Google Pixel 2 pops up in HTC U11’s system files, confirms HTC involvement

You never know what you might find in a phone’s system files, if you dig deep enough. You might even find confirmation that a manufacturer is working on additional devices; even hugely-anticipated handsets for other, major companies.

For example, we’ve understood for a while that HTC signed a multi-device agreement with Google, when it was tasked to make the current generation of Pixel phones. Now though we have confirmation that the HTC-made Pixel 2 and even the Pixel XL 2 are on their way.

Japanese blog HTC Soku claims that a system file found on the Taiwanese version of the HTC U11 lists several handset codenames:

• OCEAN_WHL
• OCEAN_UL
• OCEAN_DUGL
• OCEAN_DTWL
• OCEAN_UHL
• OCEAN_UHL_JAPAN
• OCEAN_A
• S2
• M2

Ocean was the original codename of the HTC U11, but it’s the last two that are of most interest. The S1 and M1 were the codenames given, by HTC, to the Google Pixel and Pixel XL respectively.

It makes sense, therefore, to presume the S2 and M2 are their replacements.

• Google Pixel 2: What’s the story so far?
• Google Pixel 2 could come with an 18:9 display
• Google may only release two Pixel phones, one possibly made by LG

What muddies the waters somewhat are recent reports that the Pixel XL 2 had been ditched. Or that LG was making a second, larger device.

Maybe they were incorrect – they were rumours after all. Another possibility is that the system file was created before Google scrapped plans for a refreshed XL version. The LG-made phablet, therefore, could still be on the cards.

Either way, leaks like this ramp up the closer we get to an official unveiling. If last year is anything to go by, that could be around October time.

Sphero’s app-controlled Lightning McQueen available to drive away now

Sphero, the maker of the lovable BB-8 app-controlled droid, has branched out to Pixar and developed an app-controlled version of Lightning McQueen from the Cars trilogy, to tie in with the launch of Cars 3 in cinemas.

• Sphero BB-8 review: The Star Wars Droid from Force Awakens comes to life

Sphero says it worked with the team at Pixar to make sure the scaled down version of McQueen was as realistic as the one you see on screen, and has animated eyes, an animatronic mouth and even moves about like the ‘real’ thing.

Using the app, available for iOS and Android, you can drive Lightning in any direction, perform drifts, create your own scripts for him to act out using animations, and take part in a pit-stop inspired mini-game.

Unlike the BB-8 Droid, Sphero hasn’t made an optional accessory similar to the Force Band to let you control Lightning McQueen using hand gestures, everything is controlled via the smartphone app.

Sphero

The car has five touch-sensitive panels: on the roof, the bonnet, both side doors and the rear window. A tap on each will elicit a physical response from Lightning McQueen, while the front and rear lights will change their brightness depending on the light in your room. 

The Sphero Lightning McQueen is available now for £299.99 / $299

Buy Sphero Lightning McQueen from Amazon UK / Amazon US

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 review: The tablet to finally replace your laptop?

Apple continues to evolve the iPad, with the iPad Pro 10.5 giving customers more reasons to upgrade their ageing Apple tablet.

As the 10.5 numerical suggests, this Pro is a new size for iPad: smaller than the 12.9-inch model, and only marginally larger than the outgoing 9.7-inch model, the 10.5 features a better and brighter display than before.

With lots of power under the hood, the new Pro is a device that continues to blur the lines between tablet and laptop thanks to the expansion of pro features that will appeal to those looking to be productive on the move.

Having lived with the iPad Pro 10.5 for a week, is this ultra-portable the tablet to finally replace your laptop?

iPad Pro 10.5 review: Design

• 250.6 x 174.1 x 6.1mm; 469g
• Thinner bezel
• Replaces 9.7 model

At first glance the new 10.5-inch Pro looks a lot like the 9.7-inch model, as they’re similar in size. The newer device features a much thinner bezel, however, hence being only marginally larger – it’s only a few millimetres taller and 10mm wider, meaning you’re getting more screen real estate in a fairly similar footprint.

Pocket-lint

When we first saw the 10.5’s trim bezel we had concerns that accidental fingers might touch the edges of the display and affect performance, but fortunately that’s not the case in use. Apple has edge-detection down to a tee so it seemingly doesn’t matter how you hold it.

