103.7 million large LCD panels were shipped in the first quarter of 2008, according to research firm WitsView. That’s a decrease of 1.5% from 2007 fourth quarter shipments, not bad given the typical weak sales of the post-holiday season. Year-over-year though, the first quarter of the year saw a 41.5% increase in large panel shipments, moving 30 million more than this time last year.If it weren’t for poor LCD TV sales in the first quarter, down 9.9% to 23.5 million units from the holiday season, we may have seen overall growth in the first quarter of the year. Amazingly, laptops and monitors sporting LCD displays actually grew from the 2007 holiday season sales numbers.

Low demand means high supply, and high supply means prices begin to drop. Manufacturers saw a decrease in the price per LCD panel of $188 since Christmas, probably a tough pill to swallow for top manufacturers desperately trying to cut LCD TV prices in preparation for the Beijing Olympics.

Via Digitimes

Dao Korea announced the launch of its high-glossy full HD LCD monitor ‘Matrix-NEO’ in Korea market, which supports 7000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.

Scheduled to be released on May 1st, the Matrix-NEP comes in 17-, 19-, 20-, 22-, and 24-inch.

Samsung launched a Touch of Color LCDs for the desktop. All have the same blown glass effect with red accents at top and bottom but garner the most attention for their unprecedented contrast ratios: dynamic lighting lets every display output up to a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, putting them in competition with better HDTVs and not simply other monitors. All of the displays also offer a virtual screen effect that lets users split multiple video sources across one display.

Versions are available in 19-inch (T190), 22-inch (T220), 24-inch (T240), and 26-inch (T260) screen sizes; the two smaller screens are Samsung’s fastest with a 2ms average pixel response time, while the larger models output at 5ms in return for an HDMI input that lets them play video from Blu-ray players and similar devices at up to 1080p. The T190 and T220 are reportedly available today for $259 and $359, while the T240 and T260 are due in July for $499 and $599.

Onkyo’s new home theater receiver model went one better, by going from being called TX-SR605 to now TX-SR606—but more than one feature has been improved. The TX-SR606 includes upgrades such as adding 1080i video upscaling, two more HDMI inputs to let the receiver now handle four total HDMI sources, Audyssey’s new Dynamic EQ loudness compensation technology, and the company’s proprietary Music Optimizer circuit.

Onkyo’s upscaling technology takes standard-def signals and brings them to 1080i, with Faroudja DCDi Edge technology helping eliminate video artifacts, the company says.

Your MP3 and AAC encoded compressed audio will sound better too, thanks to the Music Optimizer software. For full-throttle uncompressed sound reproduction, the TX-SR606 has 32-bit DSP processing and 192 kHz/24-bit digital-to-analog converters on all channels.

For aesthetics, the receiver comes in black or silver finish. It’s due out this month, with an SRP of $579.

You need a low-cost high-definition solution for your kitchen, bedroom or bathroom, If you’re looking for a low-cost high-definition solution for your kitchen, bedroom, garage, or bathroom, Westinghouse may have your solution in the form of its new Westinghouse Flip TV. The 16-inch PT-16H610S LCD can flip and fold into any nook and cranny making it the ideal set for the out-of-living-room television. With a super-thin screen, the Flip TV will cost only $349 when it comes out in the next couple of weeks, and for that low price comes features like a 1080p HDMI input, 180-degree rotating front bezel, photo viewer, and tons of mounting options.

Hauppauge Digital Inc, a manufacturer of video, TV and data broadcast receiver products for PCs, is launching a USB TV dongle to support high definition TV broadcasts on Freesat.For £79, the Hauppauge WinTV Nova-S Freesat USB2 will enable anyone who already has a satellite dish, such as Sky subscribers, to view Freesat channels on a laptop or desktop computer.

The USB dongle plugs in to the satellite dish socket at one end and to a USB port on a laptop or PC at the other, and is ideal for providing a secondary tuner for viewing in areas such as a kitchen or bedroom.

The broadcasts can be viewed either in fullscreen, or in a smaller window to allow the PC to be used for other tasks at the same time.

The dongle comes with WinNova software, which together with suitable hardware will enable a PC to display HD content. The software also provides a scheduling feature making it possible to save programmes to the computer’s hard drive for later viewing.

The device is compatible with 32bit versions of both Windows XP and Windows Vista.

Freesat is a joint venture between the BBC and ITV which will provide 80+ free-to-air digital TV and radio channels. Broadcasts will be from the Astra 2D satellite, which is also used by Sky, so there should be no need for Sky subscribers to realign their satellite dish.

LG Electronics new Xcanvas BoBos line headed for Korea looks pretty impressive. The 1080p plasma line will feature 3 displays: the 42-inch 42PG61RD, the 50-inch 50PG61RD, and the 60-inch 60PG70FHD. Supporting LG’s proprietary Smart Time Function, the Xcanvas BoBos feature frameless panels and an invisible speaker system. No word on pricing yet, but don’t worry about it anyway, like LG’s Xcanvas Scarlett series, we won’t see the BoBos in the US anytime soon.

BenQ announced the launch of its 24mm-thick 24-inch wide monitor ‘V2400W’ in Korea market.

Exquisitely slim, the BenQ V2400W is only 2.44 inches at its thickest point, making it the world’s thinnest 24″ widescreen LCD – more than 21% slimmer than the next thinnest LCD monitor…even at the V2400W’s thickest point. With the release of its new V2400W premium LCD display, BenQ creates a new lifestyle trend in computer hardware design that targets the sophisticated, stylish consumer. Even with high-end technology including a 4000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, new RHCM injection process and full 1080p HD support, the BenQ V2400W’s technical features are secondary to the product’s visually arresting design. A subtle blue LED and slick touch controls elegantly accent the BenQ V2400W.

HP just announced an upgrade that should bring all of the entertainment that the computer has to offer to MediaSmart TV owners.

The upgrade is adding a spiffy feature to the web-enabled 1080p LCD line—the ability to hook up to PCs with Microsoft’s Media Center Extender. That means that users will also be able to snag content on those Vista PCs, to view on the HDTV.

In other words, you can go big (and bright) with pictures, videos and music, as well as online services and on-demand TV. More 

Giorgio Armani unveiled the new Armani/Samsung premium 120Hz full HD LCD television at Milan International Furniture Fair. Armani said that the inspiration for this new LCD is Armani’s new 2008/09 Armani/Casa home furnishings collection, which includes the Brahms tea table in pleated effect glossy black lacquered wood which has been specifically designed to host the new television.The partnership so far has produced a mobile phone released last year.

The unit is further emphasized by glass in the front and shows simple but solid natural lines expressing pure emotional expression. Both models, 46-inch and 52-inch, are to incorporate many of the features and cutting-edge technologically, such as 100Hz Full HD and HDMI connectors, that have made Samsung Televisions world prominent for their outstanding picture quality and high-end functionality.