CES 2017: LG to Showcase AI Technologies for Home, Outdoor and Public Spaces with ROBOTS.

LG Robots To Take Center Stage At CES 2017.

Next week in Las Vegas, LG Electronics (LG) will preview advanced robot technologies to showcase LG innovations in artificial intelligence, expected to be a major theme of CES^® 2017.

By leveraging powerful analytical processing power, LG's robotic lineup will be able to navigate complex environments and decipher the most efficient and effective path to accomplish tasks, making people's lives easier at every touch-point.

Innovating beyond LG technologies already found in the LG HOM-BOT automated vacuum cleaner, LG's first non-cleaning robots are equipped with AI technologies enabling them to be employed in the home, in tandem with other smart appliances, outdoors, as well as in public spaces:

• LG's "Hub Robot" designed for home use will double as a smart home gateway and a personal assistant for consumers.
• Another robot previewed at CES 2017 will demonstrate new capabilities for tending to one's yard and garden.
• LG's robot lineup will also include models designed for commercial use in public spaces such as airports and hotels to help improve the traveler's experience.

LG's new robot collection will be unveiled at LG's CES press conference on January 4 at 8:00AM PST at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas and on display at LG's booth (Central Hall #11100) in the Las Vegas Convention Center from Jan. 5-8.

LG and logo are trademarks of LG Corp. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing 77,000 people working in 125 locations around the world. With 2015 global sales of USD 48.8 billion (KRW 56.5 trillion), LG comprises four business units ― Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance & Air Solution, and Vehicle Components ― and is one of the world's leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. LG Electronics is a 2016 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. For more news and information on LG Electronics, please visit www.LGnewsroom.com.

SOURCE LG Electronics USA.

For further information: LG Electronics, Inc., Ken Hong, +822 3777 3626, ken.hong@lge.com, www.LGnewsroom.com, or Jee-hye Kim, +822 3777 3644, jeehye.kim@lge.com, www.LGnewsroom.com 

Apple will launch a 5.8 inch 2017 iPhone with Samsung`s AMOLED Display.

Samsung Display can supply 20 million AMOLED Displays a month, a strong reason to become the exclusive Apple`s iPhone 5.8 inch display supplier.

The iPhone with 5.8 inch AMOLED display will arrive alongside with a 4.7 and a 5.5 inch iPhone models which will sport a TFT-LCD display.

Apple shipments forecast for the AMOLED iPhone is estimated between 60-70 million units.

Japan-based Nissha Printing will supply touch sensors for use in AMOLED panels and bonding of touch sensors and AMOLED display panels will be undertaken by either Samsung Display or Taiwan-based TPK Holding and General Interface Solution.

The production of the new iphones will start in March 2017 and will be increased in May-June.

digitimes

Production for Apple`s AirPod expanded.

Apple has seen a strong demand of its AirPods during this holidays and has ordered to Inventec supplier to increase orders.

With that purpose Inventec has recently started expanding capacity at its Shanghai plants in order to satisfy increasing demand for the earphones and the plants are currently working overtime to deliver orders.

digitimes

Surface Pro 5 coming in March 2017.

The Microsoft`s 2 in1 Surface Pro 5 will sport a Intel`s Kaby Lake processor ,  a 4K UHD touchscreen and magnetic charging stylus.

Pegatron Technology will manufacture the device for Microsoft.

The Surface Pro 5 is expected to be available in March 2017.

digitimes

South Korea: The Method-2 giant walking robot is showcased.

An employee controls the arms of a manned walking robot, Method-2, during a demonstration in Gunpo, South Korea. Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters

The Method-2 robot, which seems to be straight out of a science fiction movie, is 13 feet high and weighs more than a ton. Seoul-based robotics company Hankook Mirae Technology’s Method-2 robot can be controlled by a human pilot using arm gestures. The firm is developing the robot with Vitaly Bulgarov, who was a robot consultant for “Transformers: Age of Extinction.” Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images.

CES 2017: E FUN Introduces New Nextbook Flexx 12 Flip 2-in-1 Tablet.