The slight upscale means the new Pro is slightly heavier than the outgoing 9.7-inch model, as you would expect, but in the hand that weight difference is barely noticeable. It’s still a thin and light device that feels well balanced – despite the camera lens still protruding from the body, just as it did in the earlier model.

Although the 10.5 is physically larger, it happily slips into a bag in the same way our 9.7-inch model would, while making everything feel a little more contemporary thanks to that bigger screen size.

Pocket-lint

Overall the Pro 10.5 is very much the same design as the Pro models before it, offering that familiar metal back and the range of colours you’d expect (Space Grey, Silver, and Rose Gold; the last of which isn’t available in the 12.9-inch model).

Apple iPad 10.5 review: ProMotion display

• 10.5-inch display, 2224 x 1668 pixels (264ppi)
• ProMotion 120Hz adaptable refresh rate

The display isn’t just larger, but technically much more capable too. This is still a Retina display, offering a high resolution – here it’s 2224 x 1668 pixels, so the pixel density remains the same 264ppi of the 12.9-inch and 9.7-inch models – and it’s certainly bright, crisp, and clear.

It’s a fully laminated display, offering Apple’s True Tone technology, but introduces something that Apple is calling ProMotion. This allows the display to run at a 120Hz refresh rate, meaning if you are viewing fast-moving motion thaat you get the improved screen refresh rate to make things look buttery smooth. This is the sort of thing you’ll need to deliver great augmented reality and gaming experiences, but the technology isn’t just for that – it can be used all the time to make web scrolling smoother or boost app graphics.

Pocket-lint

With 120Hz active you’ll really notice the difference. Scrolling webpages or reading emails is just fresher to the eyes, and although it’s one of those  technologies that you can’t necessarily see the point of on paper, once you go back to a device that hasn’t got it, well, it is as if something is missing.

That enhanced refresh rate is also used to the Pro 10.5’s advantage when it comes to using the Apple Pencil. The latency is noticeably down, which helps those who are already starting to use the iPad for drawing or even just taking notes.

A critical thing about ProMotion is that it’s adaptive. Having a 120Hz refresh rate puts much more pressure on the battery, so the iPad Pro will adapt the display to suit the content you’re viewing. If you’re reading a book, for example, you don’t need that 120Hz boost, so it drops down to suit the conditions, saving battery drain.

Despite the new screen and its higher refresh rate, we’ve not seen any real-term affects to the battery life compared to our outgoing iPad Pro. Obviously if you use the iPad as a true laptop replacement it is going to last as long as it would if you’re just occasionally surfing the odd web page, but it’s not something you’ll need to be concerned about.

Pocket-lint

But the biggest difference we’ve noticed and enjoyed, is that extra screen real-estate, as we’d much rather carry around the 10.5-inch model than the 12.9-inch one. While the additional display is completely wasted on apps like Twitter and Facebook, it’s really useful in photo editing and drawing apps, as well as apps like Microsoft Excel. That will make a huge difference to users upgrading from the 9.7-inch model, without taking the huge leap in size and weight of the 12.9-inch Pro.

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 review: Boosted performance

• Same cameras as iPhone 7
• A10X Fusion processor
• 64GB storage starting point
• 10 hours battery life per charge

A new model means more powerful hardware. The 10.5-inch iPad Pro gets the same front and rear cameras that sit in the iPhone 7, a new A10X Fusion processor, and larger standard storage options.

Pocket-lint

We’re never going to complain about more power, speed, and performance capabilities, and users won’t be disappointed on this front. In our time with the iPad Pro we’ve been using it for a number of different tasks, from drawing in ProCreate, photo editing in Affinity Photo, to editing movies with Apple’s own iMovie app, watching TV shows on Netflix, Sky and Amazon Prime, as well as a host of other things.

In all cases the iPad hasn’t feel sluggish for a moment. Applying blends and effects through apps like Affinity Photo even ocurred just as fast as on our Mac. Graphic demos for images, videos, and AR have run smooth, and overall everything has run just as impressively, if not more so, than what we’ve seen previously on the two other iPad Pro models.

•    Which Apple iPad is best for you? iPad mini vs iPad Air vs iPad vs iPad Pro

It’s not just about a processor update though. In a nod to trying to become more “laptop” the iPad Pro 10.5 can come with storage up to 512GB. The starting size is 64GB (£619), jumping to 256GB (£709) and maxing out at 512GB (£889).

