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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Samsung Debuts New Smart Station Monitor

Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation (Sepco) is trying to further strengthen its top position in the smartphone, tablet and PC industries with its introduction of the Samsung Smart Station monitor, a central hub that connects all of your devices into a notebook PC. According to Business Unit Director of IT for Sepco Eric Sulit, "We are No. 1 in those categories in the first quarter of the year. We are making these products work very well."

Sulit noted that the Samsung Galaxy Y outsold all other feature phones in the market last holiday season and added, "This was the No. 1 selling phone during the last holiday season." Sulit also mentioned that Samsung also holds the top spot in the computer monitor market with over a 40% share. "Our engineers have been working overtime to produce a monitor that will improve how one uses it. The end result of their work is that in a single connection you can connect your PC to your mobile phone, to your printer, to your keyboard and to your mouse."

The Samsung Smart Station monitor does way more than simply display images from a PC. A single USB connection allows you to dock the PC to a 24" full HD monitor complete with keyboard, mouse, external hard drive disk or printer. In addition to that, the monitor has a mobile HD link that allows you to display the mobile phone's content on the monitor as well. Another feature is the mobile control. The keyboard and mouse can be used to control a smartphone as well, adding extra usability.

Samsung also debuted its wireless printer along with the Smart Station, which prints documents via WiFi, even if there isn't a nearby router. The printer also allows wireless scanning as well. According to Sulit, "Now you can scan, save and print using your Android or iOS smartphone or tablet." The printer, which is also a monochrome multi-function laser printer, has the ability to send faxes as well, making it a true multifarious device.

Samsung is seeking to maintain the number one spot in the PC, smartphone, tablet and monitor industries and they may be very capable of doing so, especially with the release of such devices as the Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone and this new Samsung Smart Station monitor. The Samsung Smart Station monitor runs for around $400.

Source: Business Mirror - Samsung aims for top post in IT market with new offerings

Samsung and Sony End HDTV Discounts in Stores

Got your eye on a slick Sony or Samsung HDTV that would totally bring your entertainment center together? Does the price seem a bit too high for your bank account? Are you waiting for Black Friday or some other day when that set goes on sale? If you answered yes to that last question then I have some bad news. Samsung and Sony have both announced that they will not allow retailers to sell their HDTVs at discounted prices below the suggested retail price of the device.

Discounts on things like HDTVs are amazing for consumers, though retailers don't particularly like the idea of discounts, especially amid dwindling profit margins. That is why Samsung and Sony have decided to force retailers to drop the heavily discounted pricing schemes in hopes of boosting profits and making more money. The Wall Street Journal reported first that Samsung and Sony were introducing new pricing plans that were specifically designed to increase the lackluster prospects of big name retailers like Best Buy while also trying to help other physical stores compete with online retailers that typically charge less for HDTVs.

This new pricing policy from both companies went into effect last month and prevents stores from advertising or selling Samsung and Sony TVs for less than prices that have been set by the manufacturers. Unfortunately, this plan is extremely risky. The main risk factor is that consumers may simply pass on these name brand TVs for other ones that are on sale, not to mention the fact that other name brand companies, like LG, Panasonic, Sharp and Vizio, are still offering sales and discounts. This could mean that Samsung and Sony's plans could backfire, losing more money for the companies than gaining.

HDTV manufacturers and retailers have suffered dramatically from slowing sales and declining profit margins for a while now, though some manufacturers are hopeful for this year. Both LG and Samsung saw profit margins of just over 2% in 2011, which isn't very impressive, though it is still better than breaking even like the companies did in 2010. In addition to that, retailers have been struggling as well. Best Buy announced in March that it was closing 50 of its bigger stores and replacing them with 100 smaller outlets that will focus on phones, tablets and e-readers but not TVs.

If you still want deals on Samsung and Sony HDTVs, you will have to turn to the internet and online retailers for them as Samsung and Sony's pricing scheme doesn't carry over to online stores. However, you can still get name brand products from physical stores as LG, Panasonic, Sharp and Vizio still think discounts are a smart business decision.

