Edge-Lit LED Backlighting Moving to Samsung TVs

A new product is slated to come out of the Samsung labs and into the market soon. Samsung is reportedly beginning the mass production of its new HDTV; the kind that's so thin, it can be hung on the wall like a painting. The difference between this new product and the usual ultra-thin HDTVs? Energy consumption.

Samsung's lightweight super-thin TV utilizes a technology that allows it to consume up to 40 percent less what a conventional TV of the same size and capacity consumes. The savings in energy are due to its LED backlighting. But while it's natural to think the LED lights themselves save energy, there's actually one more factor that contributes to its efficiency - the LED lighting's placement on the LCD.

Samsung's new HDTV uses edge-lit LED backlighting that places LED lights in rows on the top and the bottom of the panel.

In this position, the light is directed or focused towards the center of the screen for better picture quality and lesser energy use. The LEDs used for the backlighting are, of course, mercury-free as well. "There is a rising demand for light weight large TVs that can be mounted on the wall like a painting, with LED backlighting as a higher quality alternative to the more common CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) technology," said W. K. Chang, president of Samsung Electronics LCD Division.

Samsung's new HDTV will come in 40-inch, 46-inch and 55-inch diagonal size models when they are released to the public.

Sony recalls laptop batteries

Sony is recalling its 2.15Ah Lithium Ion batteries used in Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba and Dell notebook computers.

New Zealand is part of computer manufacturers' global recall of 100,000 laptop batteries made by Sony Corp after 40 incidents of overheating world-wide.

Some users reported smoke or flames. Four of the incidents resulted in minor skin burns while 21 of the cases caused damage to property, Sony said.

Details of the laptop models affected were available on the various company websites.

Laptop owners were advised to immediately remove the recalled battery from the computer and request a free replacement battery through the company's website.

After removing the recalled battery, the AC adapter can be used to power the computer until a replacement battery arrived.

Sony said the defect appeared to have been caused by a problem with a production line during October 2004 and June 2005.

Its own VAIO notebook computers were not affected by the recall.

In 2006 Sony was hit by recalls of almost 10 million of its batteries for laptop computers because of fears they could catch fire, burning a deep hole in the Japanese giant's profits.

Sony still on the offensive

Sony Corp. chairperson Howard Stringer said on Monday the electronics giant was keeping up its long-term global ambitions despite taking a "very, very strong" hit in the global financial crisis.

The iconic Japanese firm last week slashed its net profit forecast for the year to March by more than half, blaming a soaring yen, intense competition and a global financial crisis that has sapped demand.

"We are a very strong export business in Japan. Most of our business comes from exports, over 80 percent," Stringer, Sony's first foreign chief, told a business forum in Tokyo.

"So the impact on us is always going to be very, very strong. There is no hiding that," he said.

Stringer said, however, that the global crisis could provide Sony opportunities to seek out acquisitions, reorganise or to seek out talent from other firms.

"Those who say crisis is an opportunity are usually right," he said.

Sony could use the crisis as "an opportunity to make things more smooth and streamlined and more effective," he said, adding that Sony would maintain its long-term business goals for now.

Stringer said Sony was continuing to boost digital networking functions of its products including its games, hoping for an area to challenge US rivals Intel, Microsoft and Apple.

Sony, which changed the way the world listened to music with the Walkman, faced widespread criticism for failing to produce gadgets to rival Apple's hugely successful iPod.

Sony is also enjoying a strong brand image and expanding presence in emerging markets, particularly Brazil, Russia, India and China, he said.

Stringer also predicted strong growth for "at least the next five to 10 years" from sales of next-generation Blu-ray DVDs and players.

Blu-ray fended off a challenge from rival Toshiba Corp.'s HD DVD to be the next standard in DVDs, although some technology pundits say it is only a matter of time before consumers turn off on DVDs altogether.

"I understand there is digital downloads. But if you are talking about full, high-definition, high-quality programming, that's not going to come from digital downloading to most homes any time soon," Stringer said.

Stronger Yen

Sony is one of many Japanese firms hurting from the appreciation of the yen, which has jumped to a 13-year high against the dollar.

Canon Inc., long one of Japan's most profitable companies, said on Monday its net profit would fall for the first time in nine years due in part to the strong yen. It slashed its net profit forecast for the year by 25 percent.

