[NewsPoster]

Apple is working on a form of glasses-free 3D display, and a matching set of "software ecosystems," supply chain sources tell the Chinese-language Economic Daily. The technology will reportedly force Apple to switch from its current in-cell display technology to new panels, likely supplied by TPK. Apple has filed patents for 3D user interfaces in the past, but this may mark the first rumor of the company actually putting ideas into practice.

The technology could conceivably borrow ideas from Amazon's Fire Phone (pictured). While often considered a failure, the phone did introduce a quasi-3D interface using four front-facing cameras to adjust perspective relative to a person's gaze. Apple's iOS 8 already attempts 3D on a small scale, using a parallax effect to create the illusion that icons are "hovering" over the homescreen background.

[elroth]

What is wrong with a great quality, 2D screen? 3D is a gimmick and I'm totally uninterested.

[panjandrum]

There is certainly some resistance to stereoscopic displays (see elroth's post above), but there is often resistance / FUD when it comes to new technologies. Stereoscopic displays are probably the next obvious step to make it into the mainstream, we are waiting on a lower price no-glasses option, and then it will most likely take-off the way many other technologies took off once they had properly matured. Currently there are many people already immersed in the stereoscopic world, myself included. Once you have a GOOD stereoscopic setup you will never want to go back except in special circumstances (for example, it's fantastic that The Artist was done the way it was, but you probably don't want all movies to be done as silent-era black & whites anymore). There are already some reasonably price-solutions requiring glasses. I suggest that anyone unimpressed with Stereoscopic displays check-out a great stereoscopic gaming rig outfitted properly with Tri-Def and some modern games. The level of immersion a proper stereoscopic imaging adds to the gaming experience is astounding (wander around a stereoscopic Skyrim world; it's simply awesome). With the advent of the Rift and other VR-oriented hardware, I expect those currently uninterested in stereoscopic displays will find it's time to give it a try again.

[ljmac]

Ah, this might explain the move to a 'flat' interface. It doesn't explain the tasteless colours, however.

[Grendelmon]

Nintendo has been offering stereoscopic 3D for almost 3 and a half years now. It's just something that you have to personally experience and become comfortable with over time- and once you are... the gameplay/UI experience is extremely fun.