Source: PC World - Samsung, Sony Put the Kibosh on TV Discounts

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Increased Support for Multi-Monitor Setups Coming with Windows 8

Honestly, I don't know how I used to function with just one computer monitor. Ever since I built my custom gaming PC with dual-monitor setup, the thought of using just one monitor seems archaic. Having two monitors makes everything better. It makes surfing the web better, it makes gaming better, it makes multitasking better and, if you're like me and you work on a computer all day, it makes working better too. Microsoft seems to have finally realized that lots of people use more than one monitor and, as a result, has added a bunch of new tools to Windows 8 to help people who utilize multiple monitors get more out of their extra screen space.

Lead Program Manager for Microsoft's User Experience team Mark Yalovsky recently released quite a substantial blog post on building Windows 8 and explained some of the changes with dual-monitor support. The blog post is huge with tons of details on a lot of different things, though there are a few highlights that focus on multi-monitor technology. First off, Yalovsky threw down some statistics on just how many people utilize multiple monitors. According to data collected by Microsoft's Windows Feedback Program, nearly 14% of desktop PC users and 5% of notebook users run multiple monitors.

In his post Yalovsky talks a lot about how the new Windows 8 will allow better background personalizations for multi-monitor setups. This includes how the updated slideshow application selects the best images for multi-monitor setups that consist of different sized and/or different oriented monitors. Another interesting feature is how Windows 8 will handle the taskbar across multiple screens. Windows 8 will include an option to display the taskbar on every display and will also give you three different options as to how buttons on the taskbar are handled. The default setting shows the taskbar buttons on every taskbar. The second option only shows taskbar buttons on the taskbar where the window is open with the third option shows the taskbar buttons on the main taskbar and on the taskbar where the window is opened.

In addition to that, Windows 8 makes use of different user interface elements, like the Start Menu, Charms bar or lists of recently used apps that are triggered by hovering your mouse around the corner of the screen. This is easy to do on a single monitor, though with multiple monitors you run the risk of overshooting and moving over to the next monitor. To guard against this, Microsoft has added something known as "real corners" to the shared corners in multiple monitor setups. This traps your cursor, allowing you to find the edge and utilize this feature much more easily. The corners themselves are only six pixels in height, which means you shouldn't run into them unless you are trying to. If that isn't good enough for you then know that Microsoft has coded these corners to be intelligent in how they trap the mouse cursor.

The ability to have out of the box support for multi-monitor setups with Windows 8 will definitely be a major selling point for hardcore computer enthusiasts. Having to install third-party applications all the time can be a huge annoyance and hassle which makes the integrated multi-monitor support coming with Windows 8 all the more appealing.

Source: ZDNet - Windows 8 includes enhanced multi-monitor support

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Samsung's OLED HDTV Dropping in Korea This Year

Samsung is teasing more information on its future plans for OLED HDTVs. In a recent report, the company stated that it hopes to have a 55" Super OLED 3D TV hit store shelves in Korea by the second half of 2012. Unfortunately, the company has yet to release any information on when such a TV would drop in on U.S. shores. However, an executive for the company did say that it would probably take at least two to three years before OLED HDTVs were widely available.

On the other hand, Samsung did mention back in January that its 55" OLEF TV would be available worldwide in 2012 with an expected price tag of $9,000 when it starts selling in Korea. The company first debuted the set at CES 2012 and promised a TV that produced deeper contrasts and finer detail than your average OLED displays. The technology that Samsung is relying on is self-emitting RGB sub-pixels that are placed directly on the display in order to achieve what it claims are more vivid images. In addition to that, the new set will feature voice and gesture control, a dual-processor and Smart Hub media integration.

Aside from Samsung, LG also offers a 55" OLED 3D TV that debuted during CES as well. Amid the early competition between Samsung and LG, it was rumored that LG's set would debut in Europe this May for $8,000. However, the Associated Press reported that the company plans on releasing its OLED HDTV within the last three months of this year.

Sony is also jumping on the bandwagon, working on something that the company is calling Crystal LED, which was also a heavily discussed topic at CES. Sony is claiming that Crystal LED displays will have 3.5 times as much picture contrast as well as 1.4 times richer color. Unlike LG and Samsung, Sony's tech is still in the prototype phase and has no announced plans for a release date or pricing scheme. However, that could easily change as Sony announced in April that it would focus on Crystal LED and OLED display technologies as part of the new corporate overhaul under Kazuo Hira, Sony's new CEO.

