wraggster
December 18th, 2014, 23:19
http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/15f02e5a6b85a7e26cff4928d73939b8/201260656/sharp-nintendo-freeform-2014-12-17-01.jpg
There's an intriguing report from Kyodo (http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/12/16/business/corporate-business/sharp-supply-free-form-lcds-nintendo) that Nintendo will use Sharp's "free-form" LCDs on an oddly-shaped new console or other product. Sharp recently showed offIGZO-based displays (http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/18/sharp-flaunts-free-form-displays-for-funky-shaped-devices/) that move the control circuits away from the bezel, allowing for funky, non-rectangular shapes, as shown above. Nintendo will reportedly use the tech for a device with a "donut-hole" at the center, either a replacement 3DS console or an unusual sleep-tracking device (http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/29/nintendo-sleep-tracker/) it recently teased. It could also be aimed at cheaper consoles for emerging markets, judging by recent statements (http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/08/nintendo-is-making-entirely-new-consoles-for-emerging-market/) about "new thinking" from president Satoru Iwata. If the rumor is accurate, it's not clear why Nintendo would want a screen with a hole -- possibly to display extra game info? Your guess is as good as ours.
Update: We asked Nintendo about the report and it (unsurprisingly) told us "we don't comment on rumor or speculation."
http://www.engadget.com/2014/12/17/nintendo-sharp-donut-device-rumor/
There's an intriguing report from Kyodo (http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/12/16/business/corporate-business/sharp-supply-free-form-lcds-nintendo) that Nintendo will use Sharp's "free-form" LCDs on an oddly-shaped new console or other product. Sharp recently showed offIGZO-based displays (http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/18/sharp-flaunts-free-form-displays-for-funky-shaped-devices/) that move the control circuits away from the bezel, allowing for funky, non-rectangular shapes, as shown above. Nintendo will reportedly use the tech for a device with a "donut-hole" at the center, either a replacement 3DS console or an unusual sleep-tracking device (http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/29/nintendo-sleep-tracker/) it recently teased. It could also be aimed at cheaper consoles for emerging markets, judging by recent statements (http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/08/nintendo-is-making-entirely-new-consoles-for-emerging-market/) about "new thinking" from president Satoru Iwata. If the rumor is accurate, it's not clear why Nintendo would want a screen with a hole -- possibly to display extra game info? Your guess is as good as ours.
Update: We asked Nintendo about the report and it (unsurprisingly) told us "we don't comment on rumor or speculation."
http://www.engadget.com/2014/12/17/nintendo-sharp-donut-device-rumor/