Smart Phone LCD Displays

Making a Smarter, Smart Phone with Mobile LCD

Ever wonder what it is that’s behind the slick inner-workings of your iPhone’s touch screen? When you get right down to it, the technology that enables mobile LCD touch screens can be pretty fascinating. Take your finger for example – this is where it all starts. That, and the overlay of conductive and transparent touch-screen layers and coatings that make all that magic possible.

The Magic of Mobile Touch Screens

While there are several different ways to achieve a similar effect on mobile touch screens and other small LCDs, the most common approach (and the method that the iPhone currently employs) is using these layers of LCD display to monitor incredibly small changes and variations. Let’s say you set out to get directions to the nearest pizza place and consult your smart phone for the answer – whenever you track your finger across the screen, miniscule, thin layers work together to detect the changes in the electrical currents running through them, the infrared light components, and even the pressure and vibration that your index finger is causing on the surface layer.

Touchy Business

This same approach is used for mobile LCD devices that employ a stylus for navigation. The magic is in the details that allow such tiny variations in pressure and contact to be monitored and tracked through the touch screen interface.

The iPhone uses a very specific version of multi-touch technology, often referred to as a multi-touch system, which is a method of reordering of the layers in your standard LCD touch screen, and some subtle changes to the capacitive materials to allow the screen to register more than one touch point simultaneously (iPhone users will be all-too familiar with the “pinch and drag” technique). The underlying multi touch user interface comprises two layers that work in conjunction to create this effect. One layer, constructed with conductive material works to carry current while the other carries sensing lines set up across a grid to detect changes in the currents.

When you consider that all this happens in the split seconds it takes for your finger to track across the screen and Google “pizza,” we think that is pretty cool.

TV Shopping? Buy Smart on Black Friday

If there is one thing people look forward to more than turkey this time of year it’s the hysteria of the biggest shopping day of the year. Welcome back, Black Friday!

From Target to Amazon and Best Buy, retailers pull out all the stops to get you – and your wallet – in the door at unreal hours of the very early morning by promising unheard-of deals and savings on the most sought-after holiday gifts.

With so much wheeling and dealing to be done promptly after ingesting large amounts of turkey, we wanted to give you an advantage in case, like us, your brain doesn’t function quite as well at the crack of dawn after all that dinner. So what should you buy?

Step 1: Start with the don’ts.

Don’t buy a CRT television.  In case the acronym is something you don’t remember, this is the old picture tube (cathode Ray Tube) televisions that were built into fine furniture and required 2-3 people to move.  These sets do not look good on your wall, the resolution is low, and the brightness and contrast is vastly inferior to what is available today.  One the plus side, these sets are now pretty inexpensive, and you could even find them at your local thrift store, curbside in your neighborhood on trash day, or at your local museum.

Step 2: Size it up.

“Bigger is better” when shopping for your next TV.  One should go with the largest display your room, viewing distance, and financial resources will accommodate. Historically, consumer’s will only possibly remorse wishing their display size was larger, never does anybody secretly wish their display was smaller.

If still unsure on how to determine the ideal size for your room, you can refer to the guidelines below.   Please note that the image quality is also a factor in the decision making process.  For higher quality pictures, you can be on the closer range to be able to see all of the detail created by your “high Definition” TV.  Conversely, viewing lower resolution and lower quality analog signals, you may want to sit a little farther back to hide the flaws of the image reproduction and make them much less noticeable.

Step 3: Technology.

Plasma

Although a plasma TV is within reach of most shoppers. The price gap between plasma and LCD technology has narrowed considerable and only in the larger, +50” size, is where plasma has much of a cost advantage.

But be sure to read reviews before spending. The top plasma televisions can produce top-notch image quality, with deep black levels, excellent color, wide viewing angles, and better response times than similar LCDs, thus making them a little less blurry during fast movement.

LCD

LCD, which stands for Liquid Crystal Display, technology has become the most popular to the average consumer.  This is the technology is also used in flat-screen desktop and laptop monitors.   The term LCD represents that front glass portion of the display which acts as an electronic light valve to either block light or allow it to come through from the backlight.

LCDs also use less power than plasma displays, minimize glare and are not susceptible to burn-in, which is what happens to an HDTV when an element of an image is displayed for a prolonged period of time in a single area of the display.  Both LCDs and plasma screen televisions are susceptible to burn-in, but it is relatively rare on LCDs, while plasma displays are more susceptible to it.

