“Mirle Automation has developed forming equipment for 3D curved glass chassis, and reportedly entered the supply chain for the 2017 iPhone series, according to a recent Chinese-language Commercial Times report,” Jessie Shen reports for DigiTimes.
“Mirle has obtained orders for the newly-developed equipment from Foxconn Technology and Lens Technology with shipments scheduled to kick off in the fourth quarter of 2016, the report indicated,” Shen reports.
“Foxconn Technology’s glass chassis has recently gone through verification by Apple,” Shen reports, “and the Taiwan-based firm is expected to join Bern Optics and Lens Technology in supplying 3D curved glass chassis for the 2017 series of iPhone, according to the report.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: First, we’re going to fully enjoy this year’s iPhone Plus, but we have to admit that the 2017 Tenth Anniversary iPhone is sounding like a amazing bit of technology and industrial design!
As we wrote last Friday, “The design goal at Apple has always been to shed as many mechanical buttons as possible and, for iPhone and iPad, to make the device all about the display. A thin, light, and very strong (ultimate tensile strength) device that’s “all display” with integrated Home/Touch ID button and FaceTime camera is the Holy Grail of iPhones.”
One big question: Will 2017 also be Liquidmetal time?
I estimate that Apple will likely spend on the order of $300 million to $500 million — and three to five years — to mature the technology before it can used in large scale. — Dr. Atakan Peker, one of the Caltech researchers who invented Liquidmetal, May 2012
SEE ALSO:
Apple’s 2017 iPhone will feature the radical redesign we’ve been waiting for – August 26, 2016
Apple’s high-end 2017 iPhone to have curved OLED display – August 22, 2016
Foxconn working on ‘glass chassis’ yields for 2017 iPhone, sources say – August 9, 2016
Apple supplier LG Display invests $1.75 billion into flexible OLED displays – July 28, 2016
LG Display jacks up spending on OLED display production for Apple ‘iPhone 8’ – July 13, 2016
Samsung Display expected to benefit from AMOLED ‘iPhone 8’ shipments in 2017 – June 30, 2016
Samsung to invest $6.8 billion OLED display investment focused on Apple iPhone – June 20, 2016
Applied Materials’ OLED push capable of sourcing 100 million Apple iPhone displays – June 2, 2016
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
I’m trying to figure out what the advantage of a curved display is?
Only the coolness factor. Only the coolness…
Could be ideal for VR goggles.
Could come at a time when iMac screen and even MacBook screens also go curved — so a design theme.
Could be a very slight curve that is just a bit elegant, reminiscent of old fashioned phones and even Original Star Trek communicators, which were slightly curved toward your mouth.
It would stand up well on its own on the long side, even if thin.
It could have more strength than a flat phone.
Gee how will that fit into my front pocket, and what will the ladies say?
Combination iPhone and whisky flask!
‘Care for a sip, my dear?’ 😉
Truly hate these manipulative articles …. designed to take attention away from the upcoming iPhones… and take their luster away before they are out …
Interesting application of liquid metal, which Apple has a perpetual exclusive on I think..
Yup, first thought was: What aboutLiquidmetal?
Meanwhile, my question remains: What would be the benefit of a curved display on an iOS device? Guaranteed GLARE lines to interfere with viewing the GUI? I don’t yet comprehend the point. Insights welcome…
Less thumb stretching across the screen?
Perhaps the curve is very slight & just enough to keep the screen from contact with a surface when it lands ‘glass down?’
A slightly curved screen would have inherently higher strength for its weight than a flat screen meaning a thinner display.
I suppose we won’t know on glare issues, but I guarantee that whatever is being talked about has been tested over and over by Ive’s team. They are not doing this “for fun.”
I’m hoping the curve is so it will fit in a back pocket more comfortably. Probably not though; that would be a strange shape for a phone when you place it on a desktop.
I have a few theories design over function. This is due to the lack of passion as a user, enthusiast who loves to design great things versus the overtly design for design sake overy feminine current philosophy.
Look at mac pro to the watch bands. Not s lot of functional design. BUt cosmetic for design sake and certainly not masculine. So a curved screen. Sure it is just like what i woukd expect from tim cook.