Compared to the printed book reading speeds were 6.2% slower on the iPad and 10.7% slower on the Kindle 2. Nielsen states in his findings, however, that the difference between the iPad and the Kindle is not statistically significant. You can read just as fast on an LCD as on an E Ink display.
Other interesting findings:
…they disliked that the iPad was so heavy and that the Kindle featured less-crisp gray-on-gray letters. People also disliked the lack of true pagination and preferred the way the iPad (actually, the iBook app) indicated the amount of text left in a chapter.
Less predictable comments: Users felt that reading the printed book was more relaxing than using electronic devices. And they felt uncomfortable with the PC because it reminded them of work.
The Kindle 2 sports a 16-shade capable greyscale E Ink display. E Ink and Amazon will most likely need to increase the Kindle’s grayscale capability to 32 or 64 shades in the future.
I also think reading the printed book is more relaxing, especially if the paper quality is good. Is it just me thinking this or is quality of paper used in printed books generally going down? I don’t mind paperbacks using crappy paper but when I invest in a hardback I expect paper quality to be good. And yes the iPad at 1.5 pounds is a bit heavy to be used as an ebook reader if you plan on reading for quite some time, unless you have a bookstand for the iPad.
Chimei Innolux (CMI) and Hitachi Displays have signed an agreement to form a strategic alliance to supply 9.7-inch IPS LCD panels to Apple’s iPad program according to DIGITIMES. Expected shipment date is in Q4’10 or Q1’11. Hitachi Displays plans to increase its capacity to manufacture 9.7-inch IPS LCD panels with some of that capacity supported by CMI. The 9.7-inch IPS LCD panel will also be part of CMI’s product offering. Most likely CMI will make use of its Gen 5 TFT LCD fab to manufacture the iPad LCD panels. In related news CMI is also in discussions with E Ink Holdings, previously Prime View International (PVI), to gain access to its fringe field switching (FFS) display technology (read Chimei Innolux To License FFS From E Ink Holdings To Build iPad Panels).
Currently LG Display (LGD) and Samsung are the only two LCD manufacturers that are supplying 9.7-inch IPS LCD panels to Apple’s iPad program.
Just because a company is able to manufacture an IPS panel doesn’t mean it will pass the scrutiny of Apple’s display engineers. LGD is a long time supplier to Apple and even then the two companies must work together intensely and for significant amounts of time to get the LCD panel just right. Will Hitachi Displays’ 9.7-inch IPS LCD panel be qualified? That’s anyone’s guess, but I’m doubtful that CMI-made Hitachi IPS displays will make it through the very first round.
I’m also quite surprised to see Samsung manufacturing IPS LCD panels. For quite some time, at least a decade, Samsung has put all of its marketing dollars to push patterned vertical alignment (PVA) display technology. At every conference that I have attended Samsung has always touted PVA as better than IPS. This 180-degree turnaround is quite interesting to say the least.
Why is everyone rushing to build IPS LCD panels thinking that Apple will use them as a panel provider for its iPad program? Maybe Apple is experiencing such intense IPS panel shortages that it is scrambling to build more IPS LCD panel supply. One definite result would be an overall downward pressure on the 9.7-inch IPS panels as more companies compete. That’s a positive for Apple, but I’m a bit worried that overall display quality will suffer as a result. Samsung is not known as a premiere IPS supplier. Hitachi is and has a long history of manufacturing IPS LCD panels but not at such volumes the iPad program will require. CMI is similar to Samsung in that it has never had the experience of volume manufacturing IPS panels. The iPad experience is centered around the multitouch 9.7-inch IPS LCD, so it is imperative that quality continues to go up, not down. If I were in the market for an iPad I would want to know how to figure out if it was made by LGD or not since I personally only trust LGD at this point.
