New Display Panels from AUO Spark Speculation of 4K Apple Displays

[MacRumors]

When Apple gave its full unveiling of the new Mac Pro at last month's media event, many observers were disappointed that the company did not also announce new higher-resolution displays to complement the radically redesigned professional desktop, which Apple touts as being able to support up to three 4K displays simultaneously.

But the recent introduction of new 27-inch and 32-inch 4K display panels from AU Optronics (via Reddit and AmongTech) is sparking speculation that Apple could yet have a display announcement in the relatively near future. Both panel sizes offer 4K resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, which could use the new Thunderbolt 2 connectivity standard to support either much larger desktops than with the 2560 x 1440 resolution of the current Apple Thunderbolt Display or high-quality "Retina" sharpness at an equivalent of 1920 x 1080.

Apple currently uses well-regarded LG panels in its Apple Thunderbolt Display, and it is unclear if the new panels from AU Optronics will meet Apple's exacting quality standards. Still, many have been looking for technology that would even allow Apple to offer a 4K display alongside the Mac Pro, and the new AU Optronics panels using the embedded DisplayPort (eDP) signaling standard embraced by Apple appear to be a significant step in that direction.

Even if Apple were to launch 4K displays using these panels, timing remains unclear as Panelook listings for the new panels indicate that they are "in production" but with customer sampling and mass production not scheduled until the first quarter of next year.

Also in question is whether Apple would even use 16:9 3840 x 2160 panels for a 4K display, as some have suggested that the company may prefer to push Thunderbolt 2 to its limit and support the wider 4096 x 2160 "Cinema 4K" standard given that the display will undoubtedly be targeted at professionals, many of whom in the film industry will be working with content using that resolution standard adopted for film production.

Article Link: New Display Panels from AUO Spark Speculation of 4K Apple Displays

 

[osx11]

These are going to be expensive.

 

[johnnnw]

Bust out the pocket books gentlemen

 

[chfilm]

Just give us those displays!! Or at least refresh the current cinema displays in the thin imac form factor with usb 3!

 

[akron0488]

What's so wrong with sticking to what you know? In the age of 500 dollar 55 inch LED's, who's going to pay a premium for apple branded tv's?

Better question is: With tablets, and loads of streaming services, how many people actually sit down to watch TV regularly anymore?

 

[frozen220]

matte pleeeeease!!

For the love of god, please make these matte, not glossy.

 

[Ventilatedbrain]

What's so wrong with sticking to what you know? In the age of 500 dollar 55 inch LED's, who's going to pay a premium for apple branded tv's?

Better question is: With tablets, and loads of streaming services, how many people actually sit down to watch TV regularly anymore?

TVs are definitely here to stay .. I know some people prefer the Apple TV or whatever set top box setup .. But TVs are a huge business and i think there is room for pay per channel option which hopefully apple will pioneer

 

[darcyf]

The only Apple product with a built-in display and real computing power (not talking iPod Nanos here) left standing without a retina display now is the iMac. Could these be headed in the iMac's direction?

 

[sza]

Hopefully iMac will be shipped with it soon! Can't wait!

 

[Thunderhawks]

What's so wrong with sticking to what you know? In the age of 500 dollar 55 inch LED's, who's going to pay a premium for apple branded tv's?

Better question is: With tablets, and loads of streaming services, how many people actually sit down to watch TV regularly anymore?

If you can't imaging the usefulness, leave it to the professionals to appreciate this new breed of displays.

Not everybody will watch TV on these.

 

[maplingstorie]

Just give us those displays!! Or at least refresh the current cinema displays in the thin imac form factor with usb 3!

that will happen soon!

 

[PatriotInvasion]

Had my $1,000 to throw down months ago for a Thunderbolt Display if they just updated the form factor to match the benefits of the new (now 1 year old) 27" iMac display.

Since Apple has chosen to continue selling 3 year old tech for full price (USB 2.0, really?) I have had enough time to think and decided that I no longer have an interest in the display period. Apple's loss for not keeping up with the times across their product line. They would have had an extra $1,000 from me and likely many others.

 

[medazinol]

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Apple will have 4k displays to go with the new Mac Pros. Just because they didn't announce them at the unveiling doesn't mean they will leave money on the table. Apple said repeatedly the Mac Pro is able to drive 4k displays and they like to offer complete systems so just wait and we'll see displays soon enough,

 

[Orlandoech]

So excited for the next big apple display to have IR....

 

[brandonx76]

Think these will work with new Mac Book Pro's??

 

[Cougarcat]

Apple didn't put 4K-sized wallpaper in Mavericks for no reason.