E FUN, a leading designer and manufacturer of mobile lifestyle products, will be introducing its Nextbook Flexx 12 Flip 2-in-1 Tablet during CES 2017, the first in a new series of Flip 2-in-1 tablets from Nextbook. The unit's large 12.2" screen and support for a variety of A/V formats makes it ideal for watching videos, reading, listening to music, and looking at photos. Its sleek, modern design and combination of Windows 10 and a detachable keyboard make it an effective tool for professionals on the go and students.

 "With a hearty 12.2" IPS touchscreen and 1920x1200 high-definition resolution, the Flexx 12 Flip 2-in-1 tablet delivers exceptional image quality for watching videos, reading, working or any task that is viewing intense," commented E FUN managing director and VP of sales Jason Liszewski. "Plus, the detachable Pogo pin keyboard easily flips the unit into a convenient laptop."

The Flexx 12 Flip features Intel's new seventh-generation core processor, Kaby Lake, along with an Intel GEN9 LP graphics processor. The unit offers up to 256GB of combined internal and external (microSD card slot) storage capacity, split evenly at 128GB each. A stylish metal case supports the device during use and protects the device when not in use.

Built-in Bluetooth 4.0 and 5G Wi-Fi 802.11ac/b/g/n connectivity options allow the unit to be used virtually anywhere. A rechargeable Lithium Ion battery provides up to eight hours of power, plus a Type C port allows for an easy, reversible connection. A front camera and 5M rear camera with autofocus make capturing that special moment or video conferencing a breeze. A variety of apps are preloaded, such as Vudu movies and TV, Flixster to find movie theater schedules and locations, Barnes and Noble Nook, and more.

Availability 

The Nextbook Flexx 12 2-in-1 Windows 10 tablet will be available for shipping in Q2 2017. For more information, visit www.nextbookusa.com.

About E FUN 

E FUN, a designer and marketer of mobile lifestyle products, entered the North American market in 2010. Since then, E FUN has grown to be one of the leading tablet brands at retail, achieving top five market share by volume in 2016. Its ongoing product innovation and partnerships set E FUN apart from competitors and provide customers with unique out of the box experiences. Its product offerings include and extensive line of Android and Windows tablets. E FUN is headquartered in West Covina, California.

For additional information regarding E FUN's Nextbook tablets, visit www.nextbookusa.com.

PR Contact: 

Rita Lee

Copernio 

(714) 891-3660 

efun@copernio.com

All products/services and trademarks mentioned in this release are the properties of their respective companies. 

© 2016 E FUN. All rights reserved.

SOURCE E FUN

CES 2017: HTC VIVE Showcases The Best Of Virtual Reality.

More than 30 VR Experiences to be displayed at Wynn's Alsace Ballroom.

HTC VIVE™, the leader in room-scale Virtual Reality (VR), today announced parts of its showcase line-up for CES 2017. The Vive showcase, located in the Wynn's Alsace Ballroom, will feature more than 30 curated VR experiences across Entertainment, Health & Medical, Enterprise and Education.

"In the past nine months, we've made VR readily accessible to consumers and enterprise customers across the globe, and we're carrying incredible momentum into 2017," said Daniel O'Brien, VP, Virtual Reality, Vive. "The VR ecosystem continues to grow and at CES 2017, we will showcase the breadth of VR experiences and accessories that will form the future of VR."

The Vive showcase will open Thursday, January 5^th, highlighting demos across the VR ecosystem in one-hour blocks for press through Saturday, January 7th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. To register for demos, please email vivepr@htc.com. 

