Samsung and LG Reportedly Quality Testing 'Retina' iPad Display Production for Apple

[MacRumors]

Rumors of Apple bumping the iPad up to a higher-resolution display received a new boost today with The Korea Times reporting that Apple has been working with Samsung and LG on new LCD technology to produce displays with a resolution 2048x1536, double that of the existing iPad in each dimension.

The report notes that Samsung and LG are currently in the testing process for the new displays, which would push the resolution up over 260 pixels per inch, below that of the iPhone 4 and fourth-generation iPod touch, but perhaps high enough for Apple to still consider it a "Retina" resolution given the somewhat further distance at which the iPad is typically viewed.

By limiting the resolution increase to a doubling of the current displays, Apple will provide an easy transition for developers, whose existing content can be displayed via pixel doubling to appear naturally on the higher-resolution display until it can be upgraded to the higher resolution. A similar system was used when the iPhone and iPod touch transitioned to double-resolution displays to minimize disruption to the app ecosystem of the platform.

Apple has started quality testing Samsung and LG's LCDs at one of its laboratories in China. Samsung and LG were required to produce screens with better picture quality and density, according to sources, who anticipate the testing process will be completed during the third quarter.

"Apple's upcoming iPad 3 will feature an improved display to support quad extended graphics (QXGA), a display resolution of 2048×1536 pixels with a 4:3 aspect ratio to provide full high definition (HD) viewing experience," said a source close to the talks.

"Apple has traditionally preferred to use the same providers of the same parts for the same device, even as they evolve to different versions. I don't see any fundamental change to that approach."

With the third quarter of the year already underway, quality testing on the new displays could be completed at any time if the report is correct, paving the way for either a rumored "iPad 2 Pro" to be sold alongside existing iPad 2 models or a full-fledged iPad 3, both of which have been the subject of rumors for a release later this year.

Article Link: Samsung and LG Reportedly Quality Testing 'Retina' iPad Display Production for Apple

 

[Skika]

4:3????

 

[j-traxx]

this is amazing how fast tech is advancing in displays!

 

[DrJohnnyN]

Finally.

 

[barkomatic]

If this rumor is correct and they are still at the testing stage for the displays it doesn't seem likely there will be a new high res iPad in the fall. Looks like the standard upgrade cycle will apply.

When it is released, I certainly hope its not the fiasco it was when the iPad2 came out. It was highly annoying to watch resellers stand in line 24/7 so that they can hawk iPads for twice the cost.

 

[Chundles]

4:3????

Better ratio for tablets, much more comfortable in portrait mode.

 

[Starflyer]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/9A5259f Safari/6533.18.5)

4:3????

4:3 is the perfect ratio for a tablet. Especially of you spend most of your time in portrait mode.
Edit: Chundles beat be to it.

 

[Matthew Yohe]

4:3????

You know, the same ratio as the best tablet on the market?

 

[charlituna]

4:3????

Correct. As Jobs said when asked about it for the ipad 1 and 2 it is the best ratio for the 'not watching videos' portions of the ipad and folks will just have to get over the letter boxing.

and looking at the millions sold, it doesn't seem to be an issue for the masses so it's a win for Apple

 

[AAPLaday]

Cue the coming fall 2011 rumours now ...

 

[Nothlit]

4:3????

Yes, the same ratio as the iPad and iPad 2... Big shock, I know.

 

[filmantopia]

4:3????

Best ratio for.... well, I'm sure you get it by now.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

When it is released, I certainly hope its not the fiasco it was when the iPad2 came out. It was highly annoying to watch resellers stand in line 24/7 so that they can hawk iPads for twice the cost.

Apple can't win here. No matter what it does it will be pilloried by some group for some imagined wrong perpetrated against it. If it delays announcement until they have enough supply for a worldwide release it hurts marketshare more than if they just release it a few countries at a time. The free market dictates whether it's worth scalper's time and effort. If there are people overseas that want an iPad day of release or soon after and are willing to pay 2, 3x retail, it will happen. You can't blame Apple for the marketplace. It's just one participant.

 

[jayducharme]

I'd have to see a "retina" iPad on display, but offhand I can't imagine why it's necessary. My iPad 2 display is crystal clear. I have no trouble reading it, even when the text is tiny. Pushing a display higher than HD on the iPad screen doesn't seem as necessary as on the iPhone, where screen real estate is at a premium.

 

[FNi]

Ugh, these iPad HD rumours annoy me so much, but for a different reason entirely.

