Wearable OLEDs - Introduction and Latest Industry News - Page 29

Back in December 2012, rumors started to circulate about an upcoming Apple smartwatch called the iWatch. First we heard reports that it will use a small PMOLED, and later rumors suggseted Apple decided to use a plastic flexible OLED. Today the Korea Herald claims that LG Display is very close to striking a deal with Apple to supply flexible OLEDs for the iWatch.

Apple 2011 flexible OLED watch patent

Korea Herald says that it isn't likely for Apple to rely on a single vendor and they suggest that RiTDisplay is a strong candidate as well. But this does not seem likely as the Taiwanese company does not have the technology or capacity to produce flexible AMOLEDs similar to LGD ones. Perhaps if Apple opts for a simpler PMOLED device than RiTDisplay is a possible supplier. They also list Japan Display as a candidate, but this is even less likely.

Now that flexible display are starting to appear, there are still many obstacles towards bendable devices. One area in which several companies are advancing is flexible batteries. Earlier this month we reported about LG Chem curved and cable batteries, and today we learned that Japan's SEL is also developing similar technology.

SEL are showing a prototype Li-Ion rechargeable battery at the FPD International 2013 event in Japan. SEL explains that they have been developing this technology for a long time but they finally show it now as demand for flexible and wearable devices is starting. The battery on display is 50x40 mm in size and 1.6 mm thick. The capacity is 300 mAh and it can be bent bent to a curvature radius of 40mm. Even after 10,000 bending, the properties do not deteriorate.

When Samsung launched the Galaxy Gear, the only devices that could connect to it were the new Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet. Now Samsung announced that it is offering Android updates (to v4.3) to more devices (including the GS4, GS3 and the Note 2) and these will now be able to connect to the Galaxy Gear.

The Galaxy Gear, Samsung's first smartwatch, features a 1.63" 320x320 (275 PPI) Super AMOLED display, a 1.9 mp camera (720p videos), 800Mhz processor, 4GB of storage, 512MB of RAM, Bluetooth 4, and a 315 mAh non-removable battery. 

AT&T is now offering Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 - starting from $289 with a plan. You can also buy it without a plan for $749.99. The Note 3 smartwatch companion, the Galaxy Gear, is now shipping from Amazon for $299.99. 

The Galaxy Note 3 features a 5.7" Full-HD Super AMOLED display (386 PPI), a 2.3 Quad-Core CPU (or a 1.9 Ghz octa-core in some markets), 3 GB of RAM, 32/64GB of storage, a 13 MP camera (will be capable of 4K videos in some markets) and Android 4.3. It is smaller and lighter than the Note 2. DisplayMate says that the Note 3 has the best AMOLED display ever - and it actually beats the best LCDs across the board.

Sony's third-gen HMD, the HMZ-T3W is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com for $999, and Sony will ship the first units in November. The T3W includes the new wireless functionality and it features HD audio (virtualized 7.1-channel), micro-HDMI and MHL connectivity and better lens and software that improve the image quality over the previous-gen HMZ-T2. The T3W uses two Sony-made 0.7" 1280x720 OLED microdisplays.

DisplaySearch posted an interesting article regarding Apple and how they plan to once again rely on display technology for the new product innovation. DisplaySearch estimates (based on supply chain research) that Apple will revamp nearly all of the displays in its products in 2014. Specifically, DisplaySearch estimates that the iWatch will indeed adopt a flexible OLED.

Apple 2011 flexible OLED watch patent

Specially, DisplaySearch says that the iWatch will use a 320x320 flexible AMOLED and the size of the display will be either 1.3" or 1.63". We heard reports last week from Korea suggesting pretty much the same specs. Last week I reported that I can't see either LGD or Samsung being able to supply Apple with the flexible displays. But DisplaySearch estimates that the iWatch will only arrives towards the end of 2014, so it may be that LGD (or Samsung) will indeed have the capacity to supply Apple by then.

Back in December 2012, rumors started to circulate about an upcoming Apple smartwatch called the iWatch. At first it was reported that Apple will use a 1.5" touch PMOLED made by RitDisplay. Later on in 2013 it was reported that Apple will use 1.5" PMOLEDs produced by Foxconn. Today Korea's Chosun Ilbo claims that Apple decided to use a plastic flexible OLED panel.

Apple 2011 flexible OLED watch patent

According to the reports, Apple is developing three models, with 1.3", 1.4" and 1.5" displays. They already produced a prototype 1.5" device. Chosun is quoting "industry sources" in their short article.

Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear are now both shipping in the UK. An unlocked Galaxy Note 3 costs £659 (about $1,050) and you can also buy it from almost all major carriers. The Gear costs £299 ($480, but you get a £100 discount if you buy both). Both devices are not shipping in the US yet, but are available for pre-order.

The Galaxy Note 3 features a 5.7" Full-HD Super AMOLED display (386 PPI), a 2.3 Quad-Core CPU (or a 1.9 Ghz octa-core in some markets), 3 GB of RAM, 32/64GB of storage, a 13 MP camera (will be capable of 4K videos in some markets) and Android 4.3. It is smaller and lighter than the Note 2.

US Carrier T-Mobile announced they are accepting pre-orders for the Galaxy Note 3. The new "phablet" costs $199 (with a 2-year plan) and will be available on October 2nd - together with the $299 Galaxy Gear. Meanwhile AT&T is now accepting pre-orders for the Galaxy Gear. 

The Galaxy Note 3 sports a 5.7" Full-HD Super AMOLED display (386 PPI), a 2.3 Quad-Core CPU (or a 1.9 Ghz octa-core in some markets), 3 GB of RAM, 32/64GB of storage, a 13 MP camera (will be capable of 4K videos in some markets) and Android 4.3. Samsung managed to pack all this in a phone that is smaller and lighter than the Note 2.

Nissan is working on a concept smartwatch specifically for their Nismo motorsport cars. The idea is that the watch monitors and analyzes the car's performance, and also the driver's heart rate and allows posting information directly to social media (via bluetooth).

This is just a concept currently, but Nissan will show this at the Frankfurt Motor Show - starting tomorrow. It appears that this watch uses a flexible display, it'll be interesting to know if they have a working prototype with a flexible AMOLED. At any rate, it seems that wearable smart-watches are quite the thing these days.