Newer LCD TV’s are now equipped with an LED (light emitting diode) backlight system which replaced the traditional CCFL tube lighting.  These new televisions, now termed LED TV’s, consume less power and are brighter with even whiter whites than their predecessors.

Full-array LEDs

Many brands use LED backlighting technology, which can offer benefits over CCFL LCD TVs of reduced energy consumption, better contrast and brightness, greater color range and more accurate image rendering.  The arrays use rows and columns of LEDs all placed directly behind the LCD.

Edge Lit LED

This configuration utilizes LED along the edge of the LCD and then emits the light though a specially textured light guide to evenly distribute the light throughout the display. This revolted in a much thinner TV and yet more efficient configuration.

RGB dynamic LEDs

This method of backlighting allows local dimming of specific areas of darkness on the screen by controlling the backlight brightness in accordance with the content display on the LCD. Additionally these LED’s can add color to increase the color gamut even further.  This can show truer blacks and whites, and at much higher dynamic contrast ratios.

3-D LCD TV

By employing either active 3D glasses or passive 3D glasses, the 3D LCD displays are capable of producing a unique image to each eye the creating the illusion of three dimensions. The passive glasses are much cheaper, simpler and lighter, but come at a cost of effective screen resolution.  Where the more expensive active glass method can maintain a higher resolution by employing a LCD display in each eye that acts as a shutter alternating the vision field from he left eye to the right.  Keep in mind; you still need 3-D content to utilize this function

Step 4: Caffeinate and Spend.

We can’t stress this enough. You’re going to need to be up very early, or in some cases staying up very late, but it is absolutely essential that you have your wits about you in the midst of the holiday shopping madness that you’re sure to experience. Mountain Dew, coffee, Red Bull, pick your poison – just don’t attempt while drowsy!

Then spend your money and help us get the economy going again……

and Happy Thanksgiving, shoppers!

Tablet Trials: Find the Right Tablet this Holiday Season

LCD touch screen tablets are popping up everywhere! With new brands getting into the game at an unprecedented pace, it can be a challenge to take stock of all the available options. We’ve pitted the myriad devices against each other in some fierce, feature-on-feature competition to help you decide which may be right for you (or for the people on your holiday shopping list). Experts suggest that the best way to start is to determine a few things first (and be completely honest with yourself for the best result):

• What will you use it for?
  • Work
  • Reading books & magazines
  • Web surfing
  • Music, photos, media
  • email
  • Gaming
  • What is your budget?

The Contenders:

We’ve broken down the options to give you some insight before you hit the stores this holiday season.

Amazon Kindle Fire

The Kindle Fire excels as an e-reader. Born and bred as the brainchild of Bezos, this tablet is the newest Kindle iteration to hit the scene and builds on what the original Kindle lacked in enhanced web browser capability. The Fire has emerged as the clear market leader for the bibliophile, so if you’re thinking ahead to holiday gift-giving, this is the tablet of choice for the truly bookish friend or family member.

Samsung Galaxy Tab

Becoming increasingly competitive in the market, the Galaxy’s latest version features an upgraded screen display size (bigger and with clearer resolution than the earlier versions), a dual core processor, and rumored to be utilizing organic LED technology and Google’s Android OS. Great for media and video calling, the Galaxy is sure to experience a few more impressive adaptations as Google and Samsung continue their collaboration with Honeycomb and Android. Perfect for the tech-savvy, on-the-go business traveler who wants to email, conference, share pictures, video, and media anytime, anywhere.

Asus EEE Pad Slider

Competitively priced for the market, Asus has produced a very reliable Honeycomb-based tablet with a high-quality LCD screen display resolution for the price. Just a bit less sophisticated than some of its counterparts, the Asus version is a great beginner tablet.

Archos 101 G9

Perhaps the most notable feature of the Archos version of the tablet is its 1080p video resolution and display interface. However, there are a few quirky design features, notably the button placement of its volume and locking features, which are awkwardly positioned when the device is used in landscape mode. Perfect for the jetsetter and the on-the-go types who need access to entertainment while en-route, the Archos design includes a kickstand for ease of viewing and utilizes the Honeycomb OS.

