The 4-inch WVGA (800 x 480) IPS panel looks good on paper but misses the mark when compared to the competition. Sure, the colors are rich and the viewing angles are wide, but the LCD washes out more than expected in direct sunlight and suffers from a significant amount of backlight leaking out from the edges of the screen, resulting in visible “stains” on solid, dark-colored content.
Brightness levels are usually not reported for smartphone displays but my guess is that the T-Mobile G2x also known as the LG Optimus 2X isn’t as bright as the competition. Possibly because light is leaking out?
Another item that requires improvement is the screen’s capacitive touch layer, which is slightly less sensitive than on most other phones. Light touches don’t always register, and while this is easily remedied by applying more pressure, it’s rather disconcerting — especially for a handset that’s otherwise well designed.
All of us smartphone users have at one time or another been spoiled by the near-instant response of the touch system used on the iPhones. Once that expectation has been set it is very difficult to forgive a system that isn’t as good. Here’s hoping LG will tweak the firmware settings to make it better.
Amazon today announced Kindle Library Lending, a new feature launching later this year that will allow Kindle customers to borrow Kindle books from over 11,000 libraries in the United States. Kindle Library Lending will be available for all generations of Kindle devices and free Kindle reading apps.
I’ve been waiting for this. I purchase few books preferring to borrow them from public libraries. I don’t own a Kindle but in a pinch the Kindle app on my iPhone should work. But for books that I’d like to enjoy I think I’ll be seriously considering the purchase of a Kindle. From my brief testing, reading on the Kindle’s electrophoretic display is much more pleasant than on even the best IPS LCD.
Sales of the streaming-centric iOS-powered Apple TV topped 1 million just before Christmas of last year, and within three months of its launch. That pace showed strong sales had continued after a breakout start of 250,000 units in its first six weeks. [...]
Kuo estimates that Apple sold 820,000 units of the Apple TV in its second quarter of fiscal 2011, which ran from January through March. Apple will announce its quarterly earnings after the market closes on Wednesday, though the company frequently does not mention the Apple TV, focusing instead on more popular products like the iPhone and iPad.
What a hobby.
Projected capacitive touch panels typically use one or two sheets of glass to create the sensor, which, in addition to the cover lens (also called the cover, window, or glass), can result in a complex structure. Because of this, touch module makers are trying to integrate the sensor into the cover lens in order to reduce material cost, thickness, and weight.
With less layers between your eyes and the display, optical quality should improve. The 3.5-inch Retina Display on the iPhone 4 is already quite fantastic. And to think something better is not too far away is exciting.
Goldman Sachs analyst Bill Shope via Barron’s:
Even assuming 50% upside to the non-Apple tablet market, it is likely that Apple would still hold a majority market share. In our non-Apple upside scenario, Apple would hold 54% of the market in 2011 and 2012. To the extent that non-Apple tablets sell below our current expectations, our downside analysis implies Apple could hold as much as 74% market share in 2011 and 71% market share in 2012. We believe the downside scenario for Android shipments is more likely at this point.
74%. Two iPad models. A single company. Is Apple that much better than everyone else?
TFT-LCD panel maker Chimei Innolux (CMI) is making efforts to hike yield rates for its production of IPS (in-plane switching) panels to a level required for use in the iPad, and hopes to obtain certification from Apple and then begin shipments in May 2011, according to industry sources.
It’s interesting that CMI would start manufacturing 9.7-inch IPS TFT LCDs when it hasn’t yet received certification from Apple.
The 8.9-inch, glossy, 1,280 x 768 display is a bit shorter and skinnier than the Xoom’s 10.1-inch, 1,280 x 800 display. This gives it a slightly higher pixel density and, indeed, you can tell the difference. With the Xoom, the pitch on the pixels seemed a bit broad — jagged edges appear on text and in high-contrast areas. The G-Slate’s screen definitely has a sharper, crisper look. However, it’s also rather more yellow, added warmth that we didn’t notice until putting them side by side.
The G Slate, also known as the Optimus Pad, sports a 15:9 aspect ratio display. Unique.
The only way to access e-mail, calendar and contact information on the BlackBerry PlayBook without using a browser is via an app called BlackBerry Bridge, which links Research in Motion’s tablet to BlackBerry smartphones.
Too bad that AT&T subscribers can’t use it yet.
The PlayBook doesn’t come with native email or browsing capability. You get that from your BlackBerry smartphone using the Bridge app. But not if you’re a BlackBerry user on AT&T.
Microsoft UK managing director Ashley Highfield via Pocket-lint:
We won’t do anything in the tablet market unless we can be distinctive.
So this in theory might be never. Unless the Courier concept is resurrected.
Apple could be preparing to make switching your iPhone from one carrier to another easier though, as a recent patent awarded to them details a method in which Apple could wirelessly and remotely reprogram iPhones to work on different carriers.
The carriers still hold to much power over the consumer. They bait us with low phone prices and then milk us for two years. You want out? They have a huge ETF around our necks, just for that. Apple has been awarded a patent that allows for wireless reprogramming of iPhones to work on different carriers. Don’t know if or when this patent will get used, but I hope it’s soon.
DisplayBlog is written and produced by Jin Kim. Subscribe via RSS.