Pixel Qi’s 3qi is a fantastic technology that allows full-color displays that also can be a reflective display that sips tiny bits of power good enough to be used as an ebook display. It can even be seen in direct sunlight and that’s not just marketing speak. Finally, Pixel Qi technology can be had. The company’s 10.1-inch notebook PC LCD panel is now available. There is a big technical limitation: it is certified be used only with the Samsung N130 and the Lenovo S10-2. Of course that doesn’t mean you can’t try your luck with other netbooks. The price for model number MKPQ01? US$275.00. Not too much to ask to more than double battery power. And it is available at MakerSHED.
Mary Lou Jepsen:
We hope that by working with MAKE and the DIY community we collectively will spur innovation in ways we can’t ourselves imagine yet.
How about a 9.7-inch version with 1024×768?
On July 27, 2010 Apple unveiled its new 27-inch LED Cinema Display (press release). The 27-inch LCD is of the IPS (In-Plane Switching) variety featuring a wide 178-degree viewing angle. The pixel format is 2560×1440 making it a 16:9 display, probably the same found on the 27-inch iMac. Of course, as the name suggests, the backlight is of the LED variety that should provide instant-on capabilities.
FAT BEZEL: The industrial design remain unchanged from the smaller 24-inch LED Cinema Display sporting rather thick black bezels. LG Display (LGD) is likely the display supplier for the 27-inch LED Cinema Display and the same company supplies LG Electronics (LGE) the amazing LED-backlit LCD panels for the Infinia LX9500 LCD TV. The Infinia LX9500 sports the thinnest bezels I’ve ever seen. Looking at displays with fat bezels (except for the iPad since it has a functional purpose) degrade their premium feel. Would it be rocket science to incorporate the thin bezel technology into the 27-inch LCD? Maybe Apple is working with LGD to incorporate an incredibly thin bezel in the next version.
AIR GAP: There seems to remain an air gap between the LCD and the cover glass, which is most likely Corning’s Gorilla glass. That air gap will allow dust particles to wander in resulting in a most frustrating experience once you’ve noticed them. Like the iPhone 4 I would hope Apple would make use of optical lamination to remove this possible annoyance.
MAGSAFE OPTIONAL? iSight is built-in along with a microphone, speakers, and a USB 2.0 hub (3 connectors). There is also a MagSafe connector to keep MacBooks charged. Although MacBook (and Pro) users would appreciate the MagSafe connector non-MacBook users might not want to pay extra for something they will not use. There must be a way to make the MagSafe connector an option and bring down the overall price of the already competitive 27-inch LED Cinema Display even further.
MANUAL BRIGHTNESS: Connectivity is via Mini DisplayPort, which I think is not becoming quite the standard Apple hoped it would be. An ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness, a feature that my eyes really don’t like as the modulating brightness levels force my eyes to adjust not only to the environment but also to the display. I’m sure there is an option to turn it off.
TERRIFIC PRICE: I wanted to write: “A major downside is the lack of pivot capabilities. For that you’ll need to get a third-party mount.” But upon thinking about it, I don’t think many folks would want to pivot a 27-inch display: there are plenty of vertical pixels (1440) to work on most documents. The 27-inch LED Cinema Display is US$999. You have until September to get funds ready.
ONE MONITOR: The 24-inch LED Cinema Display is now priced $799, originally $899. The 30-inch Cinema HD Display price is unchanged at $1799. Both are available only while supplies last. I don’t think most folks would want to pay $800 extra for three additional inches and 160 additional vertical pixels. Although there is one thing going for the 30-inch that I really appreciate: a non-glossy matte display.
The IPS LCD Monitor database has been updated. Note: IPS LCD Monitor is no longer being updated.
Nokia via Engadget:
… we prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict.
John Gruber:
Judging by how their phones look, must be a lot of conflicts.
The Nokia N97 mini must have had a conflict since the physical design is less than desirable. But then what’s this according to Apple:
In our tests, the Nokia N97 mini dropped from 7 bars to 2 bars when held in a way that attenuated the signal.
Ugly and has signal attenuation…