A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a processor that performs operations including detecting a first depression range of a button that includes an electro-mechanical sensor for detecting the first depression range, comparing the first depression range to a first actuation threshold, and asserting a first actuation state when the first depression range is at or exceeds the first actuation threshold. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Methods and apparatus provide for: establishing communications between a controller for operation by a user and a center device, wherein the center device is operable to execute at least one application program and to produce an output for display that is manipulated in accordance with inputs received by the center device from the controller device; measuring one or more pieces of biometric information of the user via a biometric sensor circuit of the controller; storing one or more pieces of predetermined user information, including authentication key information about the user in a memory element of the controller; and performing authentication of the user by comparing the measured biometric information with the predetermined authentication key information via a control circuit of the controller, where authentication is satisfied when the comparison indicates a predetermined threshold of concurrence between the measured biometric information and the predetermined authentication key information.

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a button including a fixed force magnet coupled to a first housing assembly component serving as a top portion of the button, a variable force magnet coupled to a second housing assembly serving as a bottom portion of the button, and a spring coupled to the fixed force magnetic and the variable force magnet for repelling the fixed force magnet from the variable force magnet according to a spring constant of the spring. The variable force magnet emitting a magnetic field to counter the spring constant and thereby adjust a force required to depress the button. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a processor that performs operations including detecting a first depression range of a button that includes an electro-mechanical sensor for detecting the first depression range, comparing the first depression range to a first actuation threshold, and asserting a first actuation state when the first depression range is at or exceeds the first actuation threshold. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a processor that performs operations including detecting a first depression range of a button that includes an electro-mechanical sensor for detecting the first depression range, comparing the first depression range to a first actuation threshold, and asserting a first actuation state when the first depression range is at or exceeds the first actuation threshold. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

A peripheral device is configured to obtain configuration information from user equipment. The configuration information is for the peripheral device, wherein during receipt of the configuration information the peripheral device is not in communication with the user equipment. The configuration information is based on selections obtained via the user equipment and associated with operational parameters for the peripheral device. The configuration information is stored in a memory that is remote from the user equipment. Provisioning information is provided to the user equipment, wherein the provisioning information is associated with the configuration information and wherein the provisioning information enables configuration of the peripheral device with the operational parameters.

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method that includes identifying a plurality of devices associated with a computing device, identifying status information from each device of the plurality of devices, and identifying presentation features for each device of the plurality of devices. The method further includes receiving presentation information indicating a setting to present first status information from a first device of the plurality of devices via a selected device of the plurality of devices, wherein the first status is presented on the selected device by a selected presentation feature of the selected device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

A mobile game device and a game console share an image file relating to a game; the mobile game device and the game console are connected so as to be able to transmit data with each other via a wire or wirelessly, and the game console is connected to an image-file-providing server retaining an image file via a network; the game console acquires an image file from the image-file-providing server and the mobile game device acquires an image file from the game console, by which the image file is shared between the game instruments.

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a button including a fixed force magnet coupled to a first housing assembly component serving as a top portion of the button, a variable force magnet coupled to a second housing assembly serving as a bottom portion of the button, and a spring coupled to the fixed force magnetic and the variable force magnet for repelling the fixed force magnet from the variable force magnet according to a spring constant of the spring. The variable force magnet emitting a magnetic field to counter the spring constant and thereby adjust a force required to depress the button. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for detecting that a gaming system has presented a first of a plurality of gaming venue states of a game, presenting a first of a plurality of screen shots at a display responsive to detecting the first gaming venue state, detecting that the gaming system has transitioned to a presentation of a second of the plurality of venue states, and presenting a second of the plurality of screen shots at the display responsive to detecting the second gaming venue state. Additional embodiments are disclosed.