Broken Hope
Member
Continuous video recording on flash storage, have fun wearing out either the internal flash or having to replace your SD cards on a regular basis.
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Nintendo files multiple Nintendo Switch patents (controller, dock, architecture*)
Continuous video recording on flash storage, have fun wearing out either the internal flash or having to replace your SD cards on a regular basis.
What is the battery life going to be like on the Joy Cons. For something so small they sure pack in a lot more sophisticated hardware than any other mainstream controller.
This is like a dream come true for me though.
"You are getting a cramp. Stop playing."
We should make and update a post with everything confirmed by this patents. The pulse sensor is a good fucking surprise. I actually think that is the use of the IR image and not the pointer stuff which can be done without any led bar and camera nowadays.
Fuck I want now to play DOOM 2016 on this.
LordOcidax
Member
I dont see any problem here, after you upload the video you can delete the file.... like any other system...
Or, delete it when it's uploaded ?
lensoftruth
Member
I am doing this very thing on by laptop right now.
ultrazilla
Gold Member
I think after seeing these slides and the older patent Nintendo applied for regarding
additional computing devices that could be attached together, that Nintendo will eventually release a separate Switch add on that will make the system even more powerful, instead of having to do hardware revisions that MS and Sony are doing.
additional computing devices that could be attached together, that Nintendo will eventually release a separate Switch add on that will make the system even more powerful, instead of having to do hardware revisions that MS and Sony are doing.
Broken Hope
Member
You realise on PS4 and XB1 the system is constantly recording video regardless of if you press the Share button right?
That on flash storage would kill it fairly quickly.
That on flash storage would kill it fairly quickly.
Who said that it would be the same system ? You could also simply make a video recorder button.
LordOcidax
Member
You can set the time=size of the file... still.. i dont see any problem with this...
It's about destroying storage with too many writing processes. Not about running low on space.
Flash storage nowadays is not as it was some years ago, but still, in the SD card there should be no problem as this is done everyday by smartphones.
Still, I think that is not going to happen. We will get screenshots and thats it.
sir_bumble_bee
Member
LordOcidax
Member
lololol. You are trying to hard here.
Jaded Alyx
Member
LegendofLex
Member
no, this is a known limitation of flash storage.
Faster, but with a more limited number of writes before it degrades. If you're recording video constantly, you're constantly reducing the life of the internal flash storage.
No. I'm not.
You would be right, but the patents show the swappable controllers change the game somewhat. The way I see it, the current Joy Cons allow for just about every type of gameplay out there. While other controllers will surely come in to be more specialized in other key areas and allow for maximum usage.
In other words, Expect a Wiimote-like JoyCon within the lifespan of the Switch.
Broken Hope
Member
brochiller
Member
Could they not just have a few hundred MB of memory set aside to record the last few minutes of gameplay? You don't need to record that much.
Thinking more about the HMD in the patent, it does occur to me that it might make sense as a cheap novelty as much as anything else. I own an Oculus DK1, so I'm acutely aware of the limitations of a VR platform based on a 720p LCD, but at the same time the design of the system makes the addition of VR almost completely trivial, and there's a point at which it becomes cheap enough that the low fidelity becomes forgivable. Switch already includes a decent GPU, a suitably sized screen, all the necessary motion sensors, and two suitable motion controllers right out of the box. Even cheap mobile VR platforms like GearVR or Daydream need to include extra motion sensors and/or controllers in order to function, whereas Nintendo's hypothetical HMD would need nothing more than some plastic and an elastic strap. They could sell it bundled with a Wii Sports/Nintendoland style mini-game collection for $/60 and at that point, even if it's a pixellated mess, I'd still jump on it just for the weird experience that would be Nintendo VR.
Here's a question you might be able to answer, Skittzo. Earlier this year, Nintendo filed a patent which dealt with removable controllers which are non-electronic and whose button presses, etc. are "read" by an IR camera/sensor (link to the Gaf thread on it). While the joycons themselves are obviously electronic and communicate both via an electrical connection and bluetooth, it would seem like the other patent would be a natural fit for Switch, allowing them to sell additional custom controllers at a very low cost (potentially bundled with games). Reading through the patent, though, I don't see any reference to this sort of functionality.
My question is, effectively, if they were pursuing the IR controller tech, would it be expected that they would also include details of it in this patent (given that it appears to cover almost all functions of Switch's hardware)? Or, is the fact that they've already got a patent pending for it enough that they wouldn't include it here?
Here's a question you might be able to answer, Skittzo. Earlier this year, Nintendo filed a patent which dealt with removable controllers which are non-electronic and whose button presses, etc. are "read" by an IR camera/sensor (link to the Gaf thread on it). While the joycons themselves are obviously electronic and communicate both via an electrical connection and bluetooth, it would seem like the other patent would be a natural fit for Switch, allowing them to sell additional custom controllers at a very low cost (potentially bundled with games). Reading through the patent, though, I don't see any reference to this sort of functionality.
My question is, effectively, if they were pursuing the IR controller tech, would it be expected that they would also include details of it in this patent (given that it appears to cover almost all functions of Switch's hardware)? Or, is the fact that they've already got a patent pending for it enough that they wouldn't include it here?
Buggy Loop
Member
Whatever will i do with my iphone and it's flash storage? All this internet, video streaming, music streaming... it's doomed i guess.
Are you a visitor from the past trying to warn us or something?
What makes PS4 and Xbox one magically not wear their hard disks and why would it be better than SD cards?
This. Remember, the Wii U was originally supposed to support more than one gamepad at a time. Not everything listed in those patents may actually happen.
LordOcidax
Member
Yes you are... because tablets uses this type of memory for a long time. My Old ipad still working like day 1 without any degradation... Also you can manage the files on the Switch like any other modern device... Also like every recording software you can set the amount of minutes of gameplay recorded in the background and the size destined for that purpose..
