Nintendo built the Switch after the Wii U stumbled, around one simple idea: play anywhere

pop & funWikipedia2010s · Kyoto, Japan

Nintendo built the Switch after the Wii U stumbled, around one simple idea: play anywhere

the gist

The Nintendo Switch grew out of the Wii U's weak sales. Nintendo asked what new experience it could create rather than simply making a successor to the 3DS or Wii U. The answer was a console that works on a TV and as a handheld, with detachable controllers that can be used separately. The Wii U's GamePad became useless when taken out of range of its base, which pushed the team towards a device that could go anywhere. Around five prototypes were built, including magnetic ways to attach the Joy-Con controllers. To keep costs and timelines under control, the team used an existing system-on-chip rather than designing its own, which made it easier for third-party developers to port games. The name refers to the console's ability to switch between modes.

how it works

The Switch uses an off-the-shelf chip instead of custom silicon, trading peak power for battery life, size and easier software ports. Detachable controllers let the same unit sit in a dock for TV play or be held as a handheld, so one device serves both kinds of play.

so what

The Switch shows how a company responding to a commercial failure can rethink the category rather than chase rivals on raw power. It is one of the most successful hybrid consoles, and its design choices shaped how handheld and home gaming are blended.

fun fact

Miyamoto described the Switch's design as drawing on Gunpei Yokoi's 'lateral thinking with seasoned technology' philosophy.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

historyWikipediaclassic1336–1565 · Karnataka, India

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