Panasonic enters OLED TV market.

OLED televisions may become a catalyst to spur the lackluster Japanese market, with Panasonic releasing its entry Thursday -- adding to the lineup offered by Toshiba, Sony and South Korea's LG Electronics.

A Bic Camera store in Tokyo's Yurakucho area has a dedicated section with a wide variety of organic light-emitting diode TVs. Large-screen OLED TVs from the four manufacturers are displayed there.

"I didn't think the colors would be so clear," said a 33-year-old male shopper who left work early. "It feels more powerful than I expected." 

A 55-inch 4K ultrahigh definition model sells for around 540,000 yen ($4,872) for the Toshiba, Sony and Panasonic versions. One from LG is about 370,000 yen.

Right next to them are liquid-crystal display versions of 4K TVs -- priced between 100,000 yen and 200,000 yen. OLED versions cost at least double the LCD display equivalents for 55-inch products, according to Tokyo-based research company BCN.

Some shoppers were not sold on the new OLED TVs. A 60-something homemaker said she would take affordable prices over image quality.

But manufacturers and retailers consider OLED TVs to be the kind of centerpiece products not seen for a long time. Compared with the earlier shift from bulky cathode-ray tube TVs to flat-panel LCDs, the difference may not be so obvious. But the OLED is the first major milestone in technological evolution since the LCD.

The organic compounds in OLED TVs emit light themselves, so backlighting is not necessary -- unlike in LCDs. High contrast ratios and fast refresh rates make the technology well suited for watching movies and sports, and for playing games. And the thinness of OLED TVs, which could look like they are "pasted" on the wall, is another feature, said a Bic Camera clerk.

Bic Camera started offering discounts of up to 50,000 yen for certain models. Another retailer, K's Holdings, has set up OLED sections in all of its stores. Edion will expand dedicated sections.

More and more customers are using televisions to view online content. About 70% of Sony TV buyers watch online videos, and these consumers keep their TVs on 10 hours longer on average each month.

Sony President Kazuo Hirai says "the increased opportunities to watch videos have fueled the desire of some people to watch on large, high-quality screens."

In 2017, TV shipments in Japan are expected to increase 6% to 5.03 million units -- rising for the first time in three years -- according to the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association.

The last big surge in TV sales was driven in part by a green-appliance subsidy program introduced in 2009. Many households that purchased TVs back then are now looking to upgrade to new models.

That televisions have evolved greatly since then also will spur demand for new, larger TVs with better image quality. Shipments are expected to reach 9 million in 2020, the year of the Tokyo Olympics.

OLED TVs now cost about 10,000 yen per inch -- roughly the same price as large LCD TVs a decade ago, when they were new. The subsequent price drop of LCD TVs helped popularize them. It remains to be seen whether OLED TVs can catch the wave of widespread adoption. Meanwhile, some electronics retailers fear that LCD sales may slow further as people wait for OLED prices to come down.

Toshiba makes underwater robot for Fukushima monitoring.

The device will investigate the condition of the ill-fated reactor. Device will give workers first peek inside No. 3 reactor

Toshiba and the International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning unveiled Thursday an underwater robot that will examine the interior of the containment vessel at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant's No. 3 reactor as early a mid-July.

Fuel debris in the reactor lies under about six meters of water. The device has been modified to withstand the radioactive conditions. 

The cylindrical robot is 13cm in diameter and 30cm long. It is supplied with power and communicates with its handlers via a cable extending from the back. 

Expected to be deployed as soon as mid-July, it can advance around 30 meters and operate for 10-20 hours at a time.

Entering from the containment vessel's side, the robot will take images via cameras mounted on its front and back. Considerable nuclear fuel is thought to have melted down in the No. 3 reactor in the 2011 disaster, but conditions inside the unit are not known.

Images snapped by the robot will help in formulating a plan to recover the molten fuel.

Samsung to start mass production of 4th Gen of 256Gb V-NAND chips.

Samsung Electrics Co. said Thursday it will start a full-fledged mass production of fourth-generation 256Gb V-NAND chips and expand its product portfolio.

Samsung said the fourth-generation V-NAND chips will be used in various products, including solid state drives (SSDs), embedded UFS memory and memory cards for servers, PCs and mobile customers.

The company said compared with the third-generation products, the latest lineup comes with improved efficiency, as well as speed, by adopting top-notch technologies.

The South Korean tech giant said it plans to expand the production of the 64-layer chips to take up more than half of the company's monthly production of NAND flash by the end of this year.

Samsung first showcased its latest chip in the United States in August last year and kicked off production of SSDs for corporations in January.

The new V-NAND products are currently manufactured in Hwaseong, south of Seoul. They will also be produced at its facilities under construction in Pyeongtaek.

Samsung said it holds more than 500 patents related to the V-NAND products in various countries, including South Korea, the United States and Japan.

