Photo: HTC

HTC is noted for having among the most gorgeous displays in all of the smartphone industry. That’s been partly attributed to the HTC OLED displays the company has used in its high-end phones. HTC has now had its hand forced by an OLED display shortage and will now make all its displays with an SLCD screen.

Why the  shortage?

The problem with OLED display is it is notably more expensive than LCD displays. And, more importantly, only Samsung, LG and CMEL supply it. Add this limited supply chain to the growing demand for this technology – spearheaded by Samsung growth and HTC’s unbelievable performance – HTC has been forced to search for alternate solutions.

What does this mean?

In short the incoming crop of HTC smartphones will use SLCD dispalys in lieu of the HTC OLED displays it has in its current crop of top-notch smartphones like the HTC Desire and the Google Nexus One. HTC puts the switch down to better battery life performance and more accurate contrast levels, but the company’s CEO makes it clear this has all got to do with product volume. In a press release,Peter Chou says that “HTC is experiencing high demand for many of our phones, specifically our phones with 3.7-inch displays,” before adding that “The new SLCD display technology enables us to ramp up our production capabilities quickly to meet the high demand.” High demand is certainly a nice problem to have.

What’s the difference?

The big question, of course, is whether there is a significant difference in display quality and imagery. In words, little is different if you aren’t searching for disparities. The differing screen types have strengths ands weaknesses, as is the case with anything, but the quality concession isn’t huge. The people over at Mobile Tech World have done a video comparison covering the various forms of display technology to show exactly.

In short, there’s nothing to see here, really. While the HTC OLED display is slightly superior to SLCD display, HTC fans have nothing to worry about.

Photo: Apple

This story gets filed in the folder reserved for ‘highly unlikely’ events. Now that that is out the way, according to TechRadar, it appears a US judge may have the power to halt the release of the next iPhone, iPhone HD. Crazy, right? What is even more bizarre is how he would block it.

It’s not Apple, it’s LG

Long story short, LG, who are rumoured to be providing the OLED screens found in the fourth generation iPhone, widely expected as the iPhone HD, brought a case against a rival OLED manufacturer.

LG claimed that AU Optronics, a rival firm that manufactures screens, are illegally using LG technology in its devices. The claim apparently ‘backfired’ with a judge in the US ruling LG was infringing on technology rightfully owned by AU Optronics. Messy right?

Photo: LG

What’s even messier is AU Optronics might be allowed to block the release of all devices that have LG’s OLED screens, implying a shut down of iPhone HD sales in North America.

Okay, the fine print

Relax. The first thing that needs to happen for your iPhone HD’s sales to be potentially blocked is that the iPhone’s screen must indeed be manufactured by LG. Assuming that is the case, AUO must push for the injunction, and a court must accept the injunction. Each step has a high possibility, but it stands to reason that if Apple were at risk, they would throw significant legal resources to either fight this case or make it go away completely. There is simply too much at stake.

Again, this is as much a rumour, as it is hearsay, as it is speculative. But if there’s a chance, just a chance, that it is true then it cannot be ignored.