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iOS 5 for iPad images suggest higher-resolution display
Although the displays on the iPad and iPad 2 are pretty darned nice, TUAW readers and bloggers alike have wished for a Retina Display-like screen on our magic tablets. Now a tipster at TechUnwrapped has pointed out that several images found in Newsstand -- an iOS 5 feature -- and the Twitter framework are suggesting a possible higher-resolution display for an upcoming iPad 3. The screen resolution on existing iPads is 768 x 1024 pixels, and in previous versions of the iOS, SDK screen backgrounds and other images were sized accordingly. The tipster has found evidence of images at twice the size -- 1536 x 2048 pixels -- suggesting that the next generation of iPad might include a display with that resolution. What do you think, TUAW readers? Will the iPad 3 come with double the resolution? Let us know in the comments. [via Ars Technica]
Toshiba enters pixel density fray with 367ppi LCDs for cellphones
Toshiba just fired its own salvo in the pixel density wars at SID 2011. The company is showing off a range of LCDs for cellphones that top out at an almost imperceptibly fine 367ppi on its 4-inch HD (720 x 1280) model. Beyond just cramming more red, green, and blue dots in each inch, these panels also top the bar-setting Retina Display in the contrast department with an impressive 1,500:1 ratio. The company also brought a smaller 3.3-inch screen with a resolution of 480 x 864 to Display Week that hits a respectable 300ppi. They're not quite as impressive as these HAST LCDs, but who really needs to put 1080p in their pocket? (Want is a different story.) Of course, Engadget is on the scene and, if you're lucky, we'll let you live vicariously through us as we tour Toshiba's booth -- you know, as a reward for your loyal readership.
Nokia X7 and E6 hop an early flight to Germany for pre-order delights
If Nokia's X7 entertainment handset overwhelms you with a fluttery sensation, then you may consider grabbing one on pre-order, where it retails in Germany and Portugal for €459 and €489 respectively. Meanwhile, if the X7's 4-inch, 640 x 360 display has you begging for greater pixel density, then also up for reservation in Deutschland is Nokia's E6 QWERTY phone, featuring a 2.46-inch, 326ppi screen that goes toe-to-toe with Apple's Retina Display. While the display size isn't stellar, it's one way to measure the cost of a physical keyboard -- the other method is €429. Either way, if you're hoping to ride Symbian's wave to the very end, these two handsets will go kilometers toward actualizing that dream. Update: Looks like pre-orders are also available in Italy. [Thanks, Simone] [Thanks, Jack]
Samsung and LG to showcase high pixel density LCD panels for tablets at SID 2011
It's a well-known fact that LG's already dominated the pixel density race in the smartphone market thanks to the Retina Display inside the iPhone 4, but we've yet to see similar technologies making their way to larger devices. That could change very soon, however, with Samsung and LG both announcing larger high-density panels to be showcased at SID 2011 next week. From Samsung we'll be seeing its 10.1-inch 300ppi prototype LCD panel, which rakes up an astonishing resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 under the battery-friendly PenTile RGBW matrix (not to be confused with AMOLED and Super AMOLED's RGBG arrangement). What's more, Samsung also teases "commercial availability" for this technology later this year. Things are a bit vague with LG -- no specific resolutions are mentioned in the pre-show announcement, but we're told that the company will introduce "a full line-up" of "ultra-high resolution" Advanced High Performance In-Plane Switching (AH-IPS) products, including 3.5-, 4.5-, 7-, 9.7, 55-, and 84-inch panels, with a "greater number of pixels than the PPI that can be recognized by the human eye at a typical distance" -- a proclamation typically reserved for the iPhone 4's 326ppi Retina Display. Of course, LG could be misleading here -- the 9.7-inch panel brought up in the press release could just be the exact same 1,024 x 768 IPS display on the iPad, but we'd be surprised if LG doesn't have a similarly-sized prototype to fire back at Samsung's 10.1-inch 300ppi panel. Well, keep an eye out for our SID 2011 coverage next week and we'll let you know what goodies we find.
