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Apple begins exploring flexible glass, job posting hints

It looks like Apple is only just starting to look into flexible displays, despite recent patents.
Written by Liam Tung, Contributing Writer

While recent patents suggest that flexible glass could be on its way to Apple devices, a job posting that the company removed from its website hints that its exploration into bendable displays has only just begun.

Apple was, until 9to5Mac reported on it, advertising for a new vacancy on its website for a senior optical engineer to look into flexible glass.

"Apple Inc. is looking for a Display Specialist to lead the investigation on emerging display technologies such as high optical efficiency LCD, AMOLED and flexible display to improve overall display optical performance," the job posting read, according to 9to5 Mac, before it was removed.

The optical engineer would be tasked with analysing trade-offs between "design, process, optical performance, and implementation feasibility", it added.

Last month, it was revealed Apple had filed a patent for flexible display to be wrapped around a smartphone. The patent for the wraparound screen on a smartphone looked at the potential inclusion of two AMOLED screens and for the curved glass to offer a 3D-like experience in addition to more screen real-estate by being on both sides of the device.

It was later followed by Apple's patent for a slap-wrap watch, which also used flexible glass.

True to form, Apple has not commented on its plans for future products, but the patents indicated it had at least considered flexible displays.

However, the newly-removed job posting on other the hand suggests the company has not even begun investigating how flexible displays could in practice be used in its products — perhaps not surprising given the changes required to manufacturing processes to bring such products to market

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