So your iPad constantly records your full screen while you use it? Since years? And again: This is not about managing files. If Nintendo will do it they took that into account. But it's a known fact that flash storage based mediums only have a specific amount of writehits in lifetime. For SD cards it was 10,000 a few years ago. HDDs don't have that problem (they have other problems though).
So according to this documents (Don't take every feature listed as a guarantee for what will be in the final product)
On the tablet:
- Downclock when working on portable mode.
- CPU fan that works in portable/dock mode and regulates RPM accordingly.
- SD storage plus internal storage.
- Possibility of HMD use with a Head Mounted Display - VR helmet.
On the dock:
- The tablet is not downclocked anymore in this mode.
- No secondary CPU fan.
- USB-C port for charging and communication with dock.
On the joycons:
- Can be used 4 joycons per device.
- Clickable joystics.
- Hidden shoulder buttons on the connection side.
- Hidden leds on the connection side.
- Leds show player num. and battery level.
- Possibility of different joycons usable (ex: with d-pad instead of buttons)
- IR sensor for pulse detection (not sure if also for pointing purposes, the patent talks something like the vitality sensor)
- Accelerometers and inclination sensors (pointing could be done with this nowadays, plus the other common uses)
- Left "home" button is refered to as Record button. "Record image" possible. Maybe video, but its not talked about and could just be screenshots. Technically, Flash storage is not a limitation nowadays in regards to use degradation (think smartphones with internal memory only, for example)
- Joycon grip includes battery. Able to charge joycons or make their battery last longer.
- Communication to the tablet via Bluetooth.
What am I missing? Tell me and I will update.
Edit: Corrected some things, also, here is a better list:
https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/5ii58o/nintendo_switch_patent_megathread/
On the tablet:
- Downclock when working on portable mode.
- CPU fan that works in portable/dock mode and regulates RPM accordingly.
- SD storage plus internal storage.
- Possibility of HMD use with a Head Mounted Display - VR helmet.
On the dock:
- The tablet is not downclocked anymore in this mode.
- No secondary CPU fan.
- USB-C port for charging and communication with dock.
On the joycons:
- Can be used 4 joycons per device.
- Clickable joystics.
- Hidden shoulder buttons on the connection side.
- Hidden leds on the connection side.
- Leds show player num. and battery level.
- Possibility of different joycons usable (ex: with d-pad instead of buttons)
- IR sensor for pulse detection (not sure if also for pointing purposes, the patent talks something like the vitality sensor)
- Accelerometers and inclination sensors (pointing could be done with this nowadays, plus the other common uses)
- Left "home" button is refered to as Record button. "Record image" possible. Maybe video, but its not talked about and could just be screenshots. Technically, Flash storage is not a limitation nowadays in regards to use degradation (think smartphones with internal memory only, for example)
- Joycon grip includes battery. Able to charge joycons or make their battery last longer.
- Communication to the tablet via Bluetooth.
What am I missing? Tell me and I will update.
Edit: Corrected some things, also, here is a better list:
https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/5ii58o/nintendo_switch_patent_megathread/
You spoiled kids with your 50 inch tvs. I was playing N64 4 player split screen on a 19 inch bro.Really? 4 player split screen.
Portugeezer
Member
Define "regular basis"
KojiKnight
Member
This was true maybe 15 years ago... but solid state and flash technology has gotten a lot better since the days where we were measuring them positively in thousands of writes.
Buggy Loop
Member
brochiller
Member
Aonuma
Member
The most complete list of things from the patent I've seen so far is here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/5ii58o/nintendo_switch_patent_megathread/
sir_bumble_bee
Member
Whatever will i do with my iphone and it's flash storage? All this internet, video streaming, music streaming... it's doomed i guess.
Are you a visitor from the past trying to warn us or something?
What makes PS4 and Xbox one magically not wear their hard disks and why would it be better than SD cards?
No, no. Video and audio streaming is not written to memory, at most it resides in RAM for a while. Recording always like PS4 does means writing video all the time just in case the user wants to save it after the fact. PS4 has an extra 1GB of RAM dedicated to this precisely so that it doesn't have to write to hard drive constantly, so unless Switch has something similar it would need to write constantly to flash.
That's where PS4's 15-minute limt comes from, by the way. That's the amount of video it can store in its dedicated 1GB of RAM.
My guess is that the GPU will run at 750MHz on the go and 1GHz docked. Worst case is 500MHz on the go, which would mean good battery life but result in performance that... Well, it would basically be a bit faster than Wii U in most cases but with more effects, though up to around 150% faster (2.5x) than Wii U in games well optimized for Switch.
Since each half seems to be a full controller, you're probably limited to four paired joypads working at same time, no matter if it's a pro controller or a joycon. That's my educated guess.
Skittzo0413
Member
That's an interesting question. The short answer is no, there's no reason to expect every single feature of the hardware that's being sold to be detailed by the patent. They very well could add IR ports on the sides of the Switch in order to communicate with those innards-less controller portions from the earlier patent application, and it would still be covered by the claims of this patent. Regardless of the status of the other patent document, they can choose to use that on this device.
The longer answer is that it's an interesting omission, given that this patent document does contain essentially every other feature that's been rumored. I think it's missing any discussion of an IR emitter at the top of the Switch to be used when docked, and the shape of the dock in the figures doesn't match the shape of the dock we've seen. So it's certainly possible that they've added some ideas and features since this was filed in June. But the other controller patent was filed in January of this year, so I would expect that if it were to be used then IR ports would be at the very least disclosed as alternatives to the terminals shown in this patent application.
So while there's certainly no obligation for them to include it in this patent if it's in the final device, the fact that it's missing is making me believe that it won't be featured.