Katie Marsal
A new TV game console dubbed GamePop will allegedly run iOS applications with virtualization, without using any of Apple's own code, potentially giving developers a new platform on which to offer their titles.
BlueStacks, the company behind GamePop, said in an interview with AllThingsD that it has developed a virtualization process known as "LookingGlass" that is believed to be the first non-Apple device capable of running iOS software. BlueStacks CEO Rosen Sharma claims that this will be accomplished without using any of Apple's code.
iOS applications are run on the console through emulation software. Sharma said he doesn't know how Apple will react, suggesting he has not been in contact with the company.
In addition to iOS software, GamePop will also run titles written for Google's Android platform. But the Android support is based on Google's publicly available open source code.
iOS, however, is not open source, which is why iOS applications to date have remained exclusive to Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Sharma said that his company hopes to work with iOS developers to allow them to make their games available on the GamePop. He views it as another way for developers to monetize their creations.
The console will require a subscription of $6.99 per month when it launches later this year. BlueStacks has promised to have "hundreds" of iOS and Android titles available at launch.
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118 Comments
Interesting. No clue how this happens without a law suit. Someone smarter than me want to chime in why not?
Interesting. No clue how this happens without a law suit. Someone smarter than me want to chime in why not?
Who says there won't be? We're just hearing about this, after all.
Step 1: Build an iOS emulator (likely stolen from an open source project)
Step 2: Build a small Linux box which runs said emulator
Step 3: Hijack the iOS ecosystem and charge people a monthly fee
Step 4: Sit back and rake in millions
What could possibly go wrong?
[quote name="Andysol" url="/t/157913/gamepop-console-to-run-ios-apps-without-using-any-apple-code#post_2340663"]Interesting. No clue how this happens without a law suit. Someone smarter than me want to chime in why not?[/quote] If they aren't using any code belonging to Apple why should Bluestacks be sued by Apple? Perhaps the game developer could complain, but assuming he's getting paid what would be the issue? Apple might not like it but since iOS developers aren't precluded from developing apps for other platforms and assuming the game developer is OK with it where's the problem? It's tough enough for game developers to make a good living from smartphone apps and this may contribute a bit to their grocery budget.
So ... exactly what is already available through Apple TV, but with an un-named, un-known, and as yet un-announced "controller" of some kind. It might even suffer from the same problem iOS emulators do in reverse (incompatible controller) in that most iOS games are now coded for on-screen *virtual* controls, but this thing will then try to simulate that with a *physical* controller. How is this better? How is it worth jumping on this bandwagon when they haven't even announced or shown off final hardware? It would be cheaper to buy any one of the physical controller add-ons for your iOS device and would give you essentially the same experience in combination with an Apple TV.