Just shows how truly powerful the N95 is.

[Synthaxx @ Nov 27th 2008 4:49PM]

Plug this into a see pair of through lcd (oled) glasses and you got yourself a heads-up display with navigation.

If only they existed.

[ichintu @ Nov 27th 2008 4:54PM]

Wut da?? I have always had this feature.. hows this a new?? Am I missing something?
settings -> iPOD settings -> TV OUT