Many people are looking forward to both Samsung and LG's 55" OLED HDTVs. What we all want to know is will be when these sets will hit and how much they will cost. As it stands right now, LG's device will be $1,000 cheaper than Samsung's and could also hit U.S. store shelves sooner. More information about Samsung's device is said to be released at Berlin's IFA Trade Show, which begins on August 31, 2012.

Source: PC World - Samsung's 55-Inch OLED TV Rolls Out in 2012; U.S. Launch Date Unknown

LG's IPS4 to Launch in Asia Next Month, Europe and US to Follow

Companies like to talk up their products, that's no surprise to anybody. Companies like to say that their product is the best one on the market and that it can do all these wonderful things that the competition cannot. Nowhere is that more prevalent than in the technology industry. With each new version of a product you get more and more companies saying how theirs is the best, hands down. The latest company to do so is LG with its newest computer monitor, the LG IPS4.

According to LG, the IPS4 is said to deliver "Stunning picture quality, lifelike color expression, original color consistency and enhanced viewing comfort." The reality is, however, that most of the things companies say their products do so well actually only do them ok, which is upsetting when a company sets such high expectations for the product. The same goes for the IPS4. LG has promised a lot of awesome things, though having them actually perform like the company says is a different story.

Aside from all those other things I just mentioned, the LG IPS4 is also said to offer In-Plane Switching (hence the name IPS4) as opposed to your standard Twisted Nematic (TN) panels. In addition to that, the IPS4 is also said to have a wide viewing angle of 178 degrees, which would allow multiple people to view the monitor simultaneously without losing picture quality. Smooth Color Change will also eliminate blur generated from rapid motion in action sequences, sports or video games, also eliminating fatigue on your eyes.

A Dual Smart Solution feature, which relies on a simple, one click setup and is capable of running dual monitors, will also be included. This feature will also result in dual taskbar and auto-optimized dual web split screen display. A cable management design is also standard and is designed to eliminate the need for your cables to wrap around each other, creating a mess behind your computer.

Unfortunately, LG has yet to release any kind of pricing on the IPS4 though they have announced a release schedule for when and where you can pick this device up. The monitor will launch next month in Asia, followed by a release in Europe and then coming to the United States last. Once the monitor goes on sale in Asia we should be able to determine the rough cost for both the European and United States markets, so stay tuned for pricing details in the very near future.

Source: Ubergizmo - LG IPS4 monitors offer a more dynamic viewing experience

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Phillips Announces Ergonomic Monitor to Help with Posture

Let's face facts, more and more people are spending more and more time in front of their computers. Sitting there at your desk, staring at that screen, typing or gaming away on your computer for hours on end takes its toll on your body. However, Phillips has created a new computer monitor designed to help you be a little healthier while using your computer.

The company recently announced that they have developed a new 24" computer monitor specifically designed to offer feedback related to ergonomics. The device itself is known as the Ergosensor and is an LCD monitor that uses a built-in CMOS sensor to measure your distance from the screen as well as the angle of your neck. So if you slouch, the software developed by DigitalOptics Corporation will let you know to sit up properly or move to an appropriate distance from the monitor. If that's not enough for you, the software also gives advice on the best times to take a break from whatever you're doing.

If you prefer slouching on your home computer, especially after working all day in a stiff, boring job, then that's fine. The monitor's base allows you to adjust the height, tilt, swivel and rotation angle of the screen. In addition to that, the software can be adjusted to lower the amount of warnings that pop up whenever you change your posture. There is even a unique power-saving feature that all the bosses out there may take a liking to. Whenever you stand up and walk away from your monitor, the integrated CMOS sensor detects the movement and powers down. Then, whenever you return, it powers back on and resumes whatever you were working on.

A 0-watt power supply is also included from Phillips, located on the back of the monitor. This cuts any and all power to the monitor, further reducing power consumption wherever you use it. Officials from Phillips state that all Ergosensor models have been developed out of "a minimum of 65% post-consumer recycled plastics" and that the device itself can be recycled whenever you decide to upgrade. Unfortunately, Phillips has yet to announce an official release date for U.S. availability for the Ergosensor, though the device is currently available in Europe for around $375.

Source: Digital Trends - Phillips creates computer monitor that corrects posture, encourages breaks

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