Panasonic and Sony Join Forces for Mass Production of OLED TV Panels

Sony and Panasonic recently announced that they have decided to team up to create mass production technology for super high-resolution TVs based on OLED technology. The companies said that this is also part of a concentrated effort to drive mainstream adoption and revive the companies' struggling television businesses. Panasonic and Sony are aiming to develop an effective way to print large panels that use OLEDs by 2013, according to a statement from the two manufacturers. In addition to that, both companies signed an agreement that includes sharing their technology and jointly researching mass production techniques.

Televisions based on OLED technology are widely considered to be superior to LCD televisions, which are currently the mainstream standard. The only downside is that OLED TVs are much more expensive than LCD TVs. OLED TVs are capable of producing their own light which means they do not require backlighting like LCD TVs. This means that they can display darker blacks and use less power while also providing better contrast and brightness in a much thinner frame.

In theory, OLED TVs can also be manufactured more efficiently than LCDs due to the fact that they can be printed straight onto a base material whereas the liquid crystal of the LCD screen is usually injected into tiny pockets. OLED screens are even widely used in phones and tablets nowadays, though cheap mass production of OLED TVs is still a major hurdle that needs to be overcome.

Sony debuted the world's first OLED TV back in 2007 with an 11" model that was only 3mm thick. The device initially wowed consumers and techies alike, though that enthusiasm was quickly tarnished by the device's $2,000 pricetag. Samsung and LG have both showed off super-thin 55" OLED models this year with Samsung stating that its TV will go on sale during the second half of 2012 in Korea for about $9,000. As a comparison, LCD TVs from Samsung that are the same size cost about one-fifth of that price.

Sony and Panasonic both saw record losses in the last fiscal year as costs increased in their TV businesses, with prices for LCD TVs dropping significantly. However, despite the depressing numbers, both companies have stated that they will not abandon the flagship product, even though efforts to revive sales through features like 3D and networked services have yet to generate any real profits for either company. Sony  stated that it will continue to contribute its knowledge and research into OLEDs, while Panasonic said it currently has production equipment and know-how that should be applicable to large-screen OLED TVs. 


Source: PC World - Sony, Panasonic to Team up to Mass-produce OLED TV Panels

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1 Million Apps Have Been Downloaded on Samsung HDTVs

Not that long ago, Samsung began offering apps on their HDTVs. This month the company hit a very important milestone concerning their TV’s apps marketplace. According to Samsung, since its launch in March, 1 million applications have been downloaded from the company’s Samsung Apps.

Samsung says that “the most frequently downloaded applications at the apps store include Hulu Plus, ESPN Next Level, CinemaNow, and Texas Holdem. The company also added that Samsung Apps now has more than 200 applications including MLB. TV, Vudu, Netflix, and many more.

As of right now, Samsung offers access to its Samsung Apps marketplace on more than half of their 2010 line of HDTVs. By the end of the year, the company says that they expect that TV vendors will have sold a total of 6.5 million HDTV units that feature applications. It is being predicted that by 2012 that the market will expand to 20 million unit sales.

"Consumers want and expect choice and control. Not just on the go, not just in front of computer, but in the living room," says Eric Anderson, Samsung vice president of content development.

Now Samsung is not the only company to provide apps for their HDTVs. Most major TV manufacturers have certain HDTVs that offer apps on their sets. Vizio is one of those companies that is currently battling with Samsung for domination of the HDTV market.

The research firm iSuppli has been tracking the overall shipments of LCD TVs and found that during the third quarter Vizio shipped out the most LCD TVs of any company. They consumed 19.9 percent of the total LCD market shares. Samsung came in second behind Vizio with 17.7 percent of market share. When it came down to overall television shipments in the United States, Samsung was greatly assisted by their sales of plasma TVs. The company was the top manufacturer when it came to overall TV shipments with 19.3 percent market share, while Vizio came in second with 17 percent of the overall market share.

For more information check out Samsung's website.

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VideoWave HDTV: The Newest Technology from Bose

Bose is a company that has been providing high-end audio equipment and accessories since 1964. They provide anything from home theater sound systems to headphones for customers that are willing to pay dearly for their excellent quality. Well, Bose has finally expanded into the television and home theater field. On Thursday, October 14th Bose released their latest technology which they have been developing for the past ten years, the new VideoWave Entertainment System.

The entertainment system consists of four different pieces – a 46-inch LCD TV, a separate console connected by a Bose cable, an iPod dock, and an amazing remote control. All of these pieces are new and completely unique to Bose. When combined together, I believe that these pieces create one of the most incredible home theater experiences that I have ever witnessed. So what makes this system worth the $5,349 price tag? Well, here are just a few of the reasons.

