I’m still trawling the FCC’s database for something, as I was last week when uncovering Kodak’s new WiFi photo frame, and seemed to have turned up another interesting new product. The forthcoming Griffin PartyDock essentially turns an iPhone into a Nintendo… with the help of a television. And when I say Nintendo, we’re talking Super Famicon, not Wii.
PartyDock somewhat resembles Cisco’s recent home router line and serves as an iPhone dock that connects to a television. Additionally, four wireless non-rechargeable remote controls are included — as the PartyDock’s primary pitch is casual gaming via Griffin iOS apps which will be made available. In addition to supporting games, the PlayDock will also offer traditional iPhone dock functions: music, video, and photo playback.
The PartyDock an interesting concept, but I wonder how big an audience Griffin will find for this product. Plus, their timing may not be the greatest this fall with rumors of an upcoming app-centric AppleTV refresh (and possibly related Apple press event next week). In fact a potentially better, albeit solo, iPhone gaming accessory on the horizon is the iControlPad — now entering production. Assuming major game developers choose to support it.
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