"Radical" New iPod With OLED Tech in 2004
Think Secret
"Sources confirmed to Think Secret that Apple is investing in Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) technology, and is researching and investigating its uses in Apple products. The company reportedly plans to use OLED in next-generation iPods next year.
OLED devices are composed of two conductors with organic thin films in between them. These films emit a bright light when a current is applied.
There are a number of advantages to OLED that make it suitable for portable use. They are brighter, thinner, and lighter than LCDs, and do not require a backlight. OLED's have a wider viewing angle, faster response time for video, and greater power efficiency than LCDs. They are also more cost-effective, with a simpler manufacturing process and fewer required parts.
Apple's use of the technology will be for the display of its next-generation iPod. Set for announcement in early 2004, this iPod will boast a design and functionality radically different than current models. (Think Secret will publish a full report on this at a later date; If you have additional news to contribute, please contact us.)
Insiders also said that Apple is looking to expand OLED to its display line, or for its laptops, but that this isn't feasible for the early-2004 time frame."
Steve just said there would be no video iPod, so what will the "radical new functionality" be?
"Sources confirmed to Think Secret that Apple is investing in Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) technology, and is researching and investigating its uses in Apple products. The company reportedly plans to use OLED in next-generation iPods next year.
OLED devices are composed of two conductors with organic thin films in between them. These films emit a bright light when a current is applied.
There are a number of advantages to OLED that make it suitable for portable use. They are brighter, thinner, and lighter than LCDs, and do not require a backlight. OLED's have a wider viewing angle, faster response time for video, and greater power efficiency than LCDs. They are also more cost-effective, with a simpler manufacturing process and fewer required parts.
Apple's use of the technology will be for the display of its next-generation iPod. Set for announcement in early 2004, this iPod will boast a design and functionality radically different than current models. (Think Secret will publish a full report on this at a later date; If you have additional news to contribute, please contact us.)
Insiders also said that Apple is looking to expand OLED to its display line, or for its laptops, but that this isn't feasible for the early-2004 time frame."
Steve just said there would be no video iPod, so what will the "radical new functionality" be?
Comments
Maybe the radical new feature would be a more appropriate pricing?
Dave
Does this new tech. bring that possibility any closer?
*per post below.
Originally posted by MacsRGood4U
OLED technology has been trumpeted for several years now. But I believe the largest display yet produced is about 10 inches. No full scale manufacturing of this size is available yet. OLED displays have been used on cell phones and car radios. When they were fist announced, proponents said large OLED displays would be widely available now, but they aren't. New technology takes time and money to ramp up. We'll see I guess.
Double that size...
Tainan/Taiwan, March 12, 2003 -- Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corporation (CMO) of Taiwan today announced a fully functional prototype of a 20-inch full-color display based on organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The revolutionary prototype by International Display Technology (IDTech, a subsidiary between Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corporation and IBM Japan, located in Yasu (Japan)) was jointly developed with IBM Research laboratories in Switzerland, the US and Japan. At the core of the breakthrough is the use of amorphous silicon transistors enabling low-cost fabrication. The technology will provide competitive full-size computer displays and flat-panel TV screens that consume less power than possible with flat panel technologies available today. The demonstration will be launched in May at CMO and IDTech?s showcase at SID 2003, USA.
Full PR: http://www.idtech.co.jp/en/news/press/20030312.html
Dave
While back home, my ibook still only runs for 2.5 hours even though it calms to run up to 5 hours. The closest that I can get was 4.5 hours (when it was brand new). I really hope that apple will come out with OLED and a ultra-low voltage chip so that we can be ahead of the pc market again.
And maybe they should fix up the battery issue...
I think the real excitement for OLEDs was the idea brought up that they could be used for extremely portable, yet huge displays. I.E., don't think inside the metal housing. Put the display inside a resilient nylon or polyurethane film casing, and then you can roll up a 40" display to take whereever you might need to; just clip it to a presentation board or hang up on the wall, run power/video to your laptop or computer.
Originally posted by Ensign Pulver
Steve just said there would be no video iPod
What Powerpage said he said is "Not much of a market for watching movies or showing photos on iPods or other small devices. Screen too small until someone invents a great folding screen."
Now go read the comment by fred_lj about screens that roll up.
Originally posted by Geddoe
What Powerpage said he said is "Not much of a market for watching movies or showing photos on iPods or other small devices. Screen too small until someone invents a great folding screen."
Now go read the comment by fred_lj about screens that roll up.
Bingo.
Also I heard that an LCD's lifespan is approximately 15,000 hours compared to 5,000 for a OLED screen. Is that still true or have they improved the lifespan?
Originally posted by mello
Also I heard that an LCD's lifespan is approximately 15,000 hours compared to 5,000 for a OLED screen. Is that still true or have they improved the lifespan?
If LCD's only last 15000 hours then my brand new 17" PB is only got 5 or so years left. Poor guy.
I think the rolling-up thing is more suited towards traveling, business folk at expos/etc. Would save a LOT of hassle for all the tech guys involved in big extravaganzas like that. And if you're going somewhere unsure of the projector equipment, this would also solve that problem.
For the iPod, OLED is ONLY going to replace the screen that's LCD now. Keep in mind what someone mentioned above, the viewing angle on an OLED is INCREDIBLE! Beautiful!! I've seen one on a Kodak digital camera that TechTV was demo'ing and it looked great from every angle through a TV camera!
This is where the advantage is for Apple and OLED; never having to mess around with the iPod in its dock to see its screen. And that would be the advantage for OLED usage in general; no backlight, no severe limitations on viewing angle. If they can be made cheap, then the shorter lifespan isn't such an issue.
I think the only reason the timetable for OLEDs looks like soon for the iPod is because DuPont just announced a big push to support them. All the other players I've heard of are small fries.
The 'roll-up' OLEDs are not in the same time frame as the OLEDs that they are talking about for the iPod. My understanding is that they are working on getting the plastic right so that they can mate the organic compounds to it.
Follow this link for more accurate information ...
found on MacRumors page ...
Originally posted by KidRed
Come on people, OLEDS are film, they can be rolled up and yet you have a hard time imagining a radical new ipod? This is the tech that will replace LCDs and Plasma, I guess they'd hurry up and make my 46" HD TV.
OLED's have about the same chance of replacing LCD's and Plasma as TV's as EPaper does (well maybe a bit more if they could solve the lifespan limits). If I recall right there is another technology developed by IBM that is starting to make its way into projection TV's that uses a series of mirrors controlled by a chip (on a chip?) that has a good chance of replacing the CRT's. LDC's and Plasma both have inhearent problems and high prices. LCD's, and I imagine OLED's will have them as well, have a problem with "dead pixels". I dont know about you, but If I paid $5000 for a LCD TV I would be really mad if I got it home and it had dead pixels. Plasma has a problem displaying "true" blacks if I remember correctly. Some of these problems will be overcome as manufacturing technology improves I'm sure, but I wouldnt want to bet on one of them bieng the next VHS, and another Beta based on how they stand today.
Originally posted by Geddoe
Now go read the comment by fred_lj about screens that roll up.
Actually, you?ve got it wrong, Apple are going for inflatable designs - that way you can get keyorads that go in your pocket too.
Roll up screens for an iPod - get real!?