Neil Hughes
Apple is rumored to have requested samples of new silver nanowire material for thinner touch panels, potentially for use in a jumbo-sized 12.9-inch "iPad Pro," according to a new report.
Citing unnamed sources in the supply chain, Korea IT News reported on Monday that Apple just this week requested silver nanowire material samples from LG Display, Samsung Display, Japan Display and others.
One person who spoke with the publication said they believed the so-called "iPad Pro" will not be released until next year, which would be later than the 2015 window some recent rumors have suggested. The rumor was first spotlighted by G for Games.
Silver nanowire touch panels are more flexible than current touch technologies. The report suggested that the material could better understand the pressure placed by a person's fingertip, suggesting that nanowire is more conducive for bringing Force Touch technology to the iPad.
AppleInsider's own sources indicated earlier this month that the 12.9-inch "iPad Pro" will indeed include Force Touch input, sensing varying levels of pressure. The new touch input method is currently available on the Apple Watch, as well as the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro and all-new 12-inch MacBook.
The larger iPad is also expected to feature NFC technology, which could allow it to serve as a payment receiving terminal for Apple Pay. It's also rumored to feature a USB-C port and a new Bluetooth-based stylus accessory for more input methods.
Monday's report isn't the first time Apple has been rumored to be looking into nanowire touch panel technology. In February of 2014, well before the Apple Watch was announced, it was said that Apple had investigated nanowire components from TPK for its then-rumored wrist-worn accessory.
Created from a mesh of silver wires approximately one nanometer in diameter, silver nanowire-based touch films boast several advantages over current indium tin oxide designs. The material is exceptionally clear, and its conductivity means that the displays do not need additional sensors to determine touch location.
In addition, silver nanowire films are flexible. This means they can conform to uneven surfaces, like multifaceted or curved displays — Cambrios also cites the material's ability to be applied to touch surfaces that can be folded or rolled.
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12 Comments
Until there's a product, it's all rather pointless to speculate.
[quote name="SpamSandwich" url="/t/186206/rumor-apples-12-9-ipad-pro-to-feature-silver-nanowire-touch-panel-debut-in-2016#post_2722102"]Until there's a product, it's all rather pointless to speculate.[/quote] True, but this is rather interesting to note. There will be a physical minimum thinness point for a large device like this, unless they're planning to make it flexible. It does point to FT on the iPad being much more accurate than it could otherwise be.
If true, another example of how "the marketing company that never invents anything" ends up advancing the stste of the art for the rest of the industry. Previous examples include in-cell touch technology, patented and developed by Apple, and the dual indium-tin oxide film (DITO) that caused such delays with the iPad mini, kept its price higher, and reduced margins in initial rollout months. Needless to say, this level of sweating the details goes generally unappreciated and unreported, unless maybe I missed some AnandTech-like treatment of the subject. But they and other tech sites aren't interested in displays particularly.
If true, another example of how "the marketing company that never invents anything" ends up advancing the state of the art for the rest of the industry.
Apple just this week requested silver nanowire material samples from LG Display, Samsung Display, Japan Display and others.
Not sure how Apple is inventing something for a display when they have requested samples from at least 3 display companies. These companies must already have these displays, make the displays and have tested them. They wouldn't just have this wire laying around for no reason.
3M and www.cambrios.com teamed up and have been making these touch screen panels since December 2013.
Until there's a product, it's all rather pointless to speculate.
It wouldn't be Monday without another iPad Pro rumour...click bait and page view quotas to fill.