OLED

General
May 20, 2010
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Samsung: OLED shortage will continue as demand swells

By on May 20, 2010 at 10:55 AM.

Samsung: OLED shortage will continue as demand swells

samsung-logo-w5001

Speaking at the Reuters Global Technology Summit on Thursday, Lee Wong-jong, VP of marketing for Samsung, said that the global shortage of OLED displays will continue in foreseeable future as demand has greatly outpaced supply. Said Lee, “demand for high-end displays is very strong and we may continue to fail to meet all customer requirements, even after expanding capacity by seven-fold, until next year.” Such delays are part of the reason Verizon is having great difficulties meeting sales quotas with the HTC Droid Incredible. Last week Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam said the failure of Samsung and other part suppliers to deliver crucial components were the reason the Droid Incredible has yet to outsell the Motorola DROID. To combat this, Samsung recently committed $2.15 billion through 2012 to create the largest fleet of AMOLED displays. But in the meantime, delays will be the new reality as smartphone sales for 2010 are expected to be 50% higher than in 2009. More →

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General
November 19, 2009
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Unannounced unconfirmed Apple tablet gets delayed

By on November 19, 2009 at 10:00 AM.

Unannounced unconfirmed Apple tablet gets delayed

Apple Tablet

We can file this one under rumor of a rumor — you’ve been warned — so please, proceed with caution. DigiTimes is reporting that Apple’s yet to be announced tablet device will be delayed until the second half of 2010 due to a last minute design change, specifically, the use of a 9.7″ OLED LG display. The report goes onto say that the delay is a strategic move by Apple due to the current cost of the OLED panels, which currently wholesale for around $500 a pop. The price of LG’s panels are expected to drop significantly in late 2010 as they revamp their production line with newer equipment. The report is oozing with speculation on release dates, price, manufacturer, and potential future models, so we’ll let you check out the dirt for yourself.
More →

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General
September 24, 2009
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Vodafone UK announces the 360 H1 and 360 M1 alongside Vodafone 360

By on September 24, 2009 at 7:30 AM.

Vodafone UK announces the 360 H1 and 360 M1 alongside Vodafone 360

voda-360-h1-m1

Remember that mysterious LiMo-powered smartphone we exclusively showed you a week back? Well today it was made official alongside another handset as well as a new internet service, Vodafone 360. The two devices, manufactured by Samsung, have been dubbed the 360 H1 (the device we showed you) and 360 M1. The 360 H1 looks to be an all around solid device with a 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen display, 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and flash, 16GB of internal memory, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and HSDPA. The 360 M1, on the other hand, leaves a little bit to be desired but still packs a bit of a punch with a 3.2-inch touchscreen display,  1GB of internal memory (expandable by microSD), GPS, Bluetooth 2.0 and HSDPA. As for Vodafone 360 platform, what we previously told you was correct in that it incorporates more or less the same sort of social media approach as webOS and MOTOBLUR, but with a slightly stronger emphasis placed upon games, apps and music. Nothing too crazy, but it’s something we think every smartphone should have as we draw nearer to a new decade. Of note, Voda’s 360 services will also work on dozens of Nokia and Sony Ericsson handsets so if this new dynamic duo isn’t your thing, rest easy. Oh, and just one more thing… The H1 and the M1? H1 and M1? H1M1? A bit too close for comfort.

Read (360 H1)
Read (360 M1)

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Exclusive
September 10, 2009
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Mysterious LIMO-powered Samsung handset poses for BGR ahead of Vodafone announcement

By on September 10, 2009 at 3:44 PM.

Mysterious LIMO-powered Samsung handset poses for BGR ahead of Vodafone announcement

Vodafone subscribers, Samsung fans and mobile enthusiasts in general — we hope you’re sitting down. Behold: Exclusive live shots of a previously unheard of Samsung handset supposedly due to be announced soon by Vodafone. Details for the time being are a bit limited — we don’t even have a name for you yet (UPDATE: as a commenter points out below, this may be the Samsung Riedel l8305 that recently received Wi-Fi certification) — but our ninja managed to score some extremely solid images and a handful of specs that are definitely noteworthy. First things first: We’re apparently looking at a Samsung-built Vodafone exclusive here that is powered by Voda’s own LIMO-based OS (Linux mobile). Beyond the brushed steel case sits a nice big OLED touchscreen display complete with haptic feedback. We’re also told the handset will sport an 8 megapixel camera and it will launch alongside the upcoming “Vodafone People” service. Details in that department are scarce as well but rumor has it the service involves Voda’s acquisition of Zyb last year; active contacts, location information, status updates, various integration with other social networks like Twitter and Facebook, etc. You can get a pretty good idea of what’s in store from the images below but basically, it’s what Google should have done on Android with Jaiku. Last but not least, we’re not sure exactly when Vodafone plans to make this guy official, though we’re hearing rumors of a special event that may be held in London on September 24th. Hit the jump for more shots and if you live in Vodafone land, get ready for what really could be a game-changing handset/service combo.

