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Apple Reportedly Still Uninterested in OLED Technology for iOS Devices and Potential Televisions

Apple TV Could Be So Much Better

I really don't get why they are hamstringing this device? It's already got a decent processor and 8 GB inside, all they need to do is app enable this thing and it could change the whole market.

For example, why can't they add an alarm clock function? It turns itself on in the morning (course I have to leave the TV on, but this is solved with an integrated unit) and begins to display the local weather for the day, recent twitters, recent Facebook posts and photos, an RSS feed of top news stories and even news video from CNN or whatever. It could show me email (or even read it aloud while I am getting dressed) or even cycle through my favorite websites from a list I enter.

Turn on the bluetooth chip (already inside) and give me a keyboard (or use the remote app on my phone) and I could browse the web with it. With Airplay under iOS 5 I can stream games to it and use my idevices as a controller.

Add Hulu+ for current TV shows (especially if Apple buys them).

It already does music, movies and photos from iTunes.

All of this is possible with the current device and an OS upgrade. $99? Sold.

Optional upgrades? Sell a USB camera (with Mic) and now I can video chat and make calls from my TV (include FaceTime, Skype, Fring, Tango). Make sure those in-App time purchases work.

I wish this was my project at Apple. :)
 
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We are not going to see an apple branded television. Apple only enters a market it can add something new to.
 
LG have already said they are bringing a 55" OLED TV to the market next year (the manufacturer and size in the rumour). If Apple were to release a TV, I could see them going with an advanced panel like this rather than trying to compete with all the established manufacturers using widespread LCD panels.

Hopefully LG have improved the lifespan of OLED, but apparently their 15" OLED TV is absolutely stunning image quality.
 
When and if Apple makes its branded TV, it will be one of two things: (1) continue its hobby status and merely integrate Apple TV into stylish high quality display panel or (2) disrupt the market.

If it goes for the later, I suspect it will debut as the first iOS device designed for group interaction and consumption (iPad, iPhone, iPod touch are designed for individual experience).

For the couch potatoes, it will rely on existing Apple Remote based interface for casual consumption of video contents.

For group-based interaction, it will be a hub to portable iOS devices, similar to how Lion's AirDrop work. Each user will full swipe on portable iOS screen (in the direction of the TV) to send and share contents.

For more unique experience, it will have a built-in Xbox Kinect like sensor to allow physical gesture-based inputs.
 
I think one of the primary reasons, aside from the OLED lifespan and yellowing issues, is the price. Gigantic OLED panels are probably much more expensive to produce than LCD panels.
 
Biding their time…

Physical DVD rentals are cratering with the advent of services like Netflix and DVD sales are down 25%.

Studios are trying to train users back into the buy mode with their own cloud services, but it's unclear whether they'll ever get the satisfied user base that Apple already has with credit cards a'handy.

iCloud indeed.
 
Definitely no OLEDs

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to the TV by Apple when it's coming out. I'm sure it will be a nice gadget :)

But OLEDs? Definitely not. We were having a closer look at color OLEDs with my company last year, and they are still way to expensive & at the same time not long lasting enough. We decided for monochromatic OLEDs in the end - which wouldn't make sense in a TV, right??? ;-)

So I guess when there will be a TV made by apple, it won't be based on OLED.

(But it does make sense that they take a look at it! So they don't miss the train once it's running. But Apple has never been the first to start a technology.)

Greetings,

McNitefly
 
I really don't get the obsession with what technology a certain consumer electronics device uses as long as it works, works well, and is cost effective.

Hell, I couldn't care less if the iPad or iPhone rans on some Intel Pentium II processor and was (theoretically) 10000x slower than the competition if the iPad continued to work as seamlessly and efficiently as it does.
 
darwen said:
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We are not going to see an apple branded television. Apple only enters a market it can add something new to.
Click to expand...

and let Google invade the living room with Apple on the sidelines?

There is no doubt that Apple will be moving to the TV business. They've been gearing up for it since Apple TV. Why do they call it a 'hobby' still? Because its not final product yet. It will be once that AppleTV is included inside a TV set.
 
