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Infinium Phantom Lapboard Coming to PC?
Posted by
ScuttleMonkey
on Wed Jan 04, 2006 04:22 PM
from the believe-it-when-you-see-it dept.
from the believe-it-when-you-see-it dept.
JamesO writes to tell us that Infinium Labs has announced the release of their "Phantom Lapboard" for later this year. From the article: "Infinium Labs' Phantom game service is still to launch, despite claims years ago that it would appear at Christmas 2004, but this hasn't stopped the company from continuing with the system's development. One of the most talked about aspects of the system is its wireless keyboard and mouse combo called the Lapboard. Infinium Labs has decided that the Lapboard is so good that it will be released as a peripheral for PC users in quarter-two 2006. What makes the Lapboard unique is that the keyboard can be angled upwards to create a surface for the mouse to operate on underneath. The device is also wireless and can operate at a distance of up to 30 feet."
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Games: Phantom Console Put on Hold 93 comments
technoid_ writes "Looks like the Infinium Labs Phantom Game Console is put on hold until they can secure some more funding. Right now the company is focusing on getting its Phantom Lapboard to the market, and may pursue the Phantom Game service later. Interesting note, they have spent almost 4 times as much on Consultants as they have in development costs so far." From the article: "From its inception in December of 2002 through September of last year, Infinium racked up $62.7 million in losses. Of that, only $3.5 million has been lost to development costs. The company has spent more than half that in advertising, even though none of its products or services have been released yet. More of the company's money has been going toward consultants ($12.8 million), salaries ($11.9 million), and general and administrative expenses ($5.9 million)."
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Games: Infinium to Infiltrate Gamer Forums 91 comments
Opposable Thumbs, over at Ars Technica, points out something we have have overlooked last week when Infinium Labs opened its books. Besides dropping the Phantom in favour of getting the keyboard to market, one of their business plans calls for the company to "infiltrate best-in-class video game communities with simple, easy to understand message and seeding on tech blogs, gaming sites and on-line player forums with compelling imagery and links to lapboard eye candy." Because that's sure to net them some goodwill and customer loyalty.
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Games: Phantom Lapboard Delayed 39 comments
JamesO writes "The unique keyboard and mouse combo finds a manufacturer, but slips from its Q2 release date." From the article: "Infinium Labs' Phantom game service may never see the light of day, but at least something positive will come from the project in the shape of the system's keyboard and mouse combo. What makes the Lapboard interesting is that it features a keyboard that can be angled upwards to reveal a surface on which a mouse can operate. This means the device is perfect for use on your lap (hence the name) and ideal for those who no longer sit at a desk when using their PC."
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MouseBoard? (Score:4, Funny)
What's the point (Score:3, Insightful)
Few Ideas (Score:4, Insightful)
-everphilski-
Parent
Re:Few Ideas (Score:3, Interesting)
I have a projector at home. I use it for both HDTV and have a computer connected to it. 120" diagonal. Believe me, you have no problem seeing it from 20' away!
I have both an xbox, ps2 and computer connected to it. Wow. it rocks! HD gaming rocks. I have a bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse as my computer is well, probably about 20 feet away from the area I usually sit. I had to go bluetooth because other wireless technologies for keyboard/mouse just didn't do it.
On the side. I wish there were more cho
Re:Few Ideas (Score:3, Informative)
Actual dual-pairability of BT devices wou
So fucking what? (Score:4, Funny)
It isn't exactly a next generation console is it?
I mean, that'd be like the Sony PS3 being a budget DVD player. Or something.
The jokes write themselves (Score:5, Funny)
So let me get this straight...this keyboard will cover my lap and my right hand will be moving around on a surface underneath the keyboard? I can already imagine mothers everywhere fainting when they accidentally walk in on their kids playing games. "Honestly, mom, I was just playing with my mouse!" "Oh my God!, is that what you're calling it these days?!?!"
Re:The jokes write themselves (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:The jokes write themselves (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Can't wait ... (Score:5, Funny)
Can't wait to play Duke Nukem Forever on my Phantom Game Console!
Great... (Score:3, Funny)
Hmm (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't know about you, but I don't like hitting my hand every time I bring it up to type. My roommate has a desk with the mouse lower like this and boy does it suck. If anyone here has ever played a game where you have to switch between the mouse and the keyboard (say for chatting between you and teammates) this not only kills the time it takes to get up to the keyboard, but you DO hit your hand a lot.
Not to mention the fact that you arms are going to cross in this case with the mouse directly below the keyboard.
If this is any indication of their console, they shoulda just launched years ago with two paper-cups and some string... their launch title? Telephone. Multiplayer, you just have to pass the controller between each pair of players. But look, no limit on amount of players!