 

[bbeagle]

What's so wrong with sticking to what you know? In the age of 500 dollar 55 inch LED's, who's going to pay a premium ...

You do realize that some 55" LEDs go for up to $4,000, right? Some with different technologies even double that?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/55-class-54-5-8-diag--led-4k-ultra-hd-tv-2160p-240hz-smart-3d-hdtv/1775101.p?id=1219063710165&skuId=1775101&st=55%20led&cp=1&lp=2

Not everyone buys the cheapest product. There are reasons for buying more expensive things.

 

[pgiguere1]

I made a (long) post about my expectations for an upcoming Retina Thunderbolt Display, considering technical/economical aspects including the panel mentioned here.

If anybody's interested: http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/24/5141356/predicting-the-next-thunderbolt-display

 

[TMay]

Had my $1,000 to throw down months ago for a Thunderbolt Display if they just updated the form factor to match the benefits of the new (now 1 year old) 27" iMac display.

Since Apple has chosen to continue selling 3 year old tech for full price (USB 2.0, really?) I have had enough time to think and decided that I no longer have an interest in the display period. Apple's loss for not keeping up with the times across their product line. They would have had an extra $1,000 from me and likely many others.

Apple chooses not to do redesigns for modest changes; a feature not a bug known to most long time users. Now there are rumors that Apple will build and sell 4K displays for TB2, but you probably wouldn't be interested based on your equipment list.

Your choices are any number of Displayport models or an Apple 27inch TB display with I/O breakout not to your liking. Maybe there are some 3rd party TB displays but as I'm not in the market, it wouldn't be important to look.

 

[Patriks7]

What's so wrong with sticking to what you know? In the age of 500 dollar 55 inch LED's, who's going to pay a premium for apple branded tv's?

Better question is: With tablets, and loads of streaming services, how many people actually sit down to watch TV regularly anymore?

Oh I don't know, probably a couple billion people?

 

[jrswizzle]

TVs are definitely here to stay .. I know some people prefer the Apple TV or whatever set top box setup .. But TVs are a huge business and i think there is room for pay per channel option which hopefully apple will pioneer

This.

I think the Apple TV (not current one) will usher in the "a la carte" channel pricing. Plus look at the Xbox One and how Microsoft is trying to integrate gaming, social and TV all in one with voice commands.

That's what Apple will be trying to do. No more "change input" - everything will work together side by side and in tandem. Should be sweet if they do it right.

 

[stevemr123]

Apple's exacting quality standards

"Apple's exacting quality standards" - lol!

I have two iMac 27"s with LG panels. Both displays developed horrible dust blotches after a year or so (they are inside the panels). A well known problem, but Apple won't address the issue. So much for exacting quality standards...

 

[spaz8]

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Apple will have 4k displays to go with the new Mac Pros. Just because they didn't announce them at the unveiling doesn't mean they will leave money on the table. Apple said repeatedly the Mac Pro is able to drive 4k displays and they like to offer complete systems so just wait and we'll see displays soon enough,

The trick is will they only run at 30 hz? I haven't seen any indication of a 4K display thats able to run an 60-120 hz like current 2560x1600 monitors. Your eyes will not enjoy staring at 30 hz, unless apple has shares in lense crafters

 

[theluggage]

"equivalent of" 1920 x 1080 on a 27" or 32" display? No thanks. Scalable content will doubtless look beautiful, but icons and menu-bars are going to be huge!

The question is, whether 'scaled mode' 2560x1440 equivalent on a 4k screen will look better than native 2560x1440 on the current 27".

… or Apple could drag OS X kicking and screaming into the 21st century and come up with a fully-scalable UI so they weren't in this 'double the pixels or bust' situation.

Retina makes sense for smaller devices viewed at less-than arm's length - displays like the ACT/ATD/iMac 27" are already near-retina once you allow for viewing distance. I can't say that I look at my ACD now and think "ugh, look at all that visible pixellation". Wake me when 5120x2880 is here so we can have pixel-doubled mode, or when the double-width wrap-around 5120x1440 display appears.

I think there are serious applications for 4K but most of them involve either (a) being a video editor working on a 4K movie or (b) other graphics pros who want a secondary screen for big beautiful renders.

 

[kazmac]

...

correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't LG screens the big culprit as far as IR with rMBPs and now rMini iPads? They seem garner some negative reactions for this here and elsewhere.

Whomever makes the next display for Apple, I hope there is better Quality control.

And re: 4k - way out of my league.

I am one of those people who prefer a tv to a computer display when watching movies/tv. iDevices are fine on the go, but I am not used to the computer being the be all for my viewing entertainment. I still prefer having the tv and computer separate.