Le Holdings Co. Ltd. (LeEco), a Chinese company with unusual multi-business aspirations, announced this week that they had acquired Vizio, a U.S. manufacturer of affordable televisions, in a deal worth $2 billion. The deal will serve as LeEco’s entry into the U.S. market with its unusual mix of products.
Asian Connection
LCD Kingpin Sharp, Under New Management, Pursues OLED
Sharp to Cut Another 7,000 Employees
Big changes are coming to Sharp, Corp. in the wake of their acquisition by Hon Hai Precision Industry Co – better known as Foxconn. News out of Japan notes that the deal between Sharp and Foxconn officially closes at the end of this month. According to both parties, the acquisition is proceeding smoothly and is fully expected to close on time.
But Foxconn has big plans for big changes at Sharp… [Read more…] about LCD Kingpin Sharp, Under New Management, Pursues OLED
In Search of Profits, Panasonic Pulls Out of LCD Panel Production
In yet another sign of Japan’s struggle with the flat panel TV business, Panasonic Corp. will stop all LCD panel production at its last such factory. Reports out of Japan say the company has determined that competition from Korea and China will forever preclude it from earning a profit in the panel production business. Many in Japan suggest that this news represents the end of an era of Japanese dominance in the TV business.
But is Panasonic pulling out of the TV business?… [Read more…] about In Search of Profits, Panasonic Pulls Out of LCD Panel Production
Oh-Oh! In Wake of Sharp Purchase, Foxconn’s Orders are Dropping
The ink was barely dry on their $3.5 billion dollar acquisition of troubled Japanese giant Sharp Corp., when Foxconn’s CEO Terry Gou was forced to admit that overall orders for goods produced by the Taiwanese OEM manufacturer are dropping. Gou was essentially pressed to make the admission by China’s Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday.
What factors pushed Gou to say this? See more below… [Read more…] about Oh-Oh! In Wake of Sharp Purchase, Foxconn’s Orders are Dropping
8K is On the Way, Following Successful Tests in Japan
We first told you about 8K, called UHDTV then, way back in this report in 2012. Now known as Super Hi-Vision or UHD-2, 8K is looking more like a reality than ever before. Two of Japan’s three largest mobile carriers say they are on track to deliver 8K signal delivery by the 2020 Olympics, scheduled to take place in Tokyo. Both KDDI and NTT Docomo have successfully tested 8K signal delivery systems as part of their preparations for 8K video broadcasting in association with the Olympics.
While the U.S. focuses on 4K, Japan pushes the innovation envelope… [Read more…] about 8K is On the Way, Following Successful Tests in Japan
Deepening Investment, LG Display to Mass Manufacture OLED Light Panels
LG Display announced this week that it will invest in a production line to build OLED panels for use in lighting solutions. The move is seen as the company deepening its commitment to OLED technology and seeking new business segments to expand the popularity of the technology.
See more on this interesting new use case for OLED… [Read more…] about Deepening Investment, LG Display to Mass Manufacture OLED Light Panels
Sharp Considering Cutting Another 1,000 Jobs
Company Says Idea is Their Own, Not A Foxconn Requirement
Sharp Corp., the embattled Japanese manufacturer best known for LCD flat-panel televisions and soon to be division of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., (a Taiwanese company better known as Foxconn) is said to be strongly considering cutting another 1,000 jobs at the company as a result of continuing poor performance. This would be the third round of significant employment cuts in the last four years.
See more on Sharp’s continuing problems… [Read more…] about Sharp Considering Cutting Another 1,000 Jobs
Dirac Cuts Interesting Deal with Pioneer
Dirac Research, a provider of high-quality room and loudspeaker optimization technologies, announced today that it has reached an agreement with Pioneer Corporation to distribute their digital technologies in the OEM market in Japan. The deal, their first with a relatively mainstream manufacturer, will put Dirac technology in a wide range of products under a wide range of brands.
See more about this milestone agreement for Dirac… [Read more…] about Dirac Cuts Interesting Deal with Pioneer
LG’s Preliminary Q1 Results – Sales Down, Profits Up
LG Electronics, Inc. released preliminary financial results for their first quarter of the 2016 fiscal year earlier this month. The report was very brief, showing only top line revenues and operating profits. But as short as it is…it comes with a bit of a surprise.
See the results for LG as shown in their preliminary report… [Read more…] about LG’s Preliminary Q1 Results – Sales Down, Profits Up
Hitachi Spending Nearly $1B to Launch IoT Research Center in U.S.
Hitachi announced this week that it will invest ¥100 billion ($915 million) building a state-of-the-art research center in the United States to develop Internet of Things (IoT) products and technologies. A significant commitment by the company, with the project expected to take over three years to complete – the facility will be located in Santa Clara, California.