A sample of the demo content is included below across the following categories:

Entertainment:

• Arcade Saga: "Arcade Saga" is a fast, colorful VR game inspired by arcade games but with a twist, where players find themselves taking on the role of A.I. fighting threats developed by humans. Arcade Saga is a Vive Studios title developed internally at HTC by 2Bears Studios.
• Front Defense: Immerse yourself as a soldier in World War II. The game brings Vive into a full play with precise tracking as you command troops and advanced weapon across the battlefield. Front Defense is a Vive Studios title developed internally at HTC by Fantahorn.
• Knockout League: An arcade style boxing game built from the ground up for VR. Its intuitive gameplay involves moving and dodging with your body and 1:1 punch movement that lets you attack how you want. Knockout League is a Vive Studios title developed by Grab Games.
• Mindshow: By VisionaryVR, Mindshow lets you make VR cartoons with your body and voice. Teleport into different characters and act out all the parts. Create with your friends by passing scenes back and forth, then share your shows in VR and on social media.
• The Music Room: The Music Room is an expressive MIDI controller. Unlike keyboard MIDI controllers The Music Room allow you to strum, slide, bend & drum naturally with 8 dimensions of control per note.
• The Nest: A futuristic sniper game by Invrse Studios, where patience and precision are your best tools for survival.
• Racket: NX: Waves Audio will demonstrate an unreleased build of their new, futuristic racketball game, "Racket: Nx," and discuss how developers can make their VR games and demos sound more realistic.
• ROM: Extraction: First Contact Entertainment will showcase brand new functionality for their recently released sci-fi VR shooter game ROM: Extraction.
• Star Trek Bridge Crew: Developed specifically for VR by Red Storm Entertainment, a Ubisoft Studio, Star Trek: Bridge Crew puts you and your friends in the heart of a starship. As officers of the Federation, every action and decision you make together will determine the fate of your ship and crew.

Enterprise

• 3DEXPERIENCE platform and "Virtual Garage": Dassault Systemes allows brands to win the hearts of consumers by providing a personalized marketing experience in VR such as walking through a custom plane passenger cabin or checking out the experience of your next car.
• GE Store VR Experience: The experience lets viewers select seemingly disparate GE business units — to see the real-world ways in which they collaborate.
• IBM Speech Sandbox: Illustrates a speech interface powered by Watson that allows you to build, manipulate and destroy a virtual world with your voice.
• Jaguar I-PACE Reveal: Discover Jaguar's first electric vehicle, the I-PACE Concept, in an interactive VR experience. Explore the technology and design stories behind the concept through cinematics and room-scale, immersive VR.
• MakeVR: MakeVR is a virtual reality 3D modelling application built on a professional-grade CAD engine with a revolutionary 3D multi-touch user interface. Every MakeVR model can be easily 3D printed or imported into a game engine. Make VR is a Vive Studios title developed by Sixense.
• VR Museum Experience: By Autodesk, this experience will allow you to play with objects in zero gravity, shoot bubbles, play instruments, and paint your surroundings.

Health & Medical:

• The Body: The Body VR is an educational virtual reality experience that takes the user inside the human body.
• The Physiology of the Eye: By Intervoke, the physiology of the eye is an interactive educational application that teaches the basic anatomy of the eye.
• OssoVR: Osso VR is a surgical training platform designed to realistically teach health professionals the proper use of complex surgical devices and techniques.
• YOUVR: Founded by digital health pioneer Jeff Arnold and world-renowned cardiologist Dr. Mehmet Oz, Sharecare is leading the visual health revolution with its YOU® VR platform, available for HTC VIVE. Demonstrated live by Dr. Oz at the HTC booth on Friday, Jan. 6, at 9a PT, Sharecare is utilizing virtual, augmented and mixed reality to empower people and their loved ones; healthcare providers and patients; educators and students; and pharmaceutical companies and their customers to better communicate and understand medical diagnoses, treatments and patient journeys.

Education:

• ENGAGE "The Life Project": ENGAGE is a free to use educational platform that enables educators to teach remotely using VR simulations and virtual classes. This short example showcases "The Life Project" from Oxford University to teach medics about resuscitation of a baby.
• Lifeliqe: Lifeliqe's learning experiences in virtual reality help students understand difficult topics and spark lightbulb moments. Lifeliqe is Vive Studios title developed by Lifeliqe Inc.
• Remembering Pearl Harbor: TIME and Life VR revisit the attack that launched the U.S. into World War II through the experiences of a real survivor—Lt. James Downing, who is the second-oldest living American veteran to have witnessed that day. Remembering Pearl Harbor is a Vive Studios title developed in conjunction with Life VR and DeluxeVR.
• Titanic VR: Developed by Immersive Education, Titanic VR is an educational experience that will let you explore the famous shipwreck which sits over two miles deep on the ocean floor. Titanic VR also recreates the events which led to the sinking and allows you to become a witness to history. Due for release in 2017.

