November 9th, 2009

Gallery: Droid vs. iPhone - battle of the screens

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 5:00 am

Categories: Display, Droid, Screen, iPhone

Tags: Apple iPhone, Screen, Pixel, Droid, Smart Phones, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Jason D. O'Grady

Much has been made of the screen on the new Droid smartphone from Motorola and Verizon Wireless. The 854 x 480 pixel, 3.7-inch panel is 273% larger than the iPhone’s 320 x 480, 3.5-incher and is setting itself apart as one of Droid’s flagship features.

Droid’s screen features a whopping 410,000 pixels compared to the iPhone’s 150,000 - and more pixels means more screen real estate and more detail. The Droid’s larger, higher-resolution screen is better suited for viewing Web pages and separates itself from the iPhone in screen intensive tasks like photo, video and gaming.

I’ve posted a brief gallery comparing the two screens. Some highlights are after the jump…

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September 22nd, 2009

RadTech ClearCal tames screen glare

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 8:48 am

Categories: Display, Glossy

Tags: Film, TechRestore, Notebooks, Productivity, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets, Jason D. O'Grady

Until just recently Apple only offered one screen finish on all its computers - glossy. While glossy may be fine for some people, I’ve long argued that glossy isn’t practical for a notebook computer that’s purpose-built to be used almost anywhere – including outdoors.

In January 2009, Apple appeared to concede the point that glossy screens aren’t for everyone when it announced a 17-inch MacBook Pro with a $50 antiglare screen option. Then in August, Apple added a $50 antiglare option to the 15-inch MacBook Pro.

While the trend is (thankfully) turning back toward antiglare/matte screen finishes, many people who already purchased a “shinebook” have been looking for a way to tame screen glare. TechRestore offers a matte finish screen replacement for $199 or another option is to install an antiglare film on your shiny screen.

Due to the blinding glare reflecting off my unibody MBP in a new work area I decided to test the ClearCal antiglare film ($20) from RadTech and have been happy with the results.

Another before and after picture after the jump…

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July 30th, 2009

Older MacBooks soon to handle Mini DisplayPort displays

Posted by David Morgenstern @ 10:41 pm

Categories: Display

Tags: Apple MacBook, Converter, Notebooks, Productivity, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets, David Morgenstern

Atlona on Thursday announced its AT-DP200, a converter box that will let owners of older MacBooks with DVI or mini-DVI ports connect to the new Apple 24″ display, which uses a Mini DisplayPort. The device will ship in early Sept., the company said.

The company is taking pre-orders of the AT-DP200 at this time. The cost of the box is $179.

Key Features:

- Compatible with All Mac and PC computers with DVI output
- Supports High Resolutions up to 1,920×1,200
- Full EDID management allows storing EDID information on the converter to make sure there is always a connection in between the computer and display
- Re-Clocking technology will insure that signal stays the same quality as it was before entering the converter
- Video Pass-Though, no scaling

July 20th, 2009

Why don't you like glossy screens?

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 6:40 am

Categories: Display, Glossy

Tags: Screen, Apple Inc., Monitors & Displays, Notebooks, Hardware, Components, Notebooks & Tablets, Jason D. O'Grady

An Apple Core reader emailed me about the oft-discussed issue of glossy screens and suggested that I post a new poll question to more accurately target the specific factor of them that users dislike — namely the glare. The new poll question (below) more accurately reflects (pun intended) the concerns I have.

He also poses a question: If Apple could produce a screen that has the color richness of the current glossy screens but doesn’t suffer from the glare that those screens do, would you still be opposed to it? Do you think the general public would be?

Personally, I’d be for any MacBook screen that doesn’t have the wicked glare present on the current models. In fact, I’m even willing to give up a little richness and saturation to get it.

In my experience, engineers and product managers respond better to specific concerns/issues rather than general statements of dislike. That gives engineers a puzzle to solve and they like that. General statements of dislike just make them plug their ears.

I suggest you re-focus your critique to the real specific issue at hand and then we may be more successful at convincing Apple (and the engineers at the display manufacturers that Apple relies upon) to answer our concerns with an improved product.

Good suggestions.

So where to you stand? Answer the poll question and add your comments to the TalkBack.

