We Watched Digital Terrestrial Broadcast

We opened the box of Sony's XEL-1 OLED TV and turned it on. We started to adjust the settings for digital terrestrial broadcasting on the configuration screen that appeared. We could only connect the TV to an antenna outlet at a certain spot in the Nikkei Electronics editorial department. Then, we remembered that XEL-1 included a rod antenna for receiving digital terrestrial broadcasts. We started to adjust the reception settings for the antenna.

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We Got Sony's OLED TV

The product positioned as the "Symbol of Sony's Revival" by Ryoji Chubachi, President and Electronics CEO, has finally been released. It is the long-awaited organic EL TV. The date of release is Dec 1, 2007, but ahead of this, some volume retailers have already launched initial sales of the products. The supply is already running short and customers have to wait some time before obtaining the products in most cases. But you don't have to worry. Our Nikkei Electronics Breakdown Team has obtained the precious TV. It is not for the editorial department, but for breaking down and analyzing part of the product that Sony is boasting as the culmination of its technologies. The break down process will be reported to the readers of Tech-On! and Nikkei Electronics.

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Sony begins selling world's 1st OLED TV

Sony Corp. on Thursday began selling a new three-millimeter thick organic light emitting diode television--the first OLED TV to be launched in the world.
OLED TVs feature panels are made of a substance that lights up when electricity is passed through, doing away with the need for a backlight and allowing for the slim design.
Production is limited to 2,000 units per month, and so most sales will be made through advance orders at major retail outlets.
The 11-inch model costs 200,000 yen including tax.
Sony brought the model's scheduled launch date forward from Dec. 1 because nearly all products to be sold in the year-end sales battle are already on store shelves. The first batch sold out soon after a direct sale Internet site began accepting reservations on Nov. 14, and further units will be shipped as they become available.
Four units are on display at Yodobashi Camera Multimedia Akiba in Akihabara, Tokyo.
"This will have the biggest impact since the [Sony] Walkman," a customer said.

Source: The Yomiuri Shimbun

Sony's XEL-1 OLED TV limited to 2000 units

At this point, it's not clear if the interest around Sony's ultra-thin, XEL-1 OLED TV is plain ol' first-gen technology, gawker enthusiasm or valid consumer interest. As such, it's hard to say whether an initial production run of just 2,000 units spread across 700 stores in Japan is going to be a problem or not. However, if you're lucky enough to stumble across this storefront display you'd best not dawdle and dig deep for that ¥200,000 (about $1700 US) MSRP right then and there. As for the rest of us, the chances of that 1,000,000:1 contrast coming to North America or Europe any time soon is just that, a million to one. Source: Engadget

Sony takes pre-orders of the XEL-1 OLED TV, launch date still 1st December

Sony's direct sales site, SONY STYLE, began yesterday 14th novemver with pre-sales of the worlds first OLED TV "XEL-1". Direct sales price is a standard price and the same 200 000 yen ($ 1 806) , but a 3 year warranty service has been included in the price. Additions and shipping date is undetermined but "XEL-1" release date is set to 1st December.

Sony's Home:
Http://www.sony.co.jp/

Sony's sales page:
Http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Qnavi/Detail/XEL-1.html

New release:
Http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200710/07-1001/

Product information:
Http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/oel/index.html

Samsung takes on Sony's new OLED TV release

With just about a month to go until Sony puts the world's first OLED (organic light emitting diode) television on sale, two rival display makers took the wraps off their latest OLED TV panel prototypes at an exhibition in Japan the previous week. OLED technology is being fiercely developed by many panel makers because it offers a brighter, more vivid picture than today's LCD panels. And because OLED pixels emit their own light a backlight isn't required, meaning OLED TVs use less power and are also much thinner - the Sony set is just 3mm thick. Samsung Electronics was showing three prototype TVs based on 14in OLED panels. That's larger than the 11in screens that are in the new Sony TVs but a close look at the Samsung panels revealed some imperfections. In each of the three prototypes on display were pixels locked to a single colour.

The problems stem from difficulties that remain in the manufacturing stage, said a Samsung representative on the company's stand at the FPD Expo in Yokohama. Samsung is one of the world's largest manufacturers of LCD panels and the OLED screens on display were designed to be manufactured using an existing TFT LCD production process. That presents some hurdles now but could mean big cost savings in the future because Samsung won't have to invest in a new factory to make the screens.

Sony OLED TV could land in US in 2007

Sony's XEL -1 could be available in the US before 2008 depending on how well it fares in Japan, company electronics president Stan Glasgow has told journalists at a press gathering. While the 11-inch set is only officially slated to launch in Japan on December 1st, a relatively modest reception in the country or a favorable supply of OLED panels could lead to an early US release, possibly reaching stores by the holidays. The set would require a change to the format of its analog and digital TV tuners to accommodate American signals but could remain unchanged from its original design, which sports HDMI, Ethernet, and USB connections and generates an unprecedented 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

Pricing for the US version of the XEL-1 was not discussed; the TV is comparatively expensive at the equivalent of roughly $1,800 in Japan after taxes but may decrease in price for its transition to the US. Sony plans to release larger OLED TVs in the future but does not expect these for the next one to two years.

Samsung's OLED roadmap - 21" monitors by 2009, 42" Full HD TV by 2010

Samsung has published their OLED roadmap for the coming years. In 2008 they want to have 3.5 to 7 inch displays - for ultra-mobile PCs or PDAs. In 2009 they will have 14"-21" panels, to be used in laptops and desktop monitors. In 2010 they expect to commercialize 40"/42", Full HD OLED TVs.

Samsung also expects to have flexible displays out soon - they cannot commit to a date, but they say 2012 at the latest

Read more here (Engadget)