Sony ditches OLED to focus on 4K!

[Deleted member 2457]

Looks like the new Sony 4K is hitting new highs

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/kd55x9005b-201405123771.htm

Although WHF didn't seem to be as happy with it, elsewhwhere it is getting lots of top end reviews.

It would have to show Arsenal scoring against Norwich! :wall:

 

[strapped for cash]

To be honest, if I was investing in Sony, I would expect the same from Sony. OLED R&D requires a lot of investment with little returns. 4K LED has shown better than expected sales, and Sony is selling more 4K TVs than other manufacturers. Once Sony comes out of the red (if at all), then I'm sure it will invest in OLED in the future.

I wouldn't disagree.

Sony's strategy makes commercial sense given OLED panel yield rates and other technical obstacles.

I can understand Sony's decision (though there's something of a retraction above); it's just that OLED may struggle as an emerging technology without cross-manufacturer support. And this would be a real shame, in my view.

 

[spiny norman]

(unless you import your TV from China)

Which kind of raises the point that it could well be the major Chinese manufacturers determining the route the TV manufacturing industry takes, not the established players.

 

[spiny norman]

Oooooo! We just had a statement:

http://www.whathifi.com/news/sony-denies-reports-oled-development-is-on-hold

:cheers:

That statement sounds just like all the ones Panasonic issued saying categorically that it wasn't getting out of the plasma business.

Until it did.

 

[Paul.]

(unless you import your TV from China)

Which kind of raises the point that it could well be the major Chinese manufacturers determining the route the TV manufacturing industry takes, not the established players.

Yup, think LG and Samsung 7-8 years ago

 

[bigboss]

To be honest, if I was investing in Sony, I would expect the same from Sony. OLED R&D requires a lot of investment with little returns. 4K LED has shown better than expected sales, and Sony is selling more 4K TVs than other manufacturers. Once Sony comes out of the red (if at all), then I'm sure it will invest in OLED in the future.

I wouldn't disagree.

Sony's strategy makes commercial sense given OLED panel yield rates and other technical obstacles.

I can understand Sony's decision (though there's something of a retraction above); it's just that OLED may struggle as an emerging technology without cross-manufacturer support. And this would be a real shame, in my view.

I don't think they share R&D knowledge though, otherwise Samsung would've found it equally easy to manufacture OLED screens as LG. Any technological breakthrough will be vigorously patented.

 

[strapped for cash]

I don't think they share R&D knowledge though, otherwise Samsung would've found it equally easy to manufacture OLED screens as LG. Any technological breakthrough will be vigorously patented.

They don't; and all manufacturers seek to retain proprietary advantages.

This doesn't stop other manufacturers working together to squeeze LG's tech from the marketplace, especially since LG patented its "WOLED-CF" solution.

In other words, as Samsung, Sony, et al. have struggled to develop their own OLED technologies, and LG patented the only current viable solution, LG is the only manufacturer right now that would benefit from OLED's success.

I'm really arguing that cross-manufacturer support is vital for any technology to take off; and without such support, OLED's future looks uncertain.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

I don't think they share R&D knowledge though, otherwise Samsung would've found it equally easy to manufacture OLED screens as LG. Any technological breakthrough will be vigorously patented.

They don't; and all manufacturers seek to retain proprietary advantages.

This doesn't stop other manufacturers working together to squeeze LG's tech from the marketplace, especially since LG patented its "WOLED-CF" solution.

In other words, as Samsung, Sony, et al. have struggled to develop their own OLED technologies, and LG patented the only current viable solution, LG is the only manufacturer right now that would benefit from OLED's success.

I'm really arguing that cross-manufacturer support is vital for any technology to take off; and without such support, OLED's future looks uncertain.

Agreed. And Samsung haven't even discounted their OLED TV!

 

[Deleted member 2457]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/more-gadgets/Has-Sony-given-up-on-the-dream-of-4K-OLED-TVs/articleshow/35103409.cms

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Oooooo! We just had a statement:

http://www.whathifi.com/news/sony-denies-reports-oled-development-is-on-hold

:cheers:

That statement sounds just like all the ones Panasonic issued saying categorically that it wasn't getting out of the plasma business.

Until it did.

Sure does.

 

[Andy Clough]

4K is a resolution, and LED-lit LCD & OLED are panel technologies. You can have 4K resolution in both the panel technologies.

