LG Display (LPL) announced earnings results for Q4’08 on January 16, 2009. Sales in Q4’08 increased 8% Q/Q and decreased 4% Y/Y to KRW 4,156 billion. LPL experienced an operating loss of KRW 288 billion in Q4’08 from an operating profit of KRW 254 billion in Q3’08. Net loss in Q4’08 was KRW 684 billion a complete reversal from a KRW 295 billion net profit.
The net loss in Q4’08 included the entire US$400 million fine related to the antitrust investigation of the LCD industry in the US market. The fine will be paid over five years starting in 2009.
Samsung LUXIA LN55B8000 Specifications
Display: 55″ PVA (Patterned Vertical Alignment) TFT LCD with LED Backlight
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Pixel Format: 1920 x 1080
Frequency: 240Hz
Connectivity: Ethernet, WiFi (additional adapter required)
Energy Consumption: Energy Star 3.0 Compliant
Samsung‘s LUXIA LN55B8000 is a 55″ LCD TV that sports a LED backlight. The LED backlight is located on the edges and therefore cannot be used in conjunction with local dimming–a technology that can significantly boost contrast. The edge-lit LED backlight however makes the LN55B8000 extremely thin, just about an inch thick. LEDs also consume a bit less power compared to CCFLs.
On the performance front, the LN55B8000 features a 240Hz frequency to make sure that motion blur and juddering are things of the past. The “Ultra Clear” anti-reflective LCD reduces reflections (always a good thing) and improves contrast.
The LN55B8000 comes with a built-in Ethernet connection allowing it to make use of the Internet@TV service: Yahoo widgets that give you access to Flickr, Yahoo News, Yahoo Weather, USA Today, YouTube, Showtime, etc.
Source: CNET
[tags]Samsung, Samsung LN55B8000, LN55B8000, Samsung B8000 Series, B8000 Series, Samsung 55″ LCD TV, 55″ LCD TV, LED Backlight, 240Hz, 240Hz LCD TV, LCD TV with LED Backlight, 1920 x 1080, 1080p[/tags]
Panasonic TC-P54Z1 Specifications
Display: 54″ NeoPDP
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Pixel Format: 1920 x 1080
Contrast Ratio: 40,000:1 (static), 2,000,000:1 (dynamic)
Other: External Tuner Box Wirelessly Connected (WirelessHD), THX Certified Display
Dimensions: 1″ thick
Availability: Summer 2009
Panasonic‘s TC-P54Z1 is just 1″ thick. As you can see from the video the 54″ plasma TV is super-thin and looks great. Panasonic was able to make it so thin by taking out the tuner and connecting the tuner to the TV via a WirelessHD connection. The TC-P54Z1 sports a 1920 x 1080 pixel format and has an incredible 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. The super-thin 54″ plasma TV from Panasonic will be available in the summer of 2009. Video after the break.
Eizo FlexScan S2242W-H Specifications
Display: 22″ TFT LCD
Aspect Ratio: 16:10
Pixel Format: 1920 x 1200
Contrast: 1200:1
Response Time: 6ms (Gray to Gray, GTG), 12ms (black-to-white)
Color Gamut: 95% Adobe RGB, 92% NTSC
Connectivity: VGA, DVI with HDCP, USB
Adjustability: Pivot, Tilt, Height
Other: Auto-adjust Backlight
Availability: February 5, 2009 in Japan
Price: ¥69,800 (about US$780)
Eizo just announced its FlexScan S2242W-H, a 22″ LCD monitor sporting a high color gamut of 95% Adobe RGB or 92% NTSC. The S2242W-H is clearly geared for those who require a high level of color fidelity. My guess is the S2242W-H achieves the higher color gamut thanks to a Wide Color Gamut CCFL (WCG-CCFL). The S2242W-H features a 1920 x 1200 pixel format, a relatively fast 6ms (GTG) response time, a high contrast ratio of 1200:1 and an auto-adjusting backlight that responds to the brightness level of the image shown to improve the contrast ratio. The S2242W-H is not going to be cheap at all at ¥69,800 or about US$780. Although this is speculation, maybe the S2242W-H has a nice IPS (In-Plane Switching) LCD panel inside to justify the high price. Update: It turns out the S2242W-H makes use of a VA LCD panel. So it’s either MVA or PVA.
Source: Impress PC Watch (translated) via Electronista via Engadget
[tags]Eizo, Eizo FlexScan S2242W-H, Eizo S2242W-H, Eizo 22″ LCD Monitor, 22″ LCD Monitor, 1920 x 1200, Wide Color Gamut LCD Monitor, Wide Color Gamut[/tags]
Dell 2209WA Specifications
CNET: The Dell 2209WA is a 22″ LCD monitor that sports an e-IPS (In-Plane Switching) LCD panel. The ‘e’ prefix probably denotes ‘economy’ and makes IPS LCD panels a lot more affordable. The price is AU$459 or right around US$300: a bit on the expensive side for a 22″ LCD monitor but we’ll see if the price is worth it.
I believe the 2209WA is the first 22″ with an IPS LCD… actually Apple’s 22″ LCD monitor from a very long time ago would be the very first. IPS LCD panels geared for LCD monitors are mostly manufactured by LG Display (LPL). Hitachi, IPS Alpha and HannStar are others that also supply IPS LCD panels. (Full disclosure: I used to work at LG Display but no longer do.)
