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Samsung will soon sell bendable phones, too

Not to be outdone by Nokia, Samsung says it will introduce smartphones with flexible displays next year.

On its earnings conference call with investors this morning, the Korean company briefly mentioned its plans to bring the bendy phones to market in the coming months.

"The flexible display, we are looking to introduce sometime in 2012, hopefully the earlier part than later," said spokesman Robert Yi. "The application probably will start from the handset side and then migrate over to tablets and other mobile devices."

There were no further details on which product line might be among the first to get a bendy screen.… Read more

Darn, Samsung Galaxy Skin merely a concept

Concept cell phones are a dime a dozen these days.

Several months ago, for example, images of a flexible Samsung Galaxy Skin cell phone emerged courtesy of South Korean designer Heyon You. Nearly a dozen images showed a forward-thinking ultrathin, ultralight flexible OLED cell phone running a future version of the Android OS. There was even a set of specifications given that fueled excitement about the concept, such as a built-in projector and graphene as one of the phone's materials.

Recently, the International Business Times and the Telegraph ran stories confirming the Skin's existence, and a rumored release time frame of the second quarter of 2012.

In a brief statement to UK magazine T3, however, Samsung said the Skin is not in. "It is a project that has been carried out by design students and is just a concept product. Samsung was not involved in the project," a Samsung rep told T3. "The students used the name Galaxy Skin and the Samsung logo in their concept to make it look more like a commercial product." … Read more

Hands-on: Sony HMZ-T1 head-mounted 3D OLED display

Don't let the picture fool you; it's not as awkward as it looks. Perhaps that's not the most auspicious start, but come on, it's a video visor. You're not going to look elegant. The HMZ-T1 from Sony has a pair of 720p, 0.7-inch OLED screens, integrated headphones, and a head-clamp that's equal parts necessary and weird.

Christopher MacManus wrote up the heads-up display news here, but at the CEDIA Expo yesterday, I tried it on and gave it a peek.… Read more

Crave 55: Commander Riker's wingman (podcast)

Donald and Eric receive a record number of viewer e-mails, with tons of great suggestions. Stephen unveils his epic intro for Eric's Geek News segment. And of course, there's no shortage of Crave-worthy gadgets to talk about, including the Sony S tablet, a Sony head-mounted display, self-inflating tires, and a fan that might eat your cat.

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Sony debuts 3D OLED head-mounted display

Sony is returning to its innovative roots with the introduction of a head-mounted display that simulates a 62.5-foot screen.

The Personal 3D Viewer, or HMZ-T1, is billed by Sony as the "world's first 3D compatible head-mounted display equipped with an HD OLED panel." Capable of screening 2D and 3D content, this headset is reminiscent of Glasstron, a similarly designed Sony headpiece (with LCD screens inside) from 1997.

Miles ahead of the predecessor, the HMZ-T1 could be that wow factor Sony has been trying to hit the market with for years.

The company had trotted out a prototype back in January at CES 2011 but officially announced the product in Tokyo today ahead of IFA. It's set for a November 11 release in Japan with a price tag of 59,800 yen, or $781.

Within the headset are two 0.7-inch OLED displays (720p/2.8 million pixels) that have all the features of an expensive high-resolution panel in a small form factor. Within, the optical lens projects a 45-degree horizontal viewing angle to the user with a "virtual viewing distance up to 65 feet." … Read more

Stretchable OLEDs let you fold, resize your screen

The Holy Grail of computer screens, something you can fold up and put in your pocket, is getting very close.

UCLA researchers have created a prototype of an OLED screen that easily folds, and also stretches enough to increase in size by 45 percent. The researchers' prototype isn't a fully functioning screen--it just shines the color of a blue sky--but it's proof that the major ingredients work.

The first hints that foldable computer screens were possible arrived with OLED screens that could bend a little bit. Then came OLED screens that were flexible enough to roll around a pencil.

Truly stretchable displays could bring about the long-sought tablet or e-reader that you can roll or fold and put in your pocket. The technology could also be used for wearable electronics, implantable electronics, robot skin, and solar cells that can be stretched over curved and irregularly shaped surfaces. Technology Review's Kristina Grifantini suggests cell phones that expand and contract. Think pocketable phone that expands to become a mini tablet.… Read more

Are you interested in OLED?

OLED, or Organic Light-Emitting Diode, televisions have been promised for years. With the potential for plasma-beating contrast ratios and LED LCD-beating thinness, many enthusiasts still hope for this "ultimate" technology in meaningful screen sizes.

Now, I've made my views on OLED pretty clear, but what do you all think?

Would you be willing to pay extra if the performance warranted it? What if it's a lot more expensive?

The better current-gen plasma and … Read more

Rumor: New Apple iDevice to be 55-inch OLED TV

Though portability has been at the forefront of Apple's game plan since the introduction of the first iPhone, a new rumor reinforces recent speculation that your living room could be where Apple sets its sights next--specifically with a 55-inch OLED TV.

Apple may be introducing the set sometime in 2012, according to a source cited by Smarthouse, an online lifestyle technology guide, who claims that recent deal-seeking from Apple includes distribution rights for the television.

Among the rights Apple are after are current TV shows being aired in the U.S.A., claims a Hollywood lawyer who believes that … Read more

LG prepping 55-inch OLED TVs for 2012

Size matters, and LG is upping the ante in the fiercely competitive TV market by announcing its plans to debut a 55-inch OLED (organic light-emitting diode) giant in mid-2012. At the moment, the chaebol is already shipping a 15-incher based on the same technology and previously showcased a 31-inch prototype at the IFA trade show in Berlin last year.

OLED allows manufacturers to produce exceptionally thin TVs without compromising picture quality, although larger screens remain very costly to make. Early adapters will have to pay a huge premium to own these 55-inchers and we reckon that a 3D-capable version could be in the pipeline, too.

(Source: Crave Asia via Engadget HD) … Read more

Cowon's D3 Android player, hands-on

Any hard-core audiophiles out there probably have a soft spot in their hearts for Cowon. The Korea-based manufacturer made an early splash in the iPod era with products like the iAudio X5 and the D2 and their exhaustive spec sheets, supporting every file format under the sun and propping them up with a wide array of sound enhancement tools.

And while most manufacturers have fled the field of dedicated portable media players, Cowon has bravely (or foolishly) decided to stick it out. Cowon's latest device is the Cowon D3, a $370 premium portable media player running a heavily skinned version of Android 2.1, packed with 32GB of storage.

As expected, it sounds wonderful, and features the full suite of JetEffect sound presets Cowon is known for. Codec support is outstanding for both audio and video, the latter of which supports resolutions of up to 1080p. Other features include FM radio, a Web browser, e-mail, calendar, photos, and all that Android typically brings. Well...almost.… Read more