iControlPad vs Apple -- FIGHT!

So, Kotaku reported on Apple finally admitting that the iPhone's lack of physical buttons kinda makes it suck for gaming about four days ago. They also outlined Apple's plans to address the situation, which was great and everything, until I realized... There are already a few people who have started trying to address this situation...

Namely the iControlPad.

I first wrote about the iControlPad back in August of 2008, and have eagerly been awaiting its production ever since. It turns out the the iControlPads have indeed entered production, and now Apple says they are going to make their own version of the device.

I know there are other groups that have been working on devices that add buttons to the iPhone, like that bone one, but the iControlPad seems the most qualified to me. As the iControlPad is being developed by the same people who made the OpenPandora gaming device, I really think they have a lot to offer in the way of making good handheld solutions to the iPhone's lack of buttons problem.

Of course, the iControlPad guys aren't going to take this sitting down. According to a snippet on Slashdot, Craigix of the OpenPandora project is already looking into the issue and what can be done about it.

Unfortunately, it seems as though Apple will, once again, do what they do best. Ignore the little guys while pushing their products to the ignorant masses, despite not having a truly original idea.