See, even hardware patents can be total and complete bullshit.

Apple's filed patents for gaming accessories for the iPod/iPhone:
http://www.intomobile.com/2010/04/01/app...ory-patent.html (filed Sep 30 2008)

The main issue here is that this is ALL based on prior art and I don't see anything new at all. Multiple companies have demonstrated physical and even working versions of this idea as far back as 2+ years ago (translation: before Apple's filing)

Most of Apple's patents are for defensive purposes, but even so, these applications should be summarily thrown out since the ideas don't actually belong to Apple and were already publicly available and demonstrated by at least two other parties.