AnyPixel.js is great example of a Google experiment becoming an actual product. The open source software and hardware library — available on GitHub — allows anyone to use the web to build “big, unusual, interactive displays” with any component.
The latest Nexus phones haven’t been out long, and yet it seems they’ve already caused the tiniest bit of controversy. A handful of early Nexus 5X adopters have been commenting for a few days on a growing Reddit thread, and it seems some units are arriving with a slightly warmer display. A number of commenters uploaded pictures comparing the white tones (which seem yellow) against other smartphones. The one that caught our eye, however, was user graffixnyc who uploaded pictures of a Nexus 5X side-by-side with another Nexus 5X.
What’s interesting here is that you’d expect the color gamut to be exactly the same on both phones, since it’s the same device. However, the Carbon (black) model’s screen was noticeably different to the Quartz (white) one.
It’s unclear as of right now exactly what the issue might be. One seemingly obvious explanation is that it has something to do with the curing process. We’ve seen it with other phone screens in the past, where the glue isn’t dried well enough under the glass, and so gives of a yellow-ish hue. Another explanation, perhaps, is that the different models have screens made by different manufacturers, or are produced slightly differently. There’s also a chance that this is a genuine fault, and if so, Google will need to deal with it.
There are a couple of commenters who spoke to Google reps who agreed to send replacements. Others were told that the 5X does have a ‘more yellow’ screen than previous Nexus phones, and that it’s not a fault, it’s just a slightly different color temperature.
Whatever the problem or solution may be, we’ve heard from someone with knowledge of the matter that Google is actively looking in to it. Let’s hope ‘looking in to it’ leads to a solution being found and Google making a statement of some kind in the near future.
According to market research firm DisplaySearch, LG Display—the sole company currently making displays for the Apple Watch—brought in over $186 million during the first quarter of 2015, a number more than 90% of the overall market estimated to be worth a total of $240 million (via Business Korea). Other players in the market have tiny shares in comparison, with Samsung Display in second place with a 3.1% share, followed by Japan Display at 2.1%…
LG’s upcoming G4 flagship isn’t set to be unveiled until later this month, but the company this evening has announced one feature of the upcoming device. In a press release, LG Display unveiled a new 5.5-inch QHD LCD panel. LG claims that it has achieved a “quantum jump” in color gamut and brightness with this display, while also and perhaps more importantly, reducing power consumption. The display is also much thinner than any display before, according to LG.
Pebble hasn’t introduced new hardware (besides some pretty new colors) since it launched the Pebble Steel in January of last year, but now it appears that the company is about to introduce what’s next in the pipeline. Rather than just iterating on the device’s current hardware with a black-and-white epaper display, we’re hearing the next Pebble might be getting a brand new color display and an overall design that’s a bit thinner…
Samsung’s Galaxy Note Edge
Samsung continues to be the world’s largest smartphone maker by a sizeable margin, but the South Korean electronics maker recently reported a massive 74% drop in mobile profits in the third quarter due to declining Galaxy sales and increasing competition from Apple and Chinese rivals Xiaomi and Lenovo.
In an effort to cut costs and combat declining profits, it was reported last night that Samsung will sell up to 30% fewer smartphone models next year. But that doesn’t appear to be the only move up Samsung’s sleeve, as ZDNet reports that the tech giant is also gearing up to launch a smartphone with a flexible and foldable display by the end of the year.
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[youtube=http://youtu.be/-qzLDwLWqqs]
After our report late last month revealing details on specs and design for the upcoming Motorola made Nexus 6, today we get a look at just how much bigger the device is compared to the previous generation and other devices. As a reminder, the video above uses the specs leaked in our report including a massive 5.92-inch display, which is a big step up from last year’s 5-inch display. The video above from Canoopsy takes a mock up of the device based on our previously leaked specs and compares to not only the previous generation Nexus but also other flagship devices from Samsung, LG and others.
Some users weren’t too happy about the larger display planned for Google’s upcoming next-gen Nexus, and rumors of a possible second 5.2-inch model have persisted following a device with similar specs appearing in benchmark results.
You can read all of the details about the upcoming Nexus 6 in our original report here.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the latest product under development at Google’s experimental Google X division are “giant TVs” made up of many smaller displays pieced together to create one seamless screen:
Google’s secretive advanced-projects lab is developing a display composed of smaller screens that plug together like Legos to create a seamless image, according to three people familiar with the project.
The various modular pieces that make up the display, according to the report, would allow for the ability to create large screens of varying sizes and shapes. WSJ notes that head of the Google X display division Mary Lou Jepsen, who previously founded various startups specializing in display technologies, is leading the project.