Mixed Reality:

• Using a green-screen, a number of Vive experiences can be shown in Mixed Reality (MR), which allows anyone to see what's taking place in your VR environment. Throughout CES, Vive will showcase unique MR experiences. Stay tuned to @htcvive for more information on MR demos and showcase times.

Additional VIVE events:

Vive Livestream:

• Join Vive to see the best of the CES booth and hear directly from VR developers and the Vive team. Check out our Facebook page on Thursday, January 5 and Friday, January 6 at noon for more from the Vive floor, including demos, interviews and news updates from the show.

Wednesday, January 4

• VR and Fitness: Vive is working with VirZOOM on the launch of their new vSports platform. The event, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Venetia's Canyon Ranch SpaClub, will showcase how VR meets fitness. RSVP here.

Thursday, January 5

• VR Happy Hour: From 3 to 5 p.m., Vive will host a VR happy hour for Showstoppers attendees in the Vive showcase. Register via the Showstoppers RSVP page.
• Showstoppers: Vive will demonstrate the best of Mixed Reality during Showstoppers from 6 to 10 p.m.

Stay tuned for additional Vive news from CES.

About VIVE

VIVE is a first-of-its-kind virtual reality platform developed by HTC and Valve for total immersion in virtual worlds. Designed from the ground up for room-scale VR and true-to-life interactions, VIVE delivers on the promise of VR with game-changing technology and best-in-class content. VIVE has been recognized with over 65 awards and wide critical acclaim since its unveiling in 2015. For more information, visit www.VIVE.com.

About HTC

HTC Corporation aims to bring brilliance to life. As a global innovator in smart mobile devices and technology, HTC has produced award-winning products and industry firsts since its inception in 1997, including the critically acclaimed HTC One and HTC Desire lines of smartphones. The pursuit of brilliance is at the heart of everything we do, inspiring best-in-class design and game-changing mobile and virtual reality experiences for consumers around the world. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). www.htc.com

HTC, the HTC logo are the trademarks of HTC Corporation. All other names of companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE HTC VIVE

For further information: Troy Edwards, Troy_Edwards@htc.com

SAMSUNG to launch the GALAXY S8 with a S PEN as an accessory.

Rumors are saying Samsung will suspend or ax the Note phatablet line and instead will bring with the Galaxy S8 Plus an S Pen not inside the device but as an accessory. If the device will have a 6 inch display the S Pen  might have then a good use.

Is not clear is Samsung is going to charge you some dollars for the S Pen as an accessory or if it will arrive packed in the Galaxy S8 box at no cost. This last would be a great introduction  promo.

This news doesn`t mean the Galaxy Note 8 will not be launched in 2017 since the company hinted the new Note for next year.

sammobile

CES 2017: LG TONE Studio And LG TONE Free Bring New Level Of Wearable Sound Innovation.

LG Electronics, Inc. (LG), a leader in Bluetooth® headset technology, will unveil a number of new wireless, wearable audio products at CES^® 2017. The lineup will be led by LG TONE Studio™ wearable speakers capable of delivering amazing surround sound and LG TONE Free™ earphones with wireless earbuds that charge when docked in the companion neckband.

The LG TONE Studio (model HBS-W120) personal wearable speaker features four speakers – two full range on the top and two vibrating on the bottom – that give a personal surround sound experience when watching a movie, playing a video game or simply streaming music. The LG TONE Studio features a Hi-Fi DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) that enhances sound quality by recreating audio content as accurately as possible. What's more is that with Dual Play, you can connect two LG TONE Studio wearable speakers and share the sound from a movie, playlist or more.

