The FCC is becoming quite the helpful source these days. First it gives us the heads-up on two new Xbox models, and now it's revealed that Sony has applied for approval on some sort of "wireless adaptor" - and no, I don't know why they spell it that way - designed to work with the PS4.
Application AK8CUHZWA1 (where "AK8" refers to Sony, and "CUH" refers to the PS4 and its accessories) describes an 18mm x 9mm x 75mm device (or .7in x .35in x 2.95in), with a 5 volt power supply and Bluetooth communication. That, plus a drawing of where the FCC label would appear on the device, suggests some sort of USB accessory.
But the PS4 already supports wireless internet and Bluetooth with internal modules; so what could the ZWA1 be? We have a few ideas:
The first, and one I'm personally putting my money on, is a wireless adapter for PC. The DualShock 4 already works as a gamepad on the PC, but it requires some finagling and being plugged in. A USB dongle like the Xbox One controller wireless adapter (which is similar in dimensions) would take care of those nuisances.
Another possibility is a dongle for communicating with headsets. As of now, the PS4 supports some, but not all, Bluetooth headsets. An external adapter from Sony could mean that you can finally use your favorite earphones if they're not currently supported. Or, it could be a proprietary adapter, meant only to work with an as-of-yet unannounced headset from Sony itself.
Lastly, another theory is that this device could house not just Bluetooth communication, but video streaming support as well. Think something along the lines of a simplified PlayStation TV or a Chromecast, letting you stream short-range video and you're on the right track.
In the end, we don't know what this "adaptor" is, and we likely won't for some time. But it's fun to speculate all the same, and who knows? Maybe you've got an idea we haven't thought of. So, what do you think the ZWA1 is? Take our poll or let us know in the comments!
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