Hasta La Gadget!

Samsung’s initial plans to equip the Galaxy Note II with a 13-megapixel camera were scuppered by supplier shortages, insiders claim, with LG snapping up the bulk of the high-res sensors for its new flagship. The new stylus-enabled 5.5-inch “phablet” that Samsung announced at IFA has an 8-megapixel camera, like its predecessor, but the company had hoped to step up to 13-megapixels, DDaily reports. However, supplier Sony proved unable to meet Samsung’s demand.

That’s because LG had already called dibs on Sony’s supplies, with a deal inked earlier this year meaning the bulk of the 13-megapixel CMOS were headed to LG’s production lines and the Optimus G. That handset is expected to be officially released to the market later in September.

Camera resolution was one blip on the Galaxy Note II’s spec sheet, with the rest of the smartphone representing a useful step up from its predecessor. The new “phablet” has a larger display and a more usable stylus – thicker and longer than the first-gen version, as well as having a new, rubberized tip – together with an upgraded 1.6GHz quadcore processor and 2GB of RAM.

As we’ve undoubtedly seen in recent months, the number of megapixels in a phone’s camera isn’t the be-all and end-all of final image quality; instead, it’s about how a camera uses those megapixels that really counts. Still, if the reports are true, Samsung’s compromise is unlikely to warm it to LG. More on the Galaxy Note II in our full hands-on.

[via GottaBeMobile; via Unwired View]

Samsung’s 13MP Note II plans reportedly killed by LG’s Optimus G is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you’re like us and really want to know what’s going on, then you’ve come to the right place. This past week, AT&T revealed grand plans for LTE expansion that’ll continue through the end of the year and the Galaxy Reverb for Virgin Mobile officially went up for preorder. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the “best of the rest” for this week of September 3rd, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of September 3rd, 2012

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Mobile Miscellany: week of September 3rd, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Sep 2012 21:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

LG has priced up its vast 84-inch 4K TV, aiming to have the monstrous set in select stores come October. The huge new model – which delivers four times the resolution of a regular 1080p HD TV – will be priced at $19,999.99; that’s expensive on the face of things, yes, but in the grand scheme of 4K TV it’s something of a bargain.

In contrast, Sony’s 4K monster, the 84X900, has been priced at $25,000, with the Japanese company accepting preorders ahead of December deliveries. The two companies aren’t the only firms to be flirting with 4K; despite the fact that actual content to enjoy on them is sparse, all of the big TV manufacturers are seemingly planning to jump into the new “premium” segment.

LG’s model specifically supports 3D on its 3840 x 2160 panel, and has Smart TV functionality for on-demand streaming media and apps. That’s pretty much what you’d expect for $20,000, however; LG is yet to say how many of the sets it has sold in South Korea, where it has already been available for a short period.

One alternative to 4K TVs is projectors. Models offering 4K resolution but working with a drop-down project screen rather than a huge, fixed display are already on the market, and could offer more of a space compromise for those desperate for pixels but without the cathedral-like living room to accommodate.

LG’s $20,000 TV: A 4K bargain? is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

LG said it would release its 84-inch 4K (3,840 x 2,160, or four times the resolution of your current HDTV) UHDTV outside Korea this month and the company confirmed shipments would be on the way during an event at CEDIA 2012 before also announcing an MSRP of $19,999. According to LG the first units will begin shipping this month, with limited availability through the usual high-end sources slated for October. Just as we’d heard, the 84LM9600 includes LG’s passive glasses Cinema 3D technology plus all the Smart TV, WiDi, dual-core L9 processor, 2.2 channel speakers and Magic Remote bells and whistles it can muster.

Of course, even $20k currently doesn’t buy a large selection of publicly available 4K content, although LG was displaying the unit with standard 1080p content to demonstrate its “Resolution Upscaler Plus” capabilities. The 1080p video we watched was sharp and clear on the big LED backlit set, although there was a bit of glare from the lights in the room — not atypical for demo setups that aren’t exactly like most living rooms. In just a few weeks well-heeled consumers will be able to choose between this and the slightly pricier Sony 84-inch 4K TV, with more competition on the way soon. Also an option: a decently equipped 2013 Ford Focus. Check the press release after the break for all the details, we’ll be checking Mark Cuban’s couch cushions for spare change.

Continue reading LG’s 84-inch 4K ultra high definition TV goes on sale in the US next month for $19,999

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD

LG’s 84-inch 4K ultra high definition TV goes on sale in the US next month for $19,999 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

LG and Samsung have had to live with each other as cornerstones of the South Korean economy, but that uncomfortable balance might just have been knocked off-kilter through an escalating legal battle. Samsung has filed for an injunction against LG for supposedly coercing 11 Samsung researchers (already indicted in July) into leaking the secrets behind its OLED screens, including 18 pieces of technology and 21 related documents. The accuser wants 1 billion won (about $879,771) in compensation for every piece of technology that might have slipped out. Suffice it to say that LG isn’t happy with being labeled as a thief — it notes that LG screens use white OLEDs instead of Samsung’s RGB technique, reducing its incentive to swipe anything Samsung makes. LG even contends that Samsung is just trying to hide its embarrassment at losing OLED TV demo units that were headed to IFA 2012. Without a clear resolution in sight, there’s every indication the legal dispute could become very ugly.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment

Samsung asks for South Korean injunction against LG for allegedly stealing OLED tech originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Next Web  |  The Korea Herald, Yonhap News Agency  | Email this | Comments