Kyo-Yuzen It’s an art of kimono dyeing that was invented around 1700 in the middle of the Edo era in Japan. Characteristic of Yuzen dyeing are stable colors, water resistant, precise patterns, thin lines, artistic blurring, and multi-level gradations.
In the image above, the details are precise. Colors with gradients look beautiful. The green leaves almost have a three dimensional quality. (Photo courtesy: Nikkei Trendy Net)
Ufo Hayashi is a Japanese artist who is known to apply his skills in Kyo-Yuzen to modern high-tech gadgets and transform them into high-tech works of art. (more…)
No Windows, No Atom The new generation of netbooks, Netbook 2.0, will eschew Microsoft’s Windows and Intel’s Atom and instead run on ARM processors and Linux operating systems. Google’s Android, the new open platform operating system for smartphones, is a possibility too. ARM processors are used in almost 90% of mobile phones and naturally sip even less power than Intel’s Atom. According to ARM there could be up to 10 ARM-based netbooks debuting this year. Microsoft will need to sit out since Windows cannot be run on ARM processors at the moment*. (more…)
Sony BRAVIA KDL-46V5100 Specifications
Display: 46″ TFT LCD
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Pixel Format: 1920 x 1080
Contrast Ratio: 5000:1 (static), 50,000:1 (dynamic)
Viewing Angles: 178/178
Color Gamut: 90% NTSC
Connectivity: HDMI (4), Component (2), USB (2), VGA, S-Video, Composite (2)
Tuner: ATSC, NTSC, QAM
Power Consumption: 245W (operational), 1W (standby)
Dimensions:
44.1 x 28.5 x 3.8″ (w/o stand)
44.1 x 30.4 x 12.7″ (w/stand)
Weight: 49.8lbs (w/o stand), 56.2lbs (w/stand)
Price: MSRP US$1799
High Contrast & Color Gamut Sony‘s KDL-46V5100 is a 46″ 1080p LCD TV with some features that stand out. The static contrast ratio of 5000:1 is fairly high and the color gamut is 90% NTSC instead of the regular 72% NTSC probably due to a WCG-CCFL (wide color gamut CCFL) backlight. Other notables include four HDMI plugs.
Nice Design But I like the simple design of the KDL-46V5100 but there does seem to be a some distraction in the smooth design thanks to the buttons and text in the front. Placing them in the front is more convenient but most of us probably don’t use them all that much thanks to the remote control. It would have been better if those buttons were placed on the side of the otherwise good-looking unit.
No 120Hz The KDL-46V5100 falls short in one area: there are no motion blur reduction technologies. If you’re glued to ESPN, I would recommend getting a TV with at least 120Hz.
Deal If you happen to be also in the market for a PS3 (or know someone who is), you might be interested in Best Buy’s deal (ends May 2) where you get $300 off if you purchase both.
Localization “Chisan chishou” means local production for local consumption. Make stuff near the customers. This is the concept that Sharp will be implementing in four regions: China, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America. Mikio Katayama, Sharp’s president, announced on April 8, that the company will forge joint ventures in these regions to construct LCD fabrication plants.
Production Technology “Our core technology isn’t making LCD panels and it isn’t making LCD TVs; it’s production technology,” stated Katayama. Sharp will engage a local partner company and share the cost of building a new LCD fab. The LCD panels will then be sold to the partner including royalties for its intellectual properties. Profits will come sooner because the large cost of building a LCD fab will be significantly reduced. Materials and parts required for LCD manufacture will increasingly be procured locally.
Bold & Smart This is a bold and unique move in the LCD industry. I think it is a smart move by Sharp. Local production for local consumption will allow Sharp to minimize currency fluctuations, import taxes, and distribution costs. Because these LCD factories will be closer to the markets they are serving, Sharp will be able to respond much quicker to what customers want and overall demand fluctuations.
Source: Yahoo! UK & Ireland
80% LED Backlight AU Optronics (AUO), Taiwan’s largest LCD manufacturer, is very optimistic about LED backlights for notebook PCs. The company expects 80% of its LCD panels geared for notebook PC applications to feature LED backlights. That’s a big increase from 60% in Q1’09. The picture you see above is a profile shot of Dell’s Adamo 13 that makes use of a 13.4″ TFT LCD with a LED backlight sporting a 16:9 aspect ratio and 1366 x 768 pixels.
CULV Growth The growth is due in part to growing demand for CULV (consumer ultra-low voltage) notebook models according to AUO. The company claims to have a 20% market share of the global CULV notebook LCD panel market in Q1’09. AUO was the first company to begin developing CULV LCD panels.
“LED TV“ LCD TVs will slowly transition to LED backlights too. Samsung is aggressively promoting its “LED TVs” which are LCD TVs with LED backlights that are positioned on the edges to make them ultra-thin. AUO expects 5% of its total LCD TV panel shipments to feature LED backlights by the end of 2009. That number will double by the end of 2010.
The transition from CCFL to LED as a backlight lightsource is going on strong. The benefits include more ruggedness, thinner LCDs, lower power consumption and greener products thanks to LED not having to make use of mercury, a poisonous substance.
Source: DigiTimes