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.
Asian Connection
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.
See more on this major R&D center in the U.S. by Hitachi… [Read more…] about Hitachi Spending Nearly $1B to Launch IoT Research Center in U.S.
On Saturday, Sharp Becomes Taiwanese
Savvy Negotiating by Gou Lands Him Sharp At a Discount
Hon Hai Presicion
Foxconn
The Boards of both Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (better known as Foxconn) and Sharp Corp. have approved the acquisition of 66% of the outstanding shares of Sharp by the Taiwanese OEM manufacturer of largely Apple, Inc. products. This day came largely as a result of some savvy negotiations and tactics from Foxconn’s CEO Terry Gou, who overcame tremendous odds to score this win.
Gou not only won Sharp, but he won it at a discount…see more… [Read more…] about On Saturday, Sharp Becomes Taiwanese
After Big Setback, Sharp-Foxconn Deal Expected Soon
Newly Discovered Liabilities Nearly Derail Deal
In what most Japanese media are calling a due diligence blunder, a potential deal for Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known as Foxconn, to buy Sharp Corp. was nearly scuttled when over $3 billion in potential additional liabilities suddenly came to light. The development caused Foxconn to pull back and, ultimately, launch an even deeper and more detailed analysis of the opportunity.
With talks back on track, a deal is now expected by March 31st… [Read more…] about After Big Setback, Sharp-Foxconn Deal Expected Soon
Only Days Away From Official Launch, Toshiba Scraps Wearvue Smart Glasses
Toshiba Corp. has pulled the plug on a highly-touted smart glasses project – a product similar in concept to the recently cancelled consumer version of Google Glass. What’s most interesting about this decision by Toshiba is that they made it just days before the originally scheduled – and loudly promoted – launch date.
See more on this puzzling last-minute cancellation of an almost-launched product… [Read more…] about Only Days Away From Official Launch, Toshiba Scraps Wearvue Smart Glasses
Once Hailed as Savior, 3D TVs Disappear into the Annals of History
In a move that appears to indicate that major TV makers are finally accepting the reality that consumers don’t want 3D TVs, Samsung and LG are said to be limiting or eliminating the feature from future TV models. Some may say, ‘What took you so long?’ But the reality is that the industry invested billions of dollars developing the technology and has been slow to eliminate it – saying that there are still some enthusiasts that love 3D content.
