IPad won't let me modify my post
Anyway, BlackNMild, I remember you posted links about a joint research project between Nintendo and Google engineers from some years back? Centered on OS development I believe.
Have you come across anything new in that vein?
Nintendo's OS layer will dictate their scope of services and I think all of the game platform companies, even Nintendo, are going to have to expand the scope of their device (further along the lines of what MS is already striving to do and improving on the things Nintendo itself offered) to remain competitive in the living room computing space.
Actually, I feel like a partnership between Nintendo and Google makes a whole lot of sense. Google can offer a ton of quality technology, services perhaps even directly aid in developing an OS (custom Android or chrome fork?). It could even serve as a joint marketing effort. Meanwhile in exchange for utilizing the tech, Nintendo can offer them a prime ticket into the living room, an objective Google has been striving for in recent years, and another outlet for them to serve up those lucrative ads. Google would sure love to beat Apple and MS to market, as well.
Nintendo can't go it alone going forward, Iwata has said this and demonstrated this understanding in seeking EA's support with development of Nintendo Network. Unless Nintendo has secretly been hiring an experienced team of OS guys, they are going to need help here as well to deliver something better than what DS, Wii and even 3DS has offered.