I know but OLED is much better than a single 4K TV. When and if a 4K OLED TV comes out then it will be king but I doubt it's going to happen now.

You are aware that LG 4K OLED TVs are coming later this year, right? No point in pressing the panic button.

I did not know that, that is good news.

In case you missed it:

http://www.whathifi.com/news/lg-to-expand-ultra-hd-oled-tv-range-at-ces-2014

 

[strapped for cash]

Samsung haven't even discounted their OLED TV!

Exactly. You'd think LG's substantial price drop would've encouraged a similar move from Samsung.

We can only speculate on Samsung's reasoning. (I'm guessing high production costs prohibited slashing the price in half.)

 

[Deleted member 2457]

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/sony-ditches-oled-concentrate-4k-televisions/#!NLVX1

Samsung not introducing a new one this year!

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/sony-ditches-oled-concentrate-4k-televisions/#!NLVX1

 

[bigboss]

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/sony-ditches-oled-concentrate-4k-televisions/#!NLVX1

Samsung not introducing a new one this year!

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/sony-ditches-oled-concentrate-4k-televisions/#!NLVX1

No Samsung isn't. Were you not following CES 2014 reports in January? Only LG is releasing OLED this year.

 

[bigboss]

I don't think they share R&D knowledge though, otherwise Samsung would've found it equally easy to manufacture OLED screens as LG. Any technological breakthrough will be vigorously patented.

They don't; and all manufacturers seek to retain proprietary advantages.

This doesn't stop other manufacturers working together to squeeze LG's tech from the marketplace, especially since LG patented its "WOLED-CF" solution.

In other words, as Samsung, Sony, et al. have struggled to develop their own OLED technologies, and LG patented the only current viable solution, LG is the only manufacturer right now that would benefit from OLED's success.

I'm really arguing that cross-manufacturer support is vital for any technology to take off; and without such support, OLED's future looks uncertain.

Agreed. I started a thread on the future of OLED last month:

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/tvs-and-projectors/has-oled-tv-really-got-a-future

 

[Deleted member 2457]

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/sony-ditches-oled-concentrate-4k-televisions/#!NLVX1

Samsung not introducing a new one this year!

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/sony-ditches-oled-concentrate-4k-televisions/#!NLVX1

No Samsung isn't. Were you not following CES 2014 reports in January? Only LG is releasing OLED this year.

That is what I said! Samsung not introducing one!

 

[mr malarky]

Looks like you two are in violent agreement with each other!

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Looks like you two are in violent agreement with each other!

 

[Feral]

I remember seeing an article on this website which I cannot find reporting that either one of the manufacturers or a research section had developed a layer which when applied to the LCD screens improved the picture to near oled levels.

perhaps it was a dead end but would certainly provide a new lease of life into the older technology as there would be minimal change on the existing fabrication processes.

anyone else recall seeing this?

 

[Feral]

Doh! :doh:

http://www.whathifi.com/news/new-film-material-can-make-lcd-tvs-look-better-than-oleds-developer-claims

thoughts?

 

[bigboss]

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/sony-ditches-oled-concentrate-4k-televisions/#!NLVX1

Samsung not introducing a new one this year!

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/sony-ditches-oled-concentrate-4k-televisions/#!NLVX1

No Samsung isn't. Were you not following CES 2014 reports in January? Only LG is releasing OLED this year.

That is what I said! Samsung not introducing one!

Just wondering why you were surprised, as this was known for a good few months.

 

[bigboss]

Doh! :doh:

http://www.whathifi.com/news/new-film-material-can-make-lcd-tvs-look-better-than-oleds-developer-claims

thoughts?

Quite tall claims over a year old. Any further updates since then? I can't see how a film can make such a huge difference. What if you apply the film on OLED TV? Even better!!

 

[Deleted member 2457]

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/sony-ditches-oled-concentrate-4k-televisions/#!NLVX1

Samsung not introducing a new one this year!

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/sony-ditches-oled-concentrate-4k-televisions/#!NLVX1

No Samsung isn't. Were you not following CES 2014 reports in January? Only LG is releasing OLED this year.

That is what I said! Samsung not introducing one!

Just wondering why you were surprised, as this was known for a good few months.

I was surprised, I had totally forgotten. The future looks even more bleak now! LG are doing well to be offering such a good price.