Apple seen switching to glass-film touch tech this year for Apple Watch Series 3
For the next Apple Watch, Apple is likely to switch from touch-on-lens technology to a glass-film option, in the process changing up suppliers for its touch technology, a report claimed on Tuesday.
Apple will probably turn to either Biel Crystal or General Interface Solution to produce the glass-film touch panels, DigiTimes said, citing industry sources. Biel has separately been rumored as one of the suppliers for the front and back glass on three upcoming iPhone models, including an OLED-equipped "iPhone 8" or "iPhone X."
If Apple does take on Biel and GIS for a third-generation Watch, it will be dropping current touch panel supplier TPK, which has allegedly been unable to get good yield rates for touch-on-lens and been planning on its own to halt production for the Watch. The company is reportedly trying to return to profitability, since the yield issue was responsible for losses during 2016.
On a technical level the difficulty was said to be the curved surface of the Watch, which complicated the manufacturing process for touch panels.
Few rumors have emerged about a third-generation Watch model, which will presumably ship this fall if it follows in the path of the Series 1 and Series 2.
One possibility is LTE support, which missed its debut with the Series 2, likely because Apple was unable to address battery drain problems in time. The company was purportedly in talks with American and European carriers, and considering options for low-power cellular chips.
Adding LTE could allow a Watch to operate as a fully independent device, rather than being tethered to an iPhone most of the time. The Series 2 gained somewhat more independence thanks to built-in GPS, useful for fitness and navigation apps.
Apple will probably turn to either Biel Crystal or General Interface Solution to produce the glass-film touch panels, DigiTimes said, citing industry sources. Biel has separately been rumored as one of the suppliers for the front and back glass on three upcoming iPhone models, including an OLED-equipped "iPhone 8" or "iPhone X."
If Apple does take on Biel and GIS for a third-generation Watch, it will be dropping current touch panel supplier TPK, which has allegedly been unable to get good yield rates for touch-on-lens and been planning on its own to halt production for the Watch. The company is reportedly trying to return to profitability, since the yield issue was responsible for losses during 2016.
On a technical level the difficulty was said to be the curved surface of the Watch, which complicated the manufacturing process for touch panels.
Few rumors have emerged about a third-generation Watch model, which will presumably ship this fall if it follows in the path of the Series 1 and Series 2.
One possibility is LTE support, which missed its debut with the Series 2, likely because Apple was unable to address battery drain problems in time. The company was purportedly in talks with American and European carriers, and considering options for low-power cellular chips.
Adding LTE could allow a Watch to operate as a fully independent device, rather than being tethered to an iPhone most of the time. The Series 2 gained somewhat more independence thanks to built-in GPS, useful for fitness and navigation apps.
Comments
$10–20 per month would be a great deal when adding a line is already $20–40 without even considering voice, text, or data usage. If they can make it $10 per month without any other costs if you also have a smartphone on the account, I'd probably consider it even though I don't like using my Watch for internet or phone calls.
Making/taking calls on the watch is just not that comfortable! You have to hold your arm up and, in noisy environment, it's difficult to hear the other side from the speakers. Sure, Bluetooth headphones would ameliorate this, but not that many folks have or carry those around either.
$5 per month seems fair to me, especially if they aren't going to add any gigs to your data cap. If you're going to charge $10 per month, give me an extra 2GB for the data pool, or something.
If and when this happens I hope they don't start fleecing smartwatch customers, but it's entirely possible considering how data rates have changed since both the iPhone and iPad were first announced.
... I think the same for LTE.
.......It could expand functionality. But it won't do much for me. I have my phone with me all the time anyway.
That's probably a good estimate for those who use the watch as a watch (plus notifications, etc., etc.,). But for those who use it as a health and (especially) exercise tracker, the watch is still in its infancy with a lot of functional improvements coming that will add to the quality of the user experience.
I wish I had some idea of what they were talking about! What's the difference? Will it make a difference to the user and/or performance or functionality of the watch? Will it even be an improvement? (The text mentioned the switch was being made because of supply problems -- which does not suggest that this will necessarily be an improvement).