Word on the street -- and by "street" we mean "the internet" -- is that Apple will begin exclusive use of LED BLUs for displays in all of its MacBooks come 2009. According to the Chinese-language paper Economic Daily News, the computer-maker's Taiwanese supplier of LED backlight units, Kenmos, will increase shipments in the coming year of the brighter, longer-lasting, better dressed components. Of course, the paper could be making this all up to toy with our emotions and break our little hearts... but why would they do that?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
psxp @ May 21st 2008 9:59AM
I guess these displays are "green" friendly?
Splunkster @ May 21st 2008 4:50PM
I would say they are more BLU friendly. ;-)
catachip @ May 21st 2008 10:00AM
Now if they would only integrate another type of "BLU" product, then I'd really be happy.
clak @ May 21st 2008 11:05AM
There could be several reasons why Apple hasn't supported Blu-Ray yet. First of all, Steve Jobs has expressed dislike for DRM, not specifically AACS, but it's DRM all the same. Secondly, Apple seems to moving away from physical formats. The MacBook Air is the perfect example of that. Apple seems to be focused on digital downloads instead.
Of course, I personally believe Blu-Ray should be an option for Macs, although I wouldn't touch it myself. DVD quality is good enough for me and even more important, I can rip DVDs using Handbrake.
Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm gonna go home and put water in Buck Nasty's Mama's dish—Silky Johnson, Player Haters Ball, Chappelle's Show, 2003
OneLove @ May 21st 2008 11:08AM
HD DVD FTW!
Sarig @ May 21st 2008 11:20AM
Wait, hold on there a minute: Steve Jobs dislikes DRM?
I sure hope nobody told him about iTunes yet!
Pochi @ May 21st 2008 11:29AM
"Steve Jobs has expressed dislike for DRM..."
lol!
MBS @ May 21st 2008 11:57AM
Yeah, ole Steve-o is a downright champion of consumer rights when it comes to drm and openness of devices.
happy_penguin @ May 21st 2008 12:03PM
Actually, Jobs has expressed a dislike for DRM. His claim is that he only accepted DRM with iTunes store as a condition set by the record companies. Whether or not he was telling the truth, only he knows but I do not believe that has anything to do with whether or not Macs will support Blu Ray.
Zak @ May 21st 2008 12:11PM
If any of you tools actually believe Apple WANTS DRM on the music they sell, you're beyond stupid. What music retailer would intentionally want to make it more difficult to listen to music? The DRM is there because the record labels demanded that the music have DRM on it. That's the only reason. Jobs' opinion of DRM has been publicly stated more than once, I can't even fathom why anybody would assume otherwise. It makes no sense at all. I mean this is ignoring the fact that Apple was the one finally got at least one label to break down and sell music DRM-free, and that was before the Amazon store opened up.
I mean do you honestly believe Apple wants to hurt their own music sales? Intentionally? Really? How dumb do you have to be to believe something like that?
catachip @ May 21st 2008 12:17PM
@Sarig
Jobs released a landmark open letter titled "Thoughts on Music" in February of last year. In this letter, he outlines his vision for the digital music marketplace and the need to trust the consumer and remove DRM as the best way to increase sales.
Link: http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughtsonmusic/
Jobs was the first big media mogul to come out publicly against DRM. A few music labels subsequently dropped DRM on files they provide to Apple; however, the other labels have only provided DRM-free music to iTunes competitors (i.e., Amazon) in order to artificially prop them up and reduce the appeal of the iTunes store.
quandmeme @ May 21st 2008 12:36PM
The MacBreak weekly guys explained it well: If Apple is going big into pure digital, it should offer Bluray as an option on _everything_ just to give the impression to the studios that they are not trying to kill physical media distribution. I foresee that I will never buy a computer with Bluray, but I hope they offer it just to placate the studios.
big worm @ May 21st 2008 10:03AM
Man, playing with my LED display technology is like playing with my emotions.
Chris Aubeck @ May 21st 2008 11:22AM
Is that what they're calling it these days?
John @ May 21st 2008 2:07PM
I'm sure you enjoy it when people play with your "emotions".
Esat Dedezade @ May 21st 2008 10:04AM
Could someone enlighten me to this BLU LED technology without the old 'google is your friend' remarks?
I know it would be wuicker to use google, but I'm giving people an opportunity to look clever on the interwebs :)
Mike G @ May 21st 2008 10:10AM
a unique light emitting diode back light unit (LED BLU), increasing the color gamut up to 114 percent of the NTSC color gamut.
The LED BLU increases the ability to create significantly enhanced images producing a more natural range of color, and covering the full Adobe RGB natural color space / gamut. The LED backlight also lacks mercury or halogen.
OneLove @ May 21st 2008 11:09AM
...google IS your friend.
hrt @ May 21st 2008 11:28AM
So basically Esat, It kicks ass.
Esat Dedezade @ May 21st 2008 11:29AM
Google WAS my friend. But ever since that one night in El Paso where we got wasted and he wanted to experiment.....