Samsung announces 2560 x 1600 display, could pave the way for iPad 3
Samsung will demonstrate an all-new 10.1-inch display at the SID Display Week 2011 International Symposium next week. Samsung's new display will have a 2560 x 1600 resolution, far in excess of anything on the tablet market today. At 300 dpi, the display also compares favorably with the Retina Display resolution of Apple's iPhone 4; meanwhile, Samsung claims the PenTile technology used in the display allows it to operate while drawing 40 percent less power. It's unlikely for a number of reasons that Apple will employ this exact display in the iPad 3. The 10.1-inch form factor exceeds the 9.7-inch size of the current iPad's design, and the display resolution is also in excess of the pixel-doubled resolution of the iPad's current 1024 x 768 display. The PenTile technology that's made its way into displays for smartphones like Google's Nexus One is also something Apple has shied away from thus far, preferring to stick with tech like in-plane switching (IPS) for its iPhones and iPads. That having been said, Samsung's new display does prove that high-res, tablet-sized displays are indeed possible without giving up power efficiency, which makes it all the more likely that we'll see a Retina Display quality touchscreen in the iPad 3. It's previously been rumored that Apple wanted to include such technology in the iPad 2, but was unable to do so because of high costs and manufacturing constraints. Although it's looking less likely that rumors of a fall introduction of the iPad 3 will pan out, Samsung's newest display does raise the chances of us seeing a vastly improved iPad display in 2012. There's no indication yet when this new display will find its way into Samsung's Galaxy tablets; the company just announced the new display and won't be demonstrating it until next week. However, if Samsung can find a way to mass-produce these displays and shoehorn them into the Galaxy Tab before Apple includes similar technology in the iPad, Samsung will finally have a major hardware advantage that it can hold over Apple's more popular tablet line.
Mac OS X Lion sporting 1024x1024 icons, 3200x2000 wallpapers; Retina display Macs coming?
MacMagazine.com.br has posted an interesting find. Apparently the latest build of Lion includes some icons which are sized at 1024x1024. That's twice the current 512x512 size of icons in Snow Leopard (four times the pixel count, but 2x larger in each dimension). Additionally, on April 2nd, Mac blog OSXDaily found some of the default wallpaper resolutions in Lion to be as large as 3200×2000 pixels. These wallpaper and icon size increases are interesting because, as far as the wallpaper resolution goes, Apple currently does not make a display that supports that high of a pixel density. Given the fact that Apple is bumping up its icon and wallpaper sizes, it could point to a future where Macs sport high-density Retina displays. Indeed, MacRumors points out that Apple has built in support for HiDPI display modes in Lion. "These HiDPI modes allow developers to supply 2x-enlarged images to support double-high resolution displays," according to MacRumors. "Like the iPhone 4's Retina Display, this means that user interface elements will remain the same size, but everything will be twice the resolution and, therefore, twice as detailed."
Digitimes: No iPad 3 this year
Remember back in February when the iPad 2 hadn't even launched yet, but there were already rumors of an iPad 3 set to hit the market this fall? Well, according to Digitimes, those rumors aren't likely to amount to anything this year. When iPad 3 rumors originally surfaced, the idea was thrown around that the iPad 2 may be a kind of transitional product, and the "real" iPad upgrade would appear in the fall as a kind of iPad 2.5 model. Now Digitimes' sources are stating that iPad component makers have "not yet received any notice for next generation iPad products and do not believe iPad 2 is a transitional product." Another big rumor for the iPad 3 was that it will sport a Retina Display. While it's likely it will, it's not likely an iPad with a Retina Display will appear this year. Sources told Digitimes that while Apple has been asking touchscreen panel makers to provide screens that can provide higher resolutions than the current iPad 2 screen, the project is still in the "initial planning stage" and thus unlikely to appear in 2011. In short, if you're holding off getting an iPad 2 because you expect Apple to launch an iPad 3 in the fall, don't hold your breath.
Rolando and Rolando 2 updated with Retina Display, on sale now
Ngmoco has surprised us with some updates. Rolando and its sequel Rolando 2 have both been updated for the iPhone 4's Retina Display and have had a few bug issues fixed. To celebrate the update, they're both on sale for just US$0.99. Either one of these is a bargain at that price. They're both very solid, original platformers, designed specifically for the iOS system. What's most interesting about this, though, is that Ngmoco has updated these at all. Rolando was one of the first big titles for the now gigantic iOS developer, but when Ngmoco moved into the We Rule freemium model, the Rolando series was more or less abandoned in favor of games that could use more microtransactions and attract more "DAUs" (daily active users). A lot of Rolando fans were disappointed with that direction, though Ngmoco's We Rule and other freemium games have seen plenty of success anyway. Rolando creator Simon Oliver's HandCircus has been working on a PSN game instead, but maybe with these updates, there's a possibility we could finally see Ngmoco return to the little rolling hero and his series.
