Given Apple’s “unparalleled functionality and design capabilities” and its...

Given Apple’s “unparalleled functionality and design capabilities" and its “market clout,” the impending launch of the iWatch, if it happens at all, “could be just what smart watches need to move into the mainstream,” said Charles Annis, DisplaySearch vice president-manufacturing research, in a blog post Monday (http://bit.ly/1txgFtG). Though virtually all that’s known about the iWatch belongs “in the realm of speculation,” Apple’s display manufacturing partner, LG Display, is believed to be ramping up production of 1.3- and 1.5-inch QVGA AMOLEDs on plastic substrates, he said. “If these are for the iWatch, it could be an indication that Apple has prioritized image quality over battery life. Another benefit of AMOLED on plastic is that it can be extremely thin, light and rugged.” Since LG Display currently has a limited amount of flexible AMOLED capacity, “yield rates may well determine when the iWatch launches as well as initial volumes,” he said. DisplaySearch estimates average yield rates above 60 percent would allow LG Display to produce more than 10 million panels in 2014, he said. “Apple has an incredible track record of successfully creating completely new markets. So although we are not exactly sure about unit numbers or if Apple will release its first generation smart watch in September or November, or if it will slip to 2015, we are very excited about the prospect of the iWatch pushing flexible plastic AMOLEDs from their current niche status into mainstream consumer product."