Display

New Apple patent would embed light sensors into the display, hints at iPhone 8 technology

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 11, 2016

The United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) today awarded Apple a patent describing a process for embedding light-sensing sensors into a mobile display. The invention, titled “Electronic devices with display-integrated light sensors,” potentially paves the way for next year's iPhone.

Apple's new patent specifically mentions the ambient light and proximity sensors, which are found on the front face of the device, as being integrated into the display assembly.

According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and pundits in the know, like Daring Fireball's John Gruber, the iPhone 8—or whatever a 2017 iPhone (or Tenth Anniversary iPhone) ends up being called—should be a major design departure from prior models as it would supposedly get rid of the chin and forehead bezels by integrating Touch ID and the front-camera along with other sensors directly into the display.

Read More

Apple granted patent for a Touch ID sensor that could work through an iPhone display

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 4, 2016

If you've been waiting for the next iconic design since the release of the black-clad iPhone 5, this year's iPhone 7 probably feels like a slight disappointment. Apple is widely thought to have saved its best innovation and industrial redesign for the Tenth Anniversary iPhone next year which could embed the fingerprint sensor, FaceTime camera and sensors behind the display.

As revealed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Apple has now been granted a patent for a fingerprint-sensing technology that could work through the display itself, paving the way for an iPhone with the full-screen face design.

Read More

Apple in negotiations with Sharp to supply OLED screens for new iPhones

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 30, 2016

Bloomberg is reporting that Apple is in negotiations with Japanese consumer electronics maker Sharp to supply organic LED displays (OLED) for future iPhones. Any potential agreement is contingent upon Sharp’s production capability. The rumored discussions reportedly stem from Apple’s desire to secure multiple suppliers for organic LED screens and minimize exposure to any single supplier.

Read More

iPhone 7 torture tests show low chance of bending, camera cover & Touch ID scratch easily

Anthony Bouchard ∙ September 20, 2016

Apple’s new iPhone 7 & 7 Plus are just now starting to get into consumers’ hands, and as a result, the run of the mill stress and torture tests have been ongoing since the end of this past week.

The iPhone 7 has proved to be very reliable in water resistance testing, as well as in drop testing, but there are other forms of durability tests too that might tickle your interest.

Read More

Apple Watch 2’s thinner screen & larger battery allegedly caught on video

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 1, 2016

Supply chain rumors have asserted that a second-generation Apple Watch 2 could offer a few additional hours of battery life while replacing the current models' Glass on Glass (G/G) touchscreen with a thinner and lighter screen based on One Glass Solution (OGS) display technology. These two features—a thinner display assembly and a bigger battery—are allegedly shown in a video posted by Byte, a UK-based retailer that sells Apple-certified accessories.

Read More

Samsung allegedly readying dual-camera Galaxy S8 with 4K screen for February 2017 unveiling

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 31, 2016

Samsung's Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, along with the recently launched Note 7, may not be enough to steal Apple's thunder as the Cupertino firm preps to unveil its next iPhone on September 7.

According to the rumors, a sophisticated dual-lens camera system is expected to give the iPhone 7 DSLR-like features with RAW camera capture, optical zoom, better lowlight photography and more.

With that in mind, little wonder that Samsung is now reportedly looking to update its flagship smartphone line with dual cameras of its own.

Read More

Report: iPhone’s switch to AMOLED short-lived as Apple looks to adopt Micro-LED screens

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 30, 2016

Apple's Tenth Anniversary iPhone due next year is widely expected to use the superior AMOLED display technology, but only for a short while as the Cupertino company looks to adopt the emerging Micro-LED screens in the long run, according to a report from Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes.

Micro-LEDs waste far less battery power compared to other commercially viable display technologies, making them ideally suited for mobile devices like iPhones and iPads. Traditional TFT LCD panels waste a lot of energy because they require a backlight.

Read More

KGI: 10.5″ model joining iPad Pro lineup in 2017, radically overhauled AMOLED iPad in 2018

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2016

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo—who has a decent, but not stellar track record in predicting future Apple products—just issued a peculiar note to clients regarding the future of Apple's iPad lineup.

In the note, a copy of which was obtained by MacRumors, the well-connected analyst does not expect any major refreshes to iPads in this year.

But for 2017, the analyst is calling for three new models: a brand new 10.5-inch iPad Pro size joining a second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro and a low-cost 9.7-inch iPad. These devices are predicted to be followed by a “revolutionary” iPad model in 2018 that should bring “radical changes” in form factor design and user behavior while adopting flexible AMOLED panels, which so-called Tenth Anniversary iPhone is expected to gain in 2017.

Read More

Purported fully assembled iPhone 7 front panel shown on images

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 11, 2016

In addition to a fresh batch of crisp, high-resolution shots showing a purported iPhone 7 in Gold pictured alongside its 5.5-inch brethren that surfaced on the web, here's another leak to chew on this morning—prolific French leakster Steve Hemmerstoffer shared via his @OnLeaks Twitter account these claimed photographs of a fully assembled front panel for the upcoming devices.

Read More