Sam Oliver
Citing industry sources in the Far East, The Korea Times reported that Apple is "likely" to be one of the handset makers who will ask Samsung to provide them with flexible OLED screens. Mass production of bendable OLED screens is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2012.
Talk of Apple and flexible OLED displays surfaced after Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun revealed his company has seen "huge" orders from device makers for its pliable organic light emitting diode displays.
The report from Korea said while a flexible OLED will not be found in Apple's sixth-generation iPhone, expected to be launched later this year, it's possible that Apple could adapt the technology in the future, for what it dubbed an "iPhone Yoga."
Initial production of flexible OLED displays will be limited. Samsung has a number of lines dedicated to the technology at a factory in Tangjeong, South Korea, but they will only produce 960,000 OLED sheets by the end of 2012, the report said.
Samsung Mobile Display showing off a flexible display at CES 2011. Source: OLED-Display.net
The bullish comments from Kwon led some who spoke with the Times to infer that Apple is behind the company's optimism for the future of flexible OLEDs. One anonymous source noted that Apple sets the trends that the rest of the industry follows.
"If Samsung finds increasing industry demand for a futuristic product like flexible displays, it's hard to imagine Apple doesn't have something to do with it," one person was quoted as saying.
Earlier this year, another report claimed that Apple was investigating flexible panels for potential use in future iPad models. Apple currently does not use AMOLED screens in any of its products, instead relying on traditional LCD screens with in-plane switching technology for superior viewing angles.
Charles Martin
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
AppleInsider Staff
William Gallagher
Oliver Haslam
39 Comments
I can think of uses for a flexible display built into a secure, curved space but I can't think of any use for a flexible display that can be manipulated by the user.
There have been occasional rumors that Apple has been testing a wearable item. A flexible screen might be appropriate for a jacket sleeve.
Also, Google has people doing research on wearable technology. That said, I'm rather skeptical of this rumor.
meh..
I can think of uses for a flexible display built into a secure, curved space but I can't think of any use for a flexible display that can be manipulated by the user.
I was just about to say the same thing. I haven't seen anyone yet come up with any real world application of this technology that's compelling at all. Perhaps a slightly concave phone screen for better thumb ergonomics, but that's about it.
Samsung's only idea so far is to have the screen fold over on one side for half a centimetre or so making "side buttons" that are still part of the screen. A gimmicky thing if ever there was one.
Originally Posted by cvaldes1831
... Google has people doing research on wearable technology. ..
This makes the most sense to me. The absolute number of screens being produced is too low for production models of anything.
Google is famous for jumping on emerging technology far too soon and spending large amounts of money testing it only to be ultimately beaten to the punch by Apple when the technology actually becomes relevant. I would bet money that Google just bought up 90,000 screens for some kind of stupid testing and every Google-ite will end up with one in their closet collecting dust.