Nokia's X7 is now shipping for $540 in the US, unlocked. The X7 is a Symbian^3 phone (with the new "Anna" build) that features a 4" ClearBlack AMOLED, HD video recording, Flash, improved browser and 256MB RAM.
The X7 is also shipping via network carriers across Europe and Asia.
The Flexible Display Center (FDC) at Arizona State University (ASU) installed Sunic Systems' GEN-II OLED SUNICEL Plus 400 vacuum evaporation and encapsulation process tool. The FDC now has the ability to manufacture full color flexible OLEDs in-house - and the FDC says that they are already scaling the recently announced 3.8" AMOLED prototype (developed together with Universal Display, shown below) to larger sizes. The FDC purchased that system back in May 2010.
The FDC says that this new Gen II production system will enable the development of not only large-size flexible OLEDs but also solid-state lighting and plastic electronics.
American hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas went on stage on Paris on three shows, wearing clothes embroidered with LEDs and OLED lighting panels from Philips. Fergie had a 'leather cat woman' outfit that has 75 white Lumiblade OLED panels. The panels were controlled remotely - and were synchronized to the music and lighting sequences.
Philips' OLED panels (Lumiblades) were the first to be released back in 2009. Philips' panels come in different sizes, shapes and colors, not just white squares. Check out our hands-on review of the Lumiblade OLED lighting panels.
A few weeks ago we updated on CMI's OLED program, which seems to be last advanced than we previously assumed. Today we hear that CMI is indeed facing financial problems. The company decided to cut 2011 expenditure by 20-30%, and focus on its fundamental business - production of TFT panels. CMI will separate the touch panels, LCD modules, systems and packaging into different business units.
The company did note that its AMOLED development is still 'in progress'. Hopefully they'll give us some more details soon.
Reports start to emerge about an upcoming Google phone that will be the first one to use their Android 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) OS. Interestingly, these report say that the display will be a "Super AMOLED HD" (that's the first time we heard that description). Some say that this large display will support 720p HD video (1280x720). This is a very high resolution for a mobile phone - perhaps there is some mix-up between this device and a new tablet from Google?
Google Nexus S
If Google are indeed working on a new phone or tablet device, surely more details will emerge, and we'll keep you updated on that mysterious Super AMOLED HD display!
AUO filed a lawsuit against Samsung and three of its customers over LCD and OLED patents. AUO claims that Samsung's various LCD and OLED products, including LCD devices used in TV, monitors, notebooks and OLED devices used in mobile phones, infringe AUO's patented technologies. This lawsuit is a retaliatory action against Samsung's own lawsuit against AUO over LCD patents filed earlier this month.
Interestingly, in January 2006 the two companies signed a broad patent cross-license agreement - that covers patents in the area of TFT-LCD and OLED.
The KIT Institute of Nanotechnology developed a new OLED optimization simulation software called SiMoNa. Using this software you can improve OLED material (EL, HTL and HIL) properties and design new dye molecules. KIT spun off a new company called NanoMatch that will develop SiMoNa further and will bring it to market.
According to KIT, this is the first time that one software combines structural prognosis of a material on a molecular basis with a quantum mechanics analysis of the resulting function. This leads to very fast simulation - they claim that it is faster than current simulation software by a factor of about a million. The system can predict the mobility of charge carriers by means of quantum mechanics calculations - also in unknown substance classes (for which experimental data are still lacking). Here's a video introducing SiMoNa and showing some nice OLED panels and concepts:
As part of our site redesign, starting from the next issue we're launching a new design to the free monthly OLED-Info newsletter, here's what's it going to look like:
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Cnet posted an interesting story comparing the Galaxy S II Super AMOLED Plus display and the Galaxy S Super AMOLED. They say that viewing them normally, they can't really tell them apart (beside the fact that the Galaxy S II's display is larger - 4.3" vs 4"). On both screens, text was clear and colors in images were extremely rich.
SAP (left) vs SA (right)
Looking closely, you see a slight difference - because of the PenTile technology of the Super AMOLED (which Samsung no longer uses in the Super AMOLED Plus display). Interestingly, when Engadget reviewed the S II, they said that the Super AMOLED Plus is "nothing short of spectacular" and that it may be the best mobile display on the market.
According to a new DisplayBank report, Wintek will join-forces with Shanghai Tianma on AMOLED touch panels. Both companies are planning to build AMOLED fabs, with Tianma's fab already under way in Fujian, China (it's a 5.5-Gen LTPS AMOLED fab that is scheduled to go online in 2012 and produce 30,000 substrates a month). Wintek plans to build a 5.5-Gen plant of its own in Taiwan. Wintek's OLEDs will use their Advanced Technology Touch (ATT) technology. Mass production at Wintek's plant will begin in 2013.
It's not clear what sort of collaboration these two companies are planning - but perhaps the idea is for Tianma to provide the AMOLED production technology and know-how and Wintek will provide the touch technology (ATT) and expertise.
