GADGET REVIEWS Just another GADGET NEWS

If any companies out there are planning to come up with an “iPad killer”, then they’d better think hard about the screen. They certainly aren’t going to be using the IPS LCD that Apple puts in the iPad: LG, a major supplier, has said that it can’t make enough even even for Apple.

Speaking about overall screen production (which is decreasing), LG display boss Kwon Young-Soo said that

Apple may have to delay launches of the iPad for some countries due to tight component supplies and strong demand. We are considering increasing production lines for iPad products but overall supply is likely to remain tight until early next year.

It looks like Apple wasn’t the only company surprised by the iPad’s success. The tablet is currently selling at around a million units per month, and this number would surely be higher if Apple could only make enough of them. It reminds me of Nintendo’s Wii, which was so popular that it was almost impossible to buy for the first couple years of its life.

We wonder if the iPhone 4, too, will struggle to keep up with demand. The retina display is likely only being made for Apple, and therefore it would be tricky to just source supplies from other manufacturers. The one big takeaway from this story is that there are very real reasons for the shortages. Anyone who still believes the idiotic conspiracy theory that Apple is deliberately limiting supplies to hype demand can shut up now.

LG Display may cut output; can’t meet iPad demand [Reuters via 9to5 Mac]

Photo: John Snyder / Wired.com

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Source:wired.com

Posted under Gadget Reviews

Motorola Droid X is hit among consumers, having sold out at most Verizon stores, but for some the phone’s display has been an issue.

Some Motorola’s Droid X phone users are experiencing flickering of their display, horizontal and vertical bands in it, and at times a blackout of the entire screen.

But those problems may be fixed soon, says Verizon.

Verizon has issued a statement to say only “a very small number” of users are facing the issue. And help for them is on the way.

“Motorola has resolved the issue and is continuing to ship the phones. Any consumer who experiences a flickering or banding display should contact a Motorola customer support center or Verizon Wireless,” a Verizon Wireless spokesperson told Engadget.

Motorola announced the Droid X on June 23 and the phone hit retail shelves on July 15. The $200 Droid X (after a $100 rebate and with a two-year Verizon contract) has a 4.3-inch screen and a 1 GHz processor. The phone launched with Android 2.1 operating system, but is expected to get an upgrade to Android 2.2 Froyo in the summer.

Droid X’ debut though has left more than just users with display problems unhappy. Last week, Android geeks found that Motorola has made difficult for hackers to mod the Droid X by using a bootloader and chip combination that could potentially brick the phone if it is broken. Motorola has said that the chip combination will boot the phone only when software is installed, squishing hackers’ hopes that they can quickly get custom-ROMs on the device.

Meanwhile, check out this video of a Droid X user whose phone screen started flickering after the device was woken up from its sleep mode.

Photo: Stefan Armijo/Wired.com

Source:wired.com

Posted under Gadget Reviews