LG TONE Free (model HBS-F110) is LG's first wireless stereo product to come with wireless earbuds that charge whenever they are stored inside the neckband, making them easy to charge and carry. Not only does the neckband provide extra battery power and vibration alerts for incoming calls and text messages, it also provides a secure place to store the earbuds when not in your ears, making them less likely to be lost. An optional charging cradle provides more power for those times when the neckband might not be convenient. And for even more freedom, LG TONE Free lets you go completely hands free and answer or ignore a call with voice commands for a real wireless stereo experience with no cords, no tangles, and no hassles.

"LG has a rich legacy of innovating in the wearable audio market, and our products have become the standard by which all other earphones are judged," said Michael Park, vice president of Innovative Personal Devices Business Division at LG Electronics, Inc. "We are committed to leading the way in this fast moving market by developing exciting new products which appeal to every music-loving and convenience-seeking individual."

The LG TONE Studio and LG TONE Free are just two of the marquee products in LG's Bluetooth headset lineup at CES 2017. Other models to be unveiled include the newly designed TONE INFINIM™ (model HBS-920) featuring LG's Metal Layer Speaker Technology for clean, crisp sounds, and the TONE ULTRA™ (model HBS-820), developed in collaboration with audio specialist JBL®, that features dual MEMS microphones for remarkable call clarity. The LG TONE Active+™ – CES 2017 Innovation Award winner in the wireless headphone category – also will be on display along with LG's entire lineup of wearable audio products including the TONE PLATINUM™, TONE PRO™ and LG FORCE™ at CES 2017 from Jan. 5-8 in Booth #11100 in Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. 

About LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc.

LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the U.S. sales subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc. a global innovator and trend leader in the global mobile communications industry. LG is driving the evolution of mobile forward with its highly competitive core technologies in the areas of display, battery,  camera optics, and strategic partnerships with noted industry leaders. LG's consumer-centric products -- including the flagship premium V Series models -- incorporate unique, ergonomic designs and intuitive UX features that enhance the user experience. The company remains committed to leading consumers into the era of convergence, maximizing inter-device connectivity between smartphones, tablets, and a wide range of home and portable electronics products. For more information, please visit www.LG.com.

SOURCE LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc.

For further information: Media Contacts: LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc., Frank Lee, 908-312-3233, franc.lee@lge.com, or Asif Husain, 212.880.5273, Asif.Husain@lg-one.com

CES 2017: Hands-On With The UNIBOT: The First Multifunction Robot From ECOVACS Robotics.Video.

ECOVACS Robotics, the premier developer and manufacturer of robotic home appliances, has once again cemented itself as a market leader in the ever-evolving world of Smart Home Technology with the UNIBOT – the first multifunctional home management robot, set for display at CES 2017. This groundbreaking device has the power to alter the way home management is performed while transforming consumer perceptions of what a smart home can entail. Through UNIBOT, ECOVACS will provide consumers with unprecedented control, allowing them to perform more household tasks in an even smarter way.

UNIBOT combines specialized ECOVACS technologies in the form of modules, in order to facilitate various multi-tasking functions. These modules perform floor cleaning, air purification and home security functions, amongst others. Its features include a suite of sensors (infra-red distance sensors, door sensors, window sensors, water sensors, air quality sensors, and others) that can manage home security by warning of break-ins and broken windows, a high-quality 3M air filtration system able to purify harmful pollutants and pathogens found in the air in targeted areas of the home, and a highly effective vacuum, capable of cleaning many different surface kinds, in any desired area. Consumers will be able to exercise complete control over every function that the UNIBOT offers, all from the unsurpassed convenience of the ECOVACS app.

ECOVACS has also selected three additional products for display at CES 2017, each presenting a snapshot of the innovative nature of the company; DEEBOTs R98 and M88 and WINBOT 950. The DR98 is a trailblazer in the DEEBOT series with proprietary SMART NAVI home navigation technology, capable of adapting to any home environment, and planning the quickest, most efficient cleaning path effectively. DM88 is equipped with SMART MOVE technology, whereby the cleaning pattern is systematic and highly efficient.

