Wikipad annuncia un controller da agganciare a vari dispositivi, e Android 4.2 per Wikipad Tablet

Appurato che il tablet Wikipad non è stato un grandissimo successo, l'azienda ha deciso di provare un nuovo affondo nel mondo gaming su tavolette mobili con Gamevice.

Come ben illustra l'immagine di apertura, si tratta di un doppio controller che si inserisce nella scocca di vari tablet, in modo da avere la praticità dei controlli fisici, senza limitarsi ad uno specifico dispositivo. Prezzi e disponibilità sono comunque ancora ignoti, così come le dinamiche precise di funzionamento e magari un elenco di tutti i modelli compatibili, ma di certo il CES di Las Vegas farà luce in materia.

LEGGI ANCHE: Wikipad in UK

Il "vecchio" tablet Wikipad non viene però abbandonato a sé stesso, tanto che l'azienda annuncia l'arrivo dell'OTA di Android 4.2. Oltre alle novità intrinseche di Android, l'update porterà con sé anche 6 giochi gratuitamente: Shadowgun, Reckless Racing, Raging Thunder 2, Sprinkle, Granny Smith, e Zen Pinball HD.

Inoltre verrà migliorata l'app di mappatura dei controlli, in modo da espandere l'elenco dei giochi compatibili.

L'idea di Gamevice sinceramente non è malvagia, ma tutto sta nel vedere bene com'è stata realizzata. Vi terremo ovviamente aggiornati in materia con tutte le notizie che arriveranno dalla fiera di Las Vegas.

Wikipad Announces Gamevice Patented Console-Quality Detachable Controllers for Mobile Devices

(LOS ANGELES, CA) – Jan. 3, 2014 – At CES 2014, Wikipad, Inc. (www.wikipad.com) the leader in mobile gaming platforms including the Wikipad 7 Android gaming tablet announced the creation of Gamevice a next-generation detachable console-like controller for mobile devices.  Gamevice, which received a utility and design global patent, transforms mobile games into full fledge mobile console experiences with a slim portable controller that effortlessly connects to mobile devices. Gamevice offers a unique patented flex bridge design that expands or collapses to fit mobile devices.
“We value the opinions of our community. We heard from many people who either expressed love for the Wikipad 7” or who already owned an iPad or an Android or Windows 8 mobile device and wanted us to make a controller that worked for them. We are currently working on versions for Windows 8 and Android devices. We have not forgotten other important OS systems and we hope to announce additional support those in the near future,” said Fraser Townley, President of Wikipad, Inc.
Gamevice transforms mobile devices into portable video game consoles complete with dual analog sticks, both L1/R1 and L2/R2 analog buttons, an analog D-pad, and four analog action buttons – every button gamers already use and in a form factor that will be familiar.
WIKIPAD 7” – OTA 
Wikipad, Inc. (www.wikipad.com) today announced an important over-the-air (OTA) update for its premium 7” gaming tablet that will automatically refresh the Wikipad to add new features such as controller mapping, the addition of Android 4.2, new content such as Madfinger Games’ Dead Trigger 2 and access to a host of great games from new content partner WildTangent Games. The OTA showcase’s Wikipad commitment to redefine gaming in a mobile-centric world. The 7’ Wikipad tablet offers the functionality of a portable premium tablet with the exciting video game console experience.
To receive the update, Wikipad owners must connect their Wikipad to the Internet and install the software update when prompted. The whole process takes a few minutes.
The update includes:
CONTROLLER MAPPING
One of the limitations of mobile games is that complex games often have control schemes not suited for touch screens. Wikipad has released its Wikipad Controller Assistant allowing allows gamers to transform the touchscreen controls of virtually any Android game into a console-like experience using Wikipad’s patented gamepad controller.
ANDROID 4.2 (Jelly Bean+)
The updated version of Jelly Bean includes a number of improvements and new features, including improved battery life and the ability to create multiple user accounts. Android 4.2 enables gesture typing by sliding fingers across the virtual keyboard, improved camera features, gesture typing, lock screen widgets and Google Now updates that pull package tracking, hotel and flight details, restaurant reservations and other important meetings and other time sensitive information straight from Gmail. Wikipad owners will find many small improvements that enhance the Wikipad experience, whether you are gaming, using the Wikipad for work, or just browsing the web and having fun.
NEW CONTENT PARTNER
WildTangent Games offers access a host of premium games to consumers with WildTangent’s patented technology. Consumers receive free in-game items as well as free play of premium games courtesy of brand advertisers. In addition, consumers can rent games for a fraction of the retail price, with 100% of rental going toward ownership, or buy them outright.
WildTangent adds to an already impressive list of content partners including Google Play from Google Mobile Services, PlayStation®Mobile games from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., and TegraZone – NVIDIA's free game discovery app.
As an added bonus, Wikipad users receive six premium games pre-installed:
·         Shadowgun – Madfinger Games
·         Reckless Racing 1 - Polarbit
·         Raging Thunder 2 – Polarbit
·         Sprinkle – Medicore
·         Granny Smith - Medicore
·         Zen Pin HD – Zen Studios
DEAD TRIGGER 2

• The update also adds Madfinger Game’s award-winning and visually stunning first person zombie shooter Dead Trigger 2. The original Dead Trigger was a smash hit with more than 23M downloads, and Dead Trigger 2 offers even more bloody action and stunning HD graphics, placing gamers in an apocalyptical world where humanity must make its final stand against the growing onslaught of zombies.