IPS panel major LG is readying a pair of new widescreen, high-resolution monitors for launch at IFA Berlin, the EA93 and EA83. The two incorporate LG's IPS LCD panels with LED illumination. The EA93 is a 29-inch ultra-widescreen monitor featuring a 21:9 aspect-ratio, with 2560 x 1080 pixels native resolution. The 27-inch EA83, on the other hand, features a more conventional 16:9 aspect-ratio, with 2560 x 1440 pixels resolution.

The EA93 is designed to support 4-way split screen, taking inputs from four different connectors: dual-link DVI, DisplayPort, HDMI, and MHL. The EA83 supports dual-link DVI, DisplayPort, and HDMI, and offers 99 percent coverage of Adobe RGB palette. The EA93 and EA83 are slated for market-launch in November.

Razer, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, set a technological benchmark today with the release of its new Razer DeathStalker Ultimate gaming keyboard, featuring Razer's award-winning Switchblade User Interface (UI).

The Switchblade UI on