Lenovo IdeaPad

Lenovo tweaks its version of the tablet with some pre-loaded apps and runs the standard Android Honeycomb. It’s just a little bit heavy, just a little bit clunky, and a lot “ho-hum” when you consider some of the other more slender, sleek contenders on the market. It struggles a bit with LCD display screen resolution and brightness. When it comes to price point and visual appeal, it remains underwhelming and in the middle of the tablet road.

Toshiba Thrive

Toshiba brings a heavy hitter to the tablet party with its contribution to the market. And we do mean heavy: it’s just about the thickest tablet out there, but there are several advantages to this design. The Thrive’s size means it can fully support all sizes and styles of ports, making it one of the more flexible and adaptive tablets out there – great for the gadget junkie in your life who needs to be able to connect everything.

BlackBerry Play Book

BlackBerry stays true to its roots with its tablet, offering “Research in Motion (RIM)” OS, which the brand has declared the future of its forthcoming devices. Play Book has the advantage of familiarity for current BlackBerry users.

HTC Evo View

Edging ahead in the screen quality arena, the HTC tablet has a lot to offer as its ahead-of-the-pack pricing might suggest (the add-ons are where the HTC’s price really begin to add up). Like many of its competitors, this one also utilizes the 7-inch display screen size. HTC runs the Android Honeycomb OS, which is intuitive for those who already have Android-based smart phones.

iPad

The archetypal tablet, the iPad still commands the market for features, styling, pricing, and flexibility. Light and sleek with clean design and classic Apple simplicity, the iPad remains the tablet with the most to offer for mobile LCD and the discerning techie on your shopping list.

T-Mobile G-Slate

Leveraging the very best of Android technology, the T-Mobile Slate includes an impressive wide-angle IPS screen and comes standard with streaming TV – but you’ll want to be very careful with battery life where the 4G is concerned. T-Mobile’s option is great as a gift for the homebody in your life.

Motorola Xoom

Keeping true to its roots with robust hardware and an intuitive pairing with Verizon’s 4G service, the Xoom is possibly the most competitive contender for Apple’s industry-leading iPad. It will cost you in dollars and in a bit of extra weight, but we’re betting the 10-inch screen, dual cameras, HDMI output, and dual core processor will make it worth it.

HP Touch Pad

HP brings some interesting and unique software to the tablet table, but what it makes up for in WebOS, it may lose in handling. One of the biggest drawbacks of the Touch Pad is the thick design and stock materials that can make it feel almost slimy.

Acer Iconia Tab

For all intents and purposes, this tablet is the entry-level Motorola Xoom. With nearly identical features and offerings (the first difference you’ll note is that the Acer version is much heavier), the Iconia is priced more affordably than the iPad, at $450. For that you’ll get the 10-inch screen and great pixel resolution for the OS.

Barnes and Noble Nook

Like many of these tablets, the Nook comes in few varieties, some offering color and additional features. However, like the Kindle, the Nook remains true to its e-reader roots. It does however, have an updated app store for those times you need a diverting break from your book.

Dell Streak

This diminutive tablet sports all the features you’d expect from a smart phone and runs the Android OS. Walking the line between smart phone and tablet, you’ll need to evaluate what features you’re really after in a tablet or a smart phone, and where those two overlap…or not.

Vizio Tablet

Vizio seems to have set its sights on contending with the Samsung Galaxy tab, as you’ll find most of the same features and styling. The key differences you’ll find are its weight (1.3 lbs) and its thickness (0.5 inches).

ViewSonic ViewPad

The ViewPad is a multi-tasker, using both Windows 7 and Android for those consumers who have trouble fitting in to one box or the other. The attempt to be everything to everyone however, may leave a bit to be desired from either OS.

Kobo Vox

The Vox is Kobo’s rendition of the e-reader, running Android 2.3, backlight display and offering a variety of apps. Vox is a bit more customizable, for the style-conscious, bookish type on your list, since you can switch out the cover for one of four color options. Kindle Fire has Vox by processor capacity, however the Vox and the Nook tie up evenly with memory and speed.

Sony Tablet S

Consider this your go-to tablet for gaming and the gamer you’ll be buying for this season. Where brands like Amazon and Barnes & Noble typify e-reader products, the Sony Tablet comes to market with outstanding gaming capability (an intuitive extension complete with PlayStation certification) and a sleek wedge-shape design to add to the overall experience.