"The high yen keeps getting higher. But at some point, the yen will come back because it doesn't make sense over the long haul for the yen to be that high," Stringer said.

"Of the shortfall that caused us to revise our forecast, 75 percent of it is directly related to foreign exchange and stock markets," he said.

Tom Enders, chief executive of European aviation giant Airbus Industrie, told the same forum that both government and business leaders shared blame for the financial crisis.

"This downturn is not just a result of a financial crisis. It is a result of lack of anticipation, lack of transparency," he said.

"You could also call it 'leadership crisis'" he said.

Andrew Liveris, head of the Dow Chemical Co., said the crisis would have "lasting consequences," with market players diversifying their positions and growing regulation in the United States.

"I think risk will be defined and priced in a very different way than it was priced in the past seven or eight years," Liveris said.

LCD TV to become largest consumer electronics market by 2012

LCD TV to become largest consumer electronics market by 2012, says iSuppli
Press release, October 13; Ricky Morris, DIGITIMES [Monday 13 October 2008]

Defying challenging economic conditions, the global LCD TV market is expected to continue its rapid growth during the coming years, causing it to become the largest segment of the consumer electronics industry by 2012, according to iSuppli.

Sheri Greenspan, senior analyst, consumer electronics for iSuppli, recently predicted worldwide OEM factory revenues for LCD TVs will rise to US$110.8 billion in 2012, nearly double the US$61 billion in 2007. In 2012, LCD TV revenues will exceed that of consumer appliances. At present, LCD TV is the second largest revenues-generating segment of the 20 consumer electronics product categories tracked by iSuppli.

"Consumers want their electronics, in good times and in bad," commented Greenspan. "Because of this, the consumer electronics market will continue its incremental growth over the next four years, driven by LCD TVs, along with consumer appliances, digital set-top boxes (STBs), digital still cameras and games consoles."

Factors driving LCD TV shipment growth include the global transition to digital broadcasting, rapidly declining prices, and consumer preferences for high-definition displays and thin form-factor sets.

Greenspan noted that global consumer electronics OEM factory revenues rose by 2% in 2007 and are expected to increase by another 6.5% in 2008.

In parallel with the rise of the LCD TV market will be the expansion of the digital STB segment. "Global digital STB factory revenues are expected to grow to US$25.6 billion by 2012, rising at a CAGR of 11% from US$15.2 billion in 2007," Greenspan said. "Consumers continue to upgrade their televisions with new premium services, like HD and Video on Demand (VoD), requiring new STBs." Shipments of STBs also will be driven by consumer demand for Digital Video Recording (DVR), which is increasingly becoming standard in STBs.

Other consumer electronics growth areas include digital still cameras, whose revenues will rise to US$26.9 billion in 2012, expanding at a CAGR of 6.6% from US$19.6 billion in 2007. "Growing demand for the higher-priced digital SLR cameras is helping drive overall pricing up, as is continued consumer interest in higher resolutions and video-capture capabilities," Greenspan said.

Games console revenues are expected to grow to US$14 billion in 2012, rising at a CAGR of 5.9% from US$10 billion in 2007. Mass market adoption, new game titles, accessories and price reductions are helping drive demand, along with evolution of games consoles into media centers, Greenspan said.

Harmonic convergence

Greenspan noted that a massive number of consumer electronics products are prime candidates to undergo a convergence of functionality. More than 800 million individual consumer electronics products shipped worldwide in 2008 could potentially be affected by some form of convergence, a number that will rise to 1.2 billion by 2012. "Elements driving the convergence trend include peer pressure and the 'coolness' factor," Greenspan said. "It also will help consumers to save money as it often costs less to buy a device with converged functionality, rather than buying several devices."

LG HDTV | 60PG7000 | LG UK

60PG7000
60" HD Ready 1080p Plasma TV with built in Bluetooth, 100hz, Frameless design, Dual XD engine, 4xhdmi and USB 2.0(JPEG / MP3 Playback)

Vivid Picture Quality
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• 100Hz
• Dual XD Engine
• AV Mode
• 30,000 :1

Playability
• SIMPLINK with 4 HDMI
• 1080p Input Ready for Blu-ray & HD-DVD
• USB 2.0

Dynamic & Deep Sound
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• Dolby Digital & Surround Max

Luxurious Design
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• Swivel Stand