Pocket-lint

Whether you’ll want to drop such a wedge of cashon maximum storage is for debate. There’s no microSD card slot available. And it’s worth noting that you could buy a 2TB iCloud storage account – which will cost, per annum, £6.99 in the UK and $9.99 in the US – to make sure content is backed up, or sourcable from the cloud if you would rater work that way.

One of the reasons you might need such large storage capacity, aside from apps like Affinity Photo coming in at 1.2GB, is for photos and 4k video. The iPad Pro now comes with the same camera found on the iPhone 7, giving you potential to quickly fill up the available storage.

Now we know what you are saying: “I wouldn’t be seen dead using the iPad to take pictures”, but people really do use the iPad camera for other things such as video analysis, video conferencing, and, in the future, augmented reality (AR).

Pocket-lint

We used the camera to take a picture of Her Royal Majesty the Queen, no less. As with the iPhone 7, the picture quality is very good. Remember it’s not the dual-camera of the iPhone 7 Plus, however, so you don’t get the depth effect features here.

Apple iPad 10.5 review: An iOS 11 future

• iOS 10 at launch, iOS 11 due September

The iPad Pro 10.5 comes with iOS 10 as standard. You’ll be able to upgrade to iOS 11 when it’s available in autumn, and with that, the iPad Pro will become a much more capable device.

Pocket-lint

The latest operating system update from Apple offers a range of new features, but in particular a number aimed at really super-charging the iPad for pro users, including a new dock, app switching options, and a new app called Files. The changes look to make a huge difference in practical productive use and further push the question of whether you even need a laptop.

• Apple iOS 11: 11 new features coming to your iPad 

App switching, although it might look complicated for the novice user, should make a huge difference for power users, meaning more options for multi-tasking, viewing multiple apps in different ways, as well as managing files more easily than before.

Drag and drop will make it easier to move files and folders from one app to another, while the Files app will give you a window into a wide range of online document services, meaning it will be really easy to get to your content, whether it’s on Box, Dropbox, iCloud, G Drive or elsewhere.

We are especially looking forward to a new notes mode that will allow you to tap the screen with the Apple Pencil to go straight to a new note in the Notes app.

Pocket-lint

That’s all in the future, though. As much as we want all that now, it’s a case of playing the waiting game. At the time of writing, the iPad Pro 10.5 offers an iOS experience that’s very close to the existing iPad Pro models. We look forward to testing the new software when it’s updated first with the public beta at the end of June and then when it’s out around September time.

Apple iPad 10.5 review: Accessories

• Larger size means new cases and keyboards

The new iPad gets Apple’s usual array of cases and smart keyboards. The device’s new size means the keyboard is now full size, which means typing isn’t so squished and more akin to a laptop experience. It also means you are more able to balance the iPad Pro on your lap when you’re on the go, or on the sofa when you’re not – and that in itself is likely to make a big difference for a number of people.

Pocket-lint

For those who want to protect the new Pro, there’s a leather case that you can slip your iPad into (even with the keyboard on). This Apple case also has a slot for the Apple Pencil so you don’t lose it in the void of your bag.

Verdict

The iPad Pro 10.5 is a lovely tablet to not only look at, but also to use. It wins on performance, display, camera (if you ever use it), and size, with the promise of becoming even better when iOS 11 becomes available later in the year.

Even without the latest software, as a tablet there are few better than the iPad Pro. And in 10.5-inch size it feels like the perfect ultra-portable companion. Maybe this should have been the original Pro size all along.

If you own an older iPad then the Pro’s leap in power is certainly worth the upgrade – especially once it’s supercharged with keyboard and Pencil accessories. If you own an iPad Pro 9.7, however, then you’ll be able to live on as you are, as the marginally bigger screen of the 10.5 is a nice-to-have rather than an essential upgrade.

But back to the big question at hand: is this the tablet to finally replace the laptop? We’ve found the Pro 10.5 makes a number of tasks easier than on our MacBook Pro, so it’s become a natural laptop replacement for when we’re on the go. The full-size keyboard also makes it feel like a more natural laptop alternative.

Saying that, the Pro won’t completely replace the laptop in the office environment for everyone given its current software setup – but iOS 11 could change that entirely. Then the iPad Pro will let you happily live in a post-PC era.