Consumer reports explains why they selected the Samsung`s Galaxy S8/S8+ as the Top smartphones. Video.

Two days before we already posted about this news here. However today we found that Consumer reports has made a very interesting video explaining the several tests they have made to select the Samsung`s Galaxy S8/S8+ as the top best smartphones at this time.

We suggest you to watch the video below:

Complete information you can find on the CR site: CR

Before related post:

SAMSUNG`S GALAXY S8 BEATS THE CURRENT IPHONE, SAYS CONSUMER REPORT.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 arriving in Mid August.

According to a Seoul South Korean media reported in Wednesday  June 14, 2017 , the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will be presented in a  Unpacked event in Mid. August and not in late August as previous rumors said.

The Note 8 will come with similar specifications of the Galaxy S8/S8+  but with a dual camera and S Pen Stylus and probably with a 6.8 inch Infinity display.

AH

Ingestible origami robot can patch a wound. Video.

Researchers at MIT and elsewhere developed a tiny origami robot that can unfold itself from a swallowed capsule and, steered by external magnetic fields, crawl across the stomach wall to remove a swallowed button battery or patch a wound.

You can find more inoformation on the MIT site: MIT

Samsung`s Galaxy S8 beats the current iPhone, says Consumer Report.

Consumer Reports says the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are its top-rated smartphones.

It praises good battery life, the display and the phone's cameras.

Consumer Reports acknowledges the phones are expensive.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are the best smartphones you can buy,  and  they are ahead of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, according to Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports praised the bright and colorful displays on Samsung's new flagship smartphones, and also noted both provide good battery life and "stunning" cameras.

The outlet also liked that Samsung's phones were able to survive drops into its pressurized dunk tank, which means consumers won't have to worry too much if a phone drops in the pool.

Consumer Reports didn't dig too much into what makes the phones stand out against Apple's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, however. Like Samsung's new phones, both offer water resistance, good cameras and solid battery life. The iPhone 7 Plus advanced dual camera received a nod, but the report said Samsung's phones aren't missing out by not having that feature.

CNBC found Samsung's phones don't offer as good of a "Portrait Mode" as Apple's do, which allow you to take pictures that appear to be snapped by much more expensive cameras thanks to blurred backgrounds. That's what the secondary sensor is for on the iPhone 7 Plus, after all.

Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge was Consumer Reports previous top-rated smartphone, a spokesperson confirmed to CNBC. The iPhone 7 Plus is the fifth-rated smartphone behind the Galaxy S8+., Galaxy S8, Galaxy S7 Edge and LG G6, Consumer Reports told CNBC.

Apple will need to impress with the iPhone 8 if it wants to climb the ladder.

iPhone 7S coming in 4.7, 5.5. and 5.8 inch sizes with AMOLED Samsung Displays.

Apple's upstream supply chain has begun mass producing components for the vendor's three next-generation iPhones: a 4.7-inch model and a 5.5-inch model both featuring reinforced glass chassis with aluminum metal frame; and a 5.8-inch model featuring reinforced glass chassis with metal frame and an AMOLED panel, with Samsung Display set to supply up to 80 million AMOLED panels for the new 5.8-inch iPhone in 2017.

Samsung Display's remaining capacity, which is expected to output another 80 million AMOLED panels in 2017, will be used to supply orders from Samsung Electronics and its other smartphone clients, but the panel maker is expected to keep some flexibility in case Apple places additional orders.

As for the new 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones, the sources expect combined shipments to reach around 25-30 million units in the second half.

Commenting on iPhone shipment plans, Digitimes Research senior analyst Luke Lin noted that Apple's new 5.8-inch iPhones are expected to see shipments between 50-55 million units in the second half, but mass production for the smartphone is unlikely to start until after mid-September, and production volumes in the third quarter will only be around three million units, judging from the current manufacturing status of the upstream supply chain.

In the third quarter, shipments of Apple's existing iPhone models including iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, SE and 6 (32GB) will reach a total of 25-30 million units, bringing Apple's overall iPhone shipments in the third quarter to around 45-50 million units.

LG Electronics launches AI division.

South Korean tech giant LG Electronics Inc. said Sunday it has reorganized its structure and established two research centers devoted to the development of technologies related to artificial intelligence (AI).

The new centers -- AI and robotics -- will be directly under control of the Chief Technology Officer's office, and will focus on the development and implementation of AI-related services, the company said.

The move is part of the company's efforts to revamp research and development (R&D), and better meet the ongoing industrial transformation dubbed the fourth industrial revolution, officials here said.

The AI center will focus on various platforms, such as AI-based assistant services that can be applied to the company's home appliance lineup, smartphones and automobile parts.

Noticeably, a division within the center will be devoted to R&D for deep learning, a new area of AI research where a computer emulates the way the human brain creates patterns from data and processes them.

