A new study from NPD DisplaySearch today shows that on average, the diagonal size of LCD and other displays on electronic devices and public signboards is on the rise, with the notable exception of mobile PCs. In some areas, NPD is showing huge growth, like the whopping 38 percent projected increase in mobile phone screen size between 2010 and 2013. → Read More
Reuters is reporting that LCD-maker Sharp is looking at cutting 10 percent of their workforce or about 5,000 jobs globally. Sharp currently has excess LCD panel stock due to a fall in demand this year. → Read More
S-LCD Co., the joint venture for making LCDs for TVs between Sony and Samsung, will soon be history. The Japanese company today announced it will exit the 50-50 venture by selling its share to the Korean rival for US$940 million, after seven years of collaboration.
After inking a final agreement, Samsung is ready to absorb the South Korea-based joint venture into its existing LCD business and… → Read More
If you thought the 4.5-Inch LCD screen with 720×1,280 pixels resolution Hitachi showed three weeks ago is cool, think again: Toshiba today took the wraps off a mobile LCD that’s even better. Sized at 6.1 inches, it boasts 2,560×1,600 pixels resolution and 498 pixels-per-inch density.
Needless to say, the direct-view-type screen is the first of its kind. It has a contrast ratio of 1,000:1… → Read More
Back in February this year, Hitachi Displays took the wraps off a super-advanced LCD for smartphones that boasted a 4.5-inch IPS LCD with 720 x 1,280 resolution. Fast forward to today, and the company is now announcing [JP] the development of a very similar panel with (almost) the same quality that costs “10-20%” less than touch displays currently used in smartphones.
This new panel shares the… → Read More
Sharp Japan announced [JP] the Aquos Quattron 3D LC-70X5 for the local market yesterday, a follow-up of sorts to the LC-70LE735U that’s been available in the States for a few months now. Just like that model, the LCD measures 70 inches, can produce 3D pictures and offers Sharp’s “Quattron Quad Pixel Technology” for better display of colors.
The main selling point of this new model is the full… → Read More
Sharp Japan announced [JP] the i3board PN-L702B for the Japanese market yesterday, a 70-inch electronic whiteboard targeted at businesses and schools. The device is essentially a 70-inch touchscreen (LCD) that comes with a Stylus pen and special software, enabling users to make notes or draw on the screen, scroll or change the size of objects by using gestures.
The whiteboard can be used to… → Read More
Yesterday, we reported about Sony, Hitachi and Toshiba planning to establish a joint venture for small and mid-size LCD panels in Japan. And today, the three companies, plus major shareholder Innovation Network Corporation of Japan, made the plan official.
As reported, the semi-public organization will control 70% of the venture (to be set up by the end of the year), with the other partners… → Read More
Quite big news from Sony, Hitachi, and Toshiba today: according to Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun [JP], the three companies today decided to merge their LCD businesses, at least for smaller and mid-sized screens used in smartphones, handheld gaming devices and tablets.
If the report is to be believed, a joint venture will be set up by the end of the year. What’s interesting is that the… → Read More
Sharp in Japan updated their line of AQUOS LCD TVs with the so-called Freestyle AQUOS F5 series [JP]. The four TVs in that series, sized at 20/32/40 and 60 inches have a few common selling points: they are extremely thin, light (one of them is “portable”), and networked.
