By Steve Watts, 04/02/2010

Sharp recently showed off its new line of handheld 3D screens in Japan, which could give us insight on what to expect from the Nintendo 3DS.

An Associated Press report details the new mobile devices, which feature a three-inch screen and display 3D -- without the use of special glasses -- when held one foot from the user's eyes. The bad news is that the images on the touch screen were reportedly a bit blurry from certain angles, though Sharp promises that its latest technology is solving that problem.

While the report does mention the speculation that the tech will be used in the next Nintendo handheld, Sharp declined to comment on which companies it is supplying.

Still, Nintendo is looking more and more like a safe bet. The promise of no-glasses, handheld 3D technology sounds incredibly similar to the small bit we know about Nintendo's next handheld. The three-inch screen and recommended viewing distance make it very much like the current DS and DSi models as well.

Rumors quickly surfaced following the surprise 3DS announcement that Nintendo was working with Sharp for its next system, and Nintendo may have even sent out its press release to avoid press leaks about the partnership. Production for Sharp is set to start in the first half of fiscal 2010, which should mean that Nintendo will be more than ready to show it off at E3.

[Image courtesy of the Associated Press.]