Samsung to Supply Apple With OLED Display Panels Starting in 2017

Samsung Display Co. will begin supplying Apple with OLED display panels starting in 2017, reports The Korea Herald. According to the terms of the deal, which is worth $2.59 billion, Samsung will provide Apple with 100 million units of 5.5-inch OLED panels on an annual basis.

OLED panels eliminate the need for the backlighting used in traditional LCDs, potentially allowing Apple to cut down on the thickness and bezels of its iOS devices. OLED displays can also provide sharper images and brighter colors than LCD displays, but higher manufacturing costs and shorter lifespans are obstacles that Apple will need to overcome.

Rumors suggesting Apple and Samsung were close to establishing a partnership for OLED panels first surfaced in January, when Reuters reported Apple was seeking deals with both Samsung and LG Display. Later rumors indicated Samsung plans to invest up to $7.47 billion in OLED manufacturing equipment to fulfill orders for Apple. Apple may also plan to source additional panels from LG Display, AU Optronics, or Japan Display, three other display companies it has pursued deals with.

Early rumors said Apple would adopt OLED displays in 2018, but more recent information suggests that timeline has been pushed up. Apple is now rumored to be aiming to introduce the first iPhones with OLED displays in 2017.

A rumor from reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and information from DigiTimes have suggested Apple plans to use 5.8-inch OLED displays for the larger-screened iPhone in 2017, perhaps for a wraparound display paired with a curved glass casing, but this information does not match up with today’s report suggesting Apple has signed a deal for 5.5-inch panels.

According to Kuo, the 2017 iPhone will see a major design overhaul, which, if true, would see Apple breaking away from its traditional two-year upgrade cycle that includes a major redesign followed by a more minor internal update. Under that upgrade cycle, the 2016 iPhone would be the phone seeing a redesign, while the 2017 iPhone would feature the same design introduced in 2016.

Instead, Kuo believes 2017 will see Apple introducing a glass-backed device that includes wireless charging and biometric recognitions along with the aforementioned curved glass display and curved casing.

Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tags: Samsung, OLED
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Apple is shutting down iTunes allowance for kids

After May 25th, you’ll have to come up with an alternative arrangement for your kids’ iTunes purchases. Apple is killing iTunes allowance that day and even already stopped allowing new users to sign up for the feature on April 13th. iTunes allowance automatically replenishes kids’ balance every month with a set amount, from $10 to $50. That way, they wouldn’t have to have access to your credit card details, which could lead to debts, headache and the need to drink something stronger than beer.

In the letter the company sent out to users and posted by MacRumors, Apple suggests using Family Sharing instead. Sharing gives up to six family members access to each other’s purchases. There’s also Ask to Buy, which kids can use to send you a request whenever they want to get something from the App Store. While the feature itself will no longer be available, any allowance money left over will still be available for use. After that, well, you can use either option above or just buy your kids some iTunes gift cards.

Source: MacRumors, Apple

Apple Campus 2 Renderings Depict Reception Buildings, Food Stations and Maintenance Shed

Renderings of some of the more minor buildings planned for Apple Campus 2 have been shared by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, giving us a look at the planned design for two visitor reception locations, a set of outdoor eating areas or food stations, and a maintenance shed.

Apple provided the renderings to the City of Cupertino ahead of a planned administrative hearing set to take place tonight, with Apple seeking architectural review for the buildings.

Two reception buildings, one located on Wolfe Road and one located near Tantau Avenue, feature glass walls and are designed to welcome visitors to the campus. The reception buildings look similar to a planned visitor’s center, which will include a cafe and a store.

A large, modern-looking “utilitarian” maintenance shed that spans 5,776 square feet will house the equipment needed to maintain the exterior of the campus, which will feature 80 percent green space with drought-resistant plants appropriate for California weather and more than 7,000 trees.

The outdoor eating areas feature a simple design with an indoor kitchen and outward-facing pickup windows, which Apple employees will use to order food that can then be eaten in the outdoor restaurant. The two outdoor eating facilities will be accompanied by a main restaurant inside the ring-shaped building.

According to the Silicon Valley Business Journal, the Cupertino city council has asked for two minor architectural changes: the relocation of a site fence for a better view of the main building from the Tantau Avenue reception building and a redesign of the fencing to make the landscaping more prominent than the fence.

Work on Apple’s second campus is well underway, with construction on the main ring-shaped building nearly complete. The company’s current progress can be seen in the April drone update video published earlier this month. Apple plans to complete construction on the campus at the end of 2016, with employees set to move in at the beginning of 2017.

