While HDBaseT still has to hit the mainstream market ISE 2013 shows the technology has more support than ever, with the likes of Epson, Belkin, Panasonic and projectiondesign joining the single Cat-5 cable party.

HDBaseT carries HDMI, video (up to 4K/2K), audio, internet, control data and 100W of power over up to 100m of Cat-5 cable.

The ISE HDBaseT Alliance stand houses a rather interesting prototype-- a Samsung-developed TV using HDBaseT to replace all inputs (including power) with just one ethernet port. While still in proof-of-concept stage, the Alliance hopes vendors will pick up on the idea and make such TVs as early as 2014.

Following months of litigation over the infringement of OLED and LCD display patents LG Display and Samsung Display kiss and make up via out-of-courtroom settlement.

According to Yonhap News Agency the Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy organised a peace summit at the Palace Hotel, Seoul, where the CEOs from both rivals negotiated for around 1 hour and 20 minutes.

As a result all lawsuits between LG and Samsung are over-- including the December 2012 Samsung patent suit covering 7 plane-to-line switching (PLS) designs and the September 2012 LG countersuit over OLED patents.

Samsung first sued LG after the arrests of 11 people for allegedly stealing and selling AMOLED technology secrets.

The two companies will now look into patent sharing (or cross-licensing) as the Korean government hopes for a "win-win" result from the negotiations. That, or more lawsuits.

Go Samsung-LG Dialog (Yonhap News Agency)

Philips bids farewell to the home entertainment market-- Funai Electric will take over the Philips Lifestyle Entertainment business (audio, video, multimedia and accessories) for €150 million and a regular brand licensing fee for 5-1/2 years and the right to renew for another 5 years.

The deal provides funds & cuts losses for the ailing Philips, whose Q4 2012 losses total €355m. Philips blame the loss on the €503m fine imposed by the European Commission on the CRT price fixing "cartel" Philips made part of between 1996 and 2006.

Excluding the fine Philips income totals €875m.

The Lifestyle business will not immediately go to Funai-- while audio (including the high-end Fidelio unit) goes to Funai during H2 2013, the TV business has to wait until 2017 due to the 2012 TP Vision joint venture with Hong Kong's TPV.

Philips remote control operations, being predominantly business-to-business, are excluded from the transaction.

"With this transaction we are taking another step in reshaping the Consumer Lifestyle portfolio and transforming Philips into the leading technology company in health and well-being," Philips CEO Frans van Houten says. As part of the "Accelerate!" restructuring plan the Philips Consumer Lifestyle unit will concentrate on making more personal care devices, domestic appliances and coffee machines.

Go Philips Q4 2012 Quarterly Report

Integrated Systems Events Managing Director Mike Blackman announces ISE will remain in the Amsterdam RAI until 2019 as ISE 2013 opens its doors, the 10th time for the show.

"Extending our contract provides certainty for all our event's stakeholders," Blackman says. "The RAI has invested heavily in infrastructure and facilities, and this programme will continue in the future."

The show also sees a change of future dates-- ISE 2014 takes place on 3-4 February 2014 as previously announced, but it will move to the 2nd week of February from 2015 in order to make life easier for exhibitors attending January events in N. America such as CES and Winter NAMM.

ISE 2013 houses some 894 exhibitors in over 33000 square metres of floor space, both record numbers for the event according to the organisers.

Attendance figures also appear to reach a new high, with pre-registrations growing by around 6% over the 2012 equivalent.

In the meantime do follow the rest of our show coverage!

Go ISE 2013