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LG's 15-inch OLED TV on sale in Korea this November, overseas in 2010

LG bared the fruits of its OLED labor last week with a new set of photos of its gorgeous 15-inch screen, and now comes word from Reuters that it's gearing up to become consumer reality. The company will be showing off the model at next week's IFA trade show, and then expects to start selling it in Korea this November, followed by overseas sometime next year. Excited? You bet. Affordable? Price unknown, with Sony's two-year old 11-inch XEL-1 still retailing for $2,500 in the US -- and worse elsewhere -- you can expect to be sacrificing a pretty penny for small-screen bliss. LG also plans to show off a 40-inch OLED in the "not too distant future," but don't expect to be seeing that hit retail shelves for a good long time to come.

[Via OLED-Info]

Viako's Ion-equipped HTPC is more like an HD-capable nettop


You can tussle over semantics all day long (particularly machine translated semantics), but there's little doubt that Viako's Ion-equipped machine is more than eager to handle whatever high-def material you throw its way. The Mini E series of HTPCs (or nettops, if you will) looks to be available in a variety of configurations, with the higher-end model snagging an Atom N330 processor, NVIDIA's GeForce 9400M GPU, 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, integrated WiFi, VGA / DVI / HDMI outputs, Ethernet, plenty of USB sockets and audio / in ports. There's no mention of price nor a stateside release date, but those in Seoul ought to find it in their local shops pretty soon.

[Via AVING]

Sony CMT-DH50R mini-HTIB coming to small screens, big offices in Korea

Sony CMT-DH50R mini-HTIB
We never thought we'd have to use the "mini" prefix for a HTIB system, but Sony Korea's CMT-DH50R introduction has forced our hand. The CMT-DH50R takes the familiar mini-system motif popularized in executive offices and adds in HDMI output with 1080p upscaling. Looking through the numerous badges on this 2x80-Watt system, though, you'll notice the Blu-ray logo is nowhere to be found -- sorry, folks, it's DVD only. It's also not clear if there's an HDMI input to go along with the USB device support; but Korean execs may be willing to overlook any shortcomings because the system will play back their ill-gotten and totally legit DiVX files and, more importantly, let them rock the karaoke right from their desks. We'd be surprised if this system made it to US shores in this form, so if you're itching, we suggest you grab up ₩428,000 and grab a flight.

Read - CMT-DH50R release
Read - CMT-DH50R specs

Flux capacitors sidelined as surface plasmons called upon to increase OLED efficiency

Samsung OLED TV
The surface science geeks out there already know that surface plasmons have enjoyed use in spectroscopic fluorescence measurements, but that's about as exciting as chamomile tea at a narcolepsy convention. However, those same surface plasmons have been used by Korean researchers to increase OLED efficiency by 75-percent while also increasing intensity twofold -- and that gets our attention. Note we said "researchers," though; the results were obtained with silver nanoparticles under high vacuum conditions -- in other words, a surface science lab. Although the word is that this technique can be used for flexible OLEDs, we won't be holding our breaths. Heck, at this point, we'd settle for relatively inefficient, inflexible, affordable OLEDs somewhere north of 20-inches.

LG slides out 55LH95 and 55LH93 wireless LCD HDTVs

Maybe it's just the disco-inspired wallpaper that has our motors all revved up, but whatever the case, we're pretty jazzed about LG's newest 55-inch duo. The 55LH95 and 55LH93 are the company's latest ultrathin LED-backlit sets, both of which slim down to 24.8 millimeters and pack a grand total of 3,360 LEDs -- a number that LG claims is around seven times that used in most edge-lit LED TVs. There's also a 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, a 240Hz refresh rate and -- potentially most intriguing -- a mysterious wireless feature that enables DVD and game consoles to transmit information sans an HDMI cable. There's no mention of what technology is baked in (AMIMON's WHDI, perhaps?), but either way, we're hoping the same stuff remains once these get announced for North America. Estimated pricing on the July-bound (in South Korea) sets is pegged for $5,500 and $5,900, respectively, and LG is apparently planning to issue 42- and 47-inchers with the same amenities here soon.

Update: SiBEAM pinged us to confirm that it's WirelessHD included here.

LG readies first 47LH50 3D LCD TV -- just 29,999,999 to go


LG is set to release its first 3D TV -- the 47-inch 47LH50 LCD -- into the Korean market next month. As our tech overlords, this could signal a trend that'll head west. In fact, LG estimates that the 3D television market will exceed 30 million units by 2012 -- exactly what we'd say too if we were in the business of selling televisions. Hmm, 30 million TVs multiplied by 4.5 pairs of glasses required for the average household -- guess we'll be investing in polarized lenses.

[Via @visitken]

LG 15-inch OLED TV on sale in December


We knew that LG's 15-inch OLED TV was entering into production this summer, now we've got a ship date: December. This according to an interview with Won Kim, LG's VP of OLED sales and marketing. While 15-inches is small, it easily trumps the world's first production OLED TV, Sony's $2,500 11-inch XEL-1, and is a reasonable size for the bedroom (if you must) or kitchen counter. No word on specs but we expect the production set to offer the same million:1 contrast, 1,366 x 768 pixel resolution, and 30,000-hour shelf life as the prototype unveiled in January. The TV will launch first in Korea for an undisclosed price that is bound to be punishingly expensive.

