Flat Screen Tvs - Plasma Tvs - LCD Displays and HDTV

If you are planning on buying a new TV in the near future, you may be surprised to find out a lot things have changed over the years. There're so many new terms, acrinames, and names floating around, you may just get overwhelm with everything.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a greant new article online that will help get you up to speed.

Remember when remote controls and cable-ready capability were the new must-have TV features?

If you haven't considered buying a TV in several years, be advised: Things have changed.

With an alphabet soup of technologies and options to wade through -- from SDTV, EDTV or HDTV to CRT, LCD, DLP or LCoS -- and more models available than the average viewer can shake an antenna at, the picking isn't easy. more...

Posted by Nana at 11:52 PM | How to decipher the alphabet soup of new TV technologies | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

DisplaySearch, the worldwide leader in display market research and consulting, released Q2'05 TV shipments and revenues for all TV technologies and brands by region and size this week in its Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report. TV shipments were down 14% Q/Q and 2% Y/Y on seasonal weakness in China and CRT weakness in Europe. However, due to a 7% Q/Q and 12% Y/Y increase in average selling prices (ASPs) on strong flat panel growth, total TV revenues increased 10% to $17.3B.

Flat panel TV shipments were up 26% Q/Q and 132% Y/Y to 5.13M units in Q2'05. The flat panel share of the TV market on a unit basis reached 13% in Q2'05, up from 6% in Q2'04 and 9% in Q1'05. On a revenue basis, the flat panel share surged to 47% on 18% Q/Q and 85% Y/Y growth to $8.2B, up from a 28% share in Q2'04 and 37% share in Q1'05.

In terms of shipments by technology:

-- CRT TV unit shipments declined 10% Y/Y and 18% Q/Q to 32.75M as they lost ground to LCDs. Its unit share remained dominant however at 84%, down from 88% in Q1'05 and 92% in Q2'04. CRTs are losing ground primarily at the larger sizes, which caused its average size to decline 2% Q/Q and Y/Y in Q2'05 to 22.7". With China suffering a seasonal decline after a strong Q1'05, ROW accounted for 47% of the CRT TV market and was the only region to enjoy a Y/Y increase led by the Korean manufacturers. LGE was the top branded CRT TV manufacturer in Q2'05 with a 10% share, overtaking TTE. Samsung jumped to #2 with TTE falling to #3. On a revenue basis, however, TTE remained #1 followed by LGE and Samsung with Sony falling from #2 to #5. Regionally on a revenue basis, Panasonic was #1 in Japan, Funai was #1 in North America, Philips was #1 in Europe, Konka was #1 in China and LGE led in ROW.

-- LCD TV shipments rose 27% Q/Q and 148% Y/Y to slightly over 4M units, a record high. Its unit share exceeded 10% for the first time at 10.3%, up from 4% in Q2'04 and 7% in Q1'05, while its revenue share rose from 13% in Q2'04 and 22% in Q1'05 to 29% in Q2'05. Despite a 5% Q/Q and 13% Y/Y increase in average size to 24", LCD TV ASPs fell 5% Q/Q and 4% Y/Y under significant pricing pressure which contributed to its rapid growth. All regions except ROW enjoyed double-digit sequential growth with North America rising the fastest up 69% to over 1M units for the first time. Europe remained the largest region for LCD TVs with a 38% share followed by North America at 27% and Japan at 23%. By size, 32" 1366 x 768 LCD TVs became the single most popular LCD TV in Q2'05 with a 21% share, up from 13% followed by 20" 640 x 480 with an 18% share. Sharp remained the #1 brand with an 18% unit share and 20% revenue share worldwide. On a unit basis, Philips/Magnavox, Samsung, Sony and LGE remained #2 - #5. On a revenue basis, Philips/Magnavox remained #2, Samsung overtook Sony for #3, Sony fell to #4 and LGE remained #5. Regionally on a revenue basis, Sharp led in Japan and North America, Philips led in Europe, Hisense led in China and Samsung led in ROW.