The robotics center, meanwhile, will be focused on developing core technologies of smart robotics.

Earlier this year, LG applied the deep learning concept for domestic appliance products, including robotic vacuum cleaners and refrigerators.

LG's smart refrigerator is aimed at enhancing the convenience of consumers by analyzing their usage and eating patterns. The company's deep learning platform predicts users' activities based on their past behavior.

LG's robotic vacuum cleaner has been built to recognize objects by capturing surface images of rooms and remember obstacles to better avoid them.

Aeon will open unmanned credit card counters at Aeon Mall, deploying Pepper humanoids robots.

Pepper will help with the paperwork.

Aeon will open unmanned credit card counters at Aeon Mall-operated shopping centers and Aeon Bank branches, tapping the power of robots and artificial intelligence.

By deploying the Pepper humanoid robot to help people with the paperwork and IBM's Watson-based artificial intelligence system to answer questions, the Japanese retail giant is looking to keep the counters open longer hours. The company aims to reassign freed-up staff for related tasks like promoting credit cards to people visiting the malls and bank branches.

Group subsidiary Aeon Financial Service is to quickly roll out 30 or more Pepper robots. Linked to tablet computers for entering personal information, the Pepper robot will be able to interact with three customers at a time, explaining the procedures for entering information, catching mistakes and helping to complete the process without any staff assistance. This will be the first use of Pepper in this context in Japan.

The Watson AI system will provide answers to some 700-800 simple questions related to credit cards, helping to keep the counters running smoothly and free of congestion. Aeon Financial plans to install 100 terminals linked with the AI system over the next three years.

As a first step, an automated credit card application counter will be opened at an Aeon Mall facility in the city of Chiba in mid-June.

Sony looks beyond video games with PlayStation VR hit.

Electronics maker isn't alone in envisioning virtual job training and more.

Sony's PlayStation VR virtual reality headset has sold over 1 million units since its October launch, and the Japanese electronics maker is just one of many companies intending to take VR technology beyond video gaming.

Andrew House, president of Sony Interactive Entertainment, said he intends "to continue building on the strengths of the Sony group, which makes content as well as hardware." 

House spoke with The Nikkei ahead of the Electronic Entertainment Expo, a major international video game conference commonly known as E3, which opens June 13 in Los Angeles.

From games to surgical training

The PlayStation VR sells in at least 60 markets globally, and it works in conjunction with Sony's PlayStation 4 video game console. The device initially was difficult to come by, but this year the company boosted production capacity. That scarcity "has nearly disappeared" outside of Japan, House said.

Sales of VR-compatible games have reached 5.25 million, including online distribution. House called the VR game category "lively" but said it currently centers on indie developers -- small or one-person teams not necessarily affiliated with major studios. He hopes major game publishers will "make VR versions of major franchises in the future."

The Sony subsidiary is working on VR applications outside games as well, teaming this spring with the Grammy Award-winning artists The Chainsmokers to create and distribute a VR-exclusive music video. The unit, located in the California city of San Mateo, also will partner with Sony Pictures Television to make a "VR experience" based on the hit series "Breaking Bad."

Sony President and CEO Kazuo Hirai expects to use the group's technologies to build VR into a platform offering all kinds of services. The technology may have started with video games, but he intends to expand it to a broad range of fields including medicine -- such as in surgical training -- and job training.

The PlayStation 4 console, which debuted in November 2013, is expected to top 60 million sales by the end of this month. Though sales for the year ending in March are seen dropping to 18 million units, down 2 million from the previous year, this decline should be "gentle" owing to the recent releases of the VR headset and the PlayStation 4 Pro, an upgraded version of the PS4 console, House said. The company also intends to alleviate the hardware slump by enhancing its software and service offerings, such as its PlayStation Network online service, which has reached 70 million monthly users.

Spreading the virtual magic

Other companies are embracing VR's possibilities as well. Japanese telecom and mobile company KDDI is developing a disaster response simulation for train drivers, while Tokyo-based HoloEyes has devised a system that lets doctors use medical imaging data to virtually inspect the affected area of a patient before surgery. German automaker Audi will use VR technology for sales promotion.

The global market for VR and augmented reality -- computer-created additions layered over real-world vision -- will balloon to $143.3 billion by 2020, U.S. survey company IDC says. As during the smartphone boom, companies that get on board with VR technology quickly can seize an opportunity for growth.

Barriers do exist, however. VR devices are far from ubiquitous, and some interested people may lack the chance to use them, suggesting a need for easy opportunities to try out the technology. Japan's Bandai Namco Entertainment, a unit of Bandai Namco Holdings, will open a large VR entertainment center this summer in Tokyo's busy Shinjuku district. Some karaoke lounges and other establishments have also started offering VR entertainment as well.