10 Apple Acquisitions: What Do They Mean?

An Apple iMac desktop with twice the resolution of a 4K screen could be in the works, according to an LG press release issued March 31 saying the company was in alignment with the consumer electronics giant to produce 8K display for its upcoming iMac desktop computers

LG, which makes displays for Apple computers, may have jumped the gun on Apple’s announcement, though skeptical tech enthusiasts have been wondering whether the statement was part of a collection of April Fools' stunts.

"It has become clear that Japan is planning to launch an 8K SHV test broadcast and then promptly restructure the UHD service," the LG release said, according to Cupertino Times. "Apple has also announced that they will release the 'iMac 8K' with a super-high resolution display later this year. Korea is also preparing to offer an 8K service demonstration at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. LG Display displayed a new beacon of the 8K era by revealing their 98-inch 8K Color Prime Ultra HDTV at CES 2015."

However, a quick scan of the LG site finds that the release, even if true, is no longer there.

Adding to the doubt is the fact that Apple just released an iMac with a 5K display late last year, which features 14.7 million pixels and retails for a whopping $2,499.

Given the already impressive pixel density contained in a 27-inch 5K display -- 1080p fits inside of it seven times -- an 8K display or "Quad Ultra-High Definition" as LG describes it, would boast a resolution of 7,680 by 4,320 pixels, twice the number of pixels as a 4K display.

As unlikely as the proposal may seem, LG would be in a position to know -- the company unveiled an 8K display on a 98-inch screen at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, and LG currently manufacturers the iMac's 5K display.

While the pixel density and resolution capabilities are no doubt impressive, it's worth noting that 4K resolution content is still hard to come by. The prospect of 8K displays, while alluring, might have limited value until media quality catches up.

More Apple News And Rumors

In other Apple news, TechCrunch reported the company quietly purchased Ottocat, a startup that specializes in search technology, in 2013.

Ottocat's search software is supposedly behind the "Explore" application-- which was announced as an App Store addition last year.

The search function in the iOS App Store lets users look for certain apps using increasingly definitive search parameters, and adds meta-data-like star ratings, the update history, and percentile rankings to the app listing.

[Read about iOS security.]

Ever since the announcement of the Apple Watch in March, the Apple rumor mill has started the churn about that the company has up its sleeve next. Much of the speculation is focused on the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, which kicks off June 8. A lot of talk has involved a revamped Apple TV product that is slated to debut at the show, along with other updates, including a new version of iOS.

In addition, many are already looking ahead to the next version of the iPhone, which some are calling the "iPhone 7," although Apple's naming scheme indicates the company will continue to use some variation of iPhone 6.

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