The 60-inch flagship model (pictured above and below) comes with a UV2A panel with full HD resolution, LED backlight… → Read More
Sony announced WhiteMagic today, a “next-generation”, 3-inch TFT LCD screen that boasts 1.23M-dot full VGA resolution. What’s special about the display is that it has two distinct modes: if switched to “low power mode”, power consumption of the backlight is pushed down by over 50% to 125mW, with Sony saying brightness in this mode is still comparable to that of conventional LCDs. → Read More
The consolidation process in Japan’s electronics industry continues: Toshiba and Sony are in talks to combine their OLED and small LCD businesses, various Japanese news sources are reporting. The plan is to find synergies in the production for small LCD panels for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices in order to catch up with Sharp, which currently holds the biggest share in the world… → Read More
If you currently look for a large sub display for your computer, Japanese accessory maker Green House has a pretty interesting solution in its pipeline: the GH-USD16K [JP] is a 15.6-inch LCD screen that boasts a power consumption of just 5W and requires only a USB 2.0 connection to work. → Read More
Make it bigger in case you really want some attention: that’s what Sharp must have thought when they thought of this 330-inch (8.4m) digital signage display. The company announced [JP] this monster will be installed in Tokyo station (one of the biggest stations in Tokyo) tomorrow. → Read More
I don’t think thickness in LCD screens is that big a problem anymore, but the thinner, the better, right? Hitachi, or to be more precise, their subsidiary Hitachi Displays, is currently working on an LCD touch screen [JP] that’s about 30% thinner than existing models. According to Japanese business daily The Nikkei, the first prototype panel is just 1.5mm thick. → Read More
Accusations of price fixing like those now being filed in New York are nothing new, but as it turns out, the penalties don’t really stick. LG and Sharp paid hundreds of millions in a settlement back in 2008, Hitachi had its own scandal in 2009, and Sharp is already the defendant in a Dell lawsuit also alleging price fixing. Samsung seems to be the new kid on the block, but I think they can… → Read More
LG just announced their new 3D televisions, and they look tasty. Available in multiple sizes, all of the new models include the networking features that are making TVs so much more then just a plain old display these days. → Read More
Mobile devices that feature dual displays with half-XGA (480 x 1,024) resolution each? According to Sharp, we can get cell phones, portable gaming consoles, and eBook readers with that feature soon, thanks to their new LR388G9 controller [press release in English]. The company says it boosted image processing speeds and built-in video memory from 16Mbits to 32Mbits with the new controller. → Read More
Patents are always so much fun, and such a source of random speculation. Take for example this new LCD display from Nikon. What could it be? Is it for a DLSR? Maybe for video? No one knows, and of course Nikon isn’t talking, but it’s interesting to put your best guess out there. → Read More
For some strange reason, the contrast race seems to be on. TV’s seem to getting higher and high contrast ratio, but LG was claiming a 1,000,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and now BenQ is claiming a 12,000,000:1. → Read More
Yanko is known for their off the wall concept products that never actually materialize. Why do we tell you about them? Because my boss tells me to write them up. Maybe he hopes that someday, one of these products will actually exist. Because you know, dreams can come true. → Read More
This is something gadget modder Ben Heck might have thought about, but if yes, Japanese game peripheral maker HORI (which also sells stuff in the US) was faster this time. The company today announced [JP] a portable LCD screen, which, once attached to the top of a PS3 Slim, makes the console (somewhat) portable. → Read More
Another possible breakthrough for LCD TVs? Researchers at Japanese chemical company Teijin and Yamaguchi University claim they have developed a new technology that makes it possible halve the weight of LCD TVs. Conventional LCDs are based on silicon solid-state devices on glass substrates, which “sandwich” liquid crystals. These devices generate heat when used, prompting manufacturers to go for… → Read More
A research team from Japan-based Mitsui Mining & Smelting and Tohoku University says it managed to develop a spreadable electrode that may lead to lower prices for LCD panels in the future. The key element of the technology are indium tin oxide particles of 5-10 nanometers in diameter (pictured) the team has created. → Read More
Dude, you’re getting sued by Dell! That is, more or less, what five major tech firms — including giants Sharp Corp., Hitachi Ltd., and Toshiba Corp., as well as Seiko Epson and HannStar — were told on Friday, when Dell filed suit at a U.S. district court, charging that the companies engaged in the price fixing of LCD monitors. → Read More
Last week it was Sony, and today it was Hitachi announcing [JP] a flood of new flat-screen TVs for the Japanese market. Hitachi does sell TVs outside this country, too, so chances are the four plasmas and seven LCDs find their way into other markets as well. (Some models will be offered in different colors, which is why you see more than 11 TVs in the picture above.)
The company has divided their… → Read More
Granted, the seven new LCD (non-3D) TVs Sony announced [JP] in Japan today are not as sexy as their 3D counterparts, but they are worth mentioning, too. The new BRAVIAs break down into three series, the NX800, the HX700 and the HDD-equipped BX-30H. In contrast to the 3D TVs presented today, Sony didn’t go into details regarding international sales plans for their 2D models. → Read More
What’s least energy efficient part of your laptop? The LCD, correct. What are your options? Stop using computers? I would if I could, believe me. Or, you could be a little adventurous and try to swap out the LCD with another, more energy efficient one. Sort of like hammering a nail with a sledgehammer, yes. → Read More
They fought each other in courts in the USA, Europe, Japan and Korea since summer 2007, but now Samsung and Sharp finally settled [Sharp's official press release in English] all their ongoing lawsuits over LCD technology patents. The suits (initiated by Sharp) concerned a total of five different LCD-related technologies Sharp owned, i.e. regarding the “brightness, response speeds and viewing… → Read More
We have seen curved plasmas, OLED TVs and LCDs in the past, both as prototypes and actual products. And while many people believe OLED screens and not LCDs or plasmas are the future, a Japanese consortium of 13 companies and institutions is working hard on developing super-thin, flexible LCDs. The companies claim they now have found a way to produce these LCDs by using plastic film instead of… → Read More
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