LG's 50PS70 and 60PS70 plasmas get 160GB Time Machine functionality


The jury's still out on whether inbuilt DVRs are good for HDTVs, but LG's obviously hot to trot on the whole idea. Nearly a year after first introducing sets with an integrated Time Machine, the outfit is hitting back with two new big-screen plasmas that each posses a 160GB internal hard drive. The X Canvas 50PS70 (50-inch) and 60PS70 (60-inch) panels also boast 600Hz dejudder technology and can record overflow onto external drives connected via USB 2.0. Additional details (price, screen resolution, availability, etc.) are scant, but we'll be sure to keep an ear to the ground.

[Via Akihabara News]

LG puts its HB954TBW Blu-ray HTIB into Korean streets

LG HB954TBW Blu-ray HTIB
Only last month we saw a positive review of LG's HB354BS HTIB, and the company obviously feels it's on to something good with these HTIB systems, because it has now introduced the similar HB954TBW to its homeland Korean market. This system notches up the channel count to 5.1 (as opposed to the 2.1-channel HB354BS), but still hangs on to the Mark Levinson name-drop, Blu-ray heart and retractable iPod dock that to our eyes looks like a sleek accident waiting to happen. Gather up your won, this one lists out at ₩1,299,000 ($1,030).

International HD news roundup


Here at Engadget HD, we'd prefer not to just focus on high-def happenings in the US of A. Thus, we round up the best of the best from the international front each week and present it here, bundled together in a single, easy to digest list. If something went down in your corner of the globe over the past seven days, let the rest of the world know it in comments. 'Til next week, Vi ses!

Read - Czech Prima trials HD
Read - Eurovision Song Contest broadcasts in high definition
Read - 5 linear HD channels 'to join Virgin'
Read - ITV content attracts 4m views on Virgin Media catch-up in first month
Read - Freesat celebrates first birthday, 400,000 strong
Read - ZON doubles HD take-up (Portugal)
Read - History HD Expands Korean Footprint
Read - Freeview rolls out high definition for World Cup
Read - YouSee adds Canal HD

LG's WirelessHD LH80 LCD TVs released in Korea


With its 2009 LED-backlit LH90 LCDs already announced, LG has decided its LH80 line should be next up, its first of many -- following Panasonic's lead -- packing a Wireless HD media box to stream any HDMI, USB, or OTA content to the TV. Available in Korea is just this 55-inch model for about 5.1 million South Korean won ($4,008) but you can check out our CES '09 Wireless HD demo for a better look at the box and display while we wait for its LH85 branded U.S. cousin to make an appearance later on this year.

Samsung's 850 PAVV plasma teases the 1-inch thick mark


The plasma industry may be teetering on the edge of certain doom (okay, so maybe that's exaggerating it... a little), but Samsung's still pushing the envelope. Over in South Korea, the company just outed its latest PDPs, the 850 PAVV lineup. Aside from being 40 percent more power efficient, 20 percent lighter and 120 percent more seductive than the prior generation, the new 50- and 58-inch sets also boast DLNA support, a USB 2.0 socket, DivX compatibility and a rather striking stand. The real kicker? The 29 millimeter depth, which equates to just over one inch thick for those who abhor the metric system. There's no word on when these beauties will hit the streets, but we're guessing Panasonic will be keenly interested in knowing.

Samsung outs Fabrizio PAVV 450 Series plasma HDTVs in Korea


Despite a sudden lack of support, the plasma ain't dead yet. Just days after announcing its ritzy new Bordeaux PAVV Fabrizio 650 LCD HDTVs over in South Korea, the same company has introduced a new line catering to the unshakable PDP fans across the globe. The Fabrizio PAVV 450 Series includes a 42- and 50-inch version with Sammy's own Crystal Engine, 0.001 millisecond response time, "Mega Contrast," and a trio of HDMI sockets. Outside of that, details are still being kept under wraps, but hopefully we'll know more after these get a US ship date. Wait, these are coming to America, right Samsung?

[Via Akihabara News]

Samsung gets fancy with Bordeaux PAVV Fabrizio 650 LCD HDTVs


Considering that we can't even pronounce the HDTV lineup we're referring too here, we'll assume these are simply made to be enjoyed by a finer class of individuals. All jesting aside (sort of...), the Bordeaux PAVV Fabrizio 650 lineup that just landed in Korea contains two newcomers: a 40- and 46-incher, both of which sport full 1080p panels and 120Hz dejudder technology. They also include DLNA support and an integrated USB port alongside four HDMI 1.3 sockets and your favorite glass of wine. There's no mention of a price or US release date, but those with friends in high places probably needn't worry.

LG denies withdrawing from plasma market... in the UK, anyway


Take this as you will, but George Mead, the Marketing Manager for Digital Displays at LG Electronics UK, has informed T3 that LG Electronics UK has no intention to withdraw from the plasma TV market." To be perfectly clear here, this statement probably is in relation to UK market plans only; after all, those words from company VP Lee Gyu-hong were pretty strong. At any rate, Mead continued by noting that "we have recently implemented a bespoke strategy to promote and market plasma TVs here in the UK," but he failed to specifically touch on LG's worldwide plans (and understandably so). So yeah, it looks like LG PDPs are still safe for the moment across the pond, but we wouldn't be so sure about the rest of the developed world.




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