ultra

LG's curved OLED launches with Ewan McGregor's help

LG has announced availability for the 55-inch curved OLED TV in Australia, which is the first country to be confirmed outside of South Korea, and introduced Ewan McGregor as its new brand ambassador.

Though pricing wasn't announced at the Australian launch of the LG 2013 range, the company said the TV will arrive before the end of the year. The set was announced for Korea at 15 million won (around AU$13,100); there is no availability or pricing for other regions, including the U.S.

LG Australia's marketing general manager Lambro Skropidis told CNET Australia that he … Read more

Apple iTV iffy this year because of supply issues, says report

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

Best ergonomic monitors

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

4K LCD TV panel shipments to increase 40-fold in 2013

A new report by TV industry tracker NPD DisplaySearch says Ultra HD resolution LCD TV panels, the principal component in new UHD/4K TVs, will increase significantly in 2013.

The firm says the number will top out at 2.6 million by the end of the year, up from a paltry 63 thousand in 2012.

A summary of findings in its "Quarterly Large-Area TFT Panel Shipment Report" says five suppliers will be responsible for the growth in 4K LCD panels, feeding a number of TV brands worldwide. China will play a key role, and growth will be driven by sizes between 50 and 65 inches.

"4K×2K panel manufacturers' shipments are primarily focused on 50-inch, 55/58-inch, and 65-inch sizes, which are expected to have the highest volume shipments, especially in China," says David Hsieh, NPD DisplaySearch vice president, Greater China Market, in a statement.

To put the 2.6 million panel number in perspective, consider that DisplaySearch reported that shipments of all TV types totaled 237 million in 2012. The firm predicts flat demand for TVs worldwide in 2013.

If you're wondering about OLED, DisplaySearch says its 2013 volume will be significantly less than that of 4K -- just 50 thousand units worldwide in 2013.

SVS Ultra Bookshelf speaker offers clarity and bass

I had a good feeling about the SVS Ultra Bookshelf speaker even before I heard it. First, the high-gloss black finish was perfect, and the heft of this 19-pound beauty left no doubt about the speaker's build quality. It seemed solid.

I've confessed many times on this blog my fondness for big speakers, but if you don't have the space for a set of tower speakers, so-called bookshelf speakers are the way to go. I said so-called because the last place you'd ever want to put a set of bookshelf speakers is in a bookshelf cabinet. … Read more

HTC One puts ultrapixels over megapixels

There can only be one CNET Update:

Tuesday's tech news roundup looks into the HTC One, the company's new flagship smartphone. To help HTC stand out again, the One has an aluminum body, a redesigned Sense interface, and an animated photo mode called Zoe. Most notable is the rear camera with 4 megapixels -- but HTC uses the term "ultrapixels" because the photos can pick up more light. Most top smartphones boast 8-megapixel cameras, but HTC says megapixels are a misunderstood metric for consumers. The HTC One will be available in March at AT&T, … Read more

Dell's U2413 monitor is a good thing in a small package

Less than a year after it released the U2412M, Dell's added a new 24-inch monitor to its lineup. The U2413 is engineered for color-critical work and is currently available at $599.

The monitor has a 12-bit internal processor and is calibrated to support 99 percent of the Adobe RGB color space and 100 percent of sRGB. Ports on the monitor include USB 3.0, DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, DVI, and HDMI.

The model's high-performing predecessors set high expectations for the U2413's release. The U2412M was a highly rated monitor that performed well, but the U2413's 12-bit internal … Read more

The UltraSharp U2913WM monitor is Dell's first ultra-wide monitor

Dell has introduced its first ultra-wide monitor with the 29-inch UltraSharp U2913WM. The panoramic display has a 21:9 aspect ratio with a 2,560x1,080-pixel resolution and is currently available for $699.

With its large display and extensive connectivity, the U2913WM is geared toward high productivity. The monitor has DVI, HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, and 4x USB 3.0 downstream ports. The monitor also has highly adjustable tilt and swivel positioning and a 5.1-inch height adjustability range.

LG and Asus each announced ultra-wide monitors at CES 2013 with comparable specifications to the U2913WM. The Asus MX299Q and … Read more

Why Ultra HD 4K TVs are still stupid

As we all expected, the big news at CES this year was Ultra HD 4K displays. It seemed that every TV manufacturer had one, ranging from massive LED LCDs to midsize LED LCDs to midsize OLEDs.

We've talked about this before, but now with more info, and definitive product announcements, let me explain in exacting, excruciating detail why 4K TVs are still stupid. … Read more

LG's Ultra HD set: 300 sold... and counting?

If a report out of Korea is to be believed, LG's 84-inch Ultra HD television isn't exactly setting the industry on fire with its sales.

According to news site Chosun Ilbo, LG has sold about 300 units of its high-end television. The company's monthly sales have averaged about 70 of the TVs since the product's launch last year.

So, why might sales be so underwhelming? Price may have something to do with it. LG is currently selling its 84-inch Ultra HD set for about $20,000.

Ultra HD technology took center stage at the Consumer Electronics … Read more