Electronics giant Apple is planning to launch new models of its popular tablet computer the iPad which incorporate OLED screen technology, according to reports.
Anonymous sources have informed Digitimes that the US firm has placed orders for OLED-based panels from a number of Taiwanese component manufacturers for the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011.
The orders include 9.7-inch panels for the current iPad model and 5.6 and 7-inch components for new, smaller versions of the touchscreen-based device, which will be aimed more directly at e-book consumers.
It was also suggested by the sources that recent investment in OLED technology by Samsung and LG means that Apple will have less trouble than anticipated in incorporating the typically high-cost technology into its devices.
However, Digitimes Research senior analyst Mingchi Kuo suggested that tight OLED capacity constraints means Apple may not be able to get hold of the components it needs until the second half of 2011.
Apple launched the iPad in the US on April 3rd 2010, selling 300,000 units within a day.
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