O'Grady's PowerPage

Category: Apple Watch Ultra

  • Rumor: Samsung and LG funnel billions into OLED R&D, production for next-gen Macs and iPads

    Rumor: Samsung and LG funnel billions into OLED R&D, production for next-gen Macs and iPads

    You can’t knock a sustained R&D effort.

    Samsung and LG are rumored to be looking to corner the market for midsize OLED panels and are investing billions into creating new production lines for next-generation displays slated to appear in future iPad and Mac models.

    It’s also been rumored that Apple is working to incorporate OLED displays into its 2024 iPad Pro models as well as similar displays for its MacBook Pro notebooks in 2026.

    Manufacturing larger OLED displays has typically been more difficult than producing smaller screens like the ones utilized in the iPhone and Apple Watch. But Samsung and LG are investing in new OLED production lines that use next-generation technology to produce larger displays and squeeze out Chinese rivals, according to Nikkei Asia.

    Per the article, Samsung has invested $3.05 billion to install OLED production lines at its main campus in Tangjeong, South Korea. Meanwhile, LG Display, on the other hand, is said to have spent $2.5 billion on production lines for midsize OLED panels at its factory in Paju.

    Samsung OLED panels are made from sixth-generation glass substrates, measuring 1,850 by 1,500mm. The new production lines will produce panels from 8.6-generation substrates, which measure 2,620 by 2,200mm and more than double production efficiency.

    LG isn’t presently matching Samsung’s push for next-generation technology quite as quickly and will eventually move up to sixth-generation substrates.

    To create panels, circuits are constructed onto glass substrates, which are then separated. Utilizing larger substrates could result in the creation of more panels. Still, as the size of the substrate increases, the technological processes become more intricate. This change, in turn, can result in lower production yields.

    Such a move on Samsung and LG’s part helps companies like Apple fend off Chinese firms that currently dominate the LCD panel market. Intense competition from Chinese manufacturers is causing Japanese, South Korean, and Taiwanese firms to reduce the size of their LCD operations. Chinese companies such as BOE, Visionox, and Everdisplay Optronics are also moving to expand their OLED production capacity. As a result, although Samsung and LG have approximately 80 percent of the worldwide OLED market, Chinese suppliers are steadily gaining a share of the OLED market.

    Samsung is expected to begin mass production of midsize OLED panels in 2026, just in time for the new MacBook Pro line. It’s also thought that the company may be able to produce OLED panels for the 2024 iPad.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and Nikkei Asia

  • Leaked 3D CAD file hints at Action button, camera tweaks for iPhone 15 Pro units

    Leaked 3D CAD file hints at Action button, camera tweaks for iPhone 15 Pro units

    Following previous reports indicating that the iPhone 15 Pro would feature unified buttons with haptic feedback, it seems that Apple has gone another route for this year’s model.

    Per 9to5Mac’s Ian Zelbo, who shared 3D renders from what he calls “an extremely reputable source” regarding Apple’s plans for the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

    Apple is thought to have opted for a similar approach to what it delivered with the iPhone 14 Pro, albeit with a twist: The mute switch will be replaced by a mute button, which could add additional functionality, such as an Apple Watch Ultra-like Action Button. Where the regular iPhone 15 models are concerned, Apple would retain the same buttons as seen with the iPhone 14 series.

    The 3D renders also show that the iPhone 15’s camera bump may have changed. Zelbo pointed out that the protrusions are “far less comical,” or at least more subtle. He also noted that the iPhone 15 Pro Max render has an “ever so slightly larger camera bump,” which could help corroborate rumors that Apple is planning to add a periscope lens to this model with up to 6x zoom.

    The CAD file also seems to corroborate the design shown by previous CADs, such as narrow bezels, a USB-C port, and a far more rounded frame of the device compared to the iPhone 14 Pro.

    It’s also rumored that the iPhone 15 models could feature additional changes, such as a new design with a Dynamic Island cutout, a main lens of 48MP, and the shift from a Lightning port to USB-C.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via Boy Genius Report and 9to5Mac

  • Belkin announces Connect 4-Port USB-C hub, highlights post-consumer recycled plastics as part of construction

    Belkin announces Connect 4-Port USB-C hub, highlights post-consumer recycled plastics as part of construction

    This could come in handy.

    Accessory maker Belkin has recently introduced its Connect 4-Port USB-C, which functions as the company’s first U.S. product made from post-consumer recycled plastics (PCR). As of January, Belkin announced plans to transition to more environmentally-friendly materials for its products, and the launch of the hub is part of that effort.

    The Connect 4-Port USB-C Hub is derived from 72 percent PCR for its product housing, which the company says was made without affecting the quality or safety of the unit. The hub offers four USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports and offers pass-through charging up to 100W. USB-C headphones and speakers are supported, and it works with Apple’s Macs and iPads.

    Belkin has stated that the device is the only hub on the market that offers a maximum 10 Gb/s data throughput, which is approximately twice the speed of other available hubs. It’s also using Fast Role Swap (FRS) in an effort to prevent data loss and interruption of device connections when adding or removing a power source from the hub.

    The Connect 4-Port USB-C Hub retails for $52 and it can be purchased from Amazon. Belkin also sells it directly for $45, but it is out of stock at the current time.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors, Amazon, and Belkin

  • Heart Analyzer: Cardio Monitor reaches version 10.0, adds new fixes and features

    Heart Analyzer: Cardio Monitor reaches version 10.0, adds new fixes and features

    This might come in handy.

    Heart Analyzer: Cardio Monitor for the Apple Watch/iPhone has reached version 10.0, the new version sporting the following fixes, changes, and new features:

    • A brand new iPhone experience starting with the Dashboard
    • Swipe between days, scroll through charts and tap into the details in an all-new design
    • Reimagined Insights tab and Deep Analytics section including enhanced charts
    • A refreshed Watch App with more Health data than ever
    • New complications for tracking HRV and updates to existing ones

    Heart Analyzer: Cardio Monitor is available for free, and features in-app purchases that help expand its functionality. The software requires iOS 15.0 or later to install and run.

    If you’ve had a chance to try the new version, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via the App Store

  • Kroger begins accepting Apple Pay, other NFC-based payments

    Kroger begins accepting Apple Pay, other NFC-based payments

    If you’re looking to use Apple Pay at Kroger, it looks like the chain has finally begun accepting Apple’s contactless payment protocol.

    The chain finally began accepting Apple Pay and other contactless payment methods at select locations in Kentucky and Ohio, allowing customers to tap to pay with an iPhone or Apple Watch at checkout, according to customers on Reddit and Twitter.

    It’s unknown as to how many Kroger locations are now accepting Apple Pay or if NFC-based payments will reach the 1,200+ grocery stores that operate under the Kroger brand. 

    Kroger was one of the largest Apple Pay holdouts in the U.S. since the service launched in 2014, alongside Walmart, The Home Depot, and Lowe’s. Kroger did roll out Apple Pay at some of its other grocery chains in the past few years, including Ralphs in California, QFC in Washington and Oregon, and King Soopers in Colorado and Wyoming.

    In a press release last year, Apple said that Apple Pay was accepted at more than 90 percent of U.S. retailers, and Kroger is a significant addition. The company also continues to offer its own service called Kroger Pay, which requires customers to scan a QR code at checkout to pay with a debit or credit card stored in the Kroger app.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors, Reddit, and @loganspurgeon