Apple Preparing to Use OLED Displays for iPhone and Computers?

[oldwatery]

Eventually they will probably will go with such technology. But I think it is a long way off for the moment.

Exactly!
Any high tech company worth their salt look at emerging technologies all the time. It is no surprise Apple are "looking at" OLED but the technology needed to produce the displays needed to cover the range of products suggested is a ways off yet.

 

[kabunaru]

If this exists, then the 30" OLED Cinema Display can exist as well. Though, the 30" OLED Cinema Display will probably be like $75,000.

 

[syclick]

OLED screens for 3rd Gen iPhone?

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/report-lg-to-supply-oled-iphone-ipod-touch-screens/

A new report states that LG is expected to provide OLED screens for new iPhone and iPod touch models due later this year. Smarthouse, citing sources within LG Korea, claims that the new screens bound for the iPhone and iPod touch will be joined by an OLED-based touchscreen “notebook,” and that LG has been working on increasing touch sensitivity on the screens, as well as working on a new outer layer of covering for the screens to reduce the appearance of finger marks on the screen, left by accumulating body oils and sweat. Finally, the report states that Apple is also looking at a thin OLED screen from LG that will “link with a wireless content device similar to the current Apple TV.”

OLED technology has the potential to improve battery life in formerly LCD or LED-based devices by removing the need for backlighting, as well as improving color ranges, viewing angles, and rendition of true black coloration. Unfortunately, OLED technology has been plagued with considerably lower lifespans than LCD and LED screens, reducing the longevity of OLED devices to under five years when used for 8 hours per day.

 

[wizard]

OLEDs ultimately ought to be much cheaper than LCD screens.

I'm not sure where everybody gets the idea that OLEDs are inherently expensive. On the contrary they should be much cheaper to produce in a mass production situation.

The aging issue is real but that is being dealt with. Further smart design would make the display panel element easy to replace. On a phone it probably won't be an issue, on a desktop monitor it would be very useful to have an easily replaced screen (OLED module).

In find this rumor interesting for a number of reasons not the least of which is that huge transfer of money from Apple to LG. That cash would certainly solve the mass production issue. It is also interesting that we have yet to see the fruits of this deal.


Dave

 

[ViciousShadow21]

I'm not sure where everybody gets the idea that OLEDs are inherently expensive. On the contrary they should be much cheaper to produce in a mass production situation.

The aging issue is real but that is being dealt with. Further smart design would make the display panel element easy to replace. On a phone it probably won't be an issue, on a desktop monitor it would be very useful to have an easily replaced screen (OLED module).

In find this rumor interesting for a number of reasons not the least of which is that huge transfer of money from Apple to LG. That cash would certainly solve the mass production issue. It is also interesting that we have yet to see the fruits of this deal.


Dave

you are right, but just because it doesnt coast a lot to produce doesnt translate to being cheap to buy. they know that they can charge a lot. and ppl will just keep shelling out the $'s. just look at Diamonds. mark-up on those can reach >7000%

 

[Stridder44]

I'm not sure where everybody gets the idea that OLEDs are inherently expensive. On the contrary they should be much cheaper to produce in a mass production situation.

On paper, yes, they should be. But they aren't, and seem to have no light at the end of the tunnel.

Honestly, I'm wondering if OLED will ever come to fruition.

We've been hearing about it for years and years and years. It's always just on the brink of "taking over the market". Wasn't it supposed to do this in 2006? And they still have yet to make a long lasting OLED panel that is cheap enough for the general consumer. I feel like other tech such as SED will take over sooner.

 

[Airforcekid]

Maybe that is why the 30" Cinema Display has not been updated yet?

No the max oled at CES was 25 inchs and it cost a ton!

 

[robollama]

Sweet. Hopefully this is true and the fingerprint reducing layer is also added to the iPhone.

 

[0098386]

I'd like to see OLED in the next iPhone revision. Can't imagine them using it in computers yet, maybe this fabled big iPod Touch or whatever the cool kids are calling it now.

Or maybe not. I'm not keen on the lifespan of OLED. I like to keep my computers and iPods and hand them down over the years. Bet Apple would capitalise on a "screen replacement programme (or is it program in this context? bleh)"

 

[That-Is-Bull]

This is what I call cool - 40" OLED HDTV

Don't know what's so great about that, the picture doesn't look any better than my monitor's. (totally srs.)

 

[wizard]

OLEDs already on the market in cell phones!

Guys;

I'm not sure where all the OLED negativity is coming from. There are numerous cell phones with OLED screens on the market already. If that doesn't convince you take a look at what is available from the various manufactures. There is a large selection of sceens available now for cell phones.

Now that doesn't mean Apple will use off the shelf screens but does indicate the technology is ready. The nature of OLED screens makes them adaptable to custom sizes anyways.

 

[kabunaru]

Don't know what's so great about that, the picture doesn't look any better than my monitor's. (totally srs.)

I think that is the most realistic picture-looking TV I have seen.

 

[ViciousShadow21]

Don't know what's so great about that, the picture doesn't look any better than my monitor's

its the accurate colors and the grey scale that make it incredible. the pic does not do it justice you have to see it in person. it is pretty amazing.

 

[lazydesi]

sony were releasing thier Mp3 models with OLED displays from this May

 

[wetrix]

I think that is the most realistic picture-looking TV I have seen.

Do you think you can really judge a screen's quality on a screen (your computer) that is inferior?