The W950 transforms the act of window cleaning with its SMART DRIVE movement system, allowing the driving wheels to operate independent of the square cleaning pad, in order to reach 90 degree corners with excellent coverage, without leaving streaks.

All of these products will be on display at the ECOVACS Robotics booth (#42352) at CES 2017, from January 5-8^th in Las Vegas, NV.

*Wireless Internet connection required and sold separately.

About ECOVACS ROBOTICS, USA. 

ECOVACS Robotics USA, based in Canton, Ohio, is the North American subsidiary of ECOVACS Robotics, a leader in smart cleaning robots for the everyday consumer. Long before the Smart Home concept burst into the mainstream, ECOVACS has been at the forefront of innovation and development; designing, manufacturing and selling robotic products to improve the lives of our customers. ECOVACS is the only company that provides smart home solutions in four segments of home robotics including: DEEBOT™ (Floor Cleaning), WINBOT® (Window Cleaning), ATMOBOT™ (Air Purification), and FAMIBOT™ (Entertainment & Home Security). ECOVACS encourages consumers to "Live Smart. Enjoy Life" by providing not just a household appliance, but a total user experience whereby they can free themselves from mundane chores and devote more time to the things they enjoy.

ECOVACS is the proud recipient of multiple awards including the 2016 Red Dot Award for Best Product Design and iF Design Award 2016.

www.ecovacsrobotics.com

SOURCE ECOVACS Robotics

For further information: Nancy Trent/Pam Wadler, (212) 966-0024, info@trentandcompany.com

USA: Tesla and Panasonic Will Begin Manufacturing Solar Cells and Modules in summer 2017. PR.

Japan's Panasonic Corp will invest more than 30 billion yen ($256 million) in a New York production facility of Elon Musk's Tesla Motors to make photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, deepening a partnership of the two companies.

The U.S. electric car maker is making a long-term purchase commitment from Panasonic as part of the deal, besides providing factory buildings and infrastructure.

In a statement on Tuesday, the two companies said they plan to start production of PV modules in the summer of 2017 and increase to one gigawatt of module production by 2019.

The plan is part of the solar partnership that the two companies first announced in October, but which did not disclose investment details.

Tesla is working exclusively with longtime partner Panasonic to supply batteries for its upcoming Model 3, the company's first mass-market car. Panasonic is also the exclusive supplier of batteries to Tesla's Model S and Model X.

Press Release:

Tesla and Panasonic Will Begin Manufacturing Solar Cells and Modules in Buffalo, NY

OSAKA, Japan / PALO ALTO, USA, December 27, 2016 - Tesla and Panasonic have finalized an agreement this week to begin the manufacturing of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules at the Buffalo, NY factory. These high-efficiency PV cells and modules will be used to produce solar panels in the non-solar roof products. When production of the solar roof begins, Tesla will also incorporate Panasonic's cells into the many kinds of solar glass tile roofs that Tesla will be manufacturing. All of these solar products will work seamlessly with Tesla's energy storage products, Powerwall and Powerpack. Production of the first PV modules will begin in summer 2017, and will ramp to 1 Gigawatt of module production by 2019.

As Tesla and Panasonic begin production, Buffalo will continue to expand Tesla's American manufacturing base and create thousands of new jobs in the coming years. Tesla reaffirms SolarCity's commitment to create over 1,400 jobs in Buffalo-including more than 500 manufacturing jobs. Panasonic, with its technological and manufacturing expertise in PV production, will also work with Tesla on developing PV next generation technology at SolarCity's facility in Fremont, CA.

As part of the agreement, Panasonic will cover required capital costs in Buffalo and Tesla is making a long-term purchase commitment from Panasonic. The collaboration extends the established relationship between Tesla and Panasonic, which includes the production of electric vehicle and grid storage battery cells at the Tesla Gigafactory.

