Apple files patent for iPhone gaming accessory

Is iPhone planning to make a physical gaming accessory for iPhone, iPod touch or even iPad?
That's the gist of a patent application by the company, which came to light last Thursday. And yes, we've run our April Fool's filter on it, and it appears to be genuine.
The patent shows several physical devices, which act as cases for portable electronic devices (i.e. iPhones). They have physical buttons and D-pads, as well as vibration and camera functions.
There's even one design that looks just like a DS, with the iPhone acting as one of two screens.
It's intriguing stuff, although it's already caused a rumpus. The firm behind the iControlPad accessory blogged last Friday that "We were very surprised to see that Apple have allegedly filed a patent for our original iControlPad design some 6 months after we revealed it".

Founder Craig Rothwell has since tweeted that he plans to post a YouTube video "speaking directly to Apple" - albeit only after getting advice from the company's lawyer.

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