Tip: Aslam

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July 19th, 2009

Users petition Apple for anti-glare screens

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 7:16 pm

Categories: Display, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro

Tags: Apple Macintosh, Screen, Apple Inc., Blogging, Notebooks, Desktops, Internet, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets, Jason D. O'Grady

If you’re like me — and by all accounts 75 percent of you are — you don’t like glossy screens on your notebooks. The reasons are obvious and have been enumerated on this blog ad nauseum, but suffice it to say, glare.

The Queensland University of Technology has published health and safety considerations for Macs with high gloss screens in which they note:

Reflections and glare on high gloss monitor screens and their relation to the angle of the monitor screen, could cause the operator to adopt awkward postures when viewing the monitor screen and using related equipment.

Its recommendation?

Consider the purchase of other types of monitors which are not high gloss.

And they’re not alone. Plenty of articles have been written about the safety and aesthetic reasons why glossy displays simply don’t make sense on notebook computers.

If you’re also in favor of Apple bringing back anti-glare notebooks be sure to visit and post a comment at the MacMatte blog.
Photo: Digital Versus

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July 15th, 2009

Apple reconsidering anti-glare screen options; users rejoice

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 9:28 pm

Categories: Display, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro

Tags: Apple MacBook, Apple Inc., Apple MacBook Pro, Notebooks, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets, Jason D. O'Grady

Apple slowly been converting all of its notebook and iMac displays to highly-reflective glass surfaces shortly after the release of the original iPhone in 2007. It really hit me where it hurts when Apple released the MacBook Air (my dream Mac) exclusively with a glossy screen. I complained about the issue in a January 2008 post Death to the glossy display!

The glossy screen annoys me so because of the incredible amount of glare that it reflects. Sure, it might be ok in a dimly lit studio, but as soon as you’re near an outdoor window it’s as reflective as a mirror. This effect is exponentially worse when used outdoors or in a car, train or airplane–the prime locations for using a notebook computer. Have you ever used a glossy display during the day in a vehicle? It’s horrible. Especially if you have a light-colored shirt on.

Almost 6,000 of you voted in a poll I posted on the topic with two-thirds of you claiming that you disliked glossy displays with the other third being evenly split between loving them and not caring either way. I’ve added a new poll at the end of this post to see if opinions have changed in 18 months.

In R.I.P. matte screen displays (posted October 2008) I wrote about Apple’s troubling trend toward glossy displays and how the company seemed to be ignoring the majority of its customers.

What started as an option on the MacBook Pro, became the only choice on the MacBook. Then the iMac. Then the MacBook Air. Now Apple’s gone 100 percent glossy across their entire line.

Later in October 2008 an Apple Core reader emailed me a picture which pretty much summed up how bad the reflection/glare problem can be with a glossy screens on a notebook, writing:

On the flight I decided to get some work done and was amazed at how unusable this is in non-optimal situations.  Like an airplane!? … for this picture I turned the brightness (up to) 100%, shut the window shade and this is an accurate picture of what I saw.

In January 2009, Apple appeared to concede the point that glossy screens aren’t for everyone when they announced the new 17-inch MacBook Pro with a matte screen option. The $50 upcharge for anti-glare was a bit of a slap in the face, but at least it gave users a choice. Then everything went completely down hill when Apple released the rest of the unibody MacBook Pro line with glossy-only displays.

I don’t argue that some users prefer glossy screens. I can tolerate them in indoor environments and in low light conditions. Heck, I’ll even agree that colors can appear more saturated when viewed on a glossy screen. That’s why I’m not calling for Apple to dump glossy entirely, but rather to give users the choice of anti-glare and glossy screens — for the same price.

A story published yesterday on AppleInsider gives hope to fans of anti-glare screens everywhere indicating that Apple may have realized the error of its glossy ways. AI reports that Apple is “mulling the possibility of extending anti-glare display options to more of its Macs” and that “the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros would be the most likely candidates.”

Choice is always good for the consumer, pure and simple. No matter where you stand on the glossy vs. matte debate, its hard to argue with choice.

