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TOKYO, May 30 (Reuters) - Japan's Toshiba Corp said on Friday that it has started outsourcing production of liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions to a Taiwanese maker, the first time the electronics maker has contracted out such TVs in large volume.

Confirming an earlier report in the Nikkei business daily, Toshiba said it is outsourcing production of LCD TVs for the U.S. market, and shipments from Taiwan began in February.

Toshiba spokesman Keisuke Ohmori declined to reveal the name of the Taiwanese maker or other details of the manufacturing contract.

The paper also said Toshiba is considering launching a new mobile audio-visual device by the business year ending in March 2010, following its exit from the next-generation DVD business.

Toshiba aims to come up with products that showcase the company's technologies such as NAND flash memory chips and small hard disks, but launch dates and other details have not been set, Ohmori said.

Shares in Toshiba were up 1.4 percent at 930 yen as of 0145 GMT, outperforming a 1.1 percent rise in the benchmark Nikkei average. (Reporting by Sachi Izumi, editing by Brent Kininmont)

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Sony promises Tru2way LCD TV

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Sony has reached a deal with six US cable companies, to develop an LCD set integrating Comcast’s Tru2way cable TV platform.

With Tru2way technology, Sony’s new LCD TV will be able to receive cable services without the need for a set-top-box.

Comcast announced Tru2way at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, in January 2008.

Sony isn’t the first to integrate Tru2way technology in its sets.

Panasonic has already announced two HDTVs and portable digital video recorder with Tru2Way, while Samsung has announced its own Tru2way TV and high-definition DVR.

Sony is the latest manufacturer to sign up to the tru2way cable platform, the standard announced at CES 2008 that aims to integrate cable services into TVs rather than rely on set-top boxes. The inclusion of tru2way would also mean customers could access the interactive elements being offered by multiple cable companies, no matter which service they were using. Currently Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications and Cablevision are all supporting the standard, between them making up the top six spots for the US’ largest cable companies.

For consumers, the deal will make connecting a new TV to a cable supplier one step easier, bypassing the traditional set-top box. It could also improve picture quality, depending on which connections might’ve been used with a seperate tuner. The agreement discusses how video-on-demand, digital video recording and interactive programming guides will be delivered.

Sony is yet to discuss its timescale for producing a tru2way TV. It’s also unclear whether all of the models in the company’s US range will be suitably equipped; the full text of the agreement has not been released, but initial reports appear to suggest that it could be as few as one specific LCD model.

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Two-thirds of shoppers would rather buy an LCD than a plasma TV, but that many consumers are carrying some misconceptions that manufacturers may want to correct.

That is one of the results of a recent consumer survey of buying preferences and attitudes conducted by audio/video market research firm TFC.

Among the most important factors influencing many shoppers’ buying decisions is product longevity, TFC Info’s “Flat Panel End User Survey: LCD vs. Plasma 2008,” revealed.

The researchers discovered that “manufacturers seem to be giving these shoppers too much credit for their knowledge of display technologies, especially with regard to product lifetime. The results showed clearly that manufacturers do not use the kind of language that the average shoppers leverage in buying decisions.”

More than half of the surveyed flat panel purchasers said that flat panel technology has an expected product life of five years, not realizing that the lifetime of both LCD and plasma displays will often exceed this with normal viewing, TFC said.

“Since so many respondents placed high importance on product lifetime, it would be advantageous for manufacturers of flat screen displays to address this misconception and confusion regarding lifetime of these displays in different terms,” TFC said in its report.

The report also found that manufacturers may not be giving shoppers enough credit in their purchase decisions pertaining to price. Although price is important to shoppers; the number of current and future flat panel purchasers who rated price as most important was not as high as many believed, TFC said.

“Flat panel purchasers are not as price sensitive as many put them down to be. LCD panels have been gaining market-share against plasma even in sizes where plasma had the price advantage,” stated Tanya Lippke, TFC Info Manager of Survey Market Research. “Although displays must be within a competitive price range for their size and resolution to be considered, clearly within that range customers are choosing technologies based on other factors and have not been picking the lowest priced display.”

Respondents were surveyed on important buying factors, and price did not even make the coveted top three.

Factors Rated Very Important By Flat-Panel Purchasers

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Chi Mei Group to Tap Branded LCD TV Segment in China

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Taipei, May 27, 2008 (CENS)--Chi Mei Group, a Taiwan-based leading supplier of electronics, is to officially penetrate the Chinese market with its CHIMEI-branded LCD (liquid crystal display) TVs this June and expects to sell between 30,000 and 40,000 units this year, according to Ben Cheng, vice president at Nexgen Mediatech Inc., a LCD TV maker under the group.