Samsung sees a Retina Display in your tablet future, and perhaps glasses-free 3D
Samsung gazed into its crystal ball today, and what did it see? The pixel density of tablet screens drastically increasing. Yes, while Apple may not have managed to cram a screen into the iPad 2 worthy of the Retina moniker, it sounds like Samsung Semiconductor may be working on just such a thing, as the company projects that it will have tablet displays with 300 to 400 pixel-per-inch resolutions by 2015. Presently, the Samsung Galaxy Tab has a seven-inch, 1024 x 600 panel, which translates to only about 170ppi, but Samsung suggests that tablets of the exact same size might stretch well beyond 1080p desktop resolutions as pixel density increases, and yet still manage a respectable 8 to 10 hours of battery life. Samsung also said that while it's still waiting to see if consumers adopt stereoscopic 3D, it might be interested in joining the throng, perhaps bringing a glasses-free tablet display to market in the years to come. Curious what else the future might hold, according to Samsung? Take a peek at our gallery below. %Gallery-119627%
Analysis of iPad 2 display shows performance similar to iPhone 4
The iPhone 4's Retina Display rightly gets praise for its high pixel density. Since its release, many iPad owners have longed for Apple to bump up the display resolution from 1024 x 768 in order to provide a similar viewing experience on Apple's tablet. When viewing an iPad's display next to an iPhone 4's Retina Display, the iPad appears excessively pixelated, particularly in text-heavy apps like iBooks. Pixel density aside, recent analysis by Dr. Raymond M. Soneira of DisplayMate Technologies shows that the iPad 2's display stacks up well against the iPhone 4 in most other measures. According to Dr. Soneira, "the display on the iPad 2 delivers almost identical performance to the impressive iPhone 4 Retina Display," for the values he measured. Dr. Soneira compares the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPad 2, and he analyzes values such as brightness, contrast ratio, black levels, and viewing angles to give us an idea of how Apple's newest device stacks up. In most respects, the iPad 2's display does indeed perform similarly to the iPhone 4, and both devices have measurably superior display quality compared to the iPhone 3GS. Although the iPad 2 display's 132 ppi doesn't compare favorably to the iPhone 4's 326 ppi, Dr. Soneira calls the pixel density on the Retina Display "overkill" anyway. He believes some of the iPad 2 display's shortcomings could be addressed in software; Dr. Soneira says "anti-aliasing on the iPad 2 is far from state-of-the-art and degrades the perceived sharpness of text and graphics." Indeed, comparing the anti-aliasing on an iPad display versus a notebook display with a similar pixel density shows the iPad suffers from greater pixelation. Some iOS developers, such as Firemint and Chair Entertainment, have already taken advantage of the iPad 2's better graphical performance, and using techniques similar to the ones Dr. Soneira advocates, these developers have delivered superior-quality graphics in their apps even though the display resolution remains the same. With its limited RAM and less powerful A4 processor, it's possible the original iPad lacked the processing power necessary to support anti-aliasing similar to that accomplished on Mac displays, but the iPad 2 should be able to do so. Perhaps improved anti-aliasing for the iPad 2 is something we should add to our wish list for iOS 5. [via AppleInsider]
WSJ: iPad 2 in production, features FaceTime camera, faster processor
Oh look, what's this? The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the iPad 2 has entered production -- which exactly lines up previously rumored manufacturing schedules. According to the WSJ, the new edition of Apple's tablet will have a faster processor with a better GPU and more memory in a thinner, lighter package. There's also said to be a front-facing camera for video conferencing, but the much-discussed display resolution will remain "similar" to the current iPad -- which actually goes along with the most recent information we've gotten from our sources, who say that the next iPad will indeed stay at the current resolution, and that the higher-res display we'd heard about earlier may have actually been for a future model. As for availability, the WSJ says the new iPad will be on Verizon and AT&T, which certainly makes sense -- although it'll be interesting to see how Verizon handles positioning it against the upcoming Xoom, which Motorola is marketing in an aggressively anti-iPad manner. In any event, between the iPad 2, the Xoom, and whatever Palm has to offer tomorrow, this spring is about to get very, very interesting.
