Audiovisual

LG Launches 15.6 inches LCD Monitor

kevin@1staudiovisual.co.uk — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:07:14 +1000

LG has announced the launch of its new 15.6-inches wide-screen LCD monitor targeted at home, small office, small and medium enterprise, and ITES segments in the country.

The new monitor boasts high picture clarity achieved through (DFC) Digital Fine Contrast ratio of 5000:1 and f-engine. LG's f-engine is claimed to be the world's first picture correction technology chip used in LCD monitors to enhance image quality. The higher the contrast ratio, the better the clarity and sharpness of images.

The combination of f-engine and DFC 5000:1 ensures classification of dark colors and is suitable for moving images with various brightness levels, the company said. The 15.6-inches wide LCD monitor is priced at Rs 7,800.

Samsung named best LCD TV maker

kevin@1staudiovisual.co.uk — Sat, 10 May 2008 07:32:48 +1000

HCM CITY— Samsung Vina Electronics has been granted its second consecutive award as No.1 brand for LCD TV in Viet Nam.

According to GfK Asia, in 2007 Samsung achieved sales growth of 350 per cent in LCD TVs compared with 2006. In January 2008, Samsung sold over 14,000 LCD TVs worth VND200 billion (US$12.5 million). The company has also unveiledl a wide range of multi-platform and high-definition products, such as HD TV, home-entertainment systems and MP3s.

Pioneer's 2008 KURO models will be released throughout the year, claiming to provide black levels five times deeper than the 2007 KURO models.

kevin@1staudiovisual.co.uk — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:14:19 +1000

Pioneer today introduced six new plasma HDTVs, two blu-ray disc player and four new AV receiverThe new line of 2008 KURO plasma displays features black levels five times deeper than the 2007 KURO models. The philosophy behind Pioneer's Project KURO and the driving force is to be able to produce a pure black color and in turn reproduce an accurate color spectrum.

The 2008 KURO models include the 50-inch PDP-5020FD and the 60-inch PDP-6020FD, both measuring 3.7-inches thin and offering networked Home Media Gallery for playback of digital content from a PC or via USB. The new HDTVs also come with a new remote control and redesigned high-definition graphic user interface for seamless integration with other A/V equipment. Both models offer a 1080p resolution and should be available in June 2008. The 50-inch model will cost approximately $4000, while the 60-inch model will cost approximately $5500.

Pioneer also introduced the new Elite Signature Series of monitors, boasting hand selected and hand assembled parts to offer customers more unique and distinct options when buying plasma HDTVs. According to Pioneer, these models also exceed a stricter examination process than most plasma HDTVs in the industry. A 50-inch model (PRO-101FD) will be available in October 2008, while a 60-inch model (PRO-141FD) will be available in August. Both models offer 1080p resolution, but pricing has yet to be determined.

Pioneer is also introducing two Elite KURO HD flat panel televisions that is claimed to offer picture customization features that ensure better picture performance of films, sports and TV shows. Employing an enhanced "Optimum mode" feature, the new displays is claimed to seamlessly examine the sound, picture and room light conditions at the same time and adjust the audio and video settings by the slightest variation to deliver a better viewing experience based on each type of programming.

Designed for entertainment connoisseurs, the new televisions offer calibration features as well as allow users to switch between six picture and sound pre-set modes. The new televisions also sport Pioneer's Home Media Gallery functionality.

The 50-inch Pioneer KURO PRO-111FD and 60-inch Pioneer KURO PRO-151FD both offers 1080p resolution and should be available in June 2008 for $5000 and $6500, respectively.

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Intel, Samsung team up for next-gen silicon wafers

kevin@1staudiovisual.co.uk — Wed, 07 May 2008 08:19:04 +1000

Samsung Electronics, the world's top maker of memory chips, on Tuesday said it would co-operate with chief rivals Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to develop next-generation, larger silicon wafers to boost efficiency in chip manufacturing.

Samsung said in a filing that it would work with US-based Intel, the world's top maker of semiconductors, and Taiwan's Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, to help migration of manufacturing standards from the current 12-inch silicon wafers to 18-inch discs that would yield more than double the number of chips.

The South Korean company said the co-operation plan called for a first pilot line to be operable by 2012.

The world's largest chipmakers have been exploring the move to pizza-sized silicon wafers to help them grab market share as demand surges for gadgets such as Apple's iPod.

"Increasing cost due to the complexity of advanced technology is a concern for the future," Mark Liu, TSMC's senior vice president of advanced technology business, said in a statement.

"Intel, Samsung, and TSMC believe the transition to [18-inch] wafers is a potential solution to maintain a reasonable cost structure for the industry," said Liu.

The size of the wafer is critical to make production more efficient. A new generation of larger wafers typically comes out each decade or so.

The group is planning to co-operate with the whole semiconductor industry in order to establish common standards through the International Sematech Manufacturing Initiative (ISMI) consortium.

Panasonic to put plasma displays in phones

1stavseoau@live.co.uk — Fri, 02 May 2008 21:38:36 +1000

Panasonic has revealed plans to incorporate newly developed, miniature plasma displays in telephones, and other small consumer electronics products.

The new low-voltage plasma technology will be used as plasma video displays for mobile phones to use with AT& T's recently announced "Mobile TV" service that will provide full-length television content and sporting events from major US channels, due to launch in May.

At a press event in the States, Mark Balsama, national marketing manager for Panasonic said: "I have a very exciting announcement to make..."