Cheng indicated that sales of LCD monitors in China is estimated to total 15 million units this year, with Chi Mei Group to command a share of 1.5%, or 300,000 units, doubling the corresponding figure posted last year.

Aiming to focus on the LCD TV segment, the group has to compete against a lot of other brands. In this first quarter, LCD TV sales in China surged 250% from a year earlier, boosting insider`s optimism towards the prospect for that market in the year.

Chi Mei Group this year showcased its 32-inch, 42-inch and 52-inch own-branded LCD TVs at Asia (Guangzhou) Flat Panel Display Industry Expo, running from May 21 to 23 in China, for the first time, with such models to be officially launched in China`s high-end LCD TV segment this June.

Initially, the group plans to sell LCD TVs through local wholesalers in five big cities, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanking, Shanghai and Hangzhou, and to build brand recognition among local consumers. If successful, the group will then duplicate such experience to rebuild brand recognition in Taiwan, according to the group.

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Samsung tightens grip on world LCD TV sales

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According to market watch DisplaySearch, Samsung controlled 20.8% of the market between January and March this year - with sales of around 4m sets. The quarter was also the first time Samsung’s share of the market had topped 20%.

Samsung saw a 70% jump in LCD sales during the period globally, and in the US it also accounted for 14.3% of all LCD TVs sold.

Just behind Samsung, during the same period, came Sony with a 13.2% share, followed by LG and Sharp with 11.6% and 7.3% of the market, respectively.

Things seem to be going particularly well for Samsung recently. DisplaySearch has also noted that the company took the number one sales position for LCD monitors away from Dell in the first quarter.

Samsung shipped 6.3m of the displays – an increase of 21% year on year – during the period, compared to Dell’s shipments of 6.1m, a rise of just nine% year on year.

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HD projector or HDTV?

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Though this may not beThe Great Debate or anything, it's still a point of contention between quite a few home theater enthusiasts. Here's your shot at chiming in:

"I'm about to move into my new apartment and I've got big plans for the entertainment system. However, I don't know whether to go with a HD projector or a HDTV (LCD, plasma, DLP, it doesn't matter). I only need 720p because quite frankly, I can't tell the difference between 720p and 1080p; plus 720p is cheaper! I realize that both have their pros and cons (size, mobility, inputs, cost, etc.), but I just can't determine which would be better. I'd love some actual recommendations from both sides to consider."

Time to get your arguments in order, folks. Should this guy go beamer or flat-panel? Let us know which (and why) in comments below.

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

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Samsung Displays 82 Inch LCD TV Panel

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In its quest for bigger LCD screens, Samsung has unveiled an 82-inch LCD TV panel with 3,840 x 2,160 pixels resolution and 120Hz refresh rate at the ongoing Society for Information Display (SID) International Symposium, Seminar, and Exhibition 2008.

The new LCD TV panel displays ultra-definition (UD) resolution and at 120 frames per second, minimizing the blur that is sometimes experienced at 60Hz. A red/green/blue LED back-light raises true color saturation to 150%, based on the NISC standard of 100%, claims the company.

Sang Soo Kim, executive vice president of the LCD Technology Center at Samsung Electronics explained, “This 82-inch LCD is large enough to cover all viewing angles with ultra-definition resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate that will allow viewers to watch motion pictures as if they are really in them.”

Moreover, the company has also launched an 82-inch “e-board” with a multi-touch screen, which is meant to put back customary whiteboards and beam projectors.

"This 82-inch LCD is large enough to cover all viewing angles with ultra-definition resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate that will allow viewers to watch motion pictures as if they are really in them," said Sang Soo Kim, executive vice president (LCD Technology Center) of Samsung Electronics.

Additionally, Samsung has introduced an 82-inch e-board with a multi-touch screen intended to replace white-boards and beam projectors. The e-board has been created using a 60Hz LCD panel with ultra-definition resolution.

Other Samsung products displayed at SID 2008 include: a multi-view digital information display (DID) that delivers 3D images without the need for special glasses; a 40-inch full-HD LCD TV panel that operates with only two source driver ICs instead of the normal combination of six source drivers and three gate drivers; a 15-inch LCD with blue phase mode; and a 2.3-inch e-paper that uses electrodes made from carbon nanotubes for enhanced fold-ability.

Samsung hasn't said anything about the pricing and availability of these products though.

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Skinny plasma screens bend the rules

The Japanese engineer who invented plasma TVs has come up with a new wafer-thin version.

Tsutae Shinoda’s 125-inch screen is just 1mm thick and wraps around surfaces. At just 3.6 kg, it is a fraction of the weight of a normal plasma television. However, picture definition is still not that high. The screen boasts a resolution of only 960 x 360 pixels, but efforts are under way to improve these specs.Industry experts say the flexible new screens will be ideal for advertising.Meanwhile, Shinoda Plasma has plans to create a super thin 150-inch version.

