- China launches alternative to HDMI
More than 50 Chinese companies have backed the launch an alternative to HDMI called the General Purpose Media Interface (GPMI). The Shenzhen 8K UHD Video Industry Cooperation Alliance, which includes companies such as Hisense and TCL, is behind the new standard, reports Tom’s Hardware. GPMI looks to transfer more data than other current standards while also being able to deliver power, a feat HDMI is unable to perform. HKEPC reports that GPMI is available in two types– Type B, which includes a proprietary connector, and Type B, which is compatible with USB-C. Type C is reportedly capable of up to 96Gbps of data transmission while being limited to the same 240W of power as USB-C. Type B, however, looks to have a bandwidth of up to 192Gbps while delivering up to 480W of power.
- LG Display has sold its final LCD panel factory
Seven months after the deal was announced, LG Display has completed the sale of its final LCD manufacturing plant to TCL. The sale is part of LG Display’s larger strategy of reallocating resources to focus on its OLED business. Located in Guangzhou, China, the factory was purchased by TCL for approximately $1.5 billion. TCL has announced that it has renamed “T11” and has already began production at the location, which will be ramping up over the coming months to full-scale. “We have completed the transaction approval and commercial registration procedures for the shares of LG Display’s Guangzhou panel factory (CA corporation) and module factory (GZ corporation),” said TCL in its announcement.
- Samsung Display creates “bezel-less” OLED tiles
At this year’s MWC Barcelona show, Samsung Display unveiled a new technology it calls “bezel-less” OLED, allowing the connection of multiple OLED panels without any noticeable seams. In reality, Samsung Display says it was able to shrink down the bezels on its panels by 40%, resulting in a thickness of just 0.6mm. The company explained that each OLED Tile showcased at MWC is made up of ten 6.8 bezel-less panels and two 31.5-inch monitors. The result is OLED panels that can be tiled together with bezels that appear to be invisible from a normal viewing distance. Samsung Display states that this technology is still in the concept phase, without any public plans to launch anytime soon. However, the tiles’ modular design could result in larger, more cost-effective OLED displays. Samsung Display also noted that these 40% thinner bezels could benefit other OLED applications– including displays in mobile devices and smartphones.
- Blackmagic Design pulls back on plans to open up U.S.-based production
BlackMagic Design has already been feeling the negative effects from the United States’ recently imposed tariffs, with price increases hitting the company’s products in the U.S. The new BlackMagic Pyxis 12K camera was marketed at a price of $5,000, but is currently going for $5,500, a figure that was only attainable after the company’s relocated the camera’s production lines. It isn’t just pricing that the tariffs have affected, however, with BlackMagic Design stating that they were considering opening up production lines in the U.S., a plan that is now in hazy territory. “We were planning to build a new factory in Dallas, Texas, to streamline our supply chain and allow us to work more directly with U.S. semiconductor companies,” Blackmagic Design spokesperson Patrick Hussey told The Verge. “If we proceed with the US factory, we’d incur tariffs on those parts, increasing costs and negating the savings we anticipated.” Hussey further explained to The Verge that Blackmagic is going to “wait a few months” to feel out the economic climate and see if component resources will relocate to the United States. If they do, a U.S.-based production line could still be in the cards. “If it does, we could still achieve the supply chain benefits we were aiming for,” said Hussey.
- This wireless speaker is constructed almost completely out of wood
In an age where portable speakers are beginning to have a homogenous appearance, JVCKenwood has unveiled a new model that is sure to stand out. Its new WDS-01 wireless speaker is made almost entirely of wood, including its 60mm cone drivers. Each WDS-01 unit is custom-made, and is available in cedar, oak, pine, spruce, or dark walnut cabinets. The WDS-01 utilizes Bluetooth 4.2 for playback, and also features an auxiliary port for a wired connection to and audio source. JVCKenwood says that the speaker has a wireless range of up to 33 feet. A USB-C port enables users to fully charge the battery in 4.5 hours, offering eight hours of playback on a full battery. Supply is extremely limited, however: the WDS-01 is currently limited to 100 units, and only available in Japan. The cedar and pine models cost roughly $255, the oak and spruce models running a bit more at around $265, and the walnut model coming in at a hefty $545. If these models sell quickly enough, one can only hope that additional production runs will be brought stateside.
- LG drops DTS audio support from 2025 TVs
LG’s tumultuous relationship with DTS audio continues, as the company will once again be dropping the audio codec from its 2025 TV line. The manufacturer had previously dropped support for DTS before bringing it back for its 2023 line of TVs. Vincent Teoh of HDTVtest broke the news after being given early access to the LG G5 for a review. Teoh noted that the TV’s EDID made no mention of DTS, and comments that he believes that this change will affect all 2025 OLED and LCD TVs. HDTV mentions that internal data shows that DTS is not widely used by LG TV owners on devices where it is available. It appears that owners of LG’s 2025 lineup will be limited to Dolby audio formats only.
- Looking Glass debuts 27″ 3D Light Field display
Looking Glass, a company that originally started on Kickstarter and has since released various sizes of glasses-free 3D displays, is debuting a 27” model that the company is positioning as a digital signage solution. Utilizing the same “light field technology” as the rest of its offerings, the Looking Glass display is said to provide realistic 3D visuals within a 53-degree viewing angle. The display itself is 2” thick, but Looking Glass says that its visuals feature 16” of depth. The company’s website features quotes claiming the new display is “a must-have for malls, stadiums, and storefronts,” and it has the price to match. The 27” display is currently available for a price of $10,000, with shipping scheduled to begin this month.
Derek Wiley is the content producer for Sound & Contractor and TWICE. Chiefly having a production background, Derek is quickly becoming a Pro AV enthusiast. When not writing, he enjoys all things gaming, music, and live events.
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