Partnerships

I don't believe Apple will have their own "Apple TV" with "tv" being the screen you watch. Rather, Apple may be better off trying to get tv vendors to pre-install their software, similar to Microsoft's Windows business model.

Jobs noted how they were bad in the past for tying to "do it all" and learn from that lesson. Apple distributes music and video via iTunes, but does not record music and promote artists -- that's the labels job. In terms of music, Apple Records has done a great job in making sure that Apple is not a Sony Music (label) anyhow due to the original Apple Records -- The Beatles.

Possibly a bundling of AppleTV with LG, ... but not so much with Sony or Samsung -- who have a Love/Hate relationship with Apple:

* Apple killed Sony Walkman and any efforts by Sony to kill iPod
* Apple is fighter their supplier Samsung over outright copying Apple's iPhone and iPad

Unfortunate for Apple -- the two best LCD televisions are Sony and Samsung! Sony partnered with Google for Google TV, but that does not seem to be taking off.

Eventually tv manufacturers will not be able to keep up with Apple and Google (and Microsoft) on the tv software and will have to choose between the 2 (or 3 with Windows).

Bottom line: the fight over the living room will be a clash of the titans, namely Apple vs Google and possibly Microsoft. HP just gave-up on their WebOS, but most likely was not a real threat anyhow. So its mainly Apple vs Google. However, now Google will have Motorola, they too can be a threat to Samsung and LG -- who make phones and tv's. If Google makes their own phone hardware, Samsung and LG will be stuck between a rock and a hard place. That may even draw them back to Microsoft!
 
aohus said:
There is no doubt that Apple will be moving to the TV business. They've been gearing up for it since Apple TV. Why do they call it a 'hobby' still? Because its not final product yet. It will be once that AppleTV is included inside a TV set.
Click to expand...

I just don't get how people can imagine this. When :apple:TV 2 came out it was heralded with lots of "finallys!" because the price was dropped to $99. Now some of us imagine putting the same basic platform inside of somebody's panel and that selling for whatever Apple would sell a HDTV for (which will be a lot higher than $99 or even the "(too) high price" of the original :apple:TV). If they still put the same functionality in a little set-top box too, the consumer is going to have a choice of replacing their entire TV at Apple's price (& margins) or spend that $99 or so for the exact same functionality running on the HDTV they already own (or want instead).

Apple will almost certainly white label the panel (meaning they won't make it themselves but have someone else make it for them) which means potential buyers will be able to buy the exact same HDTV screen without this :apple:TV tech built in for probably half the cost of what Apple will want for the SAME screen with their logo on it and :apple:TV built in.

Just imagine that for a while:
  1. Buyers have to get over the decisions Apple has made for them (LCD vs. Plasma or something else), Screen size, Remote Design, Ports, etc.
  2. Buyers have to decide they want to pay the Apple price premium for a TV with Apple's logo on it when the exact same TV with LG, Samsung, Sharp, or other logo will probably cost 30%-50%+ less
  3. Buyers will have to decide they want to replace the HDTV they probably already have with this one from Apple instead of buying the :apple:TV functionality in a little set-top box from Apple for around $99 and keeping the HDTV they already have (or buying the one they really want).

Do we not see the many flaws in the concept? This dream(?) might be a fit for someone who doesn't already own an HDTV and has money to burn or maybe an Apple fanatic that will buy (and pay up for) anything with the Apple logo stuck on it, but how do we see the mainstream going for this? I would think that Apple's choice of screen size alone- whatever they choose- is going to turn off an awful lot of potential buyers. And then price with Apple's targeted margins (and the common knowledge that the exact same panel can be had for so much less with the makers brand on it instead of Apple's) should turn off many more.

I just don't see an Apple-branded HDTV. Margins are too thin for Apple's preferences. How much real "game changing" innovation can we imagine is left in the concept of an HDTV (that can't also be accomplished with the stand-alone box)? Buyers want a variety of sizes, designs, remote types, ports, etc to fit their own situation, not having all those kinds of decisions made for them. I just don't see it.
 