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It appears Samsung’s launch of its new Galaxy Note 4 is running into issues with a number of early customers in Korea reporting a manufacturing problem causing a large gap between the display the frame of the device. South Korean outlet IT Today first reported the controversy noting that the gap on the device is roughly the the thickness of a business card. As you’d probably imagine, that could be a big problem for dust, dirt and waterproofing features.
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Kyocera has published a new video of its Sapphire Shield smartphone cover in action, pitting it against standard impact-resistant glass in a few drop and scratch tests. As you might expect, the sapphire cover fared much better than the glass. While the glass display was easily scratched and shattered using a piece of granite, the Sapphire Shield looked like it had just come out of the box.
The Sapphire Shield can currently be found on Kyocera’s Brigadier smartphone, which became available from Verizon last week. The phone is currently one of a few to sport a sapphire display, though it’s widely believed that Apple will be debuting such a device early next month.
You can see the full Sapphire Shield stress test below:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_7tVP5YHt0]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGR34U76QiU]
We’ve seen its unofficially official specs. We’ve seen its updated UI. We’ve even known about its announcement date (May 27th) for some time now. And now, LG is teasing its upcoming G3 flagship device with three new videos posted this morning to YouTube. The “Design” video below also gives us the best look yet of the device’s metallic-looking back, as the camera slowly pans around it.
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The Galaxy S5 may have just hit store shelves and the hands of users, but it seems as if Samsung is already planning an upgraded version of its flagship device. According to a report from SamMobile (via Phandroid), the Galaxy S5 Prime will launch in June. In addition to the quad-HD (2560×1440) display, the device would also feature higher-end specs than the Galaxy S5:
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We’ve already know all the specs on Samsung’s new flagship Galaxy S5 and that includes its gorgeous 1920 x 1080, 5.1” FHD Super AMOLED with a pixel density of 432 ppi. It’s definitely a step up from any Samsung smartphone before it, and today the company took some time to explain exactly what it’s done to achieve the new experience.
More than simply just the hardware specs, Samsung has made a lot of advancements with its display technology this time around that provides a faster response time, improved color realization, and the best possible viewing experience in every lighting condition. Samsung starts by explaining a new Adapt Display algorithm for the S5 that “analyzes incoming lights & content and automatically optimizes the color range, saturation, and sharpness of your display.”
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPuCmfhzgbg]
While it doesn’t seem to be as big of an issue as it was with the glass-backed Nexus 4, there are many reports that the Nexus 5 display isn’t holding up to even minor impact. If you’d rather go the DIY route than going through a repair company (both of which will void your warranty) ETrade Supply points us to an instructional video from LE55ONS that will walk you through every step of replacing the display assembly. You’ll of course need to pick up a Nexus 5 replacement screen, but otherwise the tools required are pretty standard: Phillips and flathead drivers, pry tools, tweezers, etc. The video goes over other parts of the Nexus 5 as well, but there is a step-by-step guide focusing only on the display here.
According to a new report from Bloomberg, Samsung plans to take the curved display technology it used to make its recently launched Galaxy Round smartphone one step further with a new Galaxy device next year. The device will apparently feature a curved display that “wraps around the edges” forming a three-sided screen:
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Following Samsung’s announcement of the Galaxy Round, the world’s first curved-display smartphone, Engadget has discovered a few renders of LG’s upcoming entry to the curved smartphone arena. The phone, called the G Flex, will feature a top-to-bottom curved display—the opposite of the Galaxy Round, which left-to-right. Reports earlier this month stated that the oddly-shaped display will be a massive six inches.
Nothing more is known about the phone at the moment, but it is said to be expected some time next month. More renders are included below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XtJBQHLdcM4
Amazon has not been shy about comparing its Kindle Fire devices to iPads. When it released its earnings report in October, Amazon compared the two devices spec by spec and noted the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD has 193 percent more pixels than the iPad mini. Amazon’s latest advertisement for its Kindle Fire boldly put the 8.9-inch HD model up against a full-sized Retina iPad. While noting both offer “stunning HD” and “you may not be able to tell the difference,” Amazon ended the ad by highlighting the $299 price point of the Kindle Fire as being significantly under the latest $499 iPad with Retina display. With Amazon knocking an additional $30 to $50 off the Kindle Fire HD this week, you can grab one for $250 less than an iPad 4.
While the price might be compelling, most reviews (including our own) agreed the Kindle Fire’s software is keeping it from being a true competitor to the iPad and pure Android tablets.
Our newest commercial shows iPad with Retina Display and Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ side-by-side. Both have large, stunning HD screens. In fact, you may not be able to tell the difference… but your wallet definitely can. Meet the new, larger Kindle Fire.
