BenQ Corp (2352.TW) announced that its board of directors (BOD) has decided to sell 100 million shares of AU Optronics Corp (2409.TW) through a block deal. BenQ currently owns 638.03 million shares in AUO (NYSE: AUO), representing an 8.42% stake. The 100 million shares represent about 15% of BenQ’s AUO shares. Proceeds from the share sale will be used to adjust the company’s financial structure. In today’s trade, BenQ closed up NT$0.85 at 13.30. AUO fell 0.80 to 47.60 or down US$0.41 to US$14.30, based on US$1 = NT$33.10. AUO’s stock seems to be about flat YTD. Source: Forbes
Samsung’s new PAVV Bordeaux LCD TVs come in three sizes: 40″, 46″ and 52″. The model names are LN40M81BD, LN46M81BD and LN52M81BD. All three are Full HD 1080p capable and have Samsung’s Crystal Black Panel technology that quadruples the contrast ratio to 15,000:1. In addition, by incorporating the company’s Wide Color Control Plus technology, green and blue colors become significantly more vibrant than previous models.
The external design improves upon the sleek Bordeaux black by using glossy material all around. These three new Bordeaux models come with ACAP, which allows bi-directional data transmission, and three HDMI inputs. With Samsung’s Crystal Black Panel technology for its LCD TVs and its True Black Panel technology for its PDP TVs, Samsung is planning for a PAVV Black Campaign all through 2007.
In Korea, Samsung will begin TV commercials, initiate a variety of events in subways and strategic areas in late March. Prices will be around KRW3.3M (~US$3,512) for the 40″, KRW4.4M (~US$4,683) for the 46″ and KRW5.5M (~US$5,854) for the 52″, based on a KRW to US$ currency exchange rate of KRW939.50 to US$1.
Source: Samsung
Technorati Tags: Samsung, LCD TV, Full HD, 1080p
Toshiba Matsushita Display (TMD) announced on March 20, seven new LCDs with LED backlights geared for notebook PCs. The LED backlight provides a low-profile, lightweight and low-power consumption. TMD is focused on high-end displays using low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) technology and was the first to commercialize a LED-backlit 11.1″ with a pixel format of 1366 x 768 in October 2005. That went into Sony’s ultra-portable TX series notebook PC.
The LED backlight is Mercury-free and RoHS compliant in addition to having lower operating voltages and increased durability against impacts and vibration. The glass used in the new LCDs are just 0.3mm thick. The 10.4″ 1024 x 768 LCD panel is just 120g while the 12.1″ 1024 x 768 LCD is just 135g. Here are the specifications:
8.9″: 1280 x 768, 130g, 200cd/m2, 2.9W
10.4″: 1024 x 768, 120g, 240cd/m2, 2.4W
10.6″: 1280 x 768, 150g, 300cd/m2, 2.8W
11.1″: 1366 x 768, 146g, 240cd/m2, 3.7W
12.1″: 1024 x 768, 135g, 300cd/m2, 3.1W
12.1″: 1280 x 800, 183g, 300cd/m2, 3.5W
13.3″: 1280 x 800, 225g, 300cd/m2, 4.0W
Most likely the LED used in these LCD panels are White LEDs that use a blue chip and yellow phosphor. The color gamut is not improved but is also not degraded from that of normal CCFL-based backlights. The cost is a factor and notebook PCs incorporating these LED-backlit panels will most likely be slightly higher in price than your normal units.
Of course, I would be very surprised (pleasantly!) if Apple comes out with the 13.3″ MacBook sporting the 13.3″ TMD LED-backlit LCD panel. Imagine a thinner, lighter and longer-lasting MacBook. I would pay exactly $1099 for the base model. Technology gets cheaper by the day. I’m so glad.
Source: TMD
LG Electronics received awards in 29 categories including the “Best of the Best” award for its PRADA phone, at the red dot Design Awards 2007. The PRADA phone by LG (LG-KE850) is the world’s first full touch screen interface mobile phone and was co-developed by LG Electronics and PRADA. Although Apple’s iPhone was the first to be announced, LG’s PRADA phone is the first to be shipped and available to customers. A technical point, but true nonetheless.
The red dot Design Award, along with the iF Design Award, are prestigious industrial design awards in Europe. The gala award ceremony will take place on June 25, 2007, at the Essen Aalto Theatre in Essen, Germany. I wish I could go.
Source: Digital Daily, The PRADA phone by LG
Acer introduced five new LCD monitors in the US. I would like to concentrate on the 24″ wide LCD monitor, the x241Wsd. It has a pixel format of 1920 x 1200, enough to view Full HD 1080p video content, a contrast ratio of 1000:1, a brightness of 400 cd/m2 and a response time of 5ms. The external design is ok but is nothing to write home about: I think some of Dell’s new monitor designs actually look better than this, which is saying a lot about how average this Acer looks from the picture.
The 22″ version (x221Wsd) sports a 1680 x 1050 pixel format that is really good for nothing when it comes to video. That pixel format isn’t all that useful for two-page mode either since each page has only 840 x 1050 pixels. The only useful tool is Excel as you get many more columns to work with. The best, in my humble opinion, is to get 1920 x 1200. Full HD video, two-page (960 x 1200, not ideal, but better than most), and tons of columns in Excel. The x241Wsd is priced right at $600.
Source: Engadget