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Why Apple didn't go with OLED!

S

Shabbis

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 17, 2008
217
4
Apparently OLED screens are even worse than LCD in direct sunlight based on what I've read along with reviews of devices with OLED screens. Apple realized that people will be using their phones outside and decided to stick with what works best for all around use.

n85oled3.jpg


versus

iphone-review-sunlight.jpg
 
Is there a question? Or is it just a fact? If so, good to know.

EDIT: I guess there is no question. Its just a fact.
Good pictures I guess. Good to know.
 
The Zune HD will have a pretty current OLED display in it, so we'll get a pretty good comparison of how the screen holds up to the iPod Touch after the Zune HD launches this fall.
 
Unspoken Demise said:
Is there a question? Or is it just a fact? If so, good to know.
Click to expand...

Just my conjecture based on OLED technology articles and real world reviews of devices with OLED screens. I even bought into the hype of OLED before I did some quick research.

OLED does have a lot of great advantages over LCD, like better color gamut, viewing angle, contrast and lower power consumption, but something as important as being able to use the device out in bright light outweighs the advantages in my opinion.
 
The biggest advantage of OLED displays for portable devices is that they are much, much thinner than comparable LCD displays.

The advantages are obvious, it lets the manufacturer keep the device thin (or make it thinner) while packing in more goodies.

I think that in five years (or less!) all of these devices will have some kind of OLED display.
 
Shabbis said:
Just my conjecture based on OLED technology articles and real world reviews of devices with OLED screens. I even bought into the hype of OLED before I did some quick research.

OLED does have a lot of great advantages over LCD, like better color gamut, viewing angle, contrast and lower power consumption, but something as important as being able to use the device out in bright light outweighs the advantages in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Like a previous poster said, we'll see the most up to date OLED screen in the Zune HD. From there, we can see the real advantages/ disadvantages. I'd personally take the hinderance of less usability in bright light of it meant all those great advantages.
 
Shabbis said:
...but something as important as being able to use the device out in bright light outweighs the advantages in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Well yes, the downfall of the OLED is that it's 100% emissive. LCD can be semi-reflective (or "transflective" as it's said) so that it can be angled in bright outdoor light and still well-visible. No such luck with OLED (at least not with current technologies, insofar as I understand).
 
LCDs have come a long way in just a few years (some of my older gadgets can't be seen in sunlight) so there is no reason why OLEDs shouldn't do so too.
I suspect that Apple will change to an OLED at some point, but not for a year or two.
 
Just like some LCDs suck balls under direct sunlight, some OLEDs will be like that. I'm sure improvement will soon follow. Until then I'm sticking with my LCD iPhone.
 
geoffreak said:
LCDs have come a long way in just a few years (some of my older gadgets can't be seen in sunlight) so there is no reason why OLEDs shouldn't do so too.
I suspect that Apple will change to an OLED at some point, but not for a year or two.
Click to expand...

Exactly, I was pointing out that Apple doesn't just throw new technologies into their devices for the sake of it being new. Usability and consumer experience are top priority, which is why so many people have chosen to spend their money on iPods/iPhones and other Apple products. I bet 90% of the iPhone users out there don't even know what OLED is.
 
Most people want OLED because they want better battery life.
Now with voice control who needs to look at their 3gS?
 
TSX said:
Now with voice control who needs to look at their 3gS?
Click to expand...

I love the new voice control feature! I can ask "What song is playing?" and it will tell me. I can also open an email message and say "Describe the picture" and it will tell me what is going on in the photograph.
 
Shabbis said:
Apparently OLED screens are even worse than LCD in direct sunlight based on what I've read along with reviews of devices with OLED screens. Apple realized that people will be using their phones outside and decided to stick with what works best for all around use.

n85oled3.jpg


versus

iphone-review-sunlight.jpg
Click to expand...

What's the Nokia N00? Never heard of it. Is it new? :rolleyes:

But seriously, what's up with that?
 
Let's wait and see if the next iPod Touch comes out with OLED.

Zune is no competition, at least not yet, but Apple doesn't want to be seen too far behind in specs.

If the new iPod has OLED this fall, then chances are next year's new iPhone will have OLED as well.
 
coolwater said:
If the new iPod has OLED this fall, then chances are next year's new iPhone will have OLED as well.
Click to expand...

Is there a precedent for the Touch out-teching the iPhone in anything apart from capacity? Such a leap with the Touch would put a lot of people off getting an iPhone until the next refresh.
 
colmaclean said:
Is there a precedent for the Touch out-teching the iPhone in anything apart from capacity? Such a leap with the Touch would put a lot of people off getting an iPhone until the next refresh.
Click to expand...

Well, there is Nike+, if that counts.

And I'm going to say this again. Why is there a picture of a Nokia N00? That doesn't exist.
 
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