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Apple Preparing to Use OLED Displays for iPhone and Computers?

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Apr 12, 2001
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In an article making a broad sweep of claims, SmartHouse revives rumors that Apple will be moving its computer and iPhone/iPod touch displays to OLED technology, claiming that a representative of display manufacturer LG has confirmed the news.

According to the source, OLED technology will be making its way into Apple's entire lineup of displays, from notebooks and standalone displays to the iPhone and iPod touch. SmartHouse also cites another source claiming that Apple has already created a prototype netbook using an OLED display.

In addition, SmartHouse reports on OLED touchscreen-based notebooks under consideration by Apple:
Sources in Taiwan told ChannelNews last month that Apple were looking at an OLED based notebook that will also incorporate new touch screen technology. Now sources in Korea are saying that this information is correct and that one area where LG has been testing OLED panels is in the area of touch sensitivity and "leave behind finger marks".

The sources claim that in recent testing OLED screens used on a notebook attracted "body oils and sweat" when a finger was constantly used on a screen. LG believe that by adding a layer in the manufacturing process that they can eliminate "finger marking".
Click to expand...
Finally, SmartHouse's sources point to a "wafer thin" OLED screen capable of interfacing with an Apple TV-like product, although no additional details on this are provided.

While the reduced power consumption and superior contrast ratio of OLEDs when compared to traditional LCDs and LEDs have made such a move an attractive rumor since at least 2003, Apple has yet to adopt the technology in any of its products. Pricing and various technical challenges such as limited lifetimes of the organic components in OLEDs are typically regarded as the most significant barrier to adoption.

The sheer number of claims offered, along with a lack of detail and the revival of a long-standing yet unfulfilled rumor, lead us to be skeptical of these assertions, so we have published this story on Page 2 for interest and discussion.

Article Link: Apple Preparing to Use OLED Displays for iPhone and Computers?
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/19/apple-preparing-to-use-oled-displays-for-iphone-and-computers/
Interesting stuff, OLED has some big advantages.

I suppose the reduced lifetime is less of a problem for things like iPods/iPhones where they are usually upgraded regularly (the downside of technology moving so fast!). However, people won't be happy if it causes a big price jump...

Still, need some more evidence before I will believe OLED is coming any time soon.
 
Sounds good to me longer battery life only let the netbook rumors die netbooks are a passing phase of the industry not a major market
 
Why would they do this after just now switching almost the entire line over to led, would they switch it over to OLED? that would be a bad move for the desktop line. I can see the iPod and iPhone but after buying a new uni-body MacBook and they do this to the MacBooks Im gonna be mad.
 
"Finally, SmartHouse's sources point to a "wafer thin" OLED screen capable of interfacing with an Apple TV-like product, although no additional details on this are provided."

I like the sound of that!
 
Too Expensive

Consider that the Sony OLED 11" TV costs around $2000 at the moment.

I think it'll be a few years yet before we see OLED Macs or monitors from Apple.
 
I like the change from Fluo to LED backlighting because it means long life. OLED would have a much shorter usable life than an old Fluo LCD as I understand it. (Short in hours: but it can last OK in years for a device that's only on for a few minutes a week like a camera or NON-smart-phone.)

So unless OLED improves a lot (and maybe it has) I like the current LCD/LED system just fine.
 
OLED production is currently limited to small sizes or high expense. They will be available in large sizes and reasonable prices in a few years, but not in the next year or two. Ars Technica had a piece recently about how the poor economy has slowed progress in OLED manufacturing research -- none of the manufacturers want to pay for expensive new fabs and the current LCD fabs aren't well suited for OLED production.

I sincerely doubt that there is any merit to this rumour.
 
I would think that if Apple is able to get the right supply channels, mass producing OLEDs would be much cheaper than the 10-20 prototypes Sony may have out there. Just a thought.

pdurrant said:
Consider that the Sony OLED 11" TV costs around $2000 at the moment.

I think it'll be a few years yet before we see OLED Macs or monitors from Apple.
Click to expand...
 
At least a year away for portable devices and 2 years for desktop displays.

OLEDs need to offer longevity and defect free mass production before they'll reach our hands.
 
Pricing is a huge factor. OLED is very expensive, but hopefully pricing will adjust with time.
 
Once manufacturers are ready for volume, OLED will become cheaper to produce than current technologies. There are also some lingering lifetime issues (especially relative deterioration, blue does it faster). Analysts predict it will start hitting big time in 2011/2012.

It seems a little too soon for apple to be jumping on it.
 
afaik the main problem with oled is that the different colors have different lifespans although i dont know which colors die first ;)

a quick look into the close past shows me that apple did not tend to usage of brand new technologies in terms of early adopters and i dont think they will change this behavior

and dont forget about the alleged 10 inch display order from last week ... what would they be used for if apple was preparing oled devices?
 
a pure OLED screen can only get to about 12" as was mentioned before. the only way that developers have come up with to increase the size is to combine it with plasma technology. if you are familiar with plasma then you know that it will absolutely kill the battery life. a standard laptop battery could only power a plasma screen for about 30mins. they draw a lot of power. so unless they come up with some other way of doing it i dont see it happening for a long long time.
 
pdurrant said:
Consider that the Sony OLED 11" TV costs around $2000 at the moment.

I think it'll be a few years yet before we see OLED Macs or monitors from Apple.
Click to expand...

Truth. It's a couple years off at least.

Detlev_73 said:
I would think that if Apple is able to get the right supply channels, mass producing OLEDs would be much cheaper than the 10-20 prototypes Sony may have out there. Just a thought.
Click to expand...

Prototypes? The Sony XEL-1 OLED TV has been widely available since 2007. You can walk into your local Sony store and buy one. I'd hardly call them prototypes.
 
This is what I call cool - 40" OLED HDTV :cool:

5A_01.JPG
 
Apple hasn't even made a full transition to LED yet (iMac, 30" Cinema Display).

I can see OLEDs in their smaller screened devices (such as iPhones and iPod).
 
Nice idea, but OLED is still in its infancy compared to regular LCD. Apple needs to make LED LCD 20" and 24" iMacs first. However, makes perfect sense for small screens like the iPhone where the 18 month or so contract means people wouldn't be too bothered by the OLEDs screen quality decreasing gradually.
 
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