-- Plasma TV shipments grew 24% Q/Q and 89% to a record 1.13M units while revenues rose 13% and 37% Y/Y to $3.1B. Its unit and revenue shares reached record levels, with units rising from 2.0% in Q1'05 to 2.9% in Q2'05 and revenues growing from 15% in Q1'05 to 18% in Q2'05. All regions except China enjoyed double-digit Q/Q growth with Japan rising the fastest up 77% after seasonally weak Q1'05. Europe remained the largest plasma TV market on a unit basis with a 33% share followed by North America at 30% and ROW at 15%. On a revenue basis, however, North America was the largest market with a 33% share due to increased penetration of HD and larger sizes. The plasma TV share of the 40"-44" TV market surged from 64% to 76% while its share of the 50"-54" market jumped from 15% to 22%. 42" ED remained dominant with a 56% share followed by 42"-43" HD with a 23% share and 50" at 9%. Panasonic drove the plasma TV market in Q2'05 on 90% Q/Q growth boosting its share from 17% in Q1'05 to 27% in Q2'05. It remained #1 worldwide followed by LGE, Samsung, Philips with Hitachi overtaking Pioneer for #5. Regionally on a revenue basis, Panasonic led in Japan, North America and Europe while Changhong led in China and LGE led in ROW.

-- Microdisplay RPTVs were up 49% Y/Y but fell 11% Q/Q on channel inventory concerns and loss of share to plasma TVs. Worldwide, all microdisplay technologies (DLP, LCD and LCOS) declined sequentially, with DLP down 1%, LCD down 16% and LCOS falling 27%. As a result, the DLP share rose from 39% to 43%, with LCD RPTVs leading with a 53% share, down from 56%. Regionally, North America continues to dominate this category, earning an 84% share in Q2'05, down from 86% in Q1'05 although shipments fell 13% Q/Q while rising 52% Y/Y. Microdisplay RPTVs were particularly dominant in the 60"+ market, holding a 69% share, up from 61%. The unit and revenue rankings remained the same as last quarter with Sony leading followed by Samsung, Panasonic, Mitsubishi and Hitachi. However, the gap between the leaders narrowed, with Sony's unit share falling from 44% to 36% and Samsung's share rising from 21% to 25%.

-- CRT RPTV shipments fell 37% Q/Q and 39% Y/Y to 531K units and a 1.4% unit share, down from 1.9% in Q1'05 and 2.2% in Q2'04. All regions declined at a double-digit rate on both a Q/Q and Y/Y basis. China suffered the largest Q/Q decline due to seasonal weakness and gains by aggressively priced plasma TVs. North America remained the leading region for CRT RPTVs with a 54% share, up from 50%, while ROW overtook China with a 19% to 18% advantage. CRT RPTVs continued to lead the 50"-54" TV market with a 40% share, down from 52% and slightly above microdisplay RPTVs at 38%. TTE overtook Sony to become the top brand worldwide on a unit basis followed by Samsung, Sony, Toshiba and Hitachi. On a revenue basis, TTE also overtook Sony which fell to #2 with Samsung rising to #3, Toshiba falling to #4 and Hitachi remaining #5. By region on a revenue basis, TTE led in North America, Samsung led in Europe, Changhong remained #1 in China and Samsung remained #1 in ROW.

In terms of worldwide TV shipments and revenues by supplier, Samsung overtook Sony for the first time on a revenue basis as shown in Table 1. Samsung was in the top 3 on a revenue basis in all TV technologies. Panasonic's strong plasma TV position propelled it to the #2 position worldwide, just slightly behind Samsung. Sony fell to #3 as it lost share in most TV technologies.

On a worldwide unit basis by supplier, LGE overtook TTE to earn the top position worldwide with a 9.6% share on 13% growth as shown in Table 2. LGE benefited from the top position in CRT TVs and top 5 positions in flat panel TVs.

Posted by Nana at 02:00 AM | TV Revenues Rise 10% on Strong Flat Panel Growth -Samsung Overtakes Sony on a Revenue Basis | TrackBacks (0)

Dozens of PC and video companies are being sued for patent infringement.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Two industrial manufacturers, Guardian Industries Corp. and Honeywell International Inc., have sued dozens of companies in the global PC and video display businesses in a U.S. federal court to try to recoup royalties on liquid-crystal technology.