Viewing angles are very wide at 178/178 but that’s only half the story: colors shift very little at wide angles, a feature not all LCD panels can claim. The 6ms response time is good but not ultra-fast; 1000:1 contrast is very good on a monitor; the 300 cd/m2 of brightness is quite bright (you’d want to dim it a bit). The 2209WA comes with two connections: DVI and VGA.
I would like to see a 22″ IPS version with a 1920×1200 pixel format: that would make it THE best 22″ LCD monitor. CNET AU did a quick review and stated that, “This is the best 22-inch monitor we’ve seen.”
Philips Cinema 21:9 Specifications
Philips Cinema 21:9 line of LCD TVs are ultra-wide and sport an aspect ratio of 21:9, perfect for those who watch film. The 21:9 aspect ratio is very close to the human visual system that has roughly a 2:1 aspect ratio and is the reason why we get such a full visual experience when watching film at the theaters. Philips is right to claim that its Cinema 21:9 is the world’s first cinema-proportioned LCD TV.
While at CES and after looking at Sony‘s VAIO P ultraportable notebook PC that has roughly a 2:1 aspect ratio with its 8″ LCD, I was bouncing off just this idea to John, a good friend of mine. It is good to know that someone out there was thinking outside of the box and I look forward to more LCD TV brands coming out with cinema proportioned versions. It would be great to see ultra-wide LCDs integrated into multimedia LCD monitors and notebook PCs as well.
LG 15″ OLED TV Prototype Specifications
Display: 15″ Wide OLED
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Pixel Format: 1366 x 768
Frequency: 120Hz
Dimensions: 0.85mm thick
LG showcased its 15″ OLED TV prototype during CES 2009. The most stunning feature about the 15″ OLED TV was how thin it was: just 0.85mm. That is extremely thin. Have a look at the video above to see for yourself how thin that looks. The pixel format of 1366 x 768 is quite high considering that Sony‘s XEL-1 at 11″ sports just 960 x 540. If LG decides to make this commercially available it would be the first HD OLED TV and the world’s largest that you can actually buy. Also bear in mind that LG’s prototype is running at 120Hz, double that of Sony’s.
When asked about commercial production of the 15″ OLED TV, I received different answers from different people. A LG representative on the show floor said that summer of 2009 would be around the time when the 15″ OLED TV could enter mass production. Another said it could be available some time in 2009 and that there is the possibility that it could be in 2010. I also spoke with others that said the OLED panel is ready for mass production and is waiting for LG Electronics to give it the green light.
[tags]LG, LG 15″ OLED TV, LG OLED TV, LG OLED TV CES, 15″ OLED TV, 1366 x 768, 120Hz OLED TV, OLED TV, OLED[/tags]
Panasonic has announced that it will be reducing its capital investment toward PDP (plasma display panel) and LCD TV plants through 2012 by JPY135 billion (about US$1.5 billion) to JPY445 billion from an initial plan of JPY580 billion. Panasonic has both PDP and LCD module plants. The CAPEX cut will be focused squarely on the company’s fifth PDP plant that is currently under construction at Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Panasonic originally had planned to invest JPY280 billion in the plant but has decided to decrease it by JPY70 billion to just JPY210 billion.
Panasonic will also reduce investments at its affiliate IPS Alpha, which is a LCD manufacturing company where Panasonic has significant share. IPS Alpha’s latest LCD fab will be built in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture. Panasonic originally planned JPY300 billion for the LCD fab but has reduced it by JPY65 billion to just JPY235 billion.
According to a Bloomberg article, Sharp‘s CEO Katsuhiko Machida mentioned that LCD panel prices may stop falling in March, “The price will hit the bottom when inventories are gone, and we estimate that will happen by the end of this March.” LCD manufacturers have been experiencing extreme stress in the second half of 2008 where inventory was building and demand for LCD products were collapsing.
LCD suppliers throttled down LCD fab utilization rates to historical lows to prevent continued build-up of inventory in the channel. LCD panel prices had decreased to below cash cost and some suppliers even refused to sell any LCD panels at below cash cost due to heavy lossses. Sharp also announced in December that two LCD panel production lines at two plants located in western Japan would be closed to maintain profitability.
“At their worst last year, LCD panel inventories rose to 14 million. Since most LCD makers started postponing new investments last fall, supplies are decreasing rapidly,” according to Machida. Sharp reduced its net income foreast by 43% to JPY60 billion (about US$669 million) for the year ending March 31.
Source: Bloomberg
[tags]Sharp, Katsuhiko Machida, LCD Manufacturer, Display Manufacturer[/tags]
DisplayPort is getting a lot of attention lately, thanks mostly to Apple though Dell has been pushing DisplayPort for a long time. VESA will be adding Apple’s Mini DisplayPort and stereoscopic 3D into the DisplayPort 1.2 specifications, which will be finalized and published in mid-2009. Stereoscopic 3D requires quite a bit more bandwidth so that will increase to 5.4Gbps. With increased bandwidth comes a ton more pixel pushing capability: four 1920 x 1200 displays, one 3840 x 2160 display or one 1920 x 1080 (I’m assuming 1920 x 1200 will work too) stereoscopic 3D display.
Source: Register Hardware via Mac Rumors via Engadget
[tags]DisplayPort, VESA, Mini DisplayPort, Stereoscopic 3D, DisplayPort 1.2, 1920 x 1200, 3480 x 2160[/tags]
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