Alternatives to consider

Surface Pro 5

Pocket-lint

Not an Apple fan? Got a bit of extra cash? Then the Microsoft Surface Pro is a superb full Windows machine with more flexibility. There’s a full-size USB port, for starters, and with the Type Cover keyboard attached this tablet ultimately becomes a laptop.

Read the full article: Surface Pro 2017 review

Massive Steam Summer Sale starts today, get £5 off with PayPal

PC gamers eagerly await one annual event perhaps more than others and its time is almost upon us: the Steam Summer Sale is about to be unleashed.

Starting today, Thursday 22 June at 6pm BST, Steam will dramatically discount thousands of games across the digital store. Traditionally that’s included big name titles at anywhere up to 75 per cent off, so if you want to build your games library, the next few weeks will provide you ample opportunity.

What’s more, PayPal users will get an even bigger incentive to splurge some cash on the latest and classic games. The digital payment company is offering £5 off when you spend £20 on Steam from tomorrow until 5 July (the possible date the sale ends).

You need to save the offer to your PayPal account before you can redeem it. Instructions are available here.

It’s official. The #SteamSummerSale starts 22/06 at 6pm BST and PayPal customers get an extra £5 off *terms apply. https://t.co/PdXnlKZ6qh pic.twitter.com/hobxCz3TBm

— PayPal UK (@PayPalUK) June 20, 2017

Steam-owner Valve is yet to reveal what games will be part of its Summer Sale, but you can bet there will be plenty of triple-A titles and indies involved.

It has already discounted its own Steam Controller and the Steam Link box that enables you to stream PC games to your TV. They are currently priced at £71.98 when purchased together – 10 per cent off retail price.

We’re also hoping for a discount on PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, which would represent an ideal time to hop on board the hottest multiplayer PC game around.

Based loosely on Japanese book and movie classic Battle Royale, the game pits you against other gamers in a last man standing scenario. It is currently in Early Access, but has a legion of fans already. It will also come to Xbox One in time – as revealed at E3 2017.

The Morning After: Thursday, June 22nd 2017

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Welcome to Thursday morning. We’re reliving the ’90s through, as Sega launches a selection of classic hits both with ads and without. We’re also talking Instagram and its stealth shills, and new emoji. We hope you like fairies.

It should focus less on surprise and more on delight.Apple’s paranoia about leaks is misplaced

Apple’s inability to keep its secrets is so bad that even its internal presentation about confidentiality leaked. It reportedly conducted an hour-long briefing titled “Stopping Leakers — Keeping Confidential at Apple” for about 100 employees to make sure they understood the importance of not leaking information. But that concern is misplaced: Clamping down on leaks won’t help Apple’s bottom line.

The games are free, but you can pay $2 to drop the advertisementsSega Forever makes Genesis classics free on mobile

The Sega Forever collection is five titles meant to begin “a retro revolution that will transport players back through two decades of console gaming.” Starting today, the 1991 version of Sonic the Hedgehog, fan-favorite RPG Phantasy Star II, classic arcade-style beat ’em up Comix Zone, platformer Kid Chameleon and Greek mythology-themed beat ’em up Altered Beast will be available on Google Play and iTunes as free ad-supported games.

Can Travis Kalanick’s resignation fix Uber?Uber’s future is still tied to its founder

Uber’s disruptive effect on the taxi business, went hand in hand with throwing out the rulebook. Some of the rules avoided, however, included strict background checks on drivers, and safety laws to ensure that drivers didn’t work for too long, according to Uber co-founder Garrett Camp, who sits as chairperson of the company’s board. He said the team “failed to build some of the systems that every company needs to scale successfully.” Those systems included restrictions on employees sexually harassing their colleagues and preventing engineers from developing tools to hinder law enforcement investigations. Following Travis Kalanick’s resignation, can Uber change enough?

Your next set of emoji includes zombies, vampires, fairies and dinosaurs. The latest emoji update is a playful one

Finally, the monocle emoji.

A new tool could make hidden ads more obvious — if shills use it.Instagram gives social media influencers the benefit of the doubt

social media platform. The “Paid partnership with [enter brand name here]” post format is designed for users who want to advertise products on their page, letting them easily disclose when one of their posts is an ad. Instagram says this is an effort to bring the platform some much-needed transparency. The feature is set to roll out in the coming weeks to a “small number” of creators and businesses, according to the company. The question remains: Will influencers actually use the feature? And what will happen if they don’t?