Guardian Industries, a maker of industrial glass, and Honeywell, known for making weapons systems, assert in filings in the U.S. District Court in Delaware that their intellectual property for liquid crystal displays, used in notebook computers, TVs, and cellular phones, have been infringed.

Taiwan and South Korea are the two primary centers of LCD production, which is growing rapidly as demand for LCD-based televisions rises. The lawsuits target the LCD industry directly, but also assert claims against companies that incorporate LCDs into final electronic products. more...

Posted by Nana at 06:51 PM | Dozens of Flat screen makers face patent lawsuits | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By CHARLIE PASCHAL

They’re small, look sexy and emit little heat, but does that mean you should buy a flat screen monitor for your computer? Maybe, maybe not.

The prices on CRT monitors have fallen dramatically because of the move to the LCD panels. Still the transition from the huge CRT monitors we’re all accustomed to has begun. A few tips when buying a new monitor: more...

Posted by Nana at 08:21 PM | Flat screen monitors not for everyone | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

LCD or plasma? Trying to decide what to get? Check out the following article from popularmechanics.com

THE ETERNAL QUESTIONS: Pepsi or Coke? Ford or Chevy? Plasma or LCD? It has been only recently that most of us have been able to ponder that last dilemma. Flat-panel TVs may be the ultimate media status symbol, but can you afford one without having to sell your house? Fortunately, flat-panel prices have dropped from the staggering ($12,000 or more for a midsize model) to the merely sobering ($3000 to $4000 for the same size), and last year roughly 2 million of these sets made their way into consumers' homes. With manufacturers pouring cash into factories, prices are set to drop another 25 percent in 2005. Once you've gotten past the issue of whether to buy a flat-panel set, you confront the greater dilemma of which type to buy. Plasma partisans will tell you that their sets are bigger and more vibrant. LCD devotees will counter that their sets are brighter and last longer. To find out which approach offers the best combination of practicality and performance, we turned to Jeff Sauer, head of the DTV Group Lab, a Pepperell, Mass., video products testing facility. Sauer put each TV through 14 grueling tests to measure brightness, contrast, color, image details and sound. The last two categories were evaluated by using a variety of test footage and video test patterns. When he was done, we assigned a numerical value to each test and added them up for each TV. The result was an overall performance score between 1 and 100. So before you send out those early SuperBowl invites, we suggest a look at our reviews, and our LCD versus plasma comparison chart. more...

Posted by Nana at 08:23 PM | Flat-Screen Face Off | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Michael Kanellos
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

TI, the third-biggest chipmaker in the world, is aggressively working with TV manufacturers, bureaucrats, producers and movie theaters to promote high-definition programming and technology, with a particular emphasis on dropping the cost of HDTV sets and building digital cinemas.

"We're working with our customers to move the price (of HDTV sets) to $1,000," Texas Instruments CEO Rich Templeton said in a meeting with reporters at the tail end of the Computer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. "This is the year of HDTV."

TI's interest in high-definition entertainment stems from its digital light processors (DLPs), a line of chips used in rear-projection TVs and projectors. In DLPs, transistors manipulate thousands of tiny mirrors to create an image that then appears on-screen (there are HD DLP TVs and DLP TVs for regular programming).

more...

Posted by Nana at 09:51 PM | Texas Instruments revs up TV, theater | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

by Mamoru Kurihara Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

The flat-screen television market will become even more competitive in 2005 as Canon Inc. plans to debut with new-generation displays.

Canon said Wednesday it planned to begin manufacturing televisions using rear projection technology--so-called third-generation display--and next-generation organic electro luminescence (OEL) displays in the second half of 2005.

The company already announced its plans to market high-resolution surface conduction electron emitter (SED) TVs, which were jointly developed with Toshiba Corp., in the latter half of 2005.

Canon's plans to market televisions and screens using three types of technology is part of a strategy to strengthen its position in the display market, primarily focusing on televisions. more...

