LG Electronics Scarlet LCD TV Specifications
Size: 32″, 42″, 47″, 52″
Pixel Format: 1920×1080
Response Time: 4ms
Contrast Ratio: 50,000:1 (dynamic)
Frequency: 100Hz (Europe)
Input: HDMI 1.3
LG: On April 29, 2008, LG Electronics (LGE) unveiled its Scarlet LCD TV at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles. LGE claims that Scarlet is the world’s slimmest LCD TV. The Scarlet LCD TV is also known as LG60 and in Europe as LG6000. A 47″ model is already available in the UK featuring a pixel format of 1920 x 1080 and 100Hz.
The Scarlet LCD TV is just 1.7″ (45mm) thick. Similar to Samsung’s Touch of Color design theme, the Scarlet LCD TV has a red-hued black color. The Scarlet incorporates LGE’s TruMotion 100Hz technology to reduce motion blur.
Kwan-Sup (KS) Lee, Natassia Malthe, David Nutter
Natassia “Scarlet” Malthe was chosen as the celebrity best representing LGE’s Scarlet LCD TV. Natassia was chosen for her intelligence, mysterious beauty, and a multicultural background. LGE wanted the Scarlet LCD TV have those qualities and to appeal to a global audience. Interesting.
Update 2008.05.14: An industry source informed me today that the Scarlet LCD TV has some very unique design considerations. To make most of the upper portion as thin as possible, the electronics that typically cover the backside of the LCD were shifted down. As a result most of the Scarlet LCD TV is extremely thin and then has a sort of bell-bottom shape as the line progresses downward. This is an outside-the-box design for LG and it is good to see LG take some risky (and sexy!) steps in product design as well as marketing.
Reuters: According to DisplaySearch, a display market research firm, LG Electronics (LGE) took the top spot in Q1’08 as the largest plasma display panel (PDP) manufacturer. The main reason for LGE’s ascension is the explosive growth of 32″ PDPs. 32″ PDP shipment share rose from 11% in Q4’07 to 15% in Q1’08. LGE’s 32″ PDP shipments grew 97% Y/Y in Q1’08.
LG 32PC5RV 32″ PDP TV
LGE’s share of overall PDP shipments was 34.8% in Q1’08 followed by Samsung SDI with 30.5% and Matsushita with 27%. DisplaySearch notes that Q1’08 was the first quarter that Matsushita was not the top supplier since Q3’06. Samsung SDI saw strong shipments of 42″ PDPs. Overall PDP shipments in Q1’08 decreased 19% Q/Q and increased 53% Y/Y to 3.5 million units.
Keep in mind that 32″ PDPs are of the ED category; they are not HD. ED can be defined as panels that have a pixel format of 854 x 480. This pixel format is great for viewing DVDs but not much else. That’s not a big problem for some. In our family, most of the video that is being viewed is actually DVD!
Sharp: On April 30, 2008, AMIMON announced that Sharp is partnering with AMIMON to incorporate a wireless HD link into Sharp’s X-Series LCD TVs. AMIMON’s wireless HD link is called Wireless High Definition Interface (WHDI). According to AMIMON its WHDI wireless connection provides uncompressed 1080p data rates of up to 3Gbps in a 40MHz channel in the 5GHz unlicensed band.
Sharps 37″ (LC-37XJ1-B), 42″ (LC-42XJ1-B) and 46″ (LC-46XJ1-B) X-Series LCD TVs will sport AMIMON’s WHDI and will be available in both the US and Japan. Another feature of Sharp’s X-Series LCD TVs is that they are are just 3.44cm (3.54cm = 1″) thick at its thinnest part.
AMIMON is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and has offices in Israel, Japan and South Korea. The company is a fabless semiconductor company focused on wireless uncompressed HD video connectivity.