The monsters caught with cheating tools may not behave normally.‘Pokémon Go’ will flag creatures caught using cheats

Niantic has decided that forcing Pokémon Go cheaters to a life of catching Pidgeys isn’t quite enough punishment. Now, any Pokémon caught using “third-party services that circumvent normal gameplay” will be marked with a slash in people’s inventories and “may not behave as expected.”

But wait, there’s more…

• Airbus imagines a faster helicopter with wings
• Google gets closer to building its own city in San Jose
• Lenovo’s pro workstation is as light as a MacBook Air
• An iPhone is your only option on Virgin Mobile
• Self-driving shuttles are coming to U of M this fall
• Todoist ‘Twist’ is supposed to be better than email, less annoying than Slack

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you’ll miss if you don’t subscribe.

Facebook is testing a feature that stops profile photo theft

Facebook has begun testing new tools in India that prevent anyone from sniping your profile picture for who knows what purpose. If you live in the country, you might see an option to turn on “profile picture guard” next time you visit your News Feed. When you have the guard up, other people will no longer be able to save your pic or even screenshot it with an Android device. People not in your friends list won’t be able to tag anyone or themselves in your profile picture regardless of your tag settings, as well.

To save anyone the trouble, Facebook will display a blue border and a shield around your picture to indicate that it’s protected. But to be sure, the company has also teamed up with an illustrator to create Indian textile designs you can layer over your picture, since people are less likely to copy images adorned by patterns.

The social network cooked up the experimental feature after finding out from safety organizations that some women in the country don’t feel comfortable sharing a picture meant to be seen by Facebook’s 2 billion users. They’re apparently worried about what could happen to their photo, which is certainly warranted: a lot of shady “hot singles near you” or “meet hot [insert ethnicity here] women” dating websites steal pictures from social networks. Some pinch images to create sleazy Facebook albums of random women on the internet, while others use strangers’ photos to scam people. The list goes on, really.

Since all those could happen to anyone anywhere, Facebook is considering making the feature available around the globe. In the social network’s announcement today, it said it “hope[s] to expand to other countries soon” based on what it learns from the initial roll out in the Asian country.

Source: Facebook

McDonald’s offers UK deliveries through UberEats

In the UK, there are many ways to stave off hunger without leaving the comfort of your home. Just-Eat, Deliveroo and Amazon Prime Now are but a few of the mobile apps that will deliver to your doorstep, however until today one particular restaurant chain has been impossible to obtain: McDonald’s. Following a rollout in the US, the fast-food giant has now teamed up with UberEats in Britain. So yes, you can order a Big Mac meal whenever you’re feeling lazy or hungover. We won’t judge, promise.

It’s being introduced as a limited trial in London, Leeds and Nottingham. In the capital, 22 restaurants will be supporting the scheme for anyone within a 1.5 mile radius. Uber is calling it a “soft launch,” hence the limited availability, which will allow McDonald’s to figure out “what works and learn from what doesn’t.” Service will run from 7am to 2pm, seven days per week, and orders will be handled entirely through the UberEats app. If it’s successful, and we have a sneaky suspicion it will be, the restaurant chain will be a huge asset in Uber’s fight with Amazon, Deliveroo and the rest.

Via: Telegraph

Periscope Introduces Virtual Currency Allowing Broadcasters to Earn Revenue

Twitter-owned live video streaming platform Periscope received an update on Wednesday that introduces a new feature enabling broadcasters to earn revenue for the first time.

Since Periscope’s inception, viewers have embraced the “like” or “heart” function as a way to show their appreciation for broadcasts while they’re streaming, but until now there’s been no means for users to reward broadcasters monetarily.

However, as of this week, viewers can now purchase “Super Hearts” and reward live broadcasters, who can then cash out the value of the virtual goods at the end of each month. The hearts are similar to “cheering”, the paid reward in rival Amazon broadcast platform Twitch.

Any user of Periscope can buy and send Super Hearts during live streams, but not for replays. Hearts are purchased within the app using newly introduced virtual currency, Periscope Coins, which range in price from 99 cents for 1,050 to 132,650 for $100.