Posted by Nana at 01:33 PM | Canon to target flat screen tv market in 2005 | TrackBacks (0)

Entropic Communications will be at CES (Booth 26815) to show of their home networking for digital entertainment technologies. Their c.LINK technology enables the networking of digital entertainment media from PCs, set-top boxes, digital video recorders such as TiVo, and other consumer electronics over the standard coaxial cable already installed in virtually all U.S. households.

See their Press Release Below:

Video-on-demand movie services are expanding from the familiar pay-per-view model, as companies such as Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG) have begun offering subscription packages featuring web-based downloads of popular entertainment directly by broadband to the PC with STARZ! Ticket on Real Movies.

Initially offered for viewing only on the PC, consumers with heavy investments in plasma screens and HDTVs are looking for display options beyond the desktop, and that's where Entropic comes in. Entropic's technology permits networking of digital entertainment from PCs, set-top boxes, digital video recorders, and other consumer electronics over the standard coaxial cable already installed in virtually all U.S. households.

A demonstration of downloaded high-definition movie content from Starz Entertainment Group, stored on a PC hard drive, and transmitted over the in-home coax to a HDTV screen in another room, will take place at next month's CES in Las Vegas in Entropic's Booth 26815.

"We're interested in expanding the horizons of people who want to download high-quality content from the web onto their PCs," said Bob Greene, SEG senior vice president, advanced services. "Partnering with Entropic on this demo shows what a powerful model this can be, as STARZ! movies stored on a PC's hard drive can be accessed and shown on any set connected to the cable jack in the wall."

Entropic's c.LINK-270 chipset, when built into a variety of consumer electronics such as set-top boxes, digital video recorders, and televisions permits seamless networking over the existing coaxial cable infrastructure at speeds as high as 270Mbps. The high speed and reliability of coax make it the ideal medium for networking high-bandwidth applications such as video.

"We believe that traditional service providers such as cable MSO will continue to offer VOD for hundreds of titles, many of which will be available in HDTV format," said Patrick Henry, Entropic's president and CEO. "However, there will be tens of thousands of titles of more niche content, including old-run TV programs and movies, that will be available over the web. STARZ! Ticket on Real Movies reliably delivers this content to the home in a very secure way, and Entropic's technology moves the content around the home in a very reliable and secure way using the in-home coax."

Entropic is a founding member of the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA(TM)), formed to standardize technologies for linking consumer entertainment devices over existing coax cabling. Other members include Cisco Systems, Comcast, EchoStar, Matsushita Electric (Panasonic), Motorola, RadioShack Corporation, and Toshiba. For more information: www.mocalliance.com.

About Starz Entertainment Group

Starz Entertainment Group (SEG) is the largest provider of premium movie services in the United States with approximately 167 million pay units. SEG offerings include the Starz Super Pak(R), with up to 13 digital movie channels and more than 750 movies per month, Starz On Demand(R), the only on-demand pay TV subscription service available on the cable and satellite platforms, and its broadband equivalent, STARZ! Ticket(SM). SEG also offers a suite of advanced video offerings, including STARZ! HD(SM), Encore HD(SM), and Starz On Demand HD(SM). Starz Entertainment Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE: L, LMCb), www.starz.com.

About Entropic Communications

Entropic Communications is a privately held semiconductor company based in San Diego, Calif., enabling home networking for digital entertainment. Entropic's products allow consumers to easily share digital entertainment throughout the home by leveraging the existing coax infrastructure to fundamentally change the way content such as movies, music, and images are stored and networked by the average user. For more information: www.entropic.com.

Posted by Nana at 02:20 PM | Entropic to Demonstrate Sharing of HDTV Movie Downloads From Starz Entertainment Group Over In-Home Coax Network at CES | TrackBacks (0)

According to an article from the WSJ many retailers will be having some nice discounts for shoppers this weekend. I've picked out a few offers you may be interested in.

Sears

This Saturday, Sears will open at 7 a.m. they'll be giving out $10 gift cards to the first 100 customers at each store. They'll have a 46-inch widescreen HDTV monitor, marked down to $2,699 from $3,199, and a 27-inch Sylvania TV, which will be $139.49 until 10 a.m. it will be $154.99 afterward.

