LG

Samsung and LG now predictably eyeing sapphire

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 28, 2016

Apple may have gone the farthest along in commercializing sapphire as its new Messa, Arizona plant starts churning out first batches of sapphire crystal, but rivals are not standing still.

Now key players are taking notice and some are taking action, in particular Korea's Samsung and LG.

The fast-follower Samsung, along with consumer electronics makers LG, is said to be reconsidering its stance on the feasibility of using sapphire in mobile devices. This right there tells me Tim Cook & Co. have been right all along to gamble on sapphire and invest hundreds of millions of dollars in manufacturing facilities to secure multi-year output of the material...

LG releasing Lifeband Touch Activity Tracker and Heart Rate Earphones this Sunday

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 9, 2017

This coming Sunday, May 18, LG will release a pair of new wearable products. Designed to work with iOS and Android, the Lifeband Touch Activity Tracker, as the name implies, is a wrist-worn fitness band which measures your physical activity performance - stuff like speed, steps taken, calories burned and covered.

And LG's new Heart Rate Earphones with built-in sensors will measure your heart rate as you listen to your music, make calls or just chill.

Used together, these two products promise to help you reach and maintain your fitness goals while fusing advanced activity tracking, biometric data, Bluetooth app connectivity with easy access to your music and iOS device and what not. Both accessories can be pre-ordered now through Best Buy prior to launch...

LG teases upcoming Android Wear-based ‘G Watch’

Cody Lee ∙ May 12, 2014

LG has posted a teaser clip this weekend for its upcoming G Watch, which is an Android Wear-based smartwatch. The video doesn't offer up much in the way of specs or feature details, but it gives you a good look at its design and function.

The G Watch will apparently be the first watch powered by Android's new wearables platform it introduced back in March. It has a metal body, which is both dust and water resistant, and is compatible with a stout number of Android devices...

LG launches AirPlay-like SDK to stream media to multiple TVs, Apple TV support incoming

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

LG is hoping to make it easier for users to beam media to their televisions, with a new SDK it's making available to developers to integrate into apps on iOS and Android.

Smart TVs have historically been one of the most closed platforms out there, with manufacturers developing features for only their own TVs and set-top boxes, and not the broader market - example being Apple's AirPlay. LG is changing this with its new Integrate Connect SDK, a standard to place into mobile apps to beam media across multiple platforms onto the big screen.

LG’s bizarre G Flex ad is disturbing, infographic pretends the iPhone never existed

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 6, 2014

Titled 'The Most Human Phone Ever', LG's newest commercial for its curved G Flex handset must be one of the weirdest, most bizarre smartphone commercials we've seen to date. Trust me, it's really disturbing and will give you nightmares. The video is airing to viewers in The Netherlands.

The firm also posted a cool infographic with a visual timeline depicting the history of the smartphone.

In another 'what were they thinking' moment, the illustration makes absolutely no mention of the original iPhone's release back in 2007 - it's as if Apple's handset never existed...

iWatch to tap LG Chem’s energy efficient stepped batteries, rumor has it

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

As Apple continues to build up its team of world-class sleep researchers, medical device experts and biosensing ace engineers for the iWatch team, the rumor-mill is in full swing with related chatter originating from the company's vast network of Taiwanese suppliers and contract manufacturers.

The latest rumor: the company is tackling battery challenges said to plague the project by using so-called stepped batteries, a technology offering better longevity and enhanced energy density versus the traditional solutions.

Stepped batteries can be applied to different shapes and, as a bonus, boost capacity by as much as sixteen percent. Conveniently, Apple recently filed for a patent detailing a flexible battery design that specifically mentions wearable devices...

Rumor: LG nears OLED iWatch deal, Google smartwatch due ‘within months’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 9, 2018

LG Display, a prominent Apple supplier that provides LCD panels for the iPad, MacBook and iMac devices, is apparently close to striking a deal to supply a portion of flexible OLED screens for Apple's rumored iWatch wearable device. Furthermore, Apple is understood to have discussed the possibility of a similar deal with its biggest supplier Samsung, but talks apparently fell apart.

In addition to LG Display, the rumor also mentions Taiwan's RiTDisplay as another possible iWatch screen supplier...

New report claims Apple launching 55″ and 65″ 4K TV sets in 2014

Cody Lee ∙ October 22, 2013

Apple may not be ready to introduce its TV set at today's iPad event, but the project does appear to be nearing completion. This according to comments made by Advanced Research's Masahiko Ishino, in a recent interview with Bloomberg.

Citing anonymous sources, the Tokyo-based analyst tells the news outlet that the Cupertino company is preparing to begin selling ultra-high definition televisions next year. The TV will come in 55" and 65" flavors, with a frameless design...

Ongoing challenges forcing Apple to buy Retina iPad mini screens from Samsung?

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 23, 2013

Run for years by the then op-chief Tim Cook, Apple's supply chain has become the stuff of the legend. Would-be watchers naively believe deciphering Apple's next move is as easy as keeping tabs on the chatter coming out of Asia's supply chain. Tim Cook, of course, begs to differ: on one of conference calls, Apple's boss cautioned investors against drawing conclusion from any one data point as the company's supply chain is a very complex beast.

So here's something for investors and fans to chew on: ET News reported Tuesday that Apple is considering tapping Samsung Display to produce low-power Retina screens for the upcoming second-generation iPad mini because AU Optronics (AUO) was unable to deliver. Samsung would presumably make the screens alongside LG Display, Sharp and perhaps Japan Display, according to a previous February 2013 report...

Hero devices help LG join Apple and Samsung at the top of the smartphone food chain

Ed Sutherland ∙ April 11, 2013

LG is now the No. 3 smartphone maker, for the first time, as sales of its higher-end handsets lift it above HTC and other brands scrambling for the scraps left by Apple and Android. Although Samsung and Apple combined for 71.4 percent of the market, sales by the South Korean LG rose to 3.2 percent as HTC fell to fourth place on word of disappointing profits, according to research firm Strategy Analytics...

LG saw 90% drop in iPad panel shipments in January

Cody Lee ∙ February 26, 2013

A new report out of China claims that LG Display saw shipments of its 9.7-inch iPad display panels drop 90% in January, from 6 million units in December all the way down to 600,000. The drop-off is said to be a main factor in LG's poor performance in the month.

The reason for the order cuts? Well according to supply chain sources, it's a combination of a few things including the fact that January was the first post-holiday month, the growing popularity of the iPad mini, and a general shift in the market to lower-priced tablets...

LG buys WebOS from HP to use in future smart TVs

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

The 2013 Mobile World Congress (MWC) officially kicked off in Barcelona this weekend, meaning you should prepare for an onslaught of device announcements and other mobile news over the next few days.

In fact, LG has kicked things off already by dropping a bombshell today. The South Korea-based electronics giant has apparently purchased WebOS from Hewlett Packard, and plans to use it in future products...