Devices with screens users can fold to store in their pockets? Samsung's Advanced Institute of Technology presents a prototype of an AMOLED display it says does exactly that, while bearing no visible crease.
The prototype in question consists of x2 AMOLED panels with silicone rubber (a hyperelastic material), a protective glass cover and a module case. The display's folding radios is of just 1mm-- meaning the panels nearly touch each other when folded at a 180° angle.
The glass cover not only protects the panels from scratches, but can also serve as a touchscreen.
On testing Samsung's researchers folded the device for 100000 times, with surprising results. They say the brightness at the folding crease decreases by just -6%-- virtually invisible to the human eye.
There definitely is a market for portable touchscreen devices, so we imagine (if not hope) Samsung use this technology for future devices fairly soon.
Go Foldable Display Shows No Crease after 100000 Folding Cycles
The Comet brand is going through hard times-- Q1 2011 sees its revenues falling by -15.2% Y-o-Y, while Kesa expects revenues to decline even further in its end of year trading statement. Kesa CE Thierry Falque-Pierrotin describes the UK market as "the toughest in Europe in the year to come".
However the retailer says its businesses are performing ahead of their markets-- pointing out the UK, Nordics, Italy and Greece. Its Nordic operations are the only ones seeing growth, with a 5% Y-o-Y increase for the period.
The two examples shown the Google event were fairly similar models, 1 Chromebook from Samsung and the other from Acer.
Currently most Android devices are only able to act as USB devices, and can't initiate connection with external USB devices.