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart has a great deal till Saturday on a 27" TV. You can get a 27-inch HD-ready ilo 27" HDTV-Ready Widescreen LCD flat-panel TV with DVI for $998. Click here for details

Posted by Nana at 01:40 PM | Last minute chance to get that Plasma, HDTV, or LCD TV for Christmas | TrackBacks (0)

Pending transaction further enhances Audiovox's position as a leading supplier of satellite radios

Audiovox Corporation today announced that its subsidiary, Audiovox Electronics Corp. (AEC) has signed a letter of intent to acquire certain assets comprising the business of Terk Technologies Corp. ("Terk") for a purchase price of $13.6 million plus a debenture based on achieving future revenue targets.

Terk is a leading provider of satellite radio receivers and digital antenna products. The Company has an agreement in place to provide existing and develop future car stereo aftermarket products for XM. Some of the Terk's other products include TV and AM/FM antennas with an emphasis today on High Definition (HD) technology. The companies anticipate based on due diligence that Terk's Net Sales for the year ended December 31, 2004 will be approximately $50 million.

Commenting on the deal, John Shalam, Chairman, President and CEO of Audiovox Corporation stated, "The proposed acquisition of Terk marks our first transaction since the sale of our Wireless business to UTStarcom. Terk brings significant expertise in the specialized satellite radio industry, which we have identified as a fast growth high tech market and we believe it will serve to strengthen our position for future growth in that segment."

Patrick Lavelle, President and CEO of AEC stated, "This purchase is yet another step we are taking to further expand our portfolio of technology driven products. It is synergistic to our existing distribution channels as well as internal operations. We already enjoy a leading market position in satellite radio and with the addition of Terk, believe we have further strengthened that position."

In addition to the Terk branded products, Audiovox will also assume the exclusive distribution rights in the United States for Vogel's line of high end LCD and Plasma TV mounting systems. Lavelle further stated, "We are also excited about the potential of the Vogel line due to the projected growth of the flat panel market in the U.S."

The consummation of the purchase is subject to a number of conditions including completion of a definitive agreement and fulfilling due diligence and other terms and conditions customary or applicable to this transaction. The Company anticipates a closing by December 31, 2004 or shortly thereafter.

Shalam concluded, "We continue to evaluate additional business opportunities that can contribute to our company's growth. With a clean balance sheet, little debt and access to capital, Audiovox is well positioned to be a player in the M&A market and it is our intent to continue to pursue strategic acquisitions that will help grow both our top- and bottom-line results."

About Audiovox

Audiovox Corporation is a leading international distributor and value added service provider in the consumer electronics industry. The Company currently conducts its business through Audiovox Electronics Corporation (AEC), a wholly owned subsidiary. AEC is a recognized leader in the marketing of automotive entertainment, vehicle security and consumer electronics products. The company is number one in mobile video and places in the top ten of almost every category that it sells.

Among the lines marketed by AEC are its mobile electronics products including mobile video systems, auto sound systems including satellite radio, vehicle security, and consumer electronics products such as portable DVD players, flat-panel TV's, extended range two-way radios, multi media products like MP3 players, and home and portable stereos. The company markets its products through an extensive distribution network that includes power retailers, 12-volt specialists, mass merchandisers and an OE sales group. The company markets products under the Audiovox, Jensen, Acoustic Research, Advent, Code Alarm and Prestige brands. For additional information, visit http://www.audiovox.com.

Posted by Nana at 06:02 PM | Audiovox Signs Letter of Intent to Acquire Terk Technologies Corp | TrackBacks (0)

All around the world sales of flat screen tvs are picking up. Seems like everyone, including me are looking for a flat screen TV under the Christmas tree. Here's an interesting article from the Financial Times about this hot market.

Posted by Nana at 02:19 PM | A Flat Screen Christmas Season | TrackBacks (0)

SpatiaLight, Inc., a manufacturer of state-of-the-art liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) microdisplay devices, announced today that it closed a non-brokered private placement of $10 million original principal amount of 10% senior secured convertible notes, due November 30, 2007. Under the terms of the transaction, the purchasers of the notes will have a one-year option to purchase up to an additional $5 million principal amount of notes subject to the same terms and conditions as the original $10 million of notes.

