Samsung's new flagship mobile phone, the Galaxy S5 is now shipping worldwide. In the US, both AT&T and Sprint offer it for $189 (with a plan) or $699 unlocked.The GS5 features a 5.1" FHD (432 PPI, with a new Diamond Pixel architecture) Super AMOLED display, a 2.5 Ghz quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, 16MP camera (4K video support). The GS5 is dust and water resistant, and it packs a finger scanner and a heart rate sensor.

Reports suggest that the launch is very successful for Samsung, with the GS5 outpacing the GS4 launch in 2013. A Samsung executive said that while the GS4 sold 10 million units in 27 days, the GS5 will do "significantly better". The first-day GS5 sales in the US were up 30% compared to the GS4.

Samsung also launched the interesting Gear Fit smart wearable, with its flexible (curved) 1.84" (432x128) Super AMOLED display. The Gear Fit is now available in the US for $199. According to an early review, the display is fantastic, but the device has software flaws.

In the past few weeks, we saw several encouraging announcements from several companies, indicating that OLED lighting solutions for automobiles may be closer than we think. First up was BMW, which said that the future automobile lighting technology will be OLED, and they expect to start selling cars with OLED lighting within 3 years.

BMW says that the high homogeneity of OLEDs has several advantages, mainly that it enables new styling options, it's efficient and long lasting and can offer high exclusivity. The company showed a prototype taillight design that uses Philips OLEDs.

OSRAM already stated in the past that OLED is the next technological development for car lighting, and the company sees OLEDs adopted in series production of new vehicles by 2016. At the L+B exhibition, Osram unveiled a new OLED Module for the automotive market, and the company's OLED chief said that demand for organic solutions from the automotive sector will drive down prices and increase product innovation.

During the L+B exhibition, we also saw a new automobile rear light module prototype by German-based lighting expert Hella. Hella's module uses 28 flexible OLED lighting panels made by LG Chem. LG Chem also revealed that it is collaborating with VW and BMW on automobile OLED lighting projects.

Japanese designer Takao Inoue unveiled beautiful new OLED lighting devices called OLED Tampopo light. These devices are made from real dandelion flowers that are harvested and then encased in acrylic glass. A small OLED panel is placed at the stem of the flowers to light them up.

The Tampopo light (Tampopo means dandelion in Japanese, by the way) was on display at the Milano Salone 2014, and it may be sold in the future in Japan. I do not know who's the OLED panel maker - but the devices are so beautiful, I wanted to share them here.

AUO announced that they developed a new ultra-slim 5.7" WQHD (2560x1440, 513 PPI) AMOLED panel. AUO says that this is the world's highest resolution AMOLED. Actually we know that Sharp, and SEL developed a 13.3" 8K CAAC-OS OLED that achieves 664 PPI, and Samsung Display announced a while back that they are developing a 5.2" WQHD panel which will have a pixel density of 560 PPI, and are also planning a 860 PPI (!) UHD panel.

AUO also revealed that they have developed a 1.6" Wearable OLED for smart watches. It's not clear whether this is a flexible/curved AMOLED (AUO have been showing flexible OLED demonstrators, but I don't think they are ready to commercialize these yet) or a rigid one.

It's great to see AUO's new panels, but we're still waiting for real mass production from the Taiwanese maker. According to the latest reports, AUO started producing AMOLEDs in their 4.5-Gen fab in Singapore after years of delays. According to our source, AUO is actually only producing samples. Those 5" 720p (295 PPI) panels have been been submitted to a company based in China for evaluation. AUO also developed a 5" Full HD AMOLED (443 PPI).

Material maker Merck revealed that AU Optronics is developing OLED ink-jet technologies with help from Merck and other suppliers. AUO developed a 14" printable OLED panel, and Merck is working closely with AUO to supply them with soluble OLED materials.

DisplaySearch says that the OLED industry's material growth is going to be lower than expected due to high manufacturing cost, delays in OLED TV and "very few breakthroughs in AMOLED displays". DisplaySearch now estimates the total material market in 2014 to reach $795 million (previously they estimated it to reach over $1 billion).

According to DisplaySearch, in 2014 the material market will grow 77% and in 2015 it will again grow by 70%. Growth will be much slower in 2016 and 2017. Interestingly, in 2014 the green emitter and host materials (EML) will grow by 228%. I think the reasoning is that Samsung will convert more lines to PHOLED greens (which cost more than fluorescent green).In addition, it seems that blue EML costs will not grow much which probably means DisplaySearch is not seeing blue PHOLED adoption at all.

I'm happy to announce the fourth edition of The OLED Handbook, the most comprehensive resource on OLED technology, industry and market - now updated for 2014. The OLED industry still grows and changes very fast, and the new edition include new details the OLED TVs and flexible OLEDs, in-depth look into encapsulation technologies and of course many updates on the OLED display and lighting markets. The book includes over 40 new companies and has a better organization.

Reading this book, you'll learn all about:

• OLED technology and materials and production processes
• How OLEDs compare to LCD and Plasma displays
• OLED TVs, flexible OLEDs and transparent OLEDs
• The OLED lighting industryThe future of OLED displays and lighting and the challenges ahead

The book also provides:

• A history of OLED development
• A guide to OLED investment
• A comprehensive list of OLED companies
• A list of existing and planned AMOLED fabs
• OLED lighting roadmaps
• An in-depth look into flexible OLEDs and OLED encapsulation

What's new in the 2014 edition?

• Updated OLED gadgets, panels, fabs and roadmaps
• A new OLED TV section
• New sections on OLED encapsulation and flexible OLEDs
• New OLED lighting panels and displays release in the past year
• Over 40 new companies added
• And more!

The OLED handbook has been read by hundreds of display engineers, business developers, researchers, equipment vendors, OLED material companies, private investors and others who wished to learn more about OLEDs today and in the future. I truly believe that it is the best introduction to OLED displays and lighting!

The OLED Handbook 2014 edition can be downloaded now for $97 USD (via Paypal or credit card). To secure your copy simply click here. Existing digital-copy customers are entitled to a 50% discount (and if you bought in 2014, you'll get the upgrade for free). If you did not receive your upgrade coupon, contact us to get one.

The hardcopy printed version costs $149.99 and can be ordered through our publisher.

For more information, and to order your copy today, visit The OLED Handbook info page.