In an earlier post about the iPhone as a PSP Killer I mused about the iPhone being positioned as a handheld gaming console and now it seems others are running with the idea:

Macsimum News story

Mac Informant story

The US Patent 6768066 filed way back in 2004 it seems Apple has thought of using the accelerometer in a gaming tablet of sorts for some while. The insistence that all software for the iPhone will be Apple produced does not gel too well with the idea that the platform will open to game developers, but I think this is really Apple just maintaining control over the experience. I think it won't be too long after the iPhone release that we see several things which lead to a larger adoption of the iPhone:

• New versions of the device with much larger storage capacities.
• Lower price points as sales begin to increase and competitors enter the market.
• Apple certified development process whereby all sales are handled through iTunes.
• Wireless integration and sync abilities with iTunes and perhaps Apple TV.

As mentioned in my earlier post about the iPhone introduction, Gaming Consoles was one of the markets mentioned in the MacWorld announcement when Steve Jobs was discussing possible sales figures. I simply do not believe this was a mistake. I think Apple is gunning for the living room in every way and I think the iPhone is the device to get them there.

Imagine your Apple TV becoming a game console and you can download iPhone versions of games alongside the newest title playing on your HDTV. Imagine when you purchase your Ghost Recon on Apple TV you also get the handheld version.

Do you see what I see? Integration, integration, integration.

Labels: Apple TV, game console, handheld, iPhone, iTunes, Sony PSP