LG Display will soon start making flexible OLED light panels

LG Display is investing in an OLED light panel manufacturing facility as the panel maker looks to new revenue sources beyond the television and mobile segments. The plant will mark LG’s foray into the general lighting market, with the vendor looking to focus on flexible OLED light panels.

The initial focus for the factory will be to produce lighting for high-end commercial stores, following which LG will turn its attention toward the consumer market:

The company will firstly focus on task lighting and decorative lighting in high-end retail stores and in luxury hospitality; and expand to the general lighting market going forward. Also, the company will focus on automotive and convergence applications such as OLED light panels merged with furniture, architectural materials, electronic devices and more.

The plant will have an initial monthly capacity of 15,000 sheets, with production set to commence starting early next year. It will be interesting to see the hardware that LG will offer in this space, particularly in the connected home segment.

LG Display to Build World’s First 5th Generation OLED Light Panel Plant

Mass production to start in first half of 2017

Seoul, Korea (Mar 17, 2016) – LG Display announced today that it will invest in a new OLED light panel manufacturing facility. The planned facility will be the first 5th generation (1000 x 1200mm) OLED light panel manufacturing plant in the world. It is to be located in the South Korean city of Gumi, where it will produce a range of OLED light panels.

The initial input capacity at the plant will be 15,000 glass substrates per month. The monthly input capacity could be gradually ramped up depending on the market situation.

LG Display expects the increased production with the new facility to give the company economies-of-scale. This will help the company obtain significant price competitiveness. In addition, the accumulated OLED display technical know-how will allow LG Display to considerably enhance OLED light product quality.

The 5th generation facility will give the company panel size flexibility. With the larger glass substrate, LG Display will be able to produce a wide range of different size light panels, including giant ones. Further, this ability to make giant panels will better enable the company to penetrate the general lighting market.

The investment decision follows the acquisition by LG Display of the OLED light business of its sister company, LG Chem in December, 2015.

The plan for the new facility is in keeping with LG Display’s vision of bringing the exciting new OLED technology to customers around the world in the broadest array of applications. The company will firstly focus on task lighting and decorative lighting in high-end retail stores and in luxury hospitality; and expand to the general lighting market going forward. Also, the company will focus on automotive and convergence applications such as OLED light panels merged with furniture, architectural materials, electronic devices and more.

Mr. Young Kwon Song, Senior Vice President and Head of Strategy & Marketing Group at LG Display, said, “Our OLED light business will further strengthen LG Display’s commitment to nurture OLED as the future growth engine. Based on LG Display’s strong track-record and know-how in OLED display business, we will create synergy with the OLED light business and maintain our strong position in the overall OLED industry going forward.”

LG’s OLED light experience began in 2000 with R&D into OLED materials at the Group’s chemicals affiliate, LG Chem, with production of OLED light panels beginning in 2012. The acquisition last year of the OLED light panel manufacturing business by LG Display has been creating synergies with its production infrastructure and technology in OLED displays. It allows the company to save costs through integrated purchasing and shared investments, increase productivity by drawing on the accumulated knowledge of the display business, and help improve production infrastructure and use of technology patents.

OLED light is made up of layers of organic materials which is self-illuminating and consumes less power and also emits lower heat than conventional lighting. It is environmentally friendly and is closest to natural light. Due to its ability to be thin and flexible, it is suitable for different applications and venues and could create new markets for lighting.

Apple will power part of iCloud with Google Cloud Platform

Google Cloud Platform has reportedly scored another major client after getting Spotify in February: Apple. Cupertino has struck a multi-million dollar deal with its staunchest rival to move part of iCloud and its other cloud-based offerings to GCP, according to Financial Times and CRN. Sources say the company’s using a combination of Amazon Web Services, Microsoft’s Azure and its own data centers at the moment. Neither corporation has confirmed the info yet, but CRN’s sources told the publication that the deal is worth between $400 and $600 million.

Google has apparently been getting more high-profile customers, because it’s aggressively pursuing them in an effort to catch up to Amazon and Microsoft. The Information’s Amir Efrati tweeted that it will take Apple a year to move to the Big G’s infrastructure, though, and it might not make Google any money.

