July 18, 2007
Inside sources say that a 52” full-HD LCD HDTV from Vizio is expected to be available in North America next month August for $2,200.
LG.Philips LCD will provide the panels for the new Vizio 52” full-HD LCD HDTV, which will first be available in Costco, sources have said.
Taiwan-based Amtran Technology, the major manufacturer of Vizio-brand LCD TVs, said the company plans to launch a 40” full HD LCD TV by the end of the year using panels adopting from S-LCD, a joint venture between Sony and Samsung Electronics, added the sources.
Vizio began shipping full HD 42” and 47” LCD TVs in the market during the first half of 2007, so with the introduction of 40” TVs, Vizio aims to increase its market share in the 40/42” LCD TV combined segments.
Amtram shipped 990,000 flat panel TVs in the first half of this year and the company expects shipments will continue growing to 1.5 million units in the second half, said the company. Revenues from the company will peak in the fourth quarter with overall sales to hit $60 billion for the full year of 2007, Amtran estimates. Amtran is the second largest shareholder of US-based Vizio, holding about 24% of the company.
July 3, 2007
Hitachi recently introduced four new LCD HDTVs and six new plasma display panel TVs with sizes ranging from 42 to 60 inches, expanding its flat-panel TV screen sizes.
Hitachi said in a press release that it will begin offering four new LCD TVs, two 42” and two 47” models, in September while the new plasmas will be available no earlier than July.
Hitachi now is putting its eggs in the larger-size TV basket, with the 60” plasma a new segment for the Japan-based company’s plasma line up, which covers sizes from 42”, 50- 55” inches. Hitachi’s existing LCD TV products are 26”, 32”, and 37”.
In April, Hitachi announced its aims to increase its global market share for large-size plasmas with the addition of an 85” model to its line, according to an EETimes report. Last month, Hitachi and Matsushita Electric Industrial announced they have agreed to strengthen their partnership in the plasma business with an agreement under which Matsushita will start to supply Hitachi with 103” plasma panels in fiscal year 2007, while Hitachi will supply Matsushita with 85” plasma panels in fiscal year 2008.
At an investor conference in May, Hitachi announced the forecast of its flat-panel TV shipments for the fiscal year of 2007. The Japan-based company aims to ship 1.4 million units plasma TV and monitor panels and 800,000 LCD TVs for the year, up from 770,000 units and 510,000 units, respectively, for the fiscal year of 2006.
June 20, 2007
At InfoComm 2007 (June 19-21), Samsung Electronics America is introducing the SyncMaster DX series, a new line of 40″, 46″, 57″, and 82″ LCD displays designed for digital signage and information display applications.
DX Series models feature new digital information display (DID) panel designed to lower the temperature of the displays, a 3,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, ultra-high brightness levels (700 cd/m2 for the 400DX and 460DX; 600 cd/m2 for the 570DX), 1920 × 1080 resolution,178/178-degree viewing angles, and 8ms (GTG) response time.
By reducing the bezel size of the 400DX and the 460DX to a mere 0.79-inch, these models allow for the image to be at the forefront of the display, while the bezel remains largely unnoticed.
The SyncMaster 570DX is now available through Samsung resellers and distribution channels, and the 400DX and the 460DX will be available in August, Samsung has noted.
