Apple’s Job Posting Bares Plan of Unbreakable Screen for iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2 – Report
Should we expect tougher devices, virtually unbreakable, from Apple come the rumoured release dates of the iPhone 5S, the budget iPhone, the iPad 5, the iPad Mini 2 and the iPhone 6 later this year?
According to 9To5Mac, Apple is currently on the hunt for a display specialist, who will be tasked "to lead the investigation on emerging display technologies such as high optical efficiency LCD, AMOLED and flexible display to improve overall display optical performance."
Acting as a Senior Optical Engineer, the new Apple talent is expected to "analyze the trade-offs between design, process, optical performance, and implementation feasibility," according to the same report.
The Apple headhunting is in line with the recent patent publications that suggest the iPhone maker is seriously considering the inclusion of flexible screens to future iPhone and iPad iterations, 9To5Mac said.
The plan makes sense considering that Corning, supplier of the glass screens that make their way to iOS and Android devices, has indicated last year that development of its flexible glass technology could be completed soon.
However, if Apple is planning to issue more durable iPhone and iPad screens it may need to look beyond Corning as the glass manufacturer recently hinted that another three years are needed to perfect the cutting-edge glass screen technology.
Possible source could be LG Display, which according to The Korea Times is all set to ship out flexible displays by late 2013. Could it be that the orders are headed to Foxconn in China, where iOS devices are put together?
Note that both Foxconn and LG are now prominent players on Apple's iPhone and iPad supply chain following the accelerated efforts of Apple to ease out its former components partner - Samsung.
The job posting is the first sign coming directly from Apple its drawing boards include the deployment of flexible screens on upcoming iPhone and iPad editions.
Samsung, however, could be the first company to provide the technology to consumers as reports are rife that the 5.9-inch Galaxy Note 3 will be protected by an unbreakable glass screen come its rumoured September 2013 release date.
In January, the showcased its flexible display capability called 'Youm' via the 2013 CES in Las Vegas.