Samsung 2253LW Specifications
Size: 22″ (21.6″)
Aspect Ratio: 16:10
Pixel Format: 1680×1050
Brightness: 300 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1, 8000:1 (dynamic)
Response Time: 2ms (Gray to Gray: GTG)
Viewing Angle: 170/160
Input: DVI-D with HDCP, VGA
Samsung: Another Samsung 22-inch LCD monitor! The 2253LW, similar to the 2243NWX has a superb 8000:1 dynamic contrast ratio specification. Aside the from the size and the limited viewing angle, the two are distinct. For instance, the GTG response time of 2ms for the 2253LW is extremely fast. What this means is that watching motion picture or playing games on it would look fairly good. The DVD-D with HDCP will allow you to watch HD content without a hiccup. Also the design is fairly nice. I am noticing a transparent bar on the bottom of the 2253LW. I wonder what that’s for.
Samsung 2243NWX Specifications
Size: 22″
Aspect Ratio: 16:10
Pixel Format: 1680×1050
Brightness: 300 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 and 8000:1 (dynamic)
Response Time: 5ms
Viewing Angle: 170/160
Input: VGA
Sumaria: Samsung’s 2243NWX is a 22″ LCD monitor without many bells and whistles. The very high 8000:1 dynamic contrast ratio is the lone special feature. As in most 22″ LCD monitors, the 2243NWX uses a TN+Film LCD panel that limits the viewing angle to just 170/160. If color purity is an important criterion, opt for viewing angles of 178/178, which likely means that the LCD panel is of the MVA, PVA or IPS variety. If color purity isn’t something that’s very important to you and you tend to look at the monitor from just dead on, then the limited viewing angle shouldn’t be a concern as 170/160 is certainly good enough for those type of users. One glaring omission is the lack of any digital input ports. There is no DVI port or a HDMI port. The 2243NWX has a swivel and tilt capability. As in all LCD monitors, proper re-calibration of image settings for your work (or play) requirements are necessary to bring out the best possible display. I have seen on the web where customers were dealing with a 2243NWX that was slightly bluish.
CMO: Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) is planning to build a 10th (G10) or 11th (G11) generation TFT LCD fabrication plant and commence operations in the 2011 to 2012 time frame. CMO is expected to invest between NT$120 – 150 billion (US$3.95 – 4.93 billion) to build the new plant. The final glass input capacity is slated to be 100,000 substrates per month or more. Whether CMO will choose G10 or G11 is still unknown as the company will need to decide which generation LCD fab will allow it to be more competitive in supplying 50″ and 60″ LCD TV panels. In my opinion, G10 would be more economical as equipment for that size is currently being developed to supply Sharp and S-LCD. Deviating from a previously-developed size can become very costly as LCD fabrication plants move toward processing larger and larger glass substrates.
CMO is working hard with its current LCD fabs to increase capacity. The company’s G6 line commenced volume production in March 2008, which was ahead of schedule. The G6 line has glass input capacity of about 10,000 substrates per month currently and is expected to increase to 80,000 substrates per month by the end of 2008. Originally, CMO planned for a year-end capacity of 50,000 substrates per month. That is a 60% increase compared to the previous plan. The G6 line will most likely be loaded with 32″ and 37″ LCD TV panels. Now with the trend toward smaller and more affordable LCD TV sets at the retail end, production might shift toward smaller 26″ and less toward the larger sizes.
CMO also has a G7.5 fab with a current capacity of 50,000 glass substrates per month. According to the company its G7.5 fab will ramp to a monthly input capacity of 100,000 substrates by the end of 2008. The main sizes that will be loaded on to its G7.5 will be 32″, 40″, 42″ and 47″ LCD TV panels. I suspect that it will be more 40″ or 42″. 40″ to supply Samsung and possibly Sony and 42″ to supply LG, Philips and other brands.
CMO is currently building a G8.5 LCD fab and is expected to begin moving in LCD equipment in late 2008. The initial monthly capacity will be 30,000 glass substrates according to CMO. Most likely, larger 40″-class and smaller 50″-class LCD TV panel sizes would be loaded.
In the company’s recent Q1’08 results, LCD TV panel sales comprised 47% of overall sales. LCD monitors took in 38%, notebook PC panels were 10% and small/medium panel sales were 5% of the overall NT$92.1 billion.
Here is the list of CMO’s current lineup of LCD fabs:
[ Generation, Substrate, Capacity (March 2008 and December 2008), Main Products ]
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