The TV
The 46-inch screen offers a 1080p image, which isn’t the greatest I’ve ever seen on a TV before, but it definitely isn’t bad. When I saw the screen in Bose, I thought that the picture was crisp, clean, and vibrant. It was definitely something that I was impressed by. The picture is not the main attraction with this TV though. The sound on the VideoWave is what absolutely blew me away. When you purchase the LCD TV from Bose, you will not need to install one single extra speaker. The set provides incredible surround sound from within the TV itself.

Inside the TV there are 16 speakers, six subwoofers, and some breathtaking new technology that sends flawless sound from the TV into every single corner of the room. Therefore, the sound is coming from the TV set but can be heard everywhere around you. Bose calls this technology PhaseGuide, and it is absolutely amazing.

The Remote
The remote for the LCD TV is different than any other remote that I have ever seen. It is extremely simple, as it only has buttons for power, input, channel, volume, mute, and back. They decided that they only wanted to put the buttons that you would universally need. In the center of the remote there is a directional pad that is surrounded by a touch pad. The touch pad allows you to access all of the other buttons not featured on the actual remote. When you touch the touch pad, the picture on the screen will shrink and become surrounded by a rectangular menu that shows all of the other controls you may want to use.

The remote can take a little getting used to, but once you discover where the other buttons are located on the screen, it becomes quite simple to utilize. The remote really seems ingenius. It makes so much sense to simplify the remote and eliminate the unnecessary buttons from the physical remote.

The Console and Dock
The console is the connection hub for all of your extra devices like your Blu-ray player, DVD player, gaming consoles, etc. You can connect up to five devices to VideoWave at one time. There is also an iPod dock that is included. It’s a pretty standard iPod dock, but it does display your iPod’s menu on the TV screen which is incredibly convenient. You can control everything via the remote, which is also great. Another great feature included on the VideoWave is called Video Mute. This feature allows you to turn off the screen and video, leaving only the audio playing. This makes the VideoWave a great audio player as well as a fantastic TV.

The VideoWave is an absolutely fantastic home theater system. Unfortunately, since the system is $5,349, this set is not for everyone. You definitely have to pay for the excellent quality that Bose is providing. If you’re ready to make the leap with this new technology from Bose, then you most definitely won’t be disappointed. For the price Bose will also install the system in your home. If you’re interested in the VideoWave Entertainment System from Bose, then you will have to find a Bose store in your area to see the home theater system in action. Bose is only selling these new LCD TVs in their stores. For more information talk to your local Bose representatives.

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So You Need a New TV?

Buying a new TV is a lot harder than it used to be. There are so many types and brands to choose from and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. For the most part, new TVs aren't cheap, so before you go out and spend a small fortune on one for your home, there are a few things to take into consideration.

There are three types of TVs to choose from: LCD, LED, and Plasma. Each one has its small differences from the other, but it can be difficult to decide which one is right for your home and your family.

Plasmas

Plasma TVs are flat-panel TVs that once ruled the TV market. They are heavy, which means wall mounting needs to be more secure and they're also very fragile. You'll most likely want to have it installed professionally. If your wall doesn't have easily located studs, you'll need reinforcements. But of course, you can always place it on a TV stand or other type of furniture.

Plasmas rule the TV market when it comes to contrast ratio (making your whites white and your darks dark) and are great for watching moving images. If you're a movie-watcher, you won't see a lag in the big chase scene. Also, you can see your plasma well from various angles, which is great for living room set-ups where chairs and sofas are positioned around the TV.

On the downside, if glare bothers you, plasmas do reflect light, but you can purchase anti-glare screens for your TV. Image retention and burn-in can also be a problem with your plasma. Also, if you live in an altitude over 6,500 feet, your plasma could experience a buzz.

LCD

LCD TVs are also flat-panel TVs and they aren't quite as heavy as plasmas. Contrast quality isn't as great as the plasma, but it's close. LCDs are great for viewing still images. Many computer monitors use LCD technology for this reason. They're also catching up to plasmas when it comes to color. The highest quality plasma will have the most rich color, but a high quality LCD is a much better option than an average or low-quality plasma.

If you're worried about using energy and being "green," then an LCD might be for you. They use half the power of a plasma. Plasmas use neon gas the requires more energy to light up. On the downside, LCDs are known for having stuck pixels, which appear on your screen as tiny pinpoints of light. Sometimes, a manufacturer will replace your set if this happens early on in the TVs life, bu tnot always.

LED

LED TVs are a newer technology. While the competition between LCD and plasma has lowered prices, LEDs are still relatively expensive. They are lighter an thinner than plasmas and LCDs and the quality is outstanding. Instead of fluorescent bulbs, LEDs use backlighting, which makes your blacks darker and your color more saturated. They also use less power than their plasma and LCD counterparts.

These guys have been on the market for only about two years, and are technically just LCD TVs with the LED lighting inside. They are sure to become more popular in the future as more competition enters the market, driving down prices.

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