Shinoda probably isn't a company you've heard of, but if its latest 125in plasma prototype is anything to go by, we're going to be hearing a lot more about its products. Take the latest offering, a 125in curved plasma TV with a mere 1mm thickness spotted by Japanese publication.

Unfortunately, at the moment the full display only boasts a 960 x 630 resolution made up of three panels in alignment and the prototype's quality is said to be in line with a 1999 or 2000 model, so there's a little work to be done. But, as a proof of concept and sign of potential sets to come, well, I think "wow" sums it up nicely.
President and Chairman Tsutae Shinoda commented that "there are already some users who want to purchase it given its current display performance". Shinoda also said that current performance is about 60 or 70 percent of its potential, meaning there is still plenty of room for improvement.
Continuing, Shinoda added that it's "considering forming alliances with two to three other manufacturers in Japan toward the commercialization of the display", which should lead to production products based on this prototype sometime in the not-too-distant future.

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Samsung to demo 240-Hz LCD TV panel

Samsung Electronics will demonstrate a 15in prototype of a super-fast LCD panel at the SID (Society for Information Display) 2008 International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition, in Las Angeles, from 18 to 23 May.

The new panel has twice the refresh rate of the 120-Hz technology currently found on high-end HDTVS, helping to eliminate the motion blur that can be experienced when viewing fast-moving images.

The 240-Hz display panels cost less to manufacture than current twisted nematic, in-plane switching or vertical alignment technology, because the new technology aligns its own layers, which simplifies the manufacturing process.

The new display is also less likely to demonstrate the bruising effect that can occur when LCD displays are touched.

Samsung calls the new technology ‘Blue Phase’, because during development a blue hue was noted when the LCD was in operation.

The company plans to begin mass production of Blue Phase HDTVs in 2011.

Samsung LCD TV

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Pioneer Ditches Plasma Panels, Plans LCD Return

Pioneer said Tuesday that it will cease manufacturing plasma TV panels by March 2009, after the company suffered its fourth straight annual loss.

Pioneer reported a loss of 17.99 billion yen ($173.3 million) on revenue of 774.48 billion yen. Pioneer reported that its as its global plasma TV sales dropped from 650,000 unit to 470,000 units for the year.

As a result, both Pioneer Display Products and Pioneer Plasma Display Corp. will end panel production by March 2009, after completing their orders for 2008. The production personnel will be shifted into Pioneer's car audio business, the company said.

Instead, Pioneer will source its plasma panels from Matsushita, and Matsushita will include Pioneer's "proprietary technologies," as the companies co-develop panels. Whether that means Matsushita will use the Pioneer "Kuro" ultrablack technology was not known. The Matsushita relationship was originally announced in March.

However, Pioneer said it also plans to launch a line of LCD TVs later this year, by purchasing LCD panels from its largest stakeholder, Sharp. The TVs will be launched first in Europe, and then expanded to other regions, Pioneer said.

The moves will save Pioneer 15 bllion yen in fiscal 2010, the company said. Reuters and other reports suggested that Pioneer could trim roughly 2,000 jobs as a result of the restructuring.

Samsung claims 'brightest' LCD signage panel

Samsung have today announced that they’ve begun mass producing their latest LCD panel, a “high bright” display measuring 46-inches. The screen, which is intended initially for digital signage, is the brightest LCD in the world, at 1,500-nit. That’s around three times as bright as a typical LCD.

It is now available for use in digital signs for transit centers, bus shelters, museums, shopping malls and for use at point of sale in retail outlets, to replace outdated poster advertisings. The panel, which the company claims is the brightest LCD in the world, is designed to optimally accommodate the tremendous range of lighting conditions affecting displays.

"Advertisers and outdoor media companies want an energy-efficient display that draws the attention of shoppers and travelers in the middle of the day under bright indoor lighting or strong natural lighting and that's exactly what we're delivering," said Scott Birnbaum, VP, Samsung LCD Business.

Samsung’s high-bright DID LCD panel produces a high definition image with 16.7 million colors and a screen resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. It also provides the widest viewing angle available today: 178 degrees. The panel was designed so that it can be tiled together to create spectacular outdoor and indoor “video wall” effects.

Samsung achieved the extreme brightness by using high-performance, cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) that operate on a very high current, and an extremely thin color filter.

Samsung will begin volume shipping of the high-bright DID display later this month.

LG Launches 15.6 inches LCD Monitor

LG has announced the launch of its new 15.6-inches wide-screen LCD monitor targeted at home, small office, small and medium enterprise, and ITES segments in the country.

The new monitor boasts high picture clarity achieved through (DFC) Digital Fine Contrast ratio of 5000:1 and f-engine. LG's f-engine is claimed to be the world's first picture correction technology chip used in LCD monitors to enhance image quality. The higher the contrast ratio, the better the clarity and sharpness of images.

