sharp

Sharp, the struggling electronics manufacturer, is reportedly looking to sell its stake in another consumer electronics company, Pioneer, to raise the funds needed to pay off 200 billion yen ($2.14 billion) in convertible debt.

Citing unnamed sources, the Japan Times reported yesterday that Sharp is looking to dispose of its 9.2 percent stake, or 30 million shares, in the maker of car navigation systems and home electronics to help finance the payment of its debt due this September. Sharp is Pioneer's top shareholder, the Japan Times added.

The idea of selling off its own shares was mooted … Read more

If you're looking for a big-screen TV of 60 inches or above, then Sharp should be one of the first brands you consider. Last year's LC-LE640U was a very good combination of picture quality and value, and its replacement offers more of the same. In fact they're almost identical, and that's not a bad thing.

The 650 incorporates a couple of tweaks to the set's design and picture processing, as well as a few extra features. The highlights are an expanded Smart TV offering with Skype and Hulu Plus now standard, while in picture-quality terms … Read more

A new report from Asia claims that Apple will not have an easy time getting the very-high-resolution display it needs for the iTV.

That would purportedly be a 3,840x2,160 Ultra HD display, according to a report in Digitimes. That resolution is sometimes referred to as 4K Ultra HD.

The report cites two obstacles for Apple. One, Ultra HD TV makers in Taiwan are booked up already for 2013 orders. That supply is going to China-based TV makers. Two, it's not clear if one Apple's favorite display suppliers, LG Display -- which provides displays for the iPad … Read more

The deadline has passed for Sharp and Foxconn to agree on investment terms, but the companies apparently are still trying to resolve their differences.

A one-year deadline was set to give both companies time to reach an agreement on a potential investment that would save Japan-based Sharp, which is in difficult financial straits. The 12-month time period has come and gone. However, Foxconn and Sharp are still trying to set mutually acceptable terms, according to unnamed sources contacted by Bloomberg.

Although no agreement is expected to come any time soon, reports earlier this month suggested that Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou … Read more

Sharp will receive the remainder of a $120 million investment by Qualcomm in June, according to reports.

Sharp said that by June 28, the television set maker will be granted the second half of Qualcomm's investment. The investment pact was in jeopardy after the Japanese firm missed the March 29 deadline set by the U.S. chipmaker to receive the second half of the $120 million investment, as Sharp experienced delays in fabricating power-conserving screens made jointly by the two companies.

Developed in conjunction with Qualcomm subsidiary Pixtronix, Sharp's new screens are means to conserve power through the … Read more

When shopping for a new monitor, degrees of swivel, tilt, and pivot aren't usually at the top of the wish list. But ergonomic options are important for the comfort and placement of your work space. Some monitors are designed with no options for adjusting your physical viewing experience, and an inefficient monitor setup can result in bad posture, eye strain, and other physical discomfort.

Whether you use your monitor for work or play, these models are chock-full of ergonomic features to maximize productivity by reducing fatigue and discomfort. Make sure to click on the photos of each monitor to see a demonstration of how they work. … Read more

After failing to advance far enough toward a manufacturing process goal, Sharp says that it will miss a March 29 deadline to receive the second half of a $120 million investment from chipmaker Qualcomm.

In December, the ailing Japanese electronics maker said it reached a partnership with U.S.-based Qualcomm, which agreed to invest $120 million in a project to jointly develop display panels. However, as reported by Reuters, Qualcomm's conditions included the stipulation that Sharp meet strict deadlines to fabricate power-conserving screens, and as a result, Sharp will not yet be granted the remaining $60 million the … Read more

Sharp, the ailing electronics maker that's in desperate need of cash, has decided to take out a major loan from three banks, according to a new report.

Sometime this week, Sharp will sign deals with three financial institutions for loans that equate to 30 billion yen ($313 million), Bloomberg is reporting, citing people who claim to have knowledge of the company's plans. Sharp hasn't publicly confirmed that it's getting loans, but a representative said that the company is hoping that many more banks will come to its aid.

Sharp has watched its business hemorrhage cash over … Read more

Samsung and Sharp might have come to an ownership agreement, but the deal doesn't include the Galaxy handset maker gobbling up a key piece of Sharp's business, according to a new report.

In the deal that results in Samsung acquiring a 3 percent stake in Sharp for $111 million, Samsung tried to acquire the printer and copier division. According to a Sharp spokeswoman who spoke to Reuters in an interview published today, her company declined Samsung's offer.

For Sharp, accepting such a deal would have been a catch-22. The company needs to repay a $2.1 billion … Read more