Tag Archives: LCD

Thunderbolt Display shortage could point to impending refresh

Here's some potentially good news for those who've been hoping for a redesign of Apple's Thunderbolt Display - but not for folks who're trying to get their mitts on the current model. Apple Insider reports that retails including Amazon, J&R and MacMall are all out of stock of the 27-inch display, and such shortages typically herald the impending introduction of a new model.

The most likely scenario has Apple launching a new Thunderbolt Display utilizing the same design and technology as the newest 27-inch iMac. Such a display would feature front glass laminated to the LCD panel itself for a similar reduction in glare and a much thinner profile.

It would make sense for a refreshed Thunderbolt Display to feature a MagSafe 2 power connector and to omit the current model's Firewire ports, so as to be up-to-date with the current MacBook Pro lineup. However, there would certainly be those who'd miss the latter feature, if removed. How would you redesign the current Thunderbolt Display? Let's hear your ideas in the comments.

Thunderbolt Display shortage could point to impending refresh originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung: "Never tried to cut supply" to Apple

Samsung denied a recent report that it was no longer supplying LCD panels to Apple. The original report in the Korea Times cited senior industry officials and claimed Samsung was severing its relationship with the Cupertino company. A Samsung representative told CNET that this report was 100 percent false and said "Samsung Display has never tried to cut the supply for LCD panels to Apple." Samsung has reportedly asked the Korea Times to revise its story.

Samsung: "Never tried to cut supply" to Apple originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DisplayMate compares Apple Retina displays

DisplayMate, known for its professional monitor and television calibrating tools, took a close look at the retina display of the new iPad and compared it with the iPhone 4 and the iPad 2. In a rather lengthy article, the company runs the three devices through its battery of laboratory and visual tests.

DisplayMate points out that the high resolution is almost overkill and likens it to the overinflated megapixels in digital cameras. What makes the iPad display so wonderful is its improved color saturation, better color accuracy, and the fact that Apple made a variety of improvements without raising the price of the tablet.

Though its a leap forward, the new display needs some work. Tablet manufacturers should try to lower reflectance, improve the ambient light sensor and work on the automatic brightness level which is "functionally useless," says DisplayMate. You can check out the rest of the detailed analysis at DisplayMate's website.

DisplayMate compares Apple Retina displays originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thunderbolt display daisy-chaining spec cleared up

Apple has posted a support article to clear up potential confusion about the capabilities of its new Thunderbolt-enabled Cinema Display. First of all, it should go without saying that only Macs with a Thunderbolt port will be able to utilize the display to its fullest capability. Fortunately, virtually all new Mac models released in 2011 feature the new I/O port.

Not all Macs' Thunderbolt ports are created equal, however. While most Macs will be able to drive two Thunderbolt displays from a single port, the MacBook Air is only capable of driving a single display. Additionally, the 13-inch MacBook Pro's display will automatically go black if it's driving two Thunderbolt displays; Apple notes this is "expected behavior." The 15 and 17-inch MacBook Pros and iMacs should be capable of driving two displays in addition to their own internal LCDs. The Mac mini can drive two Thunderbolt displays plus a display connected via its HDMI port, but only if the mini has an AMD graphics card.

Apple's notes one other caveat about the Thunderbolt display: older Mini DisplayPort displays won't light up if they're hooked directly into the Thunderbolt port on the newer LCD. Macworld's testing found that Mini DisplayPort LCDs can be added to a Thunderbolt chain and work as normal by hooking them into another Thunderbolt peripheral. It's unclear why simply hooking the older monitors directly into the newer ones doesn't work. For best performance Apple recommends hooking the Thunderbolt display directly into the Mac's port, then hooking Thunderbolt storage devices into the display's relevant port.

Macworld's first look at the new Thunderbolt Display makes it sound like an impressive piece of work; not only is it a huge and vibrant screen, it's also a very powerful hub thanks to the inclusion of three USB ports, Firewire 800, Thunderbolt, and Gigabit Ethernet. That's so many connectivity options that many users may find they're able to funnel everything into their Macs via the Thunderbolt connection to the display.

Thunderbolt display daisy-chaining spec cleared up originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 18 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple now shipping Thunderbolt displays

Apple is shipping its new Apple Thunderbolt Displays. The displays were first introduced on July 20 when Apple said they would begin shipping in 60 days. Today AppleInsider reported that some of its readers have been notified that their units have shipped. That shouldn't come as too much as a surprise, however, as just last week the displays were reportedly shipped out to Apple retail stores and resellers.

