Samsung Develops TVs With Biggest ``Dream Displays''

Samsung Electronics plans to showcase a next-generation high-definition TV using a 31-inch active-matrix organic light-emitting diodes (AM OLED) display at the upcoming international consumer electronics fair. If Samsung releases the TV set on schedule, the company would become the first consumer electronics company to commercialize the biggest OLED TV.

Samsung’s rival Sony, which has introduced an 11-inch model with a 3-milimeter screen with a price tag of some $1,700, has reportedly developed a prototype of a 27-inch TV set, according to industry sources. TMD, the joint venture between Toshiba and Matsushita, has recently postponed its plan to commercialize 32-inch AM OLED TV sets from 2009 for technological reasons, while Panasonic is still in the research and development stage. Full article here: Korea Times

OLED TV will arrive next year in US

When organic light-emitting diode (OLED) televisions were first put on display people were immediately grabbed by the stunning resolution and bright color capabilities possible. Place an OLED TV beside a plasma or LED TV and the difference is immediate. That is also true if you place the price tag of the OLED beside the plasma/LED. Because OLED technology is still new the price range for these kinds of TVs are astronomical. The first commercial OLED TV is Sony’s XEL-1 and its 11-inch display will set you back about $1,800 if you can find one (they are only available in Japan right now.)

Today the chairman of Sony said that the company will begin to sell OLED televisions in America starting next year. “When you look at OLED, your impulse is to say ‘wow’. We need that reaction from people at Sony … it’s a statement of confidence, that there is a path to somewhere else,” said Howard Stringer at a Sony vision seminar held in Tokyo. Full article here: MSNBC

Toshiba and Matsushita out of OLED TV race

According to Japanese business paper the Nikkei, Toshiba and Matsushita's much-vaunted plans to join Sony in the OLED TV market have been shelved after problems moving from the research lab to mass production.

After finding trouble getting production efficiency to a level that could be commercialised, the Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology joint venture has decided to postpone its promised 30-inch OLED television set that was planned for 2009.

Instead, it will concentrate on smaller OLED screens for mobile phones and portable media players, according to the report. Should the experience prepare it to compete in the promising OLED TV field, we expect the firm to focus on the 25- to 35-inch sector of the market within five years. Full article here: Tech.co.uk

'Black Stones' on Main Board'

The disassembly of the XEL-1, Sony's OLED TV, is reaching the final stage. The Nikkei Electronics Breakdown Team took out the main board on the bottom face of the TV mount chassis and observed it

Read the full story here part #8
Read the full story here part #9

Lump of Cu Found in TV Mount

After breaking down the display unit of XEL-1, Sony Corp's OLED TV, the Nikkei Electronics Breakdown Team started to disassemble the TV mount.

Read the full story here part #7

Drive Circuit Layout Realizes 3mm Thickness

The key feature of the XEL-1, Sony Corp's OLED TV, is definitely the display unit, which measures only 3 mm at the thinnest portion. The Nikkei Electronics Breakdown Team first disassembled the display unit to discover Sony's techniques to achieve the slimness. After we took out the bezels and other parts at the back of the display unit, we could see two FPCs connecting the unit with the turner block, which serves as a TV mount. The two circuits were thought to supply power and the drive signal.


Read the full story here part #5
Read the full story here part #6

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.

Read the full story here part #3
Read the full story here part #4

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.

Read the full story here part #1
Read the full story here part #2

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