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The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today published an Apple patent application revealing the company's interest in an iPhone or iPad home button that transitions form its normal functionality into a small joystick for gaming (via Patently Apple).

The "multi-function input device" would serve its normal home button functions, ostensibily with Touch ID and all other current features, but with a simple pressure click would pop up and transform into a slightly elevated thumb joystick.


A simple push of the elevated home button back into a flush position with the body of the iPhone would return it to its original state when done gaming. Diagrams included in the application show a very low-profile joystick , allowing for some level of physical control while being much smaller than traditional game controller joysticks in order to fit into the thin bodies of iOS devices.

Apple's claims within the patent application note some gamers' hesitancy to play seriously on a smartphone due to the entire set of controls resting on the screen, with their fingers blocking a significant portion of the game's content. The company thinks a built-in solution in form of this new home button could be an acceptable option for those unable or unwilling to carry additional gaming accessories.


As noted by Patently Apple, the patent, with inventor credit going to Colin Ely and Fletcher Rothkopf, was originally filed by the company in the summer of 2013. Though it's highly unlikely this particular technology will show up on the company's next iPhone, presumably launching later this year, like most patents it's still interesting to see what possibilities Apple has considered in the past and the possible directions it may choose to go in the future.

Gapping up
In reaction to strong earnings/guidance: PNC +10.7%, FCAU +1.6%, (reported Dec EU sales), OZRK +1.4%, RNDY +1%, INTC +0.4%

Select Brazil related names showing strength: GOL +3.6%, PBR +2.3%, ITUB +1.7%, CPL +1.3%, BBD +1.2%, BUD +1.1%


Select oil/gas related names showing strength: DO +3.4%, STO +2.1%, SDRL +1.8%, RIG +1.2%, TOT +1.1%, RDS.A +0.7%

Other news: RVP +29.6% (settlement with Becton Dickinson (BDX) surrounding syringes), EOPN +11.7% (WSJ reporting co is working with Bank of America to find a buyer following stock price declines), DEPO +6.5% (entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the U.S. rights to the NUCYNTA franchise from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for $1.05 bln), PIP +4.2% (PharmAthene announced that the Delaware Court of Chancery has entered its Final Order and Judgment in the co's litigation against SIGA Technologies (SIGA); the Court's judgment against SIGA totaled ~$194.65 mln ), BP +3.7% (reports of court ruling on 2010 pollution violations), VSTM +2.5% (announces publication of scientific data for VS-5584 in Cancer Research), WLH +2.1% (entered into an agreement with Stearns Lending, LLC, to form William Lyon Mortgage, LLC, a limited liability company that will offer an array of mortgage banking services), HCT +1.8% (shareholders approve merger with Ventas (VTR)), RCPT +1.8% (favorable commentary on Thursday's Mad Money), RRC +1.6% (announces updated 2015 capital budget of $860 mln targeting production growth of 20% YoY, Early Commissioning of Mariner East Propane Pipeline and 2014 YoY Production growth of ~24%), TERP +1.6% (prices 12 mln shares of common stock at $29.33 per share), NYNY +1.4% (announced that Kien Huat Realty III Limited exercised the basic subscription rights), ENTA +0.5% (confirms that the European Commission has granted marketing authorizations for AbbVie's (ABBV) VIEKIRAX)

Analyst comments: TUBE +4.9% (upgraded to Outperform at RBC Capital Mkts), ERJ +2.8% (upgraded to Outperform at Itau), NFLX +1.1% (upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Cowen), APC +1.1% (upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at Atlantic Equities), GRUB +0.8% (initiated with a Buy at Stifel), BHP +0.6% (upgraded to Buy at Canaccord Genuity)

*BP CUT TO UNDERPERFORM VS NEUTRAL AT JPMORGAN