iMpulse mobile game controller is on sale, fits on your keychain

It was more than a year ago when we first heard about the iMpulse - the smallest game controller for Android and iOS. Back in 2012, the miniature peripheral was little more than another Kickstarter darling, full of promise and unsure of its future. Now, the iMpulse is finished and available for purchase. The controller costs $39.99 and seems to match what was promised in the fundraiser. On its front side, it features a D-pad, Start/Pause button, four gaming buttons (backlit). On the bottom, you will find two "shoulder" buttons. Regarding ergonomics, it looks like the iMpulse was conceived with thoughtful engineering, as placing the shoulder buttons in their usual frontal position would have made for an awkward, claw-like grip.

The iMpulse connects to Android and iOS devices via Bluetooth and operates at a distance of up to 100 feet away. It's powered by a lithium-polymer battery, which takes three hours to charge and lasts for nine hours of gaming. You can also play while charging, by plugging the included micro-USB cable in an electrical contact with a charger, or directly in the mobile device.

Besides its obvious gaming capabilities, the controller offers some practical functionality as well. The iMpulse, being a Bluetooth-peripheral, can be used to control Bluetooth-enabled mobile Media Player apps - for example, Spotify and Pandora. It can also act as a camera remote for your smartphone, although Android users will have to download a camera app that uses the volume button + to activate the shutter. Finally, as the controller is small enough be worn on a keychain, a mobile app lets you use it to find your lost keys - assuming they are within the distance of 100 feet. It works by making the controller emit a noise from a small speaker inside its shell.

If the iMpulse has caught your attention as well, you can learn more from the links below.