It’s true, @iCloud to be partially powered by @googlecloud. But will take a year & unlikely to be profitable. @awscloud lost $ from iCloud.

— Amir Efrati (@amir) March 16, 2016

While this is clearly a victory for one of Alphabet’s properties, it might be shortlived. The iPhone-maker has plans to expand its existing data centers and to build new ones, which could eventually power its cloud-based services.

Source: Financial Times, CRN

Do Griffin’s Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge cases provide enough protection? (Review + Giveaway)

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is the coolest new device to hit store shelves. The $800 device is all glass wrapped around a metal frame. With that much breakable material,

Self-lacing Nikes are real, will go on sale later this year

While we’re still waiting for the Back to the Future-styled Nike Mag, the company has unveiled its first “self-lacing” shoe in another silhouette. The Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 senses the presence of the wearer’s heel, and tightens its laces accordingly. Senior Innovator Tiffany Beers led the project, and says once the shoe is on, the wearer can adjust the fit with two buttons on the side to get things perfect.

Of course, Nike isn’t stopping there, as famed shoe designer Tinker Hatfield is already looking forward to versions that adjust fit on the fly, as the athlete needs more or less tension. The HyperAdapt 1.0 is set to arrive this holiday season in three colors (including that Nike Mag-like lighting), and will go on sale only to Nike+ members for an unspecified price.

Speaking of Nike+. that app is getting a redesign in June that the company says will make it almost as personal as the fit on those adaptive-laced shoes. One login will tie users to the SNKRS, Run Club and Training Club apps, and provide product recommendations that are individually tailored. Nike is going all out to push purchases with a personal touch, including a “Services” tab that will provide concierge-like access to “Nike+ Experts” to answer all your burning sportswear queries. or book a reservation at a Nike store.

This is all a part of Nike Innovation 2016, and sneakerheads can check out the site for other new products on the way. That includes the Air Vapor Max that ditches its foam midsole entirely, relying only on the company’s vaunted airbag technology for cushioning, the new “engineered down to the pixel” KD9 and other products that are part of what Nike is calling an “era of innovation.” The only problem? None of those innovations can make me shoot like Steph Curry (yet), and he’s signed to Under Armour.

Source: Nike

Survive underground in Capy’s ‘Below’ this summer

After almost three years we finally have a better idea when developer Capybara Games’ Below will finally release: this summer. Other details on the procedurally generated, subterranean survival game are still scarce, but hey, there’s an ominous new trailer and screenshots just, ahem, below.

The late Satoru Iwata honored by Game Developers Choice Awards

The video game industry lost one of its most passionate members last year when Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata passed away. He’s been honored before, but there really isn’t such a thing as paying tribute to him too many times. During tonight’s Game Developer’s Choice Awards the governing body debuted a heartfelt animated video touching on various aspects of the legendary game developer’s life including the conception of the Nintendo DS, the Wii Remote and Nunchuck and much more. Iwata may be gone, but his legacy will live on for a very, very long time.

Via: GDC (Twitter)

Source: GDC (YouTube)

Complete guide to using your Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge – CNET

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Samsung’s newest members of its flagship Galaxy phone family are now on sale. The S7 and S7 Edge aren’t gigantic leaps over the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, but they pack enough features to make them worthy of the name. You’ll find a better camera and a massively bigger battery and such non-iPhone features as expandable storage (it’s back!) and wireless charging. And the S7 Edge, of course, has that lovely wraparound display.

Read the CNET reviews

• Galaxy S7: This is the phone to beat
• Galaxy S7 Edge: The ultimate splurge

We’ve spent the last week getting to know our phones better. Here’s what you need to know to get the most out of your devices.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is the phone gamers have been waiting for: Samsung’s Galaxy S7 packs amazing gaming tools; here’s how to use them.

Make icons shape up with this new setting on the Galaxy S7, S7 Edge: A new setting provides a unified look for all app icons.

How to move apps to the microSD card on your Galaxy S7, S7 Edge: It’s a quick and easy way to free up storage on your phone.

Make sure you check this new setting on the Galaxy S7, S7 Edge: The free app makes it almost too easy to ensure you don’t lose anything when switching to the new Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge.

