14 DAY TRIAL // Liquid crystal displays may be the most widespread panels at the moment, but there are areas where other technologies are present, even prominent, at least one of which is poised to see some growth.
One thing that determines what a certain display technology is good for is the form factor of the intended application.
Liquid crystal displays, for instance, can come in many shapes and sizes, hence how they are found in tablets, notebooks, monitors, HDTVs, enterprise applications, etc.
Nonetheless, when it comes to small devices like smartphones, AMOLED displays can readily be found, though definitely not in as many products.
Nevertheless, this particular type of display has more than a few supporters, one of which is none other than Samsung.
For those that want an update or reminder, Samsung has been using AMOLED screen in the making of its Galaxy tablets and phones.
Now that the 5.5G production lines are manufacturing more of them (and have done so since May), their market share should increase.
Now, it is reported that this year will be marked by a surge in interest for AMOLED, as many makers of smartphones will seek to distinguish their inventions from Apple's iPhone 4 (uses IPS LCD panels).
2-inch mobile gaming devices will be the first step, followed by small and medium products.
Of course, only high-end smartphones will choose AMOLED, since the panels have yet to surpass the issue of costs.
Moving forward, promoters of the display technology will need to also resolve whatever issues there are left in regards to brightness distribution and color rendering.
No exact estimates are given as to what percentage of the overall smartphone segment AMOLED will come to serve by the end of the ongoing year. Either way, with how things are going, if it is to truly stand above rival technologies, such panels will likely only get close to that goal in 2012 and beyond.