LG and Samsung Still Struggling with 'Retina' iPad 3 Display?

[cire]

I missed the iPad 2 again because of the ridiculous supply chain shortages (Seriously....round 2 and you STILL couldn't walk into a store and just grab one until about 5 months later) AND the fact that they stuck with the same screen resolution (Reading a book on my stepdad's iPad looks like I'm reading from a ho-hum computer monitor; It still looks pixelated to me).

I walked into a Best Buy on March 2, late in the day and had a pick of all models. At least 100 people queued up while I was there and they still had some in stock by the time I got my two. SmartCovers were running low in some colors. So, you didn't get an iPad 2 cuz you didn't want one.

If they can't pull off a better screen in round 3, I may stick it out until round 4 (or whenever they manage to pull it off). It's a great device and I would love to have one, but I can't justify paying the steep price until I know I'll be satisfied with it....and unfortunately I know I would be using it extensively for reading, and I already know the current resolution doesn't work for me.

And while you're waiting for the iPad 4 I will have passed my iPad 2 onto my broke-ass roommate and you'll still be sitting there playing all by yourself with your paper cutout.

 

[ramuman]

Same price, four times the magic. Meet the new iPad 3.

 

[diamond.g]

Yep, I think that's how it will be handled. Video/Movies and Games are very easy to upscale to larger resolutions. Most Xbox 360 games are like that, the game actually renders at like 560p and is then upscaled to 720 or 1080.

Do the 3D games that aren't made for the iPhone 4/4S retina display look good? It seems to me that we would get games that are blurry and don't have features turned on to keep framerate up.

Also, games are done that way on the 360 because of the 10MB EDRAM buffer that MS opted to use. IIRC they should have used an 18 or 24MB buffer to accommodate high resolutions within 2 or 3 tiles. The 360 has a TBDR just like SGX. The third tile is where you lose the crazy 256GB/sec of bandwidth (plus the free AA).

 

[something3153]

Don't settle Apple, take your time and perfect the 2048 x 1536 screens.

Apple isn't perfecting anything here. LG and/or Samsung are doing all the innovating on this part.

 

[radge]

I'm convinced the retina iPad will be the next generation. But I'm legitimately asking, not being a jerk, have there really been any "rumors" or "leaks" to support this other than peoples hopes? We all remember the "rumors" about the redesigned iPhone 5...

 

[mjtomlin]

Apple isn't perfecting anything here. LG and/or Samsung are doing all the innovating on this part.

Amazes me that people think Apple plays no part in the development and manufacturing process of their devices.

You do realize Apple designs their own SoCs. They have a chemistry group that works on battery technology. They have another group that works on multi-touch technology/digitizers. They design their own logic boards. Etc.

They also work closely with manufacturers, even so much as buying equipment and investing in the building of new plants.

I would be extremely surprised if Apple didn't have a display group that worked with partners to research, design and produce new display technologies.

 

[cire]

I'm convinced the retina iPad will be the next generation. But I'm legitimately asking, not being a jerk, have there really been any "rumors" or "leaks" to support this other than peoples hopes? We all remember the "rumors" about the redesigned iPhone 5...

Who needs leaks? I am excited about the fact that I "heard" that both the iPad 3 and the new Apple iTelevisor will offer the new "Smell-A-Vision" feature. I can't wait to watch a Olive Garden commercial and have that garlic come wafting over the airwaves.

"Siri, can I smell the perfume you're wearing." "Yes, My Grace, I can help you with that"

I also "heard" that Apple is finally stealing from Google and they will have vans running around the world capturing scents. They'll superimpose them on Google Maps. iNose ftw! (Just don't open Google Maps on ANY NYC alley!)

 

[Renzatic]

Same for GPU performance. We're not talking pushing out games at 60 fps here, only running a GPU accelerated 2D frame buffer. My 1996 bought Matrox Millennium could push out 1600x1200. We're in 2011.

Thanks for reminding me of my age, man. The first real upgrade I ever made to a computer was saving up my cash to buy a Matrox Millennium II. I remember being so impressed that I could run Command & Conquer: Red Alert at the then almost unheard of resolution of 640x480. It was...incredible.