So... (Score:4, Insightful)
How did this land on /.? (Score:5, Insightful)
I'd be more inclined to pick up a cheaper wireless keyboard/mouse set and grab one of those ancient Sun mousepads (remember Sun's optical mouse, the one which required a metal mousepad with a grid painted on?).
Don't have an antique Sun mouse pad? I suspect any old clipboard or other flat surface will do nicely.
Re:How did this land on /.? (Score:5, Interesting)
During the banquet, which Infinium founder Tim Roberts *insisted* I had to come to (possibly because I'm the only tech journalist in or near Sarasota), he and former Microsoftie Kevin Bachus, who was Infinium President at the time, kept asking me what I thought of their latest business and marketing plan, as in, "Would it succeed?" (Also, Tim kept asking, "How's the food?" which was decent but not great.) And did my much younger friend, Matt Moen, who came with me, think he'd be interested in the Phantom, being he was the "target" age for their marketing program?
As it says in the article, the only interesting or potentially marketable product Matt and I saw from Infinium at that point was their keyboard/mouse thing, which looked like it would be kind of cool for couch computing. Kevin told us they weren't interested in the lapdesk as a product, that they were concentrating on the console and game service, which would debut shortly. Remember: this was in *2004*, and they'd already been saying "Next month, really, we promise, we'll have a product to show you" for nearly two years before that.
Now the lapdesk seems to be the only product the company is actually able to bring to market. So Matt and I get to have a big laugh (which you are free to share), and say, "We told you so!"
- Robin
Parent
Re:When do they get charged with fraud? (Score:4, Interesting)
I am neither an investor nor a prosecutor.
My only contact with Infinium has been to interview several of its CEOs, corporate officers, and board members, read all available information about the company (including SEC filings and its own promotional material), and analyze the company's prospects the same way any competent reporter or analyst would, using provable information instead of rumors, gossip, and hearsay.
If Infinium, its founders, or its major shareholders are ever sued or indicted, I'll probably be subpoenaed as a witness. If that happens I'll let you know.
One word of advice: if you ever think about investing in a tech company (or any other kind of company), check not only the company's obvious financial track record but how well it keeps commitments, including but not limited to releasing products and paying suppliers on time. Information about a company's bill-paying history can be obtained -- for a fee -- through Dun & Bradstreet and other corporate credit reporting agencies. In the Internet age, information about how well a company keeps its product release promises can be obtained free through Google and other search engines.
- Robin
Parent
Angled Keyboard? (Score:3, Insightful)
So I sat for a moment, puzzled as to how they thought this thing would be useful...
Then I decided to try it myself, So i've propped my keyboard up at a comparable angle, and I'm typing on it right now... I've got to admit it hasn't slowed my typing down at all, or decreased my accuracy (Although it does obviously take longer to make the keyboard->mouse->keyboard transition with the right hand)
While I'm still able to type quite well, I can't help but get the feeling that this could be a near-instant cuase of a significant repetitive stress injury, with all the odd angles and such.
Also, if the keyboard is in your lap, how do you get to your
Not a wireless mouse (Score:4, Funny)
For a product from Infinium Labs, I'd expect both the keyboard and the mouse to be wireless. Hell, I'd expect the dang thing to READ your friggin' MIND and move itself around FOR you.
Besides, I heard that their CEO strangles puppies to get off.
I mean, that's just something I heard somewhere. [penny-arcade.com]
Okay... (Score:3, Insightful)
As a side note, and this is nothing personal about Infinium but why is it that pre-produce launches have become so necessary. I mean I know that announcing new airplanes in advance of ground tests and so on is necessary to drum up funding, or just spit in the eyes of those who said you would never "make it" but why is it that every company has to tell the world about its products before they exist just to keep shareholders happy. First the shareholders demanded regular updates and yearly profits. Now they expect quarterly profit gains. Before you had to have a new product on the market each year. Now it seems you have to have a new pre-product announcement each quarter (just look at Apple).
I can't help but think that the focus on short-term gains and announcements bodes ill in the long run for any company.
It should be noted (Score:5, Informative)
You just can't make this stuff up! (Score:4, Interesting)
Perfect stepping stone! Subsequent launch, further down the line. Man, this guy just cracks me up. Did he actually make this quote with a straight face? Because I couldn't stop myself from laughing just reading it.
Oh, and anyone else amused by the fact that they have apparently been working on this keyboard for over three years now, but yet it's STILL going to take them another 6 months to get it into peoples hands! If they were that far behind with the keyboard, just imagine where they are with the rest of the system
These guys are still in business? (Score:3, Interesting)
After what they did to HardOCP, I don't think so. (Score:3, Insightful)
It's a really nice design (Score:3, Informative)
Re:It's a really nice design (Score:3, Insightful)