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Report: Apple and LG Team for iPhone and Netbook

Concept of what an Apple Netbook could look like

‘Rumors again swirl around a netbook from Apple.’ -

The netbook market is booming and the only major computer maker yet to introduce a netbook is Apple. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has said previously that the company didn’t know how to make a cheap notebook that worked.

Despite the denial that Apple would launch a netbook; rumors have long swirled around the possibility of a netbook from the firm. Smarthouse reports that Apple is working with LG on new OLED panels that are reportedly slated to be used in new iPhone, notebook, and netbook systems from Apple.

Sources told Smarthouse that Apple already has a working prototype of the new netbook that will be made in Taiwan and use a LG OLED display. LG is also reported to be increasing its R&D budget by 25% with a large portion of the new budget going to OLED and new battery technologies.

Smarthouse reports that Apple has paid LG $500 million for work on new OLED technology that eliminates fingerprints on the screen and has improved touch sensitivity. LG believes that fingerprints left on OLED screens can be eliminated by adding a layer in the manufacturing process.

Earlier rumors had Apple working with Quanta for a netbook. Apple also recently gave a sneak preview of its iPhone 3.0 OS that will add much needed features to the popular smartphone like cut and paste and MMS messaging.

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