Apple By Ryan Whitwam Aug. 12, 2014 1:20 pm
It’s getting to be new iPad season again, as we head into the fall and holiday shopping season. Last year was a big refresh of Apple’s tablet line, but rumor has it the company is looking to do something a little more important than a minor internal spec bump, as is the tradition in this part of the cycle. Sources involved in the Apple supply chain say the new iPad Air will sport a special non-reflective screen coating.
Android tablets and phones have the advantage of a more flexible software platform that supports a variety of hardware configurations. Apple’s iOS, on the other hand, is highly optimized for a small number of designs that only change once per year. With legions of app developers and accessory manufacturers to please, Apple can’t change up the hardware too frequently. So a non-reflective screen is the perfect addition to this refresh. It won’t change the resolution or formfactor, but it could improve the user experience greatly.
Anyone who has ever used a device with a glass screen knows the pain of using it any place there is bright overhead lighting or, gasp, in the great outdoors. Glossy screens typically have much better color and brightness, which is why they’ve taken over mobile displays. It seems unlikely Apple would be willing to sacrifice any brightness, so this may be some sort of new approach to anti-reflective coating that doesn’t have that dingy matte look. This will allegedly be for the iPad Air only.
Sources are saying supply of the new iPad Air will be constrained at launch, largely because of the difficulty in manufacturing the new anti-reflective coating. If the rumors are true, this coating could make the iPad better for outdoor use and easier on the eyes for reading.
More...
Android tablets and phones have the advantage of a more flexible software platform that supports a variety of hardware configurations. Apple’s iOS, on the other hand, is highly optimized for a small number of designs that only change once per year. With legions of app developers and accessory manufacturers to please, Apple can’t change up the hardware too frequently. So a non-reflective screen is the perfect addition to this refresh. It won’t change the resolution or formfactor, but it could improve the user experience greatly.
Anyone who has ever used a device with a glass screen knows the pain of using it any place there is bright overhead lighting or, gasp, in the great outdoors. Glossy screens typically have much better color and brightness, which is why they’ve taken over mobile displays. It seems unlikely Apple would be willing to sacrifice any brightness, so this may be some sort of new approach to anti-reflective coating that doesn’t have that dingy matte look. This will allegedly be for the iPad Air only.
Sources are saying supply of the new iPad Air will be constrained at launch, largely because of the difficulty in manufacturing the new anti-reflective coating. If the rumors are true, this coating could make the iPad better for outdoor use and easier on the eyes for reading.
More...