Get to know the Galaxy S7’s always-on display: A feature we’re sure to see more of this year is a display that never truly powers off. Let’s take a closer look at Samsung’s version.

Use Samsung’s Smart Switch to quickly set up your Galaxy S7: The free app makes it almost too easy to ensure you don’t lose anything when switching to the new Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge.

Getting started with Windows 10’s Messaging app – CNET

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

Microsoft wants you to use Skype Messaging — simply titled “Messaging” in Windows 10 — as your main over-the-top messaging app. (Over-the-top messaging is a data-based alternative to texting — think Whatsapp, Line, and iOS’s iMessage.)

With the new Messaging app, you can “text” anyone from your Windows 10 device, providing they also have Skype installed. Because Microsoft really wants you to see the Messaging app as a texting alternative — not just an extension of Skype video chat — a separate app from Skype video and Phone. If you’re chatting with someone on Skype video and you want to send them a text-based message, the new Messaging app will open in a separate window, instead of as a sidebar to the video chat.

Sending a message

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

You can only send messages to Skype contacts. To add someone to your contact list, open the Messaging app and click the … button and choose Add friends on Skype. This will open the Skype video app, which will show you suggested friends (based on your People contact list) and allow you to search for Skype contacts via full name, Skype name or email address.

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

To send a message to an existing contact, open the Messaging app and click New message and type in the name of the person you want to send the message to. To send a group message, add multiple contacts to the To line. Type your message and hit the send button, which looks like the top-down view of a paper airplane.

Deleting messages

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

To delete an entire conversation thread, open the Messaging app and click Select. Select the conversation(s) you want to delete and click Delete.

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

You can also right-click the thread and choose Delete or Mute.

If you just want to delete specific messages within a conversation thread, but you don’t want to delete the entire thread, open the Messaging app and click the conversation to open it.

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

Click the … button in the lower right corner and choose Select messages.

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

Select the messages you want to delete and click Delete. If you would instead like to forward a specific message to someone, click the + button (Forward) and type in the name of the person you want to forward the message to.

Getting started with Windows 10’s Skype video app – CNET

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

Microsoft has broken Skype up into three different apps in Windows 10: Skype video, Messaging, and Phone (Skype video is the only app that bears the Skype name). Skype video is, as you’ve probably figured out, for video-chatting with your Skype contacts.

The Skype video interface is extremely simple — much simpler than Skype’s traditional desktop program, which combines all of Skype’s features, along with myriad settings and tweaks, in one window. While Skype’s traditional desktop program can get a little overwhelming, the new Skype video app might be too minimalistic, though the simplicity does allow you to really focus on video-chatting.

Adding contacts

When you sign into Skype on Windows 10, your Skype contacts will be ported over. The app will also ask you if you’d like it to search through your phonebook and add friends to your contact list. If you choose to postpone this step, you can always find it again by opening the Skype video app and clicking the … button and then clicking Setup.

The Skype video app features four menu buttons in the upper left corner of the window: Suggested contacts, Add contacts, Phonebook, and the … button, which is where you’ll find Settings and About.

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

Suggested contacts is where you will find Skype contacts who are in your address book but not on your Skype contacts list. Your address book, in this case, is Windows 10’s People app — a “master” contact list that can draw from your Microsoft account, Google account, and iCloud account.

Add contacts lets you search for a Skype user by full name, Skype username or email address (but not by phone number).

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

Phonebook displays a searchable list of your Skype contacts in a separate window; like the Windows 10 Start menu, you can access a jump list of all the letters and numbers by clicking any of the letters or numbers that separate contacts.

Clicking on a contact’s name opens up an ultra-simple profile (no Skype mood messages here) that displays the different ways you can contact them (phone call or video call). Clicking on a contact method immediately launches that type of call. There’s no back button from the profile screen; if you want to find another contact, you’ll need to exit out of the contacts window and open it up again from the Skype video app.

Skype Settings

There are only a few settings you can change from within the Skype video app, and these settings apply to all of the Skype apps (including Messaging and Phone). To access Skype’s settings, open the Skype video app, click … and click Settings.