The combination of f-engine and DFC 5000:1 ensures classification of dark colors and is suitable for moving images with various brightness levels, the company said. The 15.6-inches wide LCD monitor is priced at Rs 7,800.

LCD TV Association Launches GreenTV Program

The LCD TV Association, a non-profit marketing trade organization formed to assist the LCD supply chain, retail channel, and consumers, announced the launch of its GreenTV logo program to help manufacturers and brands focus on reducing the power consumption of LCD TVs and raise consumer awareness.

"We believe LCD TVs already consume the least energy to build, use, and dispose of, but we want to make them even better in the future and have a light 'carbon footprint' on the earth by having the most recyclable parts and highest possible energy efficiencies. This will involve the use of less heavy metals, ambient light sensors, and smarter electronics very soon, as well as more LED backlights with spatial and content-based dimming and energy savings over time, and many other improvements," said Bruce Berkoff, chairman of the LCD TV Association.

The program will begin by working with major TV vendors to implement and promote ambient light sensors, which will automatically lower a set's brightness in a dark room by decreasing power to the backlight, saving energy while also reducing potential eye strain. This can reduce power consumption by at least 30 percent. Participants in the program will be awarded with the right to use the association's GreenTV logo on products, packaging, and advertising material.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to introduce the Energy Star program for flat-panel TVs by the end of the year, further emphasizing the importance of these conservation efforts. The U.S. Department of Energy estimated that over 4 terawatt-hours of electricity were consumed by TVs in 2005 in the United States alone.

"As homes add LCD TVs to more rooms, and as the average TV screen size continues to increase, power consumption will become an even bigger concern unless the industry takes steps like the GreenTV logo program to help make TVs more energy efficient," said Berkoff.

Pioneer's 2008 KURO models will be released throughout the year, claiming to provide black levels five times deeper than the 2007 KURO models.

Pioneer's 2008 KURO models
Pioneer today introduced six new plasma HDTVs, two blu-ray disc player and four new AV receiver. The new line of 2008 KURO plasma displays features black levels five times deeper than the 2007 KURO models. The philosophy behind Pioneer's Project KURO and the driving force is to be able to produce a pure black color and in turn reproduce an accurate color spectrum.

The 2008 KURO models include the 50-inch PDP-5020FD and the 60-inch PDP-6020FD, both measuring 3.7-inches thin and offering networked Home Media Gallery for playback of digital content from a PC or via USB. The new HDTVs also come with a new remote control and redesigned high-definition graphic user interface for seamless integration with other A/V equipment. Both models offer a 1080p resolution and should be available in June 2008. The 50-inch model will cost approximately $4000, while the 60-inch model will cost approximately $5500.

Pioneer also introduced the new Elite Signature Series of monitors, boasting hand selected and hand assembled parts to offer customers more unique and distinct options when buying plasma HDTVs. According to Pioneer, these models also exceed a stricter examination process than most plasma HDTVs in the industry. A 50-inch model (PRO-101FD) will be available in October 2008, while a 60-inch model (PRO-141FD) will be available in August. Both models offer 1080p resolution, but pricing has yet to be determined.

Pioneer is also introducing two Elite KURO HD flat panel televisions that is claimed to offer picture customization features that ensure better picture performance of films, sports and TV shows. Employing an enhanced "Optimum mode" feature, the new displays is claimed to seamlessly examine the sound, picture and room light conditions at the same time and adjust the audio and video settings by the slightest variation to deliver a better viewing experience based on each type of programming.

Designed for entertainment connoisseurs, the new televisions offer calibration features as well as allow users to switch between six picture and sound pre-set modes. The new televisions also sport Pioneer's Home Media Gallery functionality.

The 50-inch Pioneer KURO PRO-111FD and 60-inch Pioneer KURO PRO-151FD both offers 1080p resolution and should be available in June 2008 for $5000 and $6500, respectively.

LG ELECTRONICS RELEASES WORLD'S THINNEST LCD TV

LG's 42LG61 model, dubbed the Scarlet Super Slim, is a high definition LCD television with a thickness of 44.7 millimeters, thinner by half than the company's slimmest previous offering of 105 millimeters, the company said. It was awarded the Innovation 2008 Award at the International Consumer Electronics Show held earlier in the year. The model, with an ultra-slim deep chassis and internally built-in invisible speakers, is sold at a suggested retail price of 2.5 million won (US$2,454). South Korea is the world's largest maker of high-end televisions, with LG Electronics ranking as the No. 2 seller of televisions in the world last year, with a market share of 11.4 per cent, next to Samsung Electronics Co., according to market researcher DisplaySearch.