The new display is similar to Apple's earlier Cinema LED Displays, but now comes in only one size -- 27-inches -- and includes a Thunderbolt port that lets you connect your Thunderbolt-equipped hardware. Besides a Thunderbolt port, the new display includes a FaceTime HD video camera, a 2.1 speaker system, integrated MagSafe charger, three USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, and one Gigabit Ethernet port. The cost of the Thunderbolt Display is US$999.

Apple now shipping Thunderbolt displays originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG solves iPad display quality issue, shipments resume

Display manufacturer LG was reportedly struggling to meet production targets for Apple's iPad 2 LCD due to quality issues (particularly a "light leak" issue noted in early models). According to a report from DigiTimes, LG has solved those issues and is back to cranking out displays for Apple as fast as it can make them.

LG reportedly built 4 million displays for the iPad 2 in August, and it's expected to build another 4 million this month. Considering that iPads don't usually hang around on shelves for too long, the implications for Apple's quarterly iPad sales are pretty staggering. If Apple is really selling 4 million of these things every month, that puts the iPad on a very rapid track to being the best-selling consumer electronics device of all time.

According to DigiTimes's source, "Apple's iPad 2 shipments are expected to reach 12-15 million units in third-quarter 2011, which will benefit its suppliers." No doubt it will be a benefit to Apple too.

LG solves iPad display quality issue, shipments resume originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple patents privacy displays

Electronista has discovered an Apple patent that would allow users to set privacy viewing parameters on their device's displays in order to keep unwanted eyes from seeing what they are doing. The patent, titled Systems and Methods for Electronically Controlling the Viewing Angle of a Display, describes a way that LCDs could use embedded "scattering modules" to "selectively steer a device generated light beam to one of two or more scattering regions of its associated scattering module." In other words, users could choose who sees what on their screens by setting viewable angles.

The patent shows the technology in use on an iPod classic, but it's conceivable that it could be applied to iPhones and iPads as well. This technology, if Apple ever enacted it, would be a boon for those working on sensitive documents in public places, like in cafés or on public transportation. It would also be great for teenagers, because they wouldn't have to wear out the Exposé and Spaces keys every time their mom and dad walk by.

Apple patents privacy displays originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 23 May 2011 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quality issues with LG manufactured panels to blame for iPad 2 shortage

Quality control problems with LCD panels from LG Display may have contributed to the prolonged shortage of the iPad 2. According to the report from Digitimes, early batches of the 9.7-inch panels supplied by LG had a light leak issue that limited LG's ability to meet demand. As a result, LG only produced 3.2 million panels in the first quarter of 2011, a figure that trails the four million panels produced by Samsung. This report corroborates an earlier report from IHS iSuppli that blamed the iPad 2 shortage on an unknown manufacturing problem with LCDs.

LG has reportedly fixed this light leakage problem and is back on track to ramp up production this spring. Chimei Innolux is also prepping to contribute to the supply of IPS panels for the iPad 2 starting in May. If both these manufacturers can boost production, then perhaps iPad 2 supply constraints can be eased in this current quarter.

Quality issues with LG manufactured panels to blame for iPad 2 shortage originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 06 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple rumored to be considering LCD/E Ink hybrid

Apple recently filed a patent application titled "Systems and Methods for Switching Between an Electronic Paper Display and a Video Display," which describes a hybrid display technology capable of dynamically switching from a standard color LCD to black and white E Ink. The display would be controlled by the operating system and display switching would be done on the fly. According to the patent, the entire display or select portions of the display would switch based on the applications and content being viewed by the user. As expected, the color display would be used for rich media content, and the E Ink display would be used for text-based content from a source such as iBooks.

This is not the first time a manufacturer has envisioned a single product capable of simultaneously displaying E Ink and rich media content. Entourage took a different approach when it developed the Edge, a dual-screen clamshell tablet that has an LCD panel on one side and an E Ink display on the other. The unique tablet hit the market in 2010 and never caught on due to its older Android 1.6 operating system and bulky dual-screen design that pushed its size into netbook range. A single display solution would overcome this size problem and let users have one device that merges the best of the iPad with the Amazon Kindle.

Apple rumored to be considering LCD/E Ink hybrid originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iSuppli suggests Apple’s cash infusion going toward display manufacturing

During Apple's recent earnings conference call, Tim Cook confirmed Apple was spending $3.9 billion on pre-payments for unspecified components. Aware of the AMOLED display shortages that plague the mobile phone industry, analysts and tech pundits alike assumed Cook was referring to the LCD displays used in the iPhone, iPod touch and the iPad.

One early hint of a manufacturing deal for display technology surfaced in early 2009 when Apple reportedly signed a five-year deal with LG to supply displays for its notebooks and Cinema displays as well as the iPhone and iPod touch. A more recent rumor suggested Apple was investing in a Toshiba-owned manufacturing facility for retina displays.

