Apple wins patent for unreleased Beats gaming headset
Apple on Tuesday won a U.S. design patent, discovered by AppleInsider, that could hint at the possibility of a Beats-branded gaming headset, potentially revealing a new microphone-equipped Beats product targeted at gamers.
The patent consists solely of images, and credits Robert Brunner and Christopher Kuh as inventors. The two are designers with Ammunition, a studio that has created a wide range of Beats audio products, such as its Solo line of headphones.
"Ammunition works in close partnership with Beats across product design, identity, and packaging to create an incredible experience for fans wherever they meet the product," one marketing blurb explains.
The concept resembles other Beats headphones, but with the addition of a microphone jutting out from the left earpiece. Although phone-oriented headsets can typically get away with streamlined microphones, for instance hidden in a remote, an external microphone can be essential for gaming, especially when issuing voice commands.
The patent was originally submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on May 14, 2014 -- just two weeks before Apple would announce its acquisition of Beats for $3 billion.
It's not clear if Apple might actually be interested in manufacturing the headset. The company generally steers clear of gaming products, especially in the desktop and console worlds, where dedicated headsets are normally found. The Beats brand continues to exist as a separate entity however, and might afford Apple some flexibility.
The patent consists solely of images, and credits Robert Brunner and Christopher Kuh as inventors. The two are designers with Ammunition, a studio that has created a wide range of Beats audio products, such as its Solo line of headphones.
"Ammunition works in close partnership with Beats across product design, identity, and packaging to create an incredible experience for fans wherever they meet the product," one marketing blurb explains.
The concept resembles other Beats headphones, but with the addition of a microphone jutting out from the left earpiece. Although phone-oriented headsets can typically get away with streamlined microphones, for instance hidden in a remote, an external microphone can be essential for gaming, especially when issuing voice commands.
The patent was originally submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on May 14, 2014 -- just two weeks before Apple would announce its acquisition of Beats for $3 billion.
It's not clear if Apple might actually be interested in manufacturing the headset. The company generally steers clear of gaming products, especially in the desktop and console worlds, where dedicated headsets are normally found. The Beats brand continues to exist as a separate entity however, and might afford Apple some flexibility.
Comments
FFS, you can't "win" a patent unless it's a prize. You are awarded a patent, there is no winning involved.
"Issued", "granted" and "assigned" are also acceptable variations.
Console gaming, or PC gaming? Very different set of plugs
Not really, there's this magic thing called a 3.5mm jack. Also weird things called USB ports.
It's a design patent. Not related to utility or function.
I found a 3.5mm jack on my PS4 controller. I heard Mac and PCs have them too, and some smartphones are rumored to have 3.5mm jacks, but not sure. Can anyone confirm?
The high end console gaming headsets have RCA plugs which allow the player to plug directly into the audio out of the console. The cheaper console ones have a single 3.5 mm plug while the PC ones have 2 3.5mm plugs the can be wired up in 2 different standards. So yes really.
PC gaming headsets have dual 3.5mm plugs. One for the audio, and the second for the mic, not so for the console headsets. See my post above.
I found a 3.5mm jack on my PS4 controller. I heard Mac and PCs have them too, and some smartphones are rumored to have 3.5mm jacks, but not sure. Can anyone confirm?
I think they do, it's weird.
The Xbox One now has one on the revised controller as well. And the new Elite controller.
The Xbox 360 controller also had the headset port on the controller and the PS3 used a USB on the console port for a headset. There isn't a singular standard when it comes to gaming headsets.
So Apple invented gaming headsets now? /s
That so funny!/s
The patent application is said to consist solely of images--it's a design patent intended to thwart copying and fraud.