What next for Nvidia Shield? More hints pop up
First came clues from the FCC and Nvidia itself. Now a device certification organization has let slip the mention of a "Shield Tablet."
Evidence continues to pile up that graphics chipmaker Nvidia may be working on the next iteration of its Shield gaming device, though specifics about such a gadget have been more elusive.
After reports in recent weeks pointed out Federal Communications Commission paperwork and a Web page on Nvidia's own TegraZone site, The Verge on Wednesday noted a tweet and Web page from the Global Certification Forum mentioning an Nvidia "Shield Tablet."
New GCF-Certified Tablet: NVIDIA ( @Nvidia) SHIELD Tablet - GSM, 3G, LTE - http://t.co/VbFQB5dOW6
-- GCF (@GCF_Certified) July 1, 2014
Incorporated in the United Kingdom, GCF is a private, not-for-profit organization that handles device certifications, helping ensure that new gadgets work properly within networks. The GCF certification of the Shield device was completed and published this past Friday, according to its website.
Nvidia has long been known for its graphics chips, used to power mobile and desktop computing hardware. But in January of last year, the company unveiled its Shield mobile gaming console, powered by Google's Android operating system. Nvidia followed up in September with a 7-inch tablet, called the Tegra Note.
Becoming a hardware manufacturer in addition to creating processors has provided Nvidia with greater latitude in device designs that house their chips. Still, the company will have to work hard to stand out in a market already filled with tough tablet and gaming-device competitors such as Samsung Electronics, Google, Apple, and Sony.
CNET has reached out to Nvidia for comment and will update with any additional information.