For years I've been moaning to everybody who'll listen that 'full HD'-ish resolutions are simply not high enough for PC monitor sizes (or laptops for that matter), the pixel density is simply too low for the hours on end we stare at them. Even with the top-end consumer IPS screens produced by Apple/Dell (2560 x 1440) etc are not great imo - especially along the vertical.

And now Apple comes along with (reportedly) 2048×1536 on a 10 INCH TABLET.

Agghhh.

No doubt this premium version of the iPad will not be cheap, but that's neither here nor there. Panel manufacturers obviously have the ability to produce displays with significantly improved pixel density - but why has it taken a tablet to get it out of them?

Sorry, rant over.

 

[g0odfr1end102]

I'd have to see a "retina" iPad on display, but offhand I can't imagine why it's necessary. My iPad 2 display is crystal clear. I have no trouble reading it, even when the text is tiny. Pushing a display higher than HD on the iPad screen doesn't seem as necessary as on the iPhone, where screen real estate is at a premium.

Exactly what I think!! Allthough I would be curious to see one

 

[Ulf1103]

I like it...
Maybe I'll buy an iPad 3 so I can use it as an external monitor for my MBP...
And ofcourse, for gaming all the other stuff you can do with it...
It would be a perfect trio (iPhone 3GS 32 GB, MBP and IPad 3 (16 GB probably)

 

[Mr. Gates]

I'd have to see a "retina" iPad on display, but offhand I can't imagine why it's necessary. My iPad 2 display is crystal clear. I have no trouble reading it, even when the text is tiny. Pushing a display higher than HD on the iPad screen doesn't seem as necessary as on the iPhone, where screen real estate is at a premium.

General reading like on the Web....yes, it's fine.

But real books are a different story. I'm not trying to say the iPad is horrible but it does strain the eyes after a few chapters. I know the kindle is better and bla bla bla...

But if the pixel density was a bit higher I think it would help a lot!

With a book, the closer to real print the better. Lower resolutions are just not as good.

 

[RodThePlod]

...but offhand I can't imagine why it's necessary. My iPad 2 display is crystal clear. I have no trouble reading it, even when the text is tiny.

I used to say something similar about the green screen CRT on my IBM PC back in the day...



RTP.

 

[steadysignal]

I'd have to see a "retina" iPad on display, but offhand I can't imagine why it's necessary. My iPad 2 display is crystal clear. I have no trouble reading it, even when the text is tiny. Pushing a display higher than HD on the iPad screen doesn't seem as necessary as on the iPhone, where screen real estate is at a premium.

everyone wants more than they already have.

a "pro" version makes sense for niches and geeks who need and want a better look/screen.

 

[NebulaClash]

If this rumor is correct and they are still at the testing stage for the displays it doesn't seem likely there will be a new high res iPad in the fall. Looks like the standard upgrade cycle will apply.

If everything else is ready to go and Apple was only waiting on the displays to catch up, and if testing ends in Q3 (which could be next week for all we know), production could ramp up in August and September with an October launch in time for the Christmas selling season. If Apple can release them by mid-to-late October, supplies could ramp up by late November such as they would sell like hotcakes in December.

Not saying this is how it will go, just that we do not have to assume it won't get released until next March or April. Apple would love to create this HD version just as competitors are still struggling to sell their standard versions this Christmas. When your competition is struggling in the water, throw him an anchor.

 

[JAT]

Samsung would be idiots if they weren't trying to make such a display. And that has nothing to do with Apple, really. (except that Apple is the major player) The industry finally likes tablets, better be advancing your displays if you want to keep selling them.

 

[Mr. Gates]

I have an Idea

For those worried about battery life: It would be cool if there was an option to run on the resolution found in the current iPad , then a simple toggle could boost it to double if so desired.
Perhaps certain games would Auto trigger the double pixels

Just a thought

 

[Henriok]

Awesome

I think it's great. Fore one thing. I think this "retina" business will essentially be the final word in resolutions. From here on Apple won't need to increase the pixel amount anymore and developers can rest on a promise that 4:3 will be 2048x1536 and 3:2 will be 960x640 essentially forever. The faster Apple get to "retina" on all iDevices, the better.

Going this far though the iPad would need a more powerful GPU and more VRAM. But such GPUs already exist and the next generation will be more than enough, as will 1 GB RAM.

 

[Skika]

You know, the same ratio as the best tablet on the market?

Oh, right my bad. I could have sworn the current Ipad ratio was 3:2.