Panasonic

http://panasonic.net/

Tesla Motors

http://www.tesla.com/

Media Contacts:

Panasonic Corporation

Tel: +81-(0)3-3574-5664 Fax: +81-(0)3-3574-5699

Tesla Motors

press@tesla.com

Tel: +1-650-833 8456

Before Press Releases

The Future: HITACHI is developing a lensless camera.

The future of photography looks lensless.

Who needs glass when you have concentric circles and a math formula?

New technology that will redefine the camera is coming. The question is when it will be ready for prime time.

Researchers are working on cameras that can capture still images and video clips without a lens. It turns out that pictures can be taken with just an image sensor superimposed with specially imprinted thin film. Since this would obviate the need for bulky lenses -- the film is a mere 1 micron thick -- the technology is likely to find its way into a range of fields and could completely alter the competitive landscape of the camera industry.

Compared with today's cameras, lensless models should be a lot cheaper to produce.

In Japan, the leader is Hitachi, which recently announced the development of the country's first lensless camera. Over in the U.S., Rice University and semiconductor developer Rambus are leading the way. At this point, Hitachi's technology stands out because of its speed.

Design-wise, the Japanese company's lensless camera is fairly simple. It comprises an image sensor superimposed with special film imprinted with a pattern of concentric circles. The film interferes with the light that passes through to the sensor. A computer calculates the extent of that interference and reconstructs the image.

For some time, the main quandary was how to process the light.

Hitachi came up with a solution by focusing on the moire fringes that are produced when patterns of concentric circles are superimposed on each other. With the fringes, the company realized it could capture images through a common processing technique called the Fourier transform -- used in everything from image processing and electron microscopes to signal processing and frequency separation for data communications.

The use of a mathematical formula makes reconstructing images from light information a basic calculation any computer can perform.

Hitachi's system processes images as much as 300 times faster than other lensless cameras developed to date.

What is more, the focus can be adjusted after the image has been captured by the sensor.

How might lensless cameras be used?

Hitachi sees a wealth of opportunities in industrial machinery, robots and mobile devices. The compact gadgets could be incorporated into all sorts of production equipment and are well-suited to the internet of things.

The technology could also wind up in digital cameras for consumers. Smartphones sporting lensless cameras would be much thinner and lighter. High-end digital cameras could take on new shapes.

A number of technical issues still need to be resolved -- particularly the hazy look of the photos -- but Hitachi hopes to have a practical model ready in two years. It is aiming for resolution that is good enough for face recognition systems, according to Hiroyuki Mizuno, head of the company's innovation center for information and telecommunications.

Japanese companies have established themselves as leaders in the imaging business, but now they face the challenge of securing slices of the nascent lensless market.

CES 2017: LG to unveil floating in the air Bluetooth speaker model PJ9, also water resistant.

The LG Bluetooth speaker (Model: PJ9) emits sound in 360 degrees from the air. LG put the electromagnet inside the woofer station which is put under the loudspeaker and uses the nature of the magnet which pushes out between the same poles, and the speaker is floated in the air.

LG Electronics plans to focus on the Bluetooth speaker market with its eye-catching operation and design.

This product features a simple design. Egg-shaped elliptical bluetooth speakers, and a wide, cylindrical woofer station for loudspeakers. The speaker grille was applied to the exterior of the loudspeaker, which shaped the turbine engine of the aircraft. The intense sound was visually rendered. The glossy white color is luxurious.

Excellent convenience is also an advantage. This product floats in the air and when the battery is discharged, it goes down to the center of the woofer station. Charging starts wirelessly without any additional operation. Once charged, the battery can be used for up to 10 hours, enough to enjoy outdoor activities.

It meets waterproof grade IPX7, which does not leak for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter. Users can enjoy music without worrying in places where water can splash, such as swimming pools, bathtubs and valleys.

Sound quality is also excellent. It sends music in 360 degrees. The user can enjoy uniform sound quality in any direction. Two passive radiators with bass were also applied. The woofer station adds a layer of deep bass to create a grand sound.

Seo Young-jae, managing director of  LG Electronics' CAV BD (Business Division), said, "The eye-catching design will cause a blast in the Bluetooth speaker market."