.... it's just never been the same. I don't... I just don't feel comfortable with him anymroe you know? I mean I said I didn't care, it was just a drunken mistake, but the memory is still there.....
And Mike G, thank you for the information. Your high ranked is deserved, and you have appeared intelligent on the internet :)
bondsbw @ May 21st 2008 10:06AM
All the cool computers use blue LEDs...
oPossum @ May 21st 2008 10:08AM
That should be LED BLU, not BLU LED
BLU = Back Light Unit
MadMike @ May 21st 2008 10:12AM
My MBP has the LED backlight and its 1920x1200. ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! I LOVE IT!
Munkcy @ May 21st 2008 11:27AM
And I know you're serious because you used all caps.
Brendan Sheehan @ May 21st 2008 3:47PM
You keep loving your MBP and I'll keep loving your wife!
Greg Baz @ May 21st 2008 10:13AM
They better but the LED backlight in the Macbook in June. and some multitouch action. Iv been waiting for 8 months to buy a macbook. I was hoping the macbook air would have been an update to the mackbook but no luck. I was all set to get the macbook but when you compare the display to that of the Air it looks like junk. I almost went with the Pro just for the backlight and multi touch but it just to much money.
Come on apple I really want to convert and give you my money just not all of it.
Greg Baz @ May 21st 2008 10:15AM
They also need to ad selective dimming in the near future. that would be great.
YoJIMbo @ May 21st 2008 10:39AM
@ Greg
It already auto-dims based on ambient light and you can dim it yourself with the on-keyboard controls. What else do you mean, sir?
ajs @ May 21st 2008 12:53PM
Selective dimming would dim the backlight behind any part of the screen that has a lot of dark colors on it, greatly improving the contrast. I believe that a couple of HDTVs do this now.
Charles @ May 21st 2008 4:15PM
Are new Macbooks coming out in June? I've been holding off from buying one till they come with a major change.
FXi @ May 21st 2008 10:18AM
The fact that they have 17" models out with LED BLU's puts LG and Samsung to shame. No one has to wonder why it takes some competition to shake things up in the market.
Meanwhile where are these on Dell and HP models?
Steve A. @ May 21st 2008 11:30AM
You mean the Dell 1330, which has had an LED screen option since July '07? Or The Dell 1530?
Metkis @ May 21st 2008 12:58PM
That m1330 is a pretty lass... I'd like to marry a girl like that some day.
R Nair @ May 21st 2008 2:52PM
My Dell m1330 is on the way and its packed with LED BLU!!! Hope it comes in tomorrow ;)
FXi = Lover of all things Mac @ May 25th 2008 10:59PM
-FXi .... r u kidding? Samsung, LG, etc. have been using/improving LED BLU for a while now... show some respect where its due fanboy.
"The digital media division of Samsung has joined with Cheil Industries, a Samsung subsidiary, to develop an LED-based LCD TV backlighting unit (BLU) with lower weight and thickness than existing products." (LEDs Magazine 19 May 2006)
Shunnabunich @ May 21st 2008 10:18AM
"Word on the the internet"?
"Paris
in the
the spring"?
Arno @ May 21st 2008 10:26AM
I already have a BLU LED display on my hi-res 2008 MBP. It's awesome!
Arno @ May 21st 2008 10:26AM
I can haz cookie?
Kizorblade @ May 21st 2008 10:37AM
No. I have one too (15"), so I want the cookie!
fourthletter @ May 21st 2008 10:37AM
Yawn ! And they are not going to do this sooner ?
Does this mean no Macbook refresh til 2009 ?
Kizorblade @ May 21st 2008 10:50AM
Possibly. Although there could be one refresh this year and then one in 2009 with the new backlights
Zal @ May 21st 2008 10:53AM
Great--now how 'bout them Cinema Displays?
michas_pi @ May 21st 2008 10:54AM
Apple to add BLU LED displays to all MacBooks in 2009, RED declines to comment.
Vic the One @ May 21st 2008 11:27AM
Ur in mai comment ideaz....
steelin my poztz.
Seriously though, I was about to post a comment with almost an identical "red vs. blu" joke when I saw yours. Great minds, eh? +1.
Hellios @ May 21st 2008 11:22AM
How about bumping the resolution to 1440*900 and dropping the shitty gloss instead. No, nevermind, give me a clever marketing term instead!
Rick @ May 21st 2008 11:42AM
I am so BLU. I coulda' had a V8.
guerilla779 @ May 21st 2008 11:43AM
if apple can secure sony's very little supply of LEDs itll be kick ass.
helloUser @ May 21st 2008 11:47AM
Will they still be 6bit and advertised as producing millions of colours like the current displays?
MBS @ May 21st 2008 11:59AM
Millions of colors? There will be just one, blue!
Zak @ May 21st 2008 12:35PM
hellouser - So you don't know the difference between a screen and a backlight, huh? I can't say I'm surprised.