iSuppli suggests Apple's cash infusion going toward display manufacturing
During Apple's recent earnings conference call, Tim Cook confirmed Apple was spending $3.9 billion on pre-payments for unspecified components. Aware of the AMOLED display shortages that plague the mobile phone industry, analysts and tech pundits alike assumed Cook was referring to the LCD displays used in the iPhone, iPod touch and the iPad. One early hint of a manufacturing deal for display technology surfaced in early 2009 when Apple reportedly signed a five-year deal with LG to supply displays for its notebooks and Cinema displays as well as the iPhone and iPod touch. A more recent rumor suggested Apple was investing in a Toshiba-owned manufacturing facility for retina displays. IHS iSuppli has dug up information from its manufacturing channels that corroborate these rumors. According to iSuppli, Apple's $3.9 billion in pre-payments is headed to LG Display, Sharp, and Toshiba Mobile display and would secure the supply of advanced LCD displays for the iPhone, iPod touch and the iPad. Besides buying displays from the trio of display makers, Apple is also investing in manufacturing facilities to build the high resolution IPS (in-plane switching) and LTPS (low-temperature polysilicon) LCD panels used in its mobile devices. By investing in these LCD companies, Apple is securing for itself a steady supply of displays which will meet the growing consumer demand for its popular iPhone and iPad. [Via Fortune]
iPad high resolution display rumored for third generation
According to IDC research manager Tom Mainelli, the iPad 3 and not the iPad 2 will be the lucky recipient of a high-resolution display. Previous rumors have repeatedly suggested that the iPad 2 will sport a high-resolution "Retina" display. Most of these rumors came from Asian sources and were cautiously repeated with skepticism that Apple could pack a Retina Display into the iPad 2 and keep the price competitive. Mainelli bucks this trend by asserting that it is production and not cost that is the limiting factor for a 10-inch high-resolution display. The technology exists and is reasonably priced, but there are no production facilities capable of producing a Retina Display at the volume Apple will need for the iPad 2. Apple sold over 7 million iPads in its last quarter, and these numbers are expected to skyrocket in the upcoming year. Rather than experience lagging sales due to component shortages. Apple may have opted to push off the high-resolution display and manufacture the iPad 2 with a standard resolution display. Apple is reportedly prepping manufacturers for the iPad 3, giving them time to ramp up their display production capabilities for the third generation tablet. If this analysis by Mainelli pans out and the iPad 2 does ship with a standard display, will you be disappointed? Disappointed to the point that you bypass the iPad 2 and wait for the iPad 3? Let us know in the comments.
iPads and Retina Displays: Doing the math
Over the weekend, we saw the swirling rumors around the specs for the (presumably inevitable) iPad 2 start to come together. One of the most intriguing suggestions, which Engadget claims to have a reliable source for (and MacRumors some corroborating evidence to boot) is a higher resolution screen to match the iPhone 4's Retina Display -- specifically, doubling in both directions, changing from 1024x768 to 2048x1536. This has prompted some discussion around exactly what Retina Display means, and whether this would count. The iPhone 4's screen is a mammoth 326 pixels-per-inch (ppi), whereas this rumored new iPad resolution is a somewhat lesser 264 ppi -- quite a bit less. However, I believe it's just as valid for Apple to call this a Retina Display as it was to call the iPhone 4 screen, and after the break I will explain why with some hopefully convincing mathematics. Firstly though, it's important to stress that these are only rumors and that 2048x1536 is an incredible number of pixels -- 3,145,728 of them, in fact. That's only 17 percent less than the 27" iMac or 27" Cinema Display, and it's 52 percent more pixels than a 50" 1080p television screen! This makes the screen expensive to make; it places greater strain on the graphics chipset to drive the screen, which makes that more expensive, too; it won't do the battery life any favors either. All of this, to my mind, suggests this is one rumor that might come down to wishful thinking. As John Gruber said: "I'll believe it when I see it."
iPad 2 Retina Display evidence mounts, this time a .png of wood is to blame
So, we heard from our source that the iPad 2 would have a "super high resolution" Retina Display, we heard from AppleInsider that the iPad 2 is getting around 4X the graphics performance of the iPad, and of course there's the fact that the iPhone 4's Retina Display offered a pretty impressively painless upgrade path for developers -- an iPad 2 with a 2048 x 1536 screen is starting to sound less and less like the crazy dream of naive fanboys. But wait, there's more! A .png has been found in the iBooks 1.2 source files, dubbed Wood Tile@2x.png. It's sized at 1536 x 800, while the old and busted Wood Tile.png in iBooks 1.1 was 768 x 400 -- that's 2X in each direction, or 4X the pixels, for anyone who's counting. Incontrovertible evidence? No, but we want to believe.