12 Innovative Real-World Applications for LCD Displays

How Long Could you Last Without…

Your laptop?

Your cell phone?

The ubiquitous nature of technology in society often leaves us taking for granted the things that contribute to the comfort of our everyday lives in such a big way. For example, could you imagine going an entire day without:

• looking at your watch?
• catching up with your friends and loved ones on your cell phone
• turning on the evening news?

I don’t know about you, but I start to get nervous and feel just a little bit unsettled if I leave for the office and realize I’ve forgotten my cell phone (That’s not true – my palms get clammy and I pull a u-turn, mid-street, to go back for it.). I know many people who would be in a similar predicament without ready access to their iPods for a steady stream of their favorite tunes.

LED and Life: The Real Story

If you’re at all like me, then you’re probably a lot more dependent on LCD display than you realize; the monitor on your computer, your laptop, the TV screen – there is a good chance that any time you’re looking at a screen, there is an LCD component to it.

Don’t believe it? Take a closer look at some of these products that all include LCD display:

Laptops: Chances are you either have one or know someone who does..Laptops come in a wide variety of sizes and offer an array of LCD screen displays.

iPods (and other portable music devices): Some come with touch display and various LCD backlight features.

TVs: Flat panel or the old cathode ray tube versions that are still around, you’ll find LED in both.

Cell phones: Mobile touch screen versions and basic phones also include LED technology.

Tablets: Now available in a variety of screen-resolution formats, tablets are utilizing more and more versatile display technologies for optimal screen resolution in a variety of environments.

e-readers: Especially notable for their screen-readable qualities, Kindles, Nooks, and other variations on the e-reader are a big hit with consumers as a result of their easy-to-use, back-lit graphics display.

Watches: Unless you’re among the analog types out there, the odds are good that your digital watch utilizes a sunlight readable panel display.

Digital thermometers: Similar to digital watches, these depend on LCD screen technology to let you know whether or not your latest flu merits a trip to Urgent Care.

Digital picture frames: Breathing cheer and blissful reminiscence of good times into grey cubes in offices throughout the world, these distracting photo frames leverage advances in LCD technology.

Cameras: Remember the days when you had to wait for your pictures to be developed before you could see if they were fit for the photo album or the trashcan?  You and your Facebook albums should thank LED display.

Hand-held video game consoles: Responsible for multitudes of peaceful, meltdown-free road-trips, Play Station Vita, PSP, and Nintendo DS and 3DS have built-in display using color filters and custom color displays.

Calculators: All judgments on arithmetic aptitude aside, you’d be scratching your head at an abacus without LED display.

Because so much of the interacting we do in a given day takes place via LCD, TFT, or LED, it’s no wonder more people than ever are interested in this technology and are choosing Phoenix Display as their premium vendor for color, graphic, and custom displays. Want to learn more? Contact us today for more information.

iPhone 4S Launches Amidst Speculation of 5′s Debut

It wouldn’t be the release of an Apple product if there weren’t a hefty amount of buzz surrounding the release date, features, and all the highly-anticipated bells and whistles. The iPhone 5 has so far lived up to tradition, as constant speculation swirls about the technological upgrades and, of course, the sleek new styling and features.

Better 4? Or 5?

What we can distill from the rumor mill is that iPhone 5 remains in production, but to satiate its clamoring customer base, Apple released the not-quite-5 with its iPhone 4S, a retooled version of the iPhone 4, released on October 4th. The 4S features several improvements on the 4:

• Upgraded graphics package
• More sophisticated camera
• Redesigned antenna system
• 1080p HD Video
• iCloud sync-able
• iOS5
• Now available on the Sprint network
• Siri voice assistant

It may be incognito since the iPhone 4S remains almost visually identical to its predecessor, with slick touch-screen capabilities and display technology, but Apple is promising faster and cleaner graphics display and performance, which will make it worth the switch.

What to Expect When Apple is Designing

Amid the hype for the iPhone 5, the expectation is that it will include, when it eventually surfaces on the market, 1 GB of RAM and advanced voice control. There has also been speculation that the 4S was a response to a screen defect that was uncovered during the 5’s production. Reports cited that a defect was discovered after the touch panel lamination during the assembly process, and won’t divulge what specifically the problem was. All guesswork aside, the iPhone 5 is sure to intrigue customers, whenever Apple decides to release it.