Jobs' invisible achievement: Improvement of IPS display technology

Many people know about Jobs' innovative and successful products, including the Apple II, Macintosh, and the graphical user interface operating system, OS X, iPod, iPhone and iPad. But one of his achievements that is not often mentioned is the improvement of IPS display technology.

Before the iPhone and iPad, most PC and consumer electronics manufacturers used TN "twisted nematic" displays for monitors and handheld devices due to cost issues. This most commonly used display has poor visibility, fuzzy colors, and spotty viewing angles.

IPS's "wide viewing angle technology" has better viewing angles, excellent color reproduction, and better end-user experience than TN. Unfortunately, IPS is only used by high-end and PC display fanatics. In 2004, Dell's 20-inch IPS monitor model 2001FP cost $1,000. Low adoption rate means high cost.

Jobs changed the industry's outlook by deciding to "compromise" on the screen and use higher quality IPS panels for the iPhone and iPad. Due to the mass production of iPhones and iPads and Apple's overall scale, Apple has managed to reduce the cost of IPS panels. Due to fierce competition and rising user expectations, many smartphone and tablet manufacturers are forced to use IPS or better screen panels for their products.

Now many people have experienced the excellence of IPS technology. The price of IPS panels has come down and is not much more expensive than TN.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.