The notes are convertible, at the option of the holders, into SpatiaLight common shares at a conversion price of $9.72 per share. At the conversion price, each $1,000 principal amount of notes is convertible into 102.88 SpatiaLight common shares. The conversion price of the principal amount of the notes is equal to a 25% premium to the ten-day trailing average of the volume weighted average price of SpatiaLight common shares ending November 29, 2004, which was $7.78.

The notes will bear interest at an annual rate of 10%, payable quarterly, and will be senior secured obligations of SpatiaLight. The interest is payable in cash or SpatiaLight common shares at the option of the Company.

Under the terms of the transaction, Robert A. Olins, the Chief Executive Officer and a director of SpatiaLight, and another shareholder of the Company, have jointly committed to provide $6 million in future financing to the Company on terms and conditions to be determined at the time of any such transaction. That financing commitment shall be reduced by any funds that SpatiaLight receives from future sales or exercises of its equity, debt or derivative securities.

SpatiaLight expects to use the net proceeds from the transaction to fund construction and equipping of its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the Republic of Korea and for other general working capital purposes. SpatiaLight is continuing to actively pursue additional debt financing, which may include financing backed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States, to fund additional working capital needs as the Company continues its rapid progression toward mass production.

The offering of the notes was made only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) and Rule 506 of Regulation D as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act. The securities offered were not registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offering would be unlawful.

About SpatiaLight, Inc.

SpatiaLight, Inc., founded in 1989, manufactures high-resolution LCoS microdisplays for use in High Definition televisions and rear projection monitors. The Company's proprietary SpatiaLight imagEngine(TM) LCoS microdisplays represent a solution for OEMs of large-screen rear projection monitors, home theater projection systems, video projectors, and other display applications. Utilizing more than 6.2 million pixels, SpatiaLight's LCoS Sets are designed to be incorporated into High Definition televisions and rear projection monitors. A SpatiaLight display unit, another Company product, is comprised of three SpatiaLight imagEngine(TM) microdisplays fitted onto a light engine designed by SpatiaLight and Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd. and manufactured by Fuji. SpatiaLight currently manufactures two models of its LCoS microdisplays. The "T-1" model has an active matrix of 1280 pixels by 960 pixels configuration and the newer generation "T-3" model has an active matrix of 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels configuration. SpatiaLight is committed to developing microdisplay technologies that will become the standard for the next generation of rear projection display devices and to providing OEMs with the most cost effective, high resolution microdisplays in the industry. For more information about SpatiaLight, please see the Company web site: www.spatialight.com.

Posted by Nana at 05:08 PM | SpatiaLight Closes Private Placement of $10 Million of 10% Senior Secured Convertible Notes | TrackBacks (0)

By Richard Shim

Consumers scrambling for sexy new flat-panel televisions may want to tune in to this less-publicized feature of the trendy boxes: They don't deliver pictures as clearly as traditional tube TVs do.

Retailers expect flat-screen televisions to be highly popular this season--and recent price drops are only expected to boost sales.

But for all the hype around next-generation televisions, flat panels have a way to go before they rival their cheaper CRT (cathode ray tube) counterparts in performance--or cost.

"Consumers think they're buying the best in technology (with flat-panel televisions), but it's more of an emotional purchase," said Bob O'Donnell, an analyst with researcher IDC. "It's part status and part wanting to be on the cutting edge."

The technologies behind flat-panel televisions--plasma and liquid crystal display--let manufacturers create larger, thinner and lighter sets. Flat panels are getting as big as 60 inches but weigh only a fraction of the largest CRT sets, the consumer versions of which are limited to about 42 inches. The comparatively petite cases of flat screens also allow them to be hung from walls, although this is rarely done because it makes sets difficult to move or adjust. Still, neither plasma nor LCD technology quite measures up to CRT when it comes to picture quality. more...