Super Hearts come in three types with increasing price, in order to enable viewers to reward broadcasters with larger amounts in one go and appear higher up in the live chat stream. Broadcasters who gain Super Hearts will see them as stars in their profile, and to cash them out they have to enroll in Periscope’s new “Super Broadcasters” program, which requires filling out an application and tax form.

Periscope is a free download for iPad and iPhone available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tag: Periscope
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Vivo Could Announce First Smartphone With Fingerprint Sensor Embedded in Display at MWC2017 Shanghai

Chinese mobile maker Vivo could be set to beat both Apple and Samsung to the punch by announcing the first smartphone with a fingerprint sensor embedded in the screen, if an official company Mobile World Congress teaser is anything to go by.

Last week a video began making the rounds online that purported to show a Vivo smartphone being unlocked using a fingerprint sensor integrated into the display. Doubts were soon cast on the video’s authenticity, however yesterday the company shared an official teaser image on Twitter appearing to hint at an imminent fingerprint sensor reveal at MWC2017 Shanghai, which starts on June 28.

We are thrilled to be launching a new solution in just a few days at Shanghai #MWC2017. Let’s unlock the future together! #VivoMWC2017 pic.twitter.com/U2MQKrU6Uo

— Vivo India (@Vivo_India) June 21, 2017

The teaser image shows the outline of what appears to be a human digit complete with fingerprint passing through a smartphone-like profile, accompanied by the phrase “Unlock the Future”, apparently implying a fingerprint-based unlocking mechanism embedded in the display of an upcoming Vivo phone.

As regular MacRumors readers will know, Apple is expected to include a fingerprint-sensing display in this year’s “iPhone 8”, which is due in September, but the company was said to have faced significant technological hurdles before it reportedly finalized a practical solution last month.

Samsung, for its own part, chose to forego the opportunity to announce the first phone with a screen-embedded fingerprint sensor when it launched the Galaxy S8 in March, with the sensor instead relocated to the back of the handset, alongside the camera lens. The controversial decision to move the sensor to the rear to make way for a larger display was made because the company could not meet the challenges involved in embedding the sensor tech in an OLED screen in time for the S8 launch.

The idea that Vivo could be the first to bring fingerprint sensing screens to consumer phones might seem like a stretch, but the company has been willing to take risks in the past and actually has a decent track record for market firsts. In 2013, for example, it released the world’s first “2K” resolution phone – the Xplay3s – featuring a 2560 × 1440 resolution and 490ppi pixel density screen. With the release of the Xplay5, the company also became the first mobile maker to release a smartphone with 6GB of RAM.

Regardless, announcing the first fingerprint-aware display is a different prospect altogether and would be some feat for Vivo, which holds a 6.8 percent market share in worldwide smartphone sales, behind Chinese rivals Huawei and Oppo. By contrast, Apple and Samsung command a 13.7 percent and 20.7 percent market share, respectively, according to first quarter 2017 figures from Gartner.

Stay tuned to MacRumors for updates and other related news from the Mobile World Congress 2017 in Shanghai, which begins on Wednesday, June 28.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
Tags: Vivo, MWCS17
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LG rolls out the world’s first 77-inch flexible OLED display

LG has unveiled a new 77-inch 4K Ultra HD flexible and transparent OLED display that can be rolled up to a radius of 80mm without affecting the picture. It’s the first time a display like it has ever been produced.

• Roll out your OLED TV like a projector screen, or turn a window into a TV, thanks to LG

LG’s latest creation is also 40 per cent transparent, so while it won’t be sitting pride of place in your living room anytime soon, it has its sights set on digital signage, smart desks and, like in the picture below, virtual mirrors. However, the company hasn’t given any indication as to when such a display will be commercialised.

LG

LG has produced the flexible OLED display in collaboration with the Korean government, which has given the company an investment of 126.2 billion Won ($110 million), as part of a Future Flagship Program. LG Display beat out close rival Samsung Display to develop OLED screens for the project. 

Lee In-ho, vice minitiser of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said at the unveiling event: “The display development can expand the use of OLED panels – currently used for smartphones and televisions only – into more diverse areas including architecture, automobiles and health care”.

It’s not the first time LG has produced a flexible OLED screen, but with each release the size gets bigger. The company’s first example was an 18-inch flexible OLED panel, released in 2014, followed by a 55-inch display with 40 per cent transparency in 2016.