Apple Looks Towards Flexible Displays In Future Devices

[jpeyton]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57579093-37/apple-eyes-future-devices-with-flexible-displays/

As I predicted, the future of display technology for mobile devices are paper thin, flexible (and much more durable) OLED displays. IPS LCD will slowly be shown the door as product design for mobile devices heads in a direction where no LCD can follow.

Unfortunately for Apple, Samsung will probably have this technology ready for market years ahead of their other display partners.

 

[zerocool84]

Samsung has already shown off the tech already on a phone. Nothing new

 

[cheezy321]

Maybe apple will help move OLEDs away from crappy pentile displays. Samsung sure isnt helping that fight.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Maybe apple will help move OLEDs away from crappy pentile displays. Samsung sure isnt helping that fight.

Yeah because its not like Saumsung's current major flagship product (the Note 2) doesn't have a non-pentile screen.

 

[Mopetar]

I've really wondered what the point of having a flexible display is. If the display is flexible, but attached to a rigid body, there's no point as the body can't be moved. If you've got a flexible display that protrudes from the rest of the body, it's going to be a pain to hold and use, as you're left trying to grip something that's ridiculously thin.

I could understand if you wanted to curve the display slightly so it fits the face better, but we've already had phones that have used a slightly curved display. One of the early Nexus phones had one, so it's not like that's something new either.

Maybe it's useful for something like a smart watch where you'll need to have the screen adjustable to fit a person's wrist, but I'm not really sold on the usefulness of those either.

Even the drawing in the patent application seems incredulous. It looks like a device with a body that's supposed to bend. Unless they start using some really shoddy aluminum in their phones, that isn't going to work. Also, how is it supposed to fold the logic boards inside? Are those just going to be magically bendable as well? I think that this application was accidentally filed 3 days too late.

 

[Shlong]

Maybe apple will help move OLEDs away from crappy pentile displays. Samsung sure isnt helping that fight.

Once you surpass 440 ppi / 1080p (like the new GS4), pentile isn't an issue at all.

 

[cronos]

Again, all Samsung can do is imitate Apple

http://www.gizmochina.com/2012/12/26/apple-iphone-5-vulnerable-to-bend/

 

[Dari]

I've really wondered what the point of having a flexible display is. If the display is flexible, but attached to a rigid body, there's no point as the body can't be moved. If you've got a flexible display that protrudes from the rest of the body, it's going to be a pain to hold and use, as you're left trying to grip something that's ridiculously thin.

I could understand if you wanted to curve the display slightly so it fits the face better, but we've already had phones that have used a slightly curved display. One of the early Nexus phones had one, so it's not like that's something new either.

Maybe it's useful for something like a smart watch where you'll need to have the screen adjustable to fit a person's wrist, but I'm not really sold on the usefulness of those either.

Even the drawing in the patent application seems incredulous. It looks like a device with a body that's supposed to bend. Unless they start using some really shoddy aluminum in their phones, that isn't going to work. Also, how is it supposed to fold the logic boards inside? Are those just going to be magically bendable as well? I think that this application was accidentally filed 3 days too late.

I've always wondered this myself. But, I think someone will find a useful application for this...

 

[Raduque]

I've really wondered what the point of having a flexible display is. If the display is flexible, but attached to a rigid body, there's no point as the body can't be moved. If you've got a flexible display that protrudes from the rest of the body, it's going to be a pain to hold and use, as you're left trying to grip something that's ridiculously thin.

I could understand if you wanted to curve the display slightly so it fits the face better, but we've already had phones that have used a slightly curved display. One of the early Nexus phones had one, so it's not like that's something new either.

Maybe it's useful for something like a smart watch where you'll need to have the screen adjustable to fit a person's wrist, but I'm not really sold on the usefulness of those either.

Even the drawing in the patent application seems incredulous. It looks like a device with a body that's supposed to bend. Unless they start using some really shoddy aluminum in their phones, that isn't going to work. Also, how is it supposed to fold the logic boards inside? Are those just going to be magically bendable as well? I think that this application was accidentally filed 3 days too late.

Flexible displays are many many times thinner than a standard display. It'll allow for 2-4mm thin phones.

 

[tommo123]

and 5 mins battery life?

 

[Soccerman06]

Again, all Samsung can do is imitate Apple

http://www.gizmochina.com/2012/12/26/apple-iphone-5-vulnerable-to-bend/

Youre holding it wrong

 

[cronos]

Youre holding it wrong

That guy likely sat on it :biggrin:

 

[Mopetar]

Flexible displays are many many times thinner than a standard display. It'll allow for 2-4mm thin phones.

That still doesn't solve the problem of either requiring a bendable body, along with bendable internal components; or just having a flexible screen that extends from the rest of the body, leaving you with something that's a pain to use and has a terrible weight balance.

It's cool technology, but it doesn't make the phone experience any better.

 

[jpeyton]

I've really wondered what the point of having a flexible display is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=g3x-bAWZWPM#t=76s

 

[jpeyton]

It's cool technology, but it doesn't make the phone experience any better.

You should work in product design, your ideas are awesome.

 

[jpeyton]

Here's a portion of Samsung's CES 2013 keynote on flexible OLEDs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7Gx_3TaRIPM#t=224s

 

[corkyg]

Apple has already demo'd one use of the flexible display - it wraps around the edges of the phone.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/iphone-6-concept-images-point-towards-wrap-around-display

 

[poofyhairguy]

I've really wondered what the point of having a flexible display is.

Bending display? Not so useful. FOLDING display? Will change the world.

Think of a 8x8 inch smartphone that folds into the size of a current iphone. One of the folded sections is basically your normal 4 inch screen, then when you need tablet power you unfold that screen.

 

[WelshBloke]

I've really wondered what the point of having a flexible display is. If the display is flexible, but attached to a rigid body, there's no point as the body can't be moved. If you've got a flexible display that protrudes from the rest of the body, it's going to be a pain to hold and use, as you're left trying to grip something that's ridiculously thin...

Well its not going to break if you drop it or flex the phone so that would be the simplest application of the tech I suppose.

 

[WelshBloke]

Apple has already demo'd one use of the flexible display - it wraps around the edges of the phone.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/iphone-6-concept-images-point-towards-wrap-around-display

Are those images actually from Apple? I thought they were just somebody speculating.

Mind you samsung have already demonstrated a working phone with a curved display so it might be true.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Are those images actually from Apple? I thought they were just somebody speculating.

Mind you samsung have already demonstrated a working phone with a curved display so it might be true.

My problem with that is what happens if you hit that screen on that glass edge?

 

[zerocool84]

My problem with that is what happens if you hit that screen on that glass edge?

It's a tech demo, not something that would actually be made.

 

[s44]

Shouldn't this thread be entitled "Apple looks to make Samsung even larger piles of profit"?

Anyway, I think Samsung said they were waiting for flexible glass (was that the "Willow Glass"?) before implementing flexible panels in actual devices.

 

[WelshBloke]

My problem with that is what happens if you hit that screen on that glass edge?

I have no idea, I don't know what the clear bit is made of. Although I don't see that its relevant in the context of my post.

 

[Skurge]

Unbreakable displays is my 1st thought. That would mean you wounldn't need a case on your phone anymore. Samsung already make plastic phones that stand up to a beating with the weakest point being the display. Plastic is already pretty strong.