Posted by Nana at 03:27 AM | Flat-panel TVs can't topple tubes-just yet | TrackBacks (0)

Prices on cool TVs are dropping as new factories come on line. Is now the time to buy?
BY MICHAEL SCHUMAN

Doug Gale, a 30-year-old Dallas banker, returned from a vacation to Tokyo and Hong Kong in 2001 raving as much about TV sets as about ancient temples, towering skyscrapers and exotic food. A self-proclaimed tech geek, Gale scouted out electronics shops and was mesmerized by flat-screen TVs. Their monstrous sizes, sleek designs and flashy displays were perfect, he thought, for watching his favorite Dallas Stars charge down the ice. "I'd never seen anything like them," he says of the TVs. "They were just phenomenal. As soon as I got back to Dallas I was thinking, 'I got to get me one of these!'"

Three years later, Gale's living room is still dominated by an old picture-tube clunker. He routinely stops in Best Buy and Circuit City stores to compare prices, but the model he craves, a 45-in. (114-cm) cutting-edge liquid-crystal display (LCD) TV, has a $7,000 price tag—twice what Gale is willing to spend. "These things are still prohibitively expensive," Gale laments.

Sound familiar? While it seems as though hordes of couch potatoes are snapping up the latest displays, the wonders of LCD and plasma TV technology are still well out of reach for the average shopper. True, at U.S. retailer Circuit City, sales of flat-TV models have tripled over the past year, prompting CEO W. Alan McCollough to label this Christmas "a flat-panel holiday." But as long as the price tag on a flat-screen TV is four or more times as much as a comparable tube TV, many consumers will drool and dream but not bite. "Prices [of flat TVs] will be cheaper for consumers this holiday season, but not cheap enough to have them explode off the shelves," says Chris Connery, vice president of market research at DisplaySearch, a consulting firm based in Austin, Texas. more...

Posted by Nana at 10:56 PM | Flat Chance | TrackBacks (0)

Anyone planning to ditch their conventional cathode-ray tube TV in favour of a much wider flat panel TV will be spoilt for choice. With the rewards so great for companies who can dominate this market, competition between manufacturers is intense.

The result is that flat panel TVs are being enhanced so rapidly that any performance comparisons quickly go out of date.

Take a simple measure like screen size. At Japan’s leading consumer electronics show, CEATEC, held in Makuhari on Tokyo bay in September, hundreds of would-be home cinema owners crowded around Panasonic’s new 65-inch plasma panel TV, which was being billed as “the largest commercial TV set in the world”.

But just two weeks later, the company had to withdraw the claim when its bitter rivals, South Korean firms Samsung and LG Electronics, leapfrogged it with 67-inch and 71-inch plasma panel TVs respectively.

And if constantly shifting specifications are not enough of a problem, there is the small matter of which of the three available large screen technologies is best: plasma display panel (PDP), liquid crystal display (LCD) or rear projection.

And then there are the forthcoming “quantum effect” surface-conduction emission displays (SEDs) that are due out in 2005, and still in the pipeline are flat screens based on organic LEDs. more...

Posted by Nana at 05:39 PM | Rapid evolution for flat panel TVs | TrackBacks (0)

So you want one of those really nice Dell 42" Plasma Tv's or 17" LCD Tv. The bad news is, there's not cheap. The good news is, you can win one in the Dellf Delivers Toy Box Sweepstakes. There will be 6 weekly drawings, you can either eter by purchasing anything from Dell Home, or filling out an online entry form.

The prize package consists of the following:
Cadillac Escalade. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): $55,000.
Dell 42” Plasma HDTV ARV $3,499
Dell 17” LCD TV ARV $699
Dell Dimension 8400 desktop computer with 19” Flat Panel. ARV $1,750;
Dell Inspiron 700m Notebook. ARV $2,229;
Dell Pocket DJ 5GB Digital Music Player. ARV $199
Dell Axim X50v 624C Handheld. ARV $499
$500 Dell Gift Card ARV $500
Dell 540 Series Printer ARV $189
Training package consisting of three (3) training books ARV $33.

