Broadband Advisor

Apple's latest trademark manoeuvres suggest it might be planning a variant on its iPhone or iPod aimed at the gaming market, offering fresh competition to the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP.

On 5 February Apple updated its "Apple" trademark to include:

"Toys, games and playthings, namely, hand-held units for playing electronic games; hand-held units for playing video games; stand alone video game machines; electronic games other than those adapted for use with television receivers only; LCD game machines; electronic educational game machines; toys, namely battery-powered computer games."

It seems like a strange move if the company doesn't have any concrete plans in this area, and you can only imagine the impact on the world of video games if Apple brings to bear its signature blend of user-friendliness and minimalism. Imagine a handheld a gaming device with the chic factor of an iPod touch (and no, the PlayStation Portable doesn't count). On the other hand, it could just be hedging its bets - or messing with the heads of the competition.