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dukebound85 said:
And only able to play content from the ITMS. Can't be getting cable or DirecTV on that as it would be competing with Apple for content consumption!
Click to expand...

Good points for sure. But you have to wonder how much money could be saved manufacturing a TV that shunned the tuner and all of the different ports of the last two decades.

If Apple put out a 55+ inch amazing LCD display with an integrated AppleTV for under $700 it could work very well for them.

Don't underestimate the power behind ITMS content and iCloud....
 
globalhemp said:
I don't believe Apple will have their own "Apple TV" with "tv" being the screen you watch. Rather, Apple may be better off trying to get tv vendors to pre-install their software, similar to Microsoft's Windows business model.
Click to expand...

I think the exact opposite. Apple and Jobs are well-known control freaks - the last thing they want to do is be tied to another company. Remember their first foray into mobiles phones? The result was a Motorola piece of junk with iTunes thrown on. That made Apple realize that to be successful they would have to make the entire phone. They did, and look what happened. IF they do get involved with televisions, I think they would have to have complete control or not even bother with it.
 
HobeSoundDarryl said:
I just don't get how people can imagine this. When :apple:TV 2 came out it was heralded with lots of "finallys!" because the price was dropped to $99. Now some of us imagine putting the same basic platform inside of somebody's panel and that selling for whatever Apple would sell a HDTV for. If they still put the same functionality in a little set-top box too, the consumer is going to have a choice of replacing their entire TV at Apple's price (& margins) or spend that $99 or so for the exact same functionality running on the HDTV they already own (or want instead).

Apple will almost certainly white label the panel (meaning they won't make it themselves but have someone else make it for them) which means potential buyers will be able to buy the exact same HDTV screen without this :apple:TV tech built in for probably half the cost of what Apple will want for the SAME screen with their logo on it and :apple:TV built in.

Just imagine that for a while:
  1. Buyers have to get over the decisions Apple has made for them (LCD vs. Plasma or something else), Screen size, Remote Design, Ports, etc.
  2. Buyers have to decide they want to pay the Apple price premium for a TV with Apple's logo on it when the exact same TV with LG, Samsung, Sharp, or other logo will probably cost 30%-50%+ less
  3. Buyers will have to decide they want to replace the HDTV they probably already have with this one from Apple instead of buying the :apple:TV functionality in a little set-top box from Apple for around $99.

Do we not see the many flaws in the concept?
Click to expand...

A lot of the complaints are based on existing users. What if said family drops into a Best Buy, see all these nice HDTV sets from the usual crowd, Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, then all of a sudden you see that shiny beautiful Apple HDTV set with the Apple logo on its center bezel? Add to that the multitude of iDevices the family already owns.

Most assuredly the picture quality will trounce its competitors. Apple just spent $1bn on Sharp LCD plant so that Apple doesn't have to rely on a sole supplier for its displays on its iPhone/iPad/iPod touch. It would be amazing if Sharp started supplying high end LED LCD TV displays for Apple.

Sharp is also the king of TV sets btw. Their Elite series TV's beat out the Pioneer Kuro series plasmas.

elite-gallery-01.jpg

elite-gallery-07.jpg
 
HobeSoundDarryl said:
I just don't get how people can imagine this. When :apple:TV 2 came out it was heralded with lots of "finallys!" because the price was dropped to $99. Now some of us imagine putting the same basic platform inside of somebody's panel and that selling for whatever Apple would sell a HDTV for (which will be a lot higher than $99 or even the "(too) high price" of the original :apple:TV). If they still put the same functionality in a little set-top box too, the consumer is going to have a choice of replacing their entire TV at Apple's price (& margins) or spend that $99 or so for the exact same functionality running on the HDTV they already own (or want instead).

Apple will almost certainly white label the panel (meaning they won't make it themselves but have someone else make it for them) which means potential buyers will be able to buy the exact same HDTV screen without this :apple:TV tech built in for probably half the cost of what Apple will want for the SAME screen with their logo on it and :apple:TV built in.