 

[AppleScruff1]

---Insert insult here---.

I knew that the loyalists wouldn't like it.

Yes but it will be up to the standards Apple demand. Or someone else will get the Apple contract of billions of dollars. The catch is if the Apple standard is something that does not exist yet. Then it's a case of Apple taking what does exist till they invent something better.

And this is what the Apple team need to insist. If they say we can't do what you expect cause the tech does not exist yet. Apple (like they have in the past) need to say - not good enough. Get out there and invent it.

Who else do you think is on the cutting edge of lcd tech that would be capable of producing 60+ million screens a year besides Samsung or LG? And of this resolution and quality?

Using Apple's money, of course. And don't even think for a moment that Apple doesn't have their own display group that works with these manufacturers.


I must add though, doubling the current iPads resolution would result in a 264dpi display, which doesn't seem like it should be too difficult considering the iPhone is 326dpi. Makes me wonder about the validity of this report... Probably just a market analyst trying push down AAPL value.

Apple doesn't develop the tech. They buy it. Samsung and LG are the ones who are developing it which Apple has contracted them to do.

 

[cire]

Thanks for reminding me of my age, man. The first real upgrade I ever made to a computer was saving up my cash to buy a Matrox Millennium II. I remember being so impressed that I could run Command & Conquer: Red Alert at the then almost unheard of resolution of 640x480. It was...incredible.

Okay...get me a walker. My first computer had a graphic resolution of 176 x 184. It could play any game that could fit in 32k of ROM. That's less than one frame of Command & Conquer: Red Alert

 

[Kaibelf]

A 'fallback option' for if the retina displays 'aren't ready in time' doesn't seem very Steve-Jobs-Like. He'd settle only for the best.

I couldn't agree more. It seems like only Macrumors and the like feel the pushing things into production by Christmas is necessary. Apple should be, and likely is, perfectly fine taking another year to get this large Retina display and the necessary GPU in line. Sometimes, technology is like really fine food, and if you want something great, you are willing to wait.

I actually have an iPad2, love it, but I'd probably have stuck with my iPad1 if I hadn't foolishly sold it when I got an mba, thinking I wouldn't use it. Missed it terribly, hence why I got a 2.

An MBA making a terrible choice with regards to tech? Say it ain't so, Meg/Carly!

 

[Renzatic]

Okay...get me a walker. My first computer had a graphic resolution of 176 x 184. It could play any game that could fit in 32k of ROM. That's less than one frame of Command & Conquer: Red Alert

Hey, I was around during the Jurassic days of computing too, though I was too young to really do anything with them.

My mom and dad had an old Atari 800XL they used for something work related. I can't claim it as my first computer exactly, though I was allowed to play Montezuma's Revenge and Caverns of Mars on it every night for an hour before bed.

Amazing I still remember that.

 

[mattg3]

Why not put out a mini pad(7 inch) with retina feature to tide us over until regular size pad is released?

 

[KnightWRX]

Okay...get me a walker. My first computer had a graphic resolution of 176 x 184. It could play any game that could fit in 32k of ROM. That's less than one frame of Command & Conquer: Red Alert

Dunno if it counts, my first computer used magnetic tapes to run Buck Rodgers.

 

[something3153]

Amazes me that people think Apple plays no part in the development and manufacturing process of their devices.

You do realize Apple designs their own SoCs. They have a chemistry group that works on battery technology. They have another group that works on multi-touch technology/digitizers. They design their own logic boards. Etc.

They also work closely with manufacturers, even so much as buying equipment and investing in the building of new plants.

I would be extremely surprised if Apple didn't have a display group that worked with partners to research, design and produce new display technologies.

So why do they need these partners? That's rather inconvenient for your claims.

 

[dodo123]

Lets talk realistic now...
I think that retina display will come in 2013 with iPad 4.
What will we get in iPad 3? (1.Q of 2012)... A A6 dual core 1,4ghz chip, 1gb ram, a little better cameras and maybe something new (like the smart covers were).
And from the software part we can assume that there will be Siri and maybe a new way of multitasking (like mission control).

