Samsung’s Latest Project is Flexible Screens, while Company Readies for Potential U.S. Ban?
Flexible screen technology may really be the next immediate development that Samsung will have for its upcoming smartphones and devices.
Aside from the speculated Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with flexible display, another device termed as the Samsung Galaxy Round is may be the next device that will showcase a flexible display for Samsung, according to Phone Arena.
It will be the first for Samsung, but not necessarily the first, as LG has already beat Samsung to the punch. Come next month, LG will be releasing a smartphone will launch a model with a 6-inch flexible display, reports Daily Mail.
LG will supposedly roll out the flexible displays on the LG Flex device, which will be unveiled in November. It will be a neck-to-neck battle, and unless Samsung will be able to roll out the Samsung Galaxy Round come next week, it's likely that the title of first flexible smartphone will go to LG.
Flexible screen phone worth it?
Samsung and LG have both been out to win the right to deliver the first flexible smartphone, but as for consumers, will it really have a great following?
On paper, having a flexible, unbreakable display would do wonders, especially if in tandem with Samsung's ever-developing Active lines of phones. Technically, this will mean a smartphone that is truly meant for those with an active lifestyle.
But according to Phandroid, the Samsung Galaxy Round is slated for 1 million won or $900, which is pretty expensive for a smartphone. In addition, with the technology of flexible displays still starting, units with flexible displays will be limited for the time being, perhaps justifying the price.
So does that kind of price tag justify having a smartphone with flexible display?
U.S. ban to affect Samsung sales?
Lately, there have been a lot of new Samsung devices and gadgets being teased and rolled out. But there may be a good reason for it, as the latest development point to a possible banning of some of Samsung's devices in the U.S.
The reason for the ban has been pointed to the possible infringing of Samsung on some of Apple's patents, reports Reuters. The same issue has been brought up before, wherein Apple was the one who had infringed on Samsung's patents. While that ban had been overturned, the same was not done for Samsung's benefit.
"After carefully weighing policy considerations, including the impact on consumers and competition, advice from agencies, and information from interested parties, I have decided to allow the commission's determination," said Michael Froman, a U.S. Trade Representative, in a statement as reported by Reuters.
In Samsung's defense, the two infringements, supposedly one related to the detection for the detection of headphone jacks and another on touch screens, had been cleared and approved by the ITC. This is the reason why Samsung has expressed its concern and disappointment over the allowed ban.
For U.S. residents who are worried that they may not be getting the latest smartphones and devices from Samsung need not sweat it, as the infringement issues have been detailed for 2011 models. No word has been said if there are more Samsung products that qualify for ban.