More →

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News
May 22, 2009
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OQO calling it quits, working on deal to keep the band together

By on May 22, 2009 at 1:40 PM.

OQO calling it quits, working on deal to keep the band together

OQO UMPC owners, it’s official: You now own a collector’s item. After running into OQO SVP of sales and marketing Bob Rosin, GottaBeMobile is reporting that the company can no longer afford to support its products in any capacity, let alone build new units. From Rosin:

We are sad to report that due to financial constraints, OQO is not able to offer repair and service support at this time. We are deeply sorry that despite our best intentions, we are unable to provide continued support for our faithful customers. Please accept our sincerest apologies.

Rosin went on to say that OQO is currently working on a deal with a parts vendor that might keep its team and — perhaps more importantly for OQO fans — its technology alive to some extent. For the time being however, the only certainties are that OQO is done building and supporting UMPCs, and its stock is depleted so it’s done selling them as well.

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Rumor
May 19, 2009
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iPhone rumor alert: Next-gen specs and launch date

By on May 19, 2009 at 3:06 PM.

iPhone rumor alert: Next-gen specs and launch date

Apple’s WWDC is almost here and as such, it’s time for iPhone rumors and speculation to get hot and heavy. The latest and greatest — July 17 is the rumored launch date and there is a lengthy list of specs to accompany the news. Of course, history shows that when it comes to iPhone rumors, most guesses are a shot in the dark and we can’t speak for the track record of the source (which happens to now be offline). So here we go: Word is the new iPhone will have double the storage capacity of its predecessor at 16GB and 32GB, up from 8GB and 16GB respectively. Battery life will be 1.5 times greater and its processor will be twice as fast as the current model — though. Aesthetically, the back will be a rubberized material and the chrome bezel (you know, the sliver scratch magnet) will disappear. Most of the list of upgrades seem minor, but some are new like the compass we told you about earlier. If this new rumor pans out however, color us unimpressed. Hit the jump for the full rumored spec list.

More →

115 Comments
Rumor
April 26, 2009
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Samsung's first Android phone, the I7500, due in June

By on April 26, 2009 at 2:45 PM.

Samsung's first Android phone, the I7500, due in June

According to a new report, Samsung’s first Android handset will not be the S8000 as had been rumored. Instead, word on the street now suggests Sammy is prepping yet another full touchscreen handset dubbed I7500 for a June release. The Android-powered I7500 most definitely touts the best spec sheet of any Android handset we’ve seen thus far — released or upcoming — so we must admit we’re a bit excited. Here’s how it’s shaping up:

  • Android 1.5 OS
  • Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, dual-band UMTS/HSPA
  • 528 MHz Qualcomm MSM7200A CPU
  • 3.2-inch HVGA capacitive OLED touchscreen display
  • 5 megapixel camera with LED flash
  • Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth
  • GPS
  • 8GB internal flash memory
  • microSD slot
  • 3.5 mm stereo jack
  • Metal case, 11.9 mm thick

Assuming the blurry mock up and the 3.2-inch display are both accurate, the I7500 is going to be a pretty sizable handset. With specs like that however, we’re sure we can look past the moderate bulk and give it a go. According to the source, O2 Germany will be releasing the I7500 in June for about €300 ($397 US), which hopefully means we can expect it elsewhere in June as well.

Thanks, Fab!

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General
April 25, 2009
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OQO SVP: Future production of model 2+ "unlikely"

By on April 25, 2009 at 10:34 AM.

OQO SVP: Future production of model 2+ "unlikely"

More bad news for OQO fans we’re afraid, as a recent conversation with Senior Vice President Bob Rosin basically confirms worries that had been circulating regarding the longevity of the UMPC maker. Long story short, the company is in dire need of a knight in shining dollars. Regarding a recent rumor that suggests OQO is canceling pre-orders from vendors, Rosin had this to say:

While we haven’t canceled the orders, it is unlikely that we will be able to produce additional model 2+ units, so it did not seem worth trying to police that story, as it is accurate in a long-term sense.

Ouch. You can’t bring home the bacon if you can’t keep building a product, but OQO’s woes are hardly all off in the distance. In fact, the company seemingly can’t even afford to support its products right now. Rosin confessed that support services were currently unavailable, leaving current OQO owners to fend for themselves, but stated “there will be a solution to that available soon.” The shame of it all is that OQO’s evolutionary model 2+ was shaping up to be quite an exciting UMPC, albeit pricey. If the company can’t find a way to turn things around soon, it looks like very few people will ever get the opportunity to find out just how exciting it really is. We’ve also independently confirmed the above with OQO, but what we’re still not clear about is if any or how many OQO 02+ models have been already manufactured.

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News
April 19, 2009
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Samsungs says smartphones will make up 29 percent of the market in 2012

By on April 19, 2009 at 3:11 PM.

Samsungs says smartphones will make up 29 percent of the market in 2012

Lining up with the predictions of pretty much every Tom, Dick and Harry, Samsung has gone ahead and stated that it expects smartphones to make up 29 percent (or 500 million devices) of the mobile phone marketplace in 2012. As things currently stand, smartphones account for 14 percent (170 million devices) of all mobile phones, a figure which is steadily increasing (despite a World-wide recession) thanks in part to high consumer and corporate demand for feature-rich devices. What’s more however, is that Samsung is betting touchcreens will be featured on 50 percent of mobile phones by 2013. Sammy also says OLED displays will become all the rage with an estimated 50 percent market share in the next five years on all mobile devices, including but not limited to mobile phones, PMPs, GPS navigation units and digital cameras. Guess that means that while many will be looking forward to the future with outstretched arms and wide-open wallets, Stevie Wonder will be pretty PO’d unless some solid progress is made where the V.I. UX is concerned.

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Rumor
April 14, 2009
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OQO model 2+ reportedly shelved as company seeks buyer

By on April 14, 2009 at 5:11 PM.

OQO model 2+ reportedly shelved as company seeks buyer

News from OQO has been a bit scarce since the company unveiled its model 2+ at CES earlier this year. In the UMPC market, however niche it may be at this point, the model 2+ was essentially positioned to be a game changer — the specs speak for themselves: 5-inch WVGA OLED touchscreen display, Intel Atom processor (up to 1.86 GHz), 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR, global HSDA and EV-DO along with up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM and a 60GB, 120GB hard drive or a 60GB SSD. So what’s the problem? We’re in the midst of a recession and the model 2+ — a luxury device that certainly wouldn’t be a necessity for anyone really — starts off at $999 and tops out around $3,100. Apparently, even those who indulge in the UMPC market are hesitant and interest is dwindling quickly. This, from an OQOTALK forum moderator:

I have been told by a few people in the know and also just from watching whats going on with OQO from reports on this forum. OQO is attempting to sell the company. It lacks the funds to keep going, cash is tight and work hours have been reduced. One has to wonder if it can still meet warranty claims as it starts to buy stock to build the 2+. I’m sorry to say this, but the 2+ might be the last OQO we see made. I don’t even think we will see it.

To compound matters, major retailer Expansys has apparently made the decision to remove OQO products from its site and is currently canceling pre-orders. Not good. We’re big OQO fans here at BGR so we hope the company finds a way to pull through but we’re also realists… The market for luxury items like this wasn’t that big to begin with and now that people wake up each morning wondering if they still have a job, the market is basically non-existent.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

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General
April 14, 2009
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Sony's X1000 series Walkman to launch April 25th in Japan

By on April 14, 2009 at 8:02 AM.

Sony's X1000 series Walkman to launch April 25th in Japan

Sony’s highly anticipated OLED MP3 player, the X1000 series Walkman, is slated for launch on April 25th in Japan. The 3-inch touchscreen-sporting device will debut with 16GB and 32GB models that feature integrated noise cancellation, Walkman-specific Netfront web browser, YouTube support, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, wireless Podcast delivery, FM tuner and support for MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV audio / AVC, H.264, MPEG4, WMV video. The Walkman will be available in Black or Red with suggested retail prices of 40,000 yen ($400 USD) for the 16GB X1050 and 50,000 yen ($500 USD) for the 32GB X1060.

[Via PMP Today]

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General
April 1, 2009
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Samsung @ CTIA

By on April 1, 2009 at 3:45 PM.

Samsung @ CTIA

We apologize for the delay in getting some sexy CTIA news coming your way but technical difficulties — ie, relying on an AT&T USB modem for connectivity — have been a bit of a road block. No matter… Welcome to AMOLED world, aka Samsung’s CTIA booth this year. As you can see from the giant AMOLED sculpture-thingamajig welcoming visitors to the Samsung booth, Sammy is making it a point to let us know that it means business when it comes to handset displays. And it does, by the way, mean business. Samsung has a handful of handsets on display and the common theme among more current models is a big, bright, gorgeous AMOLED touchscreens. Hit the jump to see some highlights plucked from Samsung’s line up.

More →

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General
March 19, 2009
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Next round of Apple handsets and netbooks to sport OLED displays?

By on March 19, 2009 at 11:01 AM.

Next round of Apple handsets and netbooks to sport OLED displays?

A report this morning from Australian tech magazine Smarthouse suggests Apple may have selected a series of OLED displays for its next round of handset and netbook screens. According to an unnamed source within the company, initial fruits of the company’s newly awarded display contract with LG will be an entirely new set of OLED screens that will make their way into Apple’s upcoming iPhone and iPod Touch models, as well as a new and often-rumored Apple netbook. The move would certainly go a great length to help somewhat lackluster battery performance, especially considering the variety of added battery-sucking features that were announced at Apple’s 3.0 event this past Tuesday. So what do you guys think about the possibility of a sexy new capacitive OLED display on the inevitable iPhone / iPod Touch models due in June or July?

Thanks, Donald!

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