 

[mr.iso]

...would thus cause issues for developers who have already produced apps for the current iPad models.

I don't think this is a big of a deal as it sounds...Apple thought about this a long time ago, everything is done in points, not pixels, using a scale factor that the runtime provides. So if you followed Apple's guidelines for developing for the platform, you shouldn't run into any issues, everything should just work. You would just need higher resolution bitmaps to take advantage of the higher resolution display.

At least that's my understanding of it...anyone know any more about this?

 

[VenusianSky]

I hope they can pull it off. iPad 3 may be my first. There are enough apps and accessories available now to make it more desirable to myself. I purchased Moog Animoog app while it is 99 cents, because I figure I'll eventually get an iPad and rather pay 99 cents now than 30 dollars later. The Alesis iO dock also looks interesting.

 

[JHankwitz]

I really hope they go with double (x4) the resolution.

Double the resolution is x2. Pixel count is x4.

 

[JHankwitz]

Why not put out a mini pad(7 inch) with retina feature to tide us over until regular size pad is released?

Good Grief! If you want a small screen, buy an iPhone. Pumping out multiple variations of products is what darn near killed Apple in the early 90's.

 

[ToomeyND]

Sony

I know that those 11" Super AMOLED screens from Sony cost like $2,500, but if Apple bought an initial investment of 10M 9.7" screens, don't you think they'd be able to pump them out right now with crazy pixel density and a relatively low price? I've done literally zero research on the ppi, but that would be a company who is ready to go now.

Not sure I care what they do, I just thought this would be a decent option.

 

[D.T.]

Based on what I'm reading about the next generation LP panels, like the AH-IPS product, I kind of hope Apple sources this to LG (which also reduces the noise between Samsung and Apple).

You are making some wrong assumptions here. The double resolution means pixels are so small they cannot be identified. That means you don't need anti-aliasing. You can actually calculate pixel values at the original resolution, and the geometry at full resolution, and the result is an image that looks _better_ than on an original iPad, with very slightly _less_ work.

I was going to suggest something along this same logic. When you double the pixels on a PC game (for example), you're typically dealing with more discreet elements (higher resolution textures/mapping, more complex geometry, etc.), more CPU/GPU overhead.

However, on an iPad 3, you could simply run a game at "standard" iPad 1/2 resolution, and just let the resolution scale up to native IP3 [res] without needing to process the additional pixels. I think a native IP1/2 game, using a simple hardware scalar to achieve IP3 native resolution would still look good _and_ greatly reduce the GPU overhead.

 

[lilo777]

Amazes me that people think Apple plays no part in the development and manufacturing process of their devices.

You do realize Apple designs their own SoCs. They have a chemistry group that works on battery technology. They have another group that works on multi-touch technology/digitizers. They design their own logic boards. Etc.

They also work closely with manufacturers, even so much as buying equipment and investing in the building of new plants.

I would be extremely surprised if Apple didn't have a display group that worked with partners to research, design and produce new display technologies.

You do realize that Samsung Electronics spends an order of magnitude more on R&D and capital expenditures than Apple does, right? And that Apple buys just 4% of what Samsung sells. And that so far Samsung kept the best panels (i.e. SAMOLED) for itself. No, Apple plays no role in development of Samsung tech.

 

[BowTheMan89]

Welcome to Samsung and LG. They are the ones who will perfect it, not Apple.

It's true. "make me THIS!! there's lots of money in it for youuuuu."

after 2 years of development by Sammy and LG first TV spot released "We changed everything..again"

Sammy and LG "but..but..."

Apples response "Sucks to suck"

 

[840quadra]

Based on what I'm reading about the next generation LP panels, like the AH-IPS product, I kind of hope Apple sources this to LG (which also reduces the noise between Samsung and Apple).

Toshiba's technology looks promising as well with this regard.

You do realize that Samsung Electronics spends an order of magnitude more on R&D and capital expenditures than Apple does, right? And that Apple buys just 4% of what Samsung sells. And that so far Samsung kept the best panels (i.e. SAMOLED) for itself. No, Apple plays no role in development of Samsung tech.

How much money does each company spend annually for R&D anyway?