Just imagine that for a while:
  1. Buyers have to get over the decisions Apple has made for them (LCD vs. Plasma or something else), Screen size, Remote Design, Ports, etc.
  2. Buyers have to decide they want to pay the Apple price premium for a TV with Apple's logo on it when the exact same TV with LG, Samsung, Sharp, or other logo will probably cost 30%-50%+ less
  3. Buyers will have to decide they want to replace the HDTV they probably already have with this one from Apple instead of buying the :apple:TV functionality in a little set-top box from Apple for around $99 and keeping the HDTV they already have (or buying the one they really want).

Do we not see the many flaws in the concept? This dream(?) might be a fit for someone who doesn't already own an HDTV and has money to burn or maybe an Apple fanatic that will buy (and pay up for) anything with the Apple logo stuck on it, but how do we see the mainstream going for this? I would think that Apple's choice of screen size alone- whatever they choose- is going to turn off an awful lot of potential buyers. And then price with Apple's targeted margins (and the common knowledge that the exact same panel can be had for so much less with the makers brand on it instead of Apple's) should turn off many more.

I just don't see an Apple-branded HDTV. Margins are too thin for Apple's preferences. How much real "game changing" innovation can we imagine is left in the concept of an HDTV (that can't also be accomplished with the stand-alone box)? Buyers want a variety of sizes, designs, remote types, ports, etc to fit their own situation, not having all those kinds of decisions made for them. I just don't see it.
Click to expand...

You're talking like the last ten years of Apple never happened... where have you been?
 
darwen said:
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We are not going to see an apple branded television. Apple only enters a market it can add something new to.
Click to expand...

How many television manufactures also own the most popular online content and application distribution network in the world?
 
blackpond said:
You're talking like the last ten years of Apple never happened... where have you been?
Click to expand...

I agree. Phones were a low margin business until they realized that consumers would be willing to pay $$ for something valuable to them. (Remember the first iPhone priced at $500?) Now, cheap phones are so passé because we expect more from them.

If Apple can create a TV product that does the same thing, you no longer have to worry about them trying to survive a low margin business. It won't be a low margin business, because people will pay to get more from their TV's.

That being said, I think the value will have to be more compelling than the current $99 ATV2. Think Integrated FaceTime camera, group video chat (a feature exclusive to the Apple Television only.) Or whatever else Steve cooks up for "Just one more thing". :)
 
aohus said:
A lot of the complaints are based on existing users. What if said family drops into a Best Buy, see all these nice HDTV sets from the usual crowd, Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, then all of a sudden you see that shiny beautiful Apple HDTV set with the Apple logo on its center bezel? Add to that the multitude of iDevices the family already owns.
Click to expand...

Then said family asks "how much?" and get the sticker shock vs. all of the other TVs they've just looked at. Then, they ask, "do you have something like this but not so expensive?" and the salesperson walks them over to the EXACT same screen with one of the other major manufacturers logo on it and offers that to them for about half the price.

"But" said family asks, "we sure would like that :apple:TV functionality too". So then the salesperson sells them that half price (but same) TV with an :apple:TV $99 or so box and they save all that money for the same result.

"But" said family says, "we don't want the unsightly little box on display where anyone can see it". Salesperson says, "well, I can sell you that Apple TV for twice the price OR we could include this bracket which will hide the little :apple:TV box behind the TV."

"Sold" says said family.

aohus said:
Most assuredly the picture quality will trounce its competitors. Apple just spent $1bn on Sharp LCD plant so that Apple doesn't have to rely on a sole supplier for its displays on its iPhone/iPad/iPod touch. It would be amazing if Sharp started supplying high end LED LCD TV displays for Apple.
Click to expand...

If Sharp is going to make the TV, then Sharp will have their own branded version too... probably with several other screen sizes larger & smaller than the Apple-branded one. And all at about 30% to 50% less than the Apple branded TV.
 
ChazUK said:
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AMOLED on my old Nexus One was very poor in sunlight (the same can be said for my ZTE Blade). The SAMOLED screens on my Omnia And Nexus S are vastly better tho.
Click to expand...

So, basically, the tech's not there, yet...and beyond that, there has to be some advances in the manufacturing process....

Hm. Sounds like a good enough reason not to jump. Yet.
 
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