Atomic Aquatics Computer

[scubafanatic]

Since the active matrix display used in the Atomics computer is already discontinued, I wonder if they will even release it at all.


Eric Fattah
Liquivision Products

...can you share any more details about exactly what was discontinued?

 

[Liquivision]

All active-matrix OLED displays have been permanently discontinued. Such displays are no longer available as OEM for integration into consumer products, due to the fact that they are manufactured at a loss, therefore not profitable. You will still find active matrix OLED's in cell phones and digital cameras, since giants like Sony, Kodak and Samsung are willing to make their own active matrix OLED's (at a loss), and then make up the loss by selling the phone, camera, or wireless data package. However they refuse to sell the displays themselves, since doing so would result in a loss. CMEL was the last company selling the displays themselves, and they pulled out and canceled all their products, which includes the displays in all OLED dive computers except the X1 (which uses a passive matrix display). Passive matrix displays are still in production as they are easier to manufacture. Passive matrix displays have the disadvantage of higher power drain and it is harder to get them to work underwater for complicated reasons (this increases the cost of integrating them into a computer).

Color passive matrix displays are in production, but are somewhat smaller than the color OLEDs available in current computers. The Atomics computer is using one of the larger active matrix OLEDs which is now unavailable. So they either need redesign the product around a smaller passive matrix display, or switch to LCD.

Most of the companies currently selling products with active matrix OLED's managed to make one final large order of displays, to keep their products available for another while still.


Eric Fattah
Liquivision Products

 

[diverep]

Atomic has secured it's future for OLED displays for now and for future new products.