Tag: Apple Campus 2
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Podcasts may come to Google Play Music on April 18

We’ve known for a while podcasts are on their way to Google Play Music, but we may now have a date to look forward to: April 18. Oddly, the date comes from an email that NPR sent out to members (via Android Police), which notes the network’s podcasts will be available on Google Play Music when the service launches on April 18:

Google will launch podcasts on Android and other platforms next Monday, April 18, inside of Google Play Music, a streaming service similar to Apple Music. Please note: this information is embargoed and should not be shared or promoted externally until Monday. NPR has worked with Google to ensure that public radio is represented in the Google Play environment. Learn more about adding your station’s podcasts to this new platform.

Google originally announced that podcasts were on their way to Google Play Music way back in October, but they have yet to officially arrive in the app. While support could very well arrive on April 18 as NPR says, it should be noted that podcaster Bill Simmons previously indicated podcasts would arrive sometime in February — which obviously turned out not to be true.

As always, nothing is official until Google says so.

AirPlay support comes to older HTC flagships courtesy of HTC Connect

The HTC Connect app is set to bring one of the HTC 10’s most interesting features to the flagship’s older siblings: native AirPlay support. Through the updated HTC Connect app, which allows wireless streaming from your phone to a number of other devices, the HTC One M7, M8 and M9 will all support Apple’s AirPlay protocol.

With AirPlay support, your older HTC flagship will be able to push audio and video to other devices that support the protocol. If you have an Apple TV in your home, for example, you’ll be able to push video or apps to your TV screen — much like you can with Chromecast. And if you have AirPlay-enabled speakers, you can of course wirelessly pump your favorite jams as well.

While AirPlay support may not appeal to everyone rocking an Android handset, it’s always good to see more standards supported rather than less.

This is Microsoft’s Windows Phone keyboard for iPhone – sign up to try it

The Microsoft Garage team is almost ready to release Word Flow for iPhone – and to prove that, it’s letting anyone request an invite to try it.

The company revealed earlier this year that it is porting the Windows Word Flow phone keyboard to iOS, and later reports claimed it would feature a new one-handed mode that looks sort of fanned out. The Windows 10 Mobile keyboard also has a one-handed mode, but the iOS keyboard would serve up a unique, fan-shaped layout instead.

We now know for sure that the one-handed mode exists, as Microsoft has just announced its Windows Phone keyboard for iPhone with a sign up page that indicated beta testers will be able to access the keyboard soon. An introduction video also suggested the iOS version will let you tap or swipe to type words. The app can smartly predict words too.

Keep in mind the Windows 10 Mobile version is baked into Microsoft’s OS. Also, its one-handed mode works on each side. Apart from the ability to type with one hand using a fan-shaped layout, Microsoft has added another new feature to the iPhone equivalent: the ability to customise keyboard backgrounds with an image of your choice.

Word Flow for iOS: How does it work?

Check out Microsoft’s introduction video below to see what the app can do:

Word Flow for iOS: When will it be available?

Microsoft Garage is expected to launch Word Flow for iPhone users in the coming months. An Android version is also in the works and should arrive later this year. It’s unclear when the open beta will be available.

Word Flow for iOS: Can you try it early?

The app is currently in a closed beta, but the Microsoft Garage team has said it will open the app up to everyone to test. It’ll presumably incorporate the public’s feedback before officially launching the app.

• If you want to try to the open beta, go to this site, then enter your email address, and Microsoft will eventually send an invite.

Word Flow for iOS: What is Microsoft Garage?

Microsoft Garage churns out mobile apps left and right – probably in an attempt to further Microsoft’s “cloud first, mobile first” vision. Previously, it released a custom lockscreen, a travel companion, and an Android Wear gesture search app. Only some of the team’s projects are for Windows.

‘Minecraft: Education Edition’ launches this June

Microsoft’s official Minecraft: Education Edition will begin its life in an early access program (kind of like how the original game did) in June. The idea here is to allow educators a chance to give the blocky building game a test run over summer break so they can see how it’d fit into their curriculums, providing feedback along the way. This will also help in the development of additional lesson plans.

The folks in Redmond have a few available so far including a tour of Temple of Artemis, Pyramids of Giza or Anderson Shelters used to protect from bombs during World War II. It’ll be a free download for both OS X and Windows in a few months, but a beta version will launch in May with some 100 schools from 30 countries.

Source: Minecraft Education Edition, (2)

Apple and FBI head back to Congress to debate encryption

Apple and the FBI will once again appear in front of a congressional committee to debate the ongoing encryption issue. The fight over the San Bernardino phone may be over, but the argument over how our data is securely stored rages on.

The subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation will hold a hearing called Deciphering the Debate Over Encryption: Industry and Law Enforcement Perspectives. Those appearing in front of congress will include Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell and FBI executive assistant director for science and technology, Amy Hess. Other witnesses include security and cryptography researcher, Matthew Blaze, MIT researcher Daniel Weitzner, RSA president Amit Yoran and law enforcement representatives from New York, Indiana and the National Sheriff’s Association.

A livestream of the hearing starts at 10am ET on April 19 on the committee’s site.

Source: Energy and Commerce Committee

LG’s 15-inch MacBook competitor starts at $1,100

We got a preview of of LG’s 15-inch Gram laptop back in January, but now it’s finally coming to the US. Like its 13- and 14-inch kin that dropped last fall, the 15-inch model is a clear MacBook competitor, from its specifications to its sleek metal design. The 15-inch laptop comes in two versions: a more affordable $1,100 configuration with a sixth-gen Intel Core i5 processor and a slightly beefier $1,500 option with an i7 chip. For reference, the 15-inch Gram, at 2.2 pounds is half the weight of Apple’s only 15-inch laptop, the Macbook Pro.
The 15-inch Gram’s specs haven’t changed since we saw it earlier this year: a 1080p screen, USB Type-C port, a 256GB or 512GB solid-state drive and 8GB of RAM. Compared to the 14-inch version, you’re paying $100 more for the 15-inch’s slightly larger screen and double the storage space.That’s still cheaper than the 15-inch MacBook Pro, which starts at $2000, though the 15-inch Gram’s 1,920 x 1,080 resolution can’t match the Retina display’s 2,880 x 1,800 maximum resolution. Nor does it appear that the 15-inch LG offers a discrete graphics card option like the top-tier MacBook Pro. In addition to USB-C, the 15-inch Gram has USB 3.0, micro-USB and HDMI sockets, along with a microSD slot. LG claims 7-hour battery life, which is nothing to sneeze at, but it isn’t quite the 9-hour battery life that the Macbook Pro claims.Unlike the earlier Gram laptops that were sold on Amazon but were only physically available at Microsoft stores, this larger model will sell at Fry’s, B&H, and Microcenter.

Source: LG (Core i5), LG (Core i7)

Apple Refers to OS X as ‘MacOS’ in Environmental Webpage Update

With the launch of the Apple Watch and the fourth-generation Apple TV, Apple debuted two new operating systems — watchOS and tvOS — both of which share a common naming scheme with iOS, the operating system that runs on iPhones and iPads.

Apple’s unified naming system has led to speculation that OS X, the operating system for the Mac, is due for a name change to MacOS, bringing it in line with watchOS, tvOS, and iOS. Apple won’t unveil the name of the next-generation Mac operating system until its 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference, but a new update to the company’s website suggests MacOS is on the minds of Apple employees and a candidate for the name of the next upgrade.

On a webpage that was updated this morning to share Apple’s most recent environmental report, a Frequently Asked Questions section makes a mention of “MacOS,” as noted by 9to5Mac. When discussing power consumption of products, MacOS is listed alongside tvOS, iOS, and watchOS.

To model customer use, we measure the power consumed by a product while it is running in a simulated scenario. Daily usage patterns are specific to each product and are a mixture of actual and modeled customer use data. Years of use, which are based on first owners, are assumed to be four years for MacOS and tvOS devices and three years for iOS and watchOS devices.

A mention of “MacOS” was also found buried Library files in OS X 10.11.4 in late March, but the file, “FUFlightViewController_macOS.nib,” has been present in the Mac operating system since August of 2015, a month before the public launch of OS X El Capitan.

If Apple does make the switch from “OS X” to “MacOS,” it is not clear if the company will stick with naming each iteration after California landmarks, a tradition that started with OS X Mavericks in 2013. Prior to that date, Mac updates were named after large cats, but since then, we’ve seen OS X Mavericks, OS X Yosemite, and OS X El Capitan. With tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, operating system upgrades follow a number-based naming scheme, with the current versions being tvOS 9.2, watchOS 2.2, and iOS 9.3.1.

Apple is expected to unveil the next version of its Mac operating system, OS X 10.12, at its 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference, which will likely be held from June 13 to June 17. Little is known about OS X 10.12 at this time, but it may be a more significant update than OS X 10.11, introducing Siri support for the Mac for the first time.

Related Roundup: OS X 10.12
Tag: macOS
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