I don't know about you, but I know this would make my Christmas very Merry

Posted by Nana at 03:19 PM | Dellf Delivers Toy Box Sweepstakes | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

SAN FRANCISCO--New television-tube technology promises to shed several inches from the bulky displays and challenge rival flat panels at their own game--being thin.

Executives at a display conference here said Thursday that significantly thinner CRT (cathode ray tube) displays will be available next year and are expected to be less expensive than trendy flat panels that use newer technologies such as LCD--liquid crystal display--and plasma displays.

"These superslim CRTs offer the best of both worlds--superior picture quality with a slim size," said Siegfried Trinker, director of corporate strategy at LG.Philips Displays International.
Despite offering a better picture quality and lower prices, and despite making up a large majority of the market, tube-based televisions have lost their luster compared with flat-panel sets using emerging technologies such as LCDs and plasma. more...

Posted by Nana at 10:09 PM | Slimmer tube TVs to challenge flat panels | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Right now, only 4 percent of you are watching a television program in high definition T.V. But by 2010, it's estimated over 85 percent of you will tune in to HDTV. That leaves a lot of new televisions to buy.

Shopping for a TV is very different than just 5 or 10 years ago when most of the technology was essentially the same. Nowadays, there are real differences in how TV's work and what they cost. more...

Posted by Nana at 01:26 PM | Choosing A New TV | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's a statement of power and grace in any living room: A large flat-panel television, slim and sharp as a knife when viewed from the side, a glowing expanse of glass and silver and color from the front.

They're expensive toys, ranging from around $1,000 for the smallest plasma televisions to $9,000 for the unbelievably gorgeous Philips model I invited into my living room to test recently. But they can have an impact on your room and your lifestyle that's comparable to the finest piece of furniture or even an expensive room remodel. more...

Posted by Nana at 10:58 AM | Big flat-screen TV can dominate room | TrackBacks (0)

Leveraging the nation's fascination with home renovation and improvement, consumers will have the chance to win a $50,000 Digital Home Makeover on SonyStyle.com this holiday season.

Running Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, the sweepstakes offers consumers the opportunity to revitalize and enhance their home with a complete line of best-selling Sony entertainment and electronics products, ranging from a 61-inch XBR Plasma WEGA HDTV valued at $20,000, a Network Walkman 20GB Hard Drive Digital Music Player and 7.0 Mega-pixel Cyber-shot Digital Camera, to an all-in-one VAIO desktop PC and the latest AIBO Entertainment Robot. The winner will also receive $1,000 worth of their choice of Sony CDs and DVDs.

"The digitally networked home, long thought of as the entertainment and information centerpiece of the next generation, is now emerging," said Patrick Vogt, senior vice president of Sony Electronics' eSolutions Company. "At Sony, we see high-definition displays as the driving force of the digital living room, and our sweepstakes winner will be at the forefront of this trend."

In addition to the $50,000 Digital Home Makeover Grand Prize, $200 Sony Style Entertainment shopping sprees are being awarded on a daily basis. Winners can redeem gift certificates online at Sony Style, putting their $200 toward the latest DVD and CD releases from any of the over 200,000 titles available.

Consumers can enter to win every day from now through Dec. 31 online and automatically receive one entry per purchase, while shopping for holiday gifts for family and friends. To enter without purchase, visit www.sony.com/makeover

Posted by Nana at 09:09 PM | Sony Offers $50,000 Digital Home Makeover Contest | TrackBacks (0)

For electronics retailers, it will be the holiday season of the flat-screen televisions. But the companies that make the key component -- the flat screen itself -- won't have much to celebrate.

Heading into the Christmas sales period, traditionally the biggest time of the year for electronics, prices of flat-screen televisions are falling. Sharp's 32-inch LCD-TV with built-in HDTV tuner -- introduced to the United States in January at a suggested price of $5,000 -- now carries a suggested price of $4,000 and is being advertised by some online retailers for about $3,100, including shipping. Wal-Mart Stores recently began selling a 42-inch plasma set for under $2,000. more...

Posted by Nana at 09:38 PM | Flat-screen TV prices are falling for holidays | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)