IHS iSuppli has dug up information from its manufacturing channels that corroborate these rumors. According to iSuppli, Apple's $3.9 billion in pre-payments is headed to LG Display, Sharp, and Toshiba Mobile display and would secure the supply of advanced LCD displays for the iPhone, iPod touch and the iPad.

Besides buying displays from the trio of display makers, Apple is also investing in manufacturing facilities to build the high resolution IPS (in-plane switching) and LTPS (low-temperature polysilicon) LCD panels used in its mobile devices. By investing in these LCD companies, Apple is securing for itself a steady supply of displays which will meet the growing consumer demand for its popular iPhone and iPad.

[Via Fortune]

iSuppli suggests Apple's cash infusion going toward display manufacturing originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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9to5Mac acquires iPad 2 display

9to5Mac reports that it has acquired an iPad 2 display from iPhone repair shop iFIxYouri.com. 9to5Mac has not been able to verify the display's resolution yet, though one of the site's commenters has made an unverified claim that the display is a 9.7-inch display from LG with a 1024 x 768 resolution, the same resolution as the current iPad. If they really want to verify the display resolution, I can think of one way: put it under a microscope.

Noting higher build quality compared to the currently-shipping iPad's LCD, 9to5Mac also says the display is lighter and over a millimeter thinner than the current iPad's display. The display appears superficially similar to one that parts reseller GlobalDirectParts offered a few weeks ago (which has since been pulled from the site), which lends credence to 9to5Mac's claim that this is the next-gen iPad's display.

We expect the iPad 2 to debut within the next couple of months, so we'll know if this display is the real deal relatively soon.

9to5Mac acquires iPad 2 display originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 01:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp spends $1.2 billion on LCD production plant, Apple alleged client

iPhone retina displaySome more scuttlebutt out of the Japan's Nikkei Daily suggests Apple may be investing in a Sharp-owned LCD facility. The Japanese LCD facility was built in 2004 for the production of television LCDs. It has recently been re-purposed for small to mid-size LCDs after Sharp sold off its TV production equipment. Sharp is reportedly expanding this plant to meet increasing demand for mobile-sized LCDs. Construction is expected to begin in 2011 and the plant should be ready for production in 2012. This build-out will cost about 100 billion yen ($1.2 billion) and Apple is allegedly shouldering the lion's share of this cost.

This rumor should sound familiar as earlier speculation suggested Apple was investing in a Toshiba-built LCD facility in Japan. According to this earlier report, Apple was investing US$1 billion into the plant, which would be used to produce high-resolution retina displays. Apple failed to comment on this story, but Toshiba vehemently denied Apple had invested in this plant.

For the end consumer, it does not matter whose money is involved in building these plants. Additional manufacturing facilities will help ensure LCD production meets or even outstrips demand. If this buzz pans out, LCD shortages may be a thing of the past.

[Via Engadget]

Sharp spends $1.2 billion on LCD production plant, Apple alleged client originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OLED Displays in iPads – Not Before iPad 3


Taiwan-based news outlet DigiTimes once and for all squashed rumors about the potential introduction of OLED screens for the iPad 2: according to a note published in today’s edition, while Apple tried to feature OLED screens in the tablet, major supply constraints and quality-related issues prevented Apple from making the move.

An Active Matrix OLED (AMOLED) display would offer significant advantages to iPad users, namely higher refresh rates, and lower power consumption, when compared to the TFT technology currently used in the iPad. The switch to AMOLED would translate into better battery life and better picture quality at the same time.

OLEDs enable a greater artificial contrast ratio and viewing angle when compared to TFT LCDs, because OLED pixels directly emit light. OLED pixel colors appear correct and unshifted, even as the viewing angle approaches 90 degrees, a feat no TFT screen can achieve today. Also, the amount of power AMOLED displays consume varies significantly depending on the color and brightness shown. For example, an OLED display that consumes 3 watts while showing black text on a white background, will only consume 0.7 watts showing white text on a black background. In comparison, a similar TFT screen will constantly use anywhere between 3 and 5 watts of power.

While OLED offers major benefits, the technology is still far from being mature, and current LCD makers are simply unable to produce enough screens for a mass market device such as the iPad. Moreover, concerns about the lifespan of such screens have been raised over the last years, as OLED screens tend to deteriorate much faster than their TFT counterparts.

Simply put, while the fact that Apple will eventually switch to OLED screens for its iOS line of devices is almost a certainty, the move will not occur before 2012 at the earliest, and the upcoming iPad 2 will feature a TFT screen just like the original iPad. Everything’s not lost though, as the iPad 2 display is expected to offer a higher resolution than the screen currently featured in the iPad.

[Photo Credit: HowStuffWorks]

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