14 DAY TRIAL // NVIDIA's Tegra 2 definitely scored well on the smartphone and tablet markets, and the Santa Clara company seems quite bent on propelling this ARM platform, even going to such lengths as to add 3D support.
Just a short time ago, a very interesting report made by the folks over at TechEye revealed that NVIDIA might release Tegra 2 3D at Mobile World Congress.
Essentially, it is a 1.2 GHz dual-core SoC (uses ARM Cortex A9 cores) intended for smartphones and tablets designed with 3D screens.
Considering the existence of 3D portable game consoles like Nintendo's 3DS, this should not come as a big surprise, especially not with how quickly slates have been growing in popularity.
Of course, that the release will occur has not been confirmed beyond doubt, but a platform of this kind may have a visible effect on the current market.
As the report has it, tablets have an advantage in this area because peripheral vision, or at least users' attention towards it, is more or less removed from the equation.
Normally, one would need 3D glasses to shut out the peripheral vision, as it causes the image to look blurred.
Tablets and smartphones do not have this requirement because users always hold it inside their so-called viewing cone (the close line of sight).
Thus, one may expect Nintendo's 3DS console to see some changes in sales once it starts being challenged by 3D tablets.
Apple's current line of iPods, iPads and iPhones may also have their work cut out for them once NVIDIA Tegra 2 3D debuts, as will Intel's Atom platform, which just lacks the graphical prowess needed for this sort of feature set.
The production of the new SoC (system-on-chip) will commence this very quarter (Q1 2011). Following that, it shouldn't come as a surprise if 3D screens ales boom.