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January 13th, 2009

LG secures 5-year panel deal with Apple

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 10:34 am

Categories: Display, Hardware

Tags: LG Electronics Inc., Apple Inc., Semiconductors, Network Technology, Hardware, Networking, Jason D. O'Grady

The AP reports that LG Display Co. has entered into a five year deal with Apple to supply flat panels to the Cupertino electronics giant. According to a regulatory filing, the South Korean company will receive an advance payment of $500 million from Apple “sometime this month.”

No details were provided on exactly how many panels Apple would purchase or what products they would land in, but $500M sure buys a lot of panels. Hopefully large deals like this and the one with Samsung for NAND flash chips will help chip away at Apple’s component costs and allow them to lower consumer prices.

January 10th, 2009

MWSF09 Best in Show: TechRestore matte finish MacBook screen

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 1:10 pm

Categories: Display, Hardware, MacBook Pro, Macworld Expo

Tags: Apple MacBook, Apple Inc., Apple MacBook Pro, TechRestore, Notebooks, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets, Jason D. O'Grady

One of the trickest upgrades I found on the Macworld Expo show floor is the matte finish screen replacement ($199) for the 15-inch uniboby MacBook Pro from TechRestore. Apple’s glossy screen is pictured on the left and TechRestore’s anti-glare screen is on the right.

I’m no fan of glossy notebook displays (as readers of these pages know all too well) and TechRestore is providing a service that Apple does not: anti-glare MacBook Pro 15’s that I can actually use outside on sunny days.

While Apple did announce an anti-glare screen option ($50) for the brand, spankin’ new 17-inch MacBook Pro, Apple representatives that I spoke to in the booth said that the company wouldn’t commit to offering the anti-glare option for its 15 or 13-inch MacBooks. Whether or not they will eventually offer a matte option is up for debate, but I’m not waiting for Apple to make up its mind.

TechRestore does its magic by removing the glass surface and a layer of glossy material under it that’s glued to the MBP15 screen. It then replaces it with a protective anti-glare surface that cuts glare by about 80 percent in my unscientific estimate. TechRestore’s matte screen option comes with a black bezel which looks much better than Apple’s anti-glare MBP17 which has an aluminum bezel.

The TechRestore matte finish MacBook screen is an O’Grady Best in Show because it sells for only $199 with 3-5 business day turnaround and free return ground shipping. Even faster overnight service and shipping options are available for an additional fee.

January 6th, 2009

Macworld Expo: Color freak

Posted by David Morgenstern @ 6:28 pm

Categories: Display, Macworld Expo, Software

Tags: Calibration, Monitor, ColorMunki Photo, Printers, Monitors & Displays, Hardware, Peripherals, Components, David Morgenstern

ColorMunki Photo was released earlier in the year but I hadn’t had a chance to see it in action. I admit that I once worked in the color calibration industry, so I’m a soft touch for a demo.

(If you don’t get what the deal is about color calibration, it’s the search for ways to improve the consistency and accuracy of your color devices, such as a monitor and a printer, so that what you see on one device you may get on hardcopy. It’s not easy technology, nor inexpensive. The ColorMunki Photo has a list price of about $500; and it’s around $400 online.)

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December 31st, 2008

Mini DisplayPort adapters creating jumpy mouse cursors

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 7:59 am

Categories: Display, Hardware

Tags: Mouse, Adapter, Apple Inc., Mice, Hardware, Peripherals, Jason D. O'Grady

Apple’s Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapters finally started arriving – over two months after their introduction. These little doohickeys allow you to run a 30-inch monitor with the new MacBook Pros.

After waiting this long, however, users have reported that they cause the mouse cursor to jump while tracking. This has been confirmed with wired and wireless mice, and with two different adapters.

Not only did Apple charge users $100 to use their Cinema Displays and make them wait over two months, now they don’t even work properly. People are pretty fired up about it and understandably so.

There has been no resolution to this as of yet, but plenty of people have stepped forward with the same problem. Together, they have made some interesting observations, such as multiple, repeating messages in the system.log. You can read all about it in this forum post.

There are other issues cropping up with this adapter too. This forum details an apparent DVI sync problem. Gizmodo recently published a report on periodic distortion issues when using the Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter.

If you’re experiencing problems with the adapter feel free to add to the threads (1, 2) on Apple’s discussion boards. If you just want to mock Apple or otherwise post snarky comments about build quality, well, feel free to do that in the TalkBack here.