 

[Virtuo]

It only seems natural that this technology be adopted into future Apple products. That said, the SmartHouse rumor seems plausible, but vague as well; there is no mention of a general street date. Even if the claims made by SmartHouse are false, however, we must take into consideration that OLED is an emerging technology (set to boom around the 2011-2013 timeframe, see http://www.displaysearch.com/cps/rd.../090312_oled_lighting_to_take_off_in_2011.asp ) and that if Apple continues this trend of smaller/thinner they are going to have to implement this. It's also safe to say that we'll see this in the iPod nano or iPod classic before iPhone and Apple computers.

 

[ViciousShadow21]

something that Apple has implemented that will most likely impact their decision on weather or not to use this technology is staying green. i know the "O" in OLED stands for Organic but does anybody have an idea about how energy efficent and how biodegradable these displays really are?

 

[Shubidua]

Some explanation about OLEDs

Just to give some small indications about OLEDs, it happens I just had some work to do about them for university.

The limitation of OLEDs is the blue, if I remember right, because they have a lifetime of about 15,000 hours, whereas red and green have the double of this.
For those hoping for SED to come out, I'm sorry to disappoint them, but SED development is stopped for licence reasons, at least in my knowledge.

For Apple's green list, OLED would be a good point, because they do not use backlight, as they emit themselves the light. Thus displays will be able to be thinner, and view angles wider. As pixels that are black don't block the light like in LED or LCD displays, but just don't emit light, they use far less energy. I can't give real numbers because it depends on usage. Tv's for example, a Plasma which uses about 250-300W, an equivalent OLED will use 120W. I can't remember the exact LCD value, but I beleave it is about 200W.

As others already mentioned, OLEDs are already in use in different small devices, like cameras, mp3s and phones, so my guess is we will see some more anytime soon. Maybe some iPods this year, and an iPhone next year.

The massproduction issue is about to get solved with inkjet technology, so they will literaly print screens ...

 

[Aegelward]

It seems that everyone is expecting Apple's netbook to take on a similar shape to the Vaio P, and why not, it's a damn sexy design. Leonovo are in the works of producing one of the same style, clad in leather like a tanner's shop window, and with full touch screen.

 

[Fezzasus]

I think there's some confusion about OLED displays. I'll try and clear this up.

Current LCD screens have two components; the backlight and the liquid crystal component; the latter simply consists of many groups of three coloured shutters - a triad (one green, blue and red) which makes a pixel. Electrodes control how open each shutter is, controlling the colour produced.

LED backlit screens maintain the liquid crystal section but simply change the backlit source from a fluorescent tube to a LED, organic LED backlit screens are common place.

True organic LED screens are very different and are a one component system - the OLEDs cover the whole display and are controlled directly to produce different colours. These are not common place as blue OLEDs are very difficult to produce and don't create a clean enough emission to be used as a computer display.

The article seems to confuse the two types of OLED screes. Only true OLED screens will be able to be flexible, thinner and have a different affinity to attract grease from fingerprints. OLED backlit screens are essentially the same as what we have now, and doesn't offer any changes other than increased battery life.

 

[willygee]

I would take anything published by Smarthouse with a massive grain of salt. The CEO, David Richards is known for inaccurate reporting and plagiarism

 

[EntropyQ3]

The limitation of OLEDs is the blue, if I remember right, because they have a lifetime of about 15,000 hours, whereas red and green have the double of this.

While this isn't as good as the best alternatives, it is good enough for most applications. Unsuitable for devices that are used 24/7 or that all day long and with extended service life expectations. Most but not all work environments would be OK, pretty much all domestic use fits the envelope, and all portable devices are OK.

For me, the advantages by far outweigh the life expectancy drawback. Without solid volumes however, price will be an issue. Apple is a large enough customer to justify building plants to supply them, so the prices they pay should be quite decent. What they will charge the end users for the product is another matter.

 

[guzhogi]

I doubt Apple will put in OLEDs any time soon. From what I've heard (correct me if I'm wrong), it's too soon after they released the iMacs & laptops. Secondly, I heard reports that OLEDs have a way shorter lifespan compared to LED/LCD displays, especially blue pixels. Thirdly, if water (let's say maybe from fingerprints) gets into contact with the insides, it ruins the display. Finally, they're really expensive compared to LEDs/LCDs. While these problems will be solved in time, IMO, OLEDs aren't ready for mass production.

 

[diemos]

oleds are amazing, but who is the idiot who rated this negative?

 

[Shubidua]

I doubt Apple will put in OLEDs any time soon. From what I've heard (correct me if I'm wrong), it's too soon after they released the iMacs & laptops. Secondly, I heard reports that OLEDs have a way shorter lifespan compared to LED/LCD displays, especially blue pixels. Thirdly, if water (let's say maybe from fingerprints) gets into contact with the insides, it ruins the display. Finally, they're really expensive compared to LEDs/LCDs. While these problems will be solved in time, IMO, OLEDs aren't ready for mass production.

AFAIK you are right on the whole line, but:

- Water/dioxygen problem is being solved by building a protecting layer (can't find the technical english word for it ...). I don't know exactly how far they are, there is defenitely some research running on this issue.

- Laptop/Desktop displays: I agree that the displays they build the time being can not fullfil the requirements for this application, at least if you are not willing to change your display every 3 years.

- Price: the real issue is the production method. For the moment they are using Thermal evaporation, and this is expensive and only for small screens. When inkjet printing will be on the point, in my opinion, it will the beginning of the end of LCD displays.