Apple's A5 chip rumored to have 4X the power of A4
AppleInsider is reporting that both the iPad 2 and the next generation of the iPhone, both rumored to be released later on this year, will feature the next generation of chips designed by Apple. The A5 (named after the A4, the current chip in most iOS devices) is rumored to have two cores, making for faster graphics performance, and enabling things like the iPad 2's rumored Retina Display and HDTV out of the next version of the Apple TV. There's a lot of technical information out about the new chip (it will likely include the new SGX543 graphics core, an upgrade from the current model used by Apple), but with two cores running, the new chip model is supposed to offer around four times the processing power of the current generation. That allows for both the mentioned graphics upgrades, as well as faster computing tasks straight off of the processor with OpenCL. Apple's Intrinsity and P.A. Semi are likely to be the companies behind development, while Samsung is likely working on actual production. We can look for faster, better, stronger Apple chips later on this year. [via Engadget]
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc Reality Display vs. Retina Display... fight!
Sony Ericsson isn't being shy about hyping the Xperia Arc's new Reality Display, so we naturally had to take a head-to-head shot with the iPhone 4's Retina Display. They actually compare quite well in person, even though the Arc actually has the same 854 x 480 resolution as the Droid X -- you can definitely see some pixels up close, but since the panel is a hair smaller than the X at 4.2 inches, the pixel density is a little tighter. The real noise behind the Reality Display is Arc's Bravia Engine, which Sony claims will enhance colors and detail just like on Bravia TVs, but we didn't get to play with it too much beyond finding the option in settings to turn it off. We'll obviously be diving deep on that once we score a review unit, but for now check a macro shot and a Droid X comparison after the break.
Engadget Chinese gets hands-on with the Meizu M9
We harbored our doubts as to whether the Meizu M9 would ever be more than unicorn, prancing around the grey matter of CEO Jack Wong, but lo and behold, a honest-to-goodness handset just arrived at our Chinese counterparts' door. Our brothers-from-other-mothers at Engadget Chinese have yet to put that Retina Display-alike through the wringer, but their cameras have been popping nonstop, and if you're curious about the literal shape of things to come -- or just about any facet of Meizu's customized Android 2.2 UI -- you'll find it in pictures below. %Gallery-111634%%Gallery-111632%
Toshiba denies rumor Apple will invest in display factory
Remember the factory that Toshiba and Apple are supposed to be building together? According to DigiTimes, it turns out that Toshiba is not actually on board with the idea. Currently, Toshiba is still planning to build the new plant, which will double its output of small- to medium-sized displays. Although Apple is not an investor, it will likely reap the benefits of additional capacity via a possible decrease in the per unit cost of the displays. One can only assume that the added capacity will aid in meeting the demand increase when Apple finally ships the white iPhone in 2011.
TUAW's Daily App: Max Adventure
Max Adventure has been quite a while in the making. I first saw it at 360iDev earlier this year, and then again at WWDC, where we met up with the husband-and-wife team of Imangi Studios to talk about how it was coming along during development. You may have also seen this video of a level being made in the game. Finally, everything is done, and a few days ago, the game itself showed up on the App Store. It's a hit so far, too. Even though it's a dual-stick shooter, a genre that's been done to death on the iPhone, Max Adventure's got a fun and original sense of humor -- you play a little kid fighting off parent-kidnapping aliens around the neighborhood. There's an excellent story mode to play through, with progression, power-ups and quests to find and do, and if you finish that, there's a survival mode as well, complete with Game Center achievements and leaderboards. Just as you'd expect from Imangi, the folks behind Harbor Master (who recently updated their original app with Retina Display graphics just for the heck of it), the quality is excellent all around. The team at Imangi has put a whole lot of love into this one, and it shows. At the introductory price of just 99 cents (for the universal app!), Max Adventure is a bargain, even during the crowded holiday season. Odds are you've already picked up a few games this year, but even if that's the case, go find another buck in your couch because this one's a must-buy.