"For nearly a decade, Panasonic's engineers have been secretly working on a thin, lightweight low-voltage compact plasma display ... We will be able to incorporate miniature plasma displays into both consumer and business telephone products starting this fall. They will rival OLED displays for brightness, contrast and thinness, and can be manufactured for much less money."

"We'll be able to put plasma in cell phones, business phones, consumer phones, corded phones, cordless phones, and even door intercom monitors and fax machines. We will revolutionise the consumer electronics business, as Panasonic has done many times before."

Robert A. Perry, the new senior vice president of Panasonic added: "Our plasma expertise and our large-scale, efficient manufacturing will allow these new small Panasonic plasma screens to replace LCDs in many applications - gasoline pumps, automated teller machines, camera viewfinders, MP3 players, vending machines, automotive displays, digital photo frames, appliance touch screens and even the little pop-up screens on printers".

"In fact, I am pleased to announce that we will be supplying mini plasma screens to HP for an exclusive two-year period for use in their printers. We view our thin low-voltage PDP technology as a pre-emptive strike against OLED technology."

Plasma & LCD Panel Shipments Grow

1stavseoau@live.co.uk — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:58:11 +1000

According to the latest research by Display Search, a division of The NPD Group, both plasma and LCD panel shipments are on the rise for Q1 2008.

Plasma shipments grew 53 per cent year-over-year (Y/Y) to reach more than three million units. However, this does representing a quarter-over-quarter (Q/Q) drop of 19 per cent. Panels 32” in size rose four per cent, from 11 to 15 per cent during Q1 while 1080p panels, which DisplaySearch says were “nearly absent from the market”, have now grown to account for 11 per cent of panel shipments.

Matsushita (Panasonic) helped fuel the growth by offering a 46” 1080p panel for the first time. Another reason for the growth is the price advantage over LCD: DisplaySearch says that a 42” plasma (including power supply and optical filter) ranked US$1,141 lower than a comparably-sized LCD during the month of March. This price gap, however, is continually narrowing.

“Price declines slowed for PDP panels in Q1’08, with prices falling six per cent Q/Q and 31 per cent Y/Y to an average of $403 as compared to double-digit ASP declines in the first half of 2007,” said Paul Gagnon, Director of North America TV Research at DisplaySearch. “Forty-two-inch class ASPs only fell by 1-2 per cent Q/Q, while 50”+ prices fell much faster, by as much as 10 per cent Q/Q for 55-59” 1080p panels while 50” panels fell 4-7 per cent.”

Panasonic fell from the number-one position for the first time since Q3 2006, overtaken by LG Electronics and Samsung. For Q1 2008, LG had 34.8 per cent market share, Samsung 30.5 per cent, and Panasonic 27 per cent, down 10 points. Hitachi ranked fourth with 4.4 per cent share, followed by Pioneer (3.1 per cent), and Orion (0.1 per cent). LG Electronics showed the most Y/Y growth at a whopping 97 per cent, due in large part to the introduction of a 32” panel followed by Samsung at 95 per cent growth, fueled predominantly by shipments of 42” plasmas.

Meanwhile, large-format LCD panels, representing those used in flat-panel TVs, as well as notebook PCs and monitors, rose 69 per cent Y/Y to reach 25.1 million units. As with plasma, this represents a decline Q/Q of 11 per cent but DisplaySearch adds that this is expected for the time of the year.

Promising news is that “full HD” models represented 24 per cent of all LCD TVs shipped during the quarter, which is up from 22 per cent in Q4 2007. When looking at LCDs 40” and larger, this number rises to 64 per cent, which is unchanged from Q4 ’07. However, HD models grew in the 32” category, reaching over 500,000 shipments. In fact, 32” sized LCDs seem to dominate the market, representing more than 40 per cent of total LCD TVs shipped, while 40” and above panels accounted for 28 per cent.

In the notebook arena, 15.4” LCDs accounted for a record 53 per cent of total panels shipped in a quarter, followed by 14.1” with 24 per cent. Of the 49.7 million LCD monitors shipped in the quarter, 2.8 million were to be used for LCD TVs with smaller screens, including 19” and 22”.

Samsung overtook AUO as the market leader in LCD TFT unit shipments with 20.5 per cent market share, followed by AUO at 20 per cent and LG at 19.8 per cent.

In terms of revenues, the global large-area TFT LCD panel shipments grew 61 per cent Y/Y reaching US$20.9 billion, but declined 9 per cent Q/Q. Samsung led with a 23.6 per cent market share, followed by LG Display at 19.5 per cent and AUO at 19.2 per cent. CMO ranked fourth with 13.5 per cent market share, and Sharp fifth at 7.7 per cent share of total revenues. These top five companies accounted for 83.6 per cent of total revenues in Q1’08, slightly increasing from 83.3 per cent in Q4’07.

“The TV panel shipment decline in Q1’08 reflects the seasonal adjustment of the LCD TV panel demand, but it is influenced by the global macroeconomics slowness,” explained David Hsieh, DisplaySearch’s Vice President of Greater China and lead analyst for large-area panels. “However, the steady shipment of LCD monitor and notebook PC panels in Q1’08 shows the healthy demand for IT products, especially from developing countries. We expect Q2’08 large-area TFT LCD shipments will grow by more than 5 per cent, given the strong momentum in LCD monitor and notebook panels. LCD TV panel price reductions that are beginning this month and panel inventory build-up plans of top tier LCD TV brands will also drive continuous increases in the shipments of LCD TV panels.”

For more information, visit displaysearch.com