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

In the Settings menu, you can set how Skype adds friends to your contact list — the default setting is for Skype to automatically add any contact from your address book (People app), but you can switch this off so that Skype does not automatically add contacts from your address book. You’ll still see people in the Suggested contacts tab, but you will need to add them manually if you want to contact them via Skype.

You can also turn Skype’s notifications on and off (instant messages and incoming calls), and set your Skype default. Setting this app as your Skype default will only show you notifications from Windows 10’s integrated Skype app, so you won’t end up with multiple notifications if you also happen to have the desktop program installed.

You can’t update your profile information or manage the phone numbers associated with your Skype account from this settings menu, but the menu does provide links to the Skype website where you can manage your account online.

Making a video call

Skype video may be lacking some features — such as the ability to manually change your online status — but at least making a video call is very easy.

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET

To make a video call, simply open up the app and click Phonebook, find the person you want to call, click their name, and click Video call.

If the person you want to call is in your video call history, just click their name in the list to initiate a call.

5 fun games you can play with the Amazon Echo – CNET

The Amazon Echo is an amazing addition to any smart home. It not only makes controlling your other smart devices fun to show off, it makes it controlling them easier. Alexa’s handy abilities even reach outside your home, helping locate where you parked, telling you how much gas is in your car’s tank and letting your order pizza.

With the help of some of Alexa’s third-party skills, the Echo can also become the life of your dinner party. It’s full of parlor tricks, easter eggs and corny jokes.

What you may not have known, however, is that you can play games with the Amazon Echo. It can be challenging and surprisingly fun.

Here are some of the best games you can play on your Amazon Echo.

Bingo

Bingo is a timeless classic. To play it on your Echo, open the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone or go to echo.amazon.com from a computer and open the Skills menu. Search for Bingo and click Enable.

To start a game, say “Alexa, open Bingo.” Each number called by the Echo will be repeated and viewable from within the Alexa app. To advance to the next number, say “Next” or “Call the next number.”

When someone wins, say “Bingo!” and the game will end.

Of course, to play Bingo, you will need number cards, which you can download for free from lovemyecho.com.

Tic Tac Toe

If a standard game of Tic Tac Toe against a computer is too easy for you, try playing a round with Alexa. If you don’t draw the board yourself, you have to imagine the game in your head.

To start a game, say “Alexa, ask Tic Tac Toe for a game” or “Alexa, ask Tic Tac Toe to start a new game by taking the center.”

The Echo will then speak Alexa’s move, and you will have to speak your next move. For example, say, “top left” or “bottom.”

Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock

Out of the box, you can challenge Alexa to a round of Rock Paper Scissors. You can even play the more advanced version, Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock. But the built-in functionality is a bit sterile, and it doesn’t give you any information, like who won the round.

If you enable the Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock skill, Alexa will explain how you won or lost, keep track of your wins and tell you who racked up the most wins over several rounds.

To open the skill, say, “Alexa, open lizard Spock” and follow the prompts.

Abra

Try to stump Alexa with Abra. It’s essentially a form of 21 questions, where you select a character and answer a series of yes-no questions and Alexa tries to guess who you’re thinking of.

To start a game, say, “Alexa, open Akinator.” The game will immediately start, and you will need to answer the questions. Don’t be surprised when you can’t stump the Echo.

Blackjack (Beat The Dealer)

You can also play Blackjack with the Amazon Echo. First, enable the skill titled Beat The Dealer. Once enabled, say, “Alexa, ask the dealer to play Blackjack.”

The virtual dealer will deal you a hand and Alexa will speak your cards and one of the dealer’s cards. It will then ask you if you want to hit or stand. Decide what you want to do and speak your answer. If you don’t bust and eventually choose to stand, Alexa will tell you what the dealer chose to do and whether they busted or you won.

It will then ask you if you want to play again.

Bonus: Dice

Additionally, if you lost the dice from a board game, you can ask Alexa to roll two virtual dice for you. Say “Alexa, roll two dice.” The Echo will then tell you what it rolled.

You can get a bit more specific with it, as well. Say, “Alexa, roll 15 10-sided dice.” The Echo will list the results for each die.