Android creator plans to build AI-centered smartphone

Android maker Andy Rubin has been out of Google for over two years already but it looks like he’s kept busy and is planning to re-enter the segment he left. Rumour has it Rubin is planning to launch a company that’ll produce a high-end smartphone that will focus on artificial intelligence and have a bezel-free screen and ceramic back. The company, which will be called Essential, has been registered by Rubin as “Essential Products Inc.” in California back in November 2015. The word “Essential” has also been submitted at the end of last year to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with smartphones, tablets, and mobile OS software as part of the outfit’s goods and services. The company is supposedly composed of around 40 people with a lot of them recruited from both Apple and Google.

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Sony rumoured to be a launching an Xperia smartphone with OLED display

Better late than never they say. It’s being reported in Japan that Sony plans to finally make a switch to OLED displays for its smartphones by next year or the year after. So far, the Japanese company has only used LCD panels for its phones. If true, this’ll put them at par in the display game with the likes of Samsung and other brands, who have been using OLED screens for its flagship devices.

At the moment, Samsung is the biggest manufacturer of OLED screens for phones. Sony is reportedly waiting for LG and JDI to boost production of OLED screens so they can buy the panels from them instead. And these panels could be ready by 2018 or 2019.

Source: GSM Arena

Leaked images of HTC’s upcoming device looks like a Samsung-LG hybrid phone

Looks like HTC wants to try something new… but it’s not exactly something we haven’t seen before. Codenamed the Ocean Note, HTC’s rumoured upcoming device has a design that reminds us of recent Samsung phones but with a significant camera bump. It’s covered with an all-glass frame, which is a departure from HTC’s aluminum-built devices. But aside from taking cues from Samsung, there’s also a bit of LG in there with the secondary ticker located at the top of the display. The leaked images show that this ticker displays shortcuts, notifications, and has an always-on display mode. Hopefully, HTC plans to introduce something else different to make the unit standout more.

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LG rumoured to be supplying tech giants with foldable displays for smartphones

If rumours are to be believed, LG’s display division will begin mass-producing foldable displays for smartphones in 2018. The company will then supposedly supply these to Apple, Google, and Microsoft. We’ve seen concepts from LG before with designs that range from something that resembles a book and one that can be rolled up like a newspaper. Both concepts take advantage of the flexibility of OLED displays.

Apple has patents for foldable displays including one that folds outward so the screens can be accessed easily. And while Apple has been rumoured to be releasing an iPhone with an OLED display, signs point to the screen being curved instead of foldable. Samsung is expected to be the primary—and possible sole—supplier of OLED displays for the rumoured Apple iPhones. But if it’s true that LG plans to mass produce these, then Samsung might have some competition.

Source: ETNews | Via: MacRumors