NEC brings us the heart-shaped LCD panel, for better or worse

Admit it: you love digital photo frames. You love them so much, in fact, that you would be thrilled if NEC were to come up a heart-shaped LCD panel so you could get something like the prototype pictured here. Well, that's exactly what it did with its new "complex, non-rectangular TFT LCD modules." This isn't the first non-rectangular display we've seen, but it's definitely one of the most versatile in terms of the shapes it allows. The new development is based on a more flexible TFT display that puts the display's driver circuits along the perimeter of the LCD glass, allowing for more creative data and gate arrangements. In short, this all results in the monstrosity / ball-of-cuteness -- your choice -- you see above.

[tekdroid @ May 19th 2008 11:07AM]

i was kind of expecting a NECklace from NEC.

[OneLove @ May 20th 2008 11:10AM]

fail

[MeatyPi @ May 19th 2008 11:09AM]

it's definitely for worse.

[Alex Terry @ May 19th 2008 11:23AM]

Surely this is worse than any threat of gray goo or robots taking over... all it needs now is a pink casing and that will be enough to finally push me over the edge!

[Will @ May 19th 2008 11:24AM]

It sucks if you look at it as a heart, but if you turn it upside down it makes a nice frame for all those covert ass-shots you snapped at the mall.

[Smart People Play Tuba @ May 19th 2008 11:30AM]

So how would you quantify the the dimensions?

You can't exactly use length:height or even diagonal measurement.

Thank you so much, NEC, for screwing this up for everybody.

[Aaron Wanker @ May 19th 2008 11:37AM]

Well not necessarily, it could alwas use square dimensions, and then cut off what it can't display (in a cookie cutter fashion). Still not ideal, but it would solve a lot of headaches (if that is indeed how it works).

[Onetruebill @ May 19th 2008 2:42PM]

Bitter you are...
Important they are not...
Use the farce.

[Bad Beaver @ May 19th 2008 11:46AM]

This will go like hotcakes in stores that sell tacky silverware to mothers of all ages.

[Wolfticket @ May 19th 2008 11:57AM]

Clever tech, if not the shape I'd choose (because I'm a miserable bastard). Maybe this means the future will finally be futuristic?

[Aaron Wanker @ May 19th 2008 11:59AM]

I did a bit of googling (for my above comment), an found a PDF from NEC showing other plausible shapes including: a tear-drop, car, pointing hand and a few others...

[directive0 @ May 19th 2008 2:41PM]

I won't admit to anything. Quite the opposite. I find "digital picture frames" to be the stupidest gadgets on the planet. Zero need for such a product exists, and everyone I know who has one has to run themselves ragged trying to justify the expenditure to me. In a world plagued with e-waste problems, wouldn't it make sense to save the really cool tech for stuff that won't end up either in a landfill, or in a closet somewhere after it's given as a thoughtless gift?

No disrespect if you own one and enjoy it, more power to you and to each their own. But I seriously cannot for the life of me understand the attraction.

[dave @ May 19th 2008 3:15PM]

Remember kids, its not rape if she enjoys it

[Alistair @ May 19th 2008 4:15PM]

This application may be silly, but there are some reasonable applications for something like this. Circular LCDs would be useful for a clock face or automotive instrument that needs to be addressable. One can just put a round opening over a rectangular display, but that wouldn't work for a wristwatch that has a round case. It opens up a lot of design possibilities for displays in irregular objects.

[Windzilla @ May 19th 2008 5:54PM]

dress it up in black and it will look more like a grand piano