Smartphone operating systems divide users. Your love or hatred of a user interface runs deep, but the problem is that so do each platform’s quirks: they have to stay separate because any attempt to copy various aspects normally end up in a lawsuit. It’s brave of Sharp, then, to try and merge the three biggest into one simple whole. Read more
You see lots of new gadgets and services at a tradeshow like IFA, which comes to a close on Wednesday, but it’s not always the shiniest ones that end up making a lasting impact on the world. Take for instance the stunning Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, which has already been yanked off the display stands courtesy of Apple’s lawyers.
Sometimes it’s a more subdued announcement that ends up being the most significant. And the new smart TV alliance from the likes of Philips and LG is just that.
Apple has reportedly inked deals with LG Display, Samsung Electronics and Sharp to supply LCD panels for its upcoming iPad 3. The news comes following a lengthy period of quality testing and trial runs which many believe signals a higher resolution Retina display. Unfortunately the report from DigiTimes does not highlight the resolution and instead focuses on the backlight modules and potential rise of Sharp as Apple’s leading panel supplier.
Currently the iPad 2 features displays from LG and Samsung with LG commanding the lion’s share of production. According to Reuters this is due to change. Allegedly Apple is “working out a deal with Sharp” involving a pre-payment (up to $1 billion) to ensure future display supply.
Although LG is the primary supplier of iPad 2 displays, according to 9to5Mac the biggest loser will actually be Samsung. Samsung only recently began supplying IPS panels for the iPad 2 and following reports over quality control issues with LG’s displays, Samsung was in a position to increase production.
Looking for the best in home theater entertainment? Sharp has announced the return of an iconic line of TVs with the relaunch of the Elite brand. The new Sharp Elite TVs will be LED LCDs instead of Plasma sets, capable of delivering the “highest caliber picture quality and technology available.” There’s two sizes, a 60 or 70 inch model and both units will be available later this month.
Japan’s e-Mobile has landed its first Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet in the form of the Sharp A01SH Galapagos. This 7-inch slate packs the industry standard 1 GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor and matches the original Galaxy Tab’s 1024 x 600 pixel screen resolution.
Here’s a fun fact for you. Did you know that a crucial step in making any LCD screen for your telly involves a bit of science that has even the experts stumped? That’s right: nobody knows how LCD TV screens are actually made. Read on, and we’ll explain.
