LG May Beat Samsung to Market with Flexible OLED Technology

[dgstorm]

According to a new report from the Korea Times, LG may be poised to launch flexible OLED display technology ahead of Samsung. Apparently, after seeing Samsung take all the glory the past couple of years showing off prototype designs, LG has accelerated their program and is planning to launch their designs sometime this year. Here's a quick quote,

In 2010, LG Group’s technology affiliates bought OLED patents from Kodak and established a new venture to develop and protect more OLED patents. These endeavors negatively affected Samsung.

LG has also expanded to flexible displays, which can be twisted and bent and used for next-generation tablets and smartphones.

In partnership with Korea’s finance ministry, LG aims to ship its first batch of flexible displays later this year, also ahead of Samsung.

Just like with previous rumors about Samsung, when LG does launch their flexible OLED tech, initial units will not be bendable but future products should be.

 

[52brandon]

Just like with previous rumors about Samsung, when LG does launch their flexible OLED tech, initial units will not be bendable but future products should be.​

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I assume the reasoning is the same as to why Samsung didn't actually release the screen with the S4 as previously rumored. They're probably waiting for the other components to be flexible as well to make a fully flexible device. Will be pretty dang cool when there are flexible devices available. Flexible, water/dust proof. Will be a pretty indestructible phone (obviously where there's a will there's a way. But if you're not actively trying to break/ruin it, it should hold up like a champ)

 

[dgstorm]

^^. Indeed!

 

[kodiak799]

I guess I can see how flexible components adds to the durability - otherwise you drop your phone the screen doesn't crack but the internals become loose or broken.

But I don't want a flexible phone in the literal sense. I'd like the screen to wrap around the edges so you can move capacitative buttons there (and potentially add more). That would also require "smart" software to differentiate from accidental touches.

Something else cool you could do - with a thicker phone you could put a whole date/time bar on one of the edges.

 

[johnomaz]

Doesn't Samsung have the patent on flexible displays?

 

[kodiak799]

Doesn't Samsung have the patent on flexible displays?

I believe they have some patents. But it's not like Apple - you aren't supposed to be able to get broad and generic patents for obvious ideas. So you can have multiple mechanical (if that's the right word) patents for different methods of execution of the same idea.

 

[52brandon]

Doesn't Samsung have the patent on flexible displays?

some. I believe Samsung and LG both have about the same amounts of patents but use differing methods

 

[Dusty]

I don't know about you, but this is exactly what I need to preserve the supple curve of my butt when I wear tight pants.