European Custom Installer

System Integration for the Connected Home

TVs, Displays and Mounts

Samsung Buys Sony Stake in LCD Joint Venture

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Sony and Samsung end their LCD panel joint venture, S-LCD Corporation, with Samsung buying Sony's 50% share in the business for around $938.97M.

Sony LCDWith the Samsung purchase, Sony will not only make some cash, but also enter in agreement with Samsung to secure LCD panels on market prices without having to operate a manufacturing facility.

The sale follows reports of Sony slashing global TV midterm sales targets, as 2011 TV-related losses for the company total $1.15BN. Sony is also reducing sales volume while splitting the TV business into 3 entities in attempts to return to making profit from TVs by 2014.

Samsung is also streamlining its TV business, absorbing the remaining 50% stake of Samsung LED from Samsung Electro-Mechanics.

Go Sony and Samsung Shift to New LCD Panel Business Alliance

A Universal Mounting Solution from Chief

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VCMU MountChief provides a universal mounting solution for large LCD/CRT projectors with the VCMU universal projector mount, featuring steel construction and a simple 3-step installation process.

Micro adjustments (roll, pitch and yaw) allow one to quickly achieve registration, while the universal HBU bracket is compatible with most heavy duty projectors. It has multiple installation options, including flush mounting to ceiling, 1.3cm threaded rods and a 3.8cm NPT extension column.

Other features include integrated cable management (requiring no additional accessories) and quick connect/disconnect for convenient lamp and filter access on most projectors.

Go Chief VCMU Universal Projector Mount

Apple Moving Forward With TV Plans

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The Wall Street Journal reports Apple wants to make one of the late Steve Job's last wishes come true by "moving forward with its assault on TV" and meeting with executives at "several large (media) companies."

Apple TVAccording to WSJ sources, the Apple TV set (or "iTV") will access content via wireless streaming technology, recognising users across phones, tablets and TV.

Delaying development and release is work on the user interface-- one using not only voice (via Siri) but also gestures and iDevices.

This being Apple, development is (of course) extremely secretive, but apparently some media companies are receiving updates on iTV developments. Sources say "the types of new services Apple and the media companies are discussing could be done with Apple's existing technologies, which include its Apple TV set-top box." Apple also wants the iTV to receive data directly from mobile devices via AirPlay, without need for the Apple STB.

Apple is hardly the only company wanting to take over TV-- as we all know, Google has (the still unsuccessful) Google TV product, recently updated to Android 4.0. Speaking at LeWeb 2011, Google chairman Eric Schmidt sounded optimistic, saying "by the summer of 2012, the majority of the TVs you see will have Google TV embedded in it."

Will Schmidt's wish come true, or will fortune favour Apple? Maybe the two rival companies will bring some fuel to an admittedly ailing TV market...

Go Apple Plots Its TV Assault (WSJ.com)

Go Eric Schmidt Predicts Google TV Success

LG, Intel Team Up on WiDi TVs

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LG and Intel announce collaboration on the use of WiDi technology in LG Cinema 3D Smart TVs-- making LG TVs the first featuring Intel's WiDi wireless digital video over wifi system.

LG, IntelWiDi allows the streaming of video content (both stored and internet accessed) from Intel-based laptops, notebooks and mobile devices to TVs, projectors or display monitor, using point-to-point connectivity and a wireless interface. It is currently available in receivever box or dongle form.

The system does not require active wireless internet or wifi connections, and does not tie down mobile devices during real-time content sharing.

At the time of writing, the companies do not specify which TV models will carry the technology, but we should see more of the WiDi-enabled LG TV range at CES 2012 early next year.

Go LG and Intel Sign Strategic Alliance for WiDi Technology

More to Pay: LCD Price Fixing

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After the $585m government fine for price-fixing, Sharp, Samsung and other LCD makers now must pay $388 million to settle the class-action suit from end users.

LCDThe companies won’t admit to the crime, but Sharp, Samsung, Chimei Innolux, LG and four other LCD manufacturers agreed on a settlement in a price fixing case from a 2007 class action lawsuit.

That suit specifically cites LCD panels sold between 1999 and 2006: the companies were alleged to have driven the price up. For that, the group will pay a total of $388 to settle the claims, with Sharp paying out the largest single amount of $105 million – Samsung with $82.7 million, followed by Chimei Innolux with $78 million, and LG with $70 million.

The government gets their big dollar lawsuit…the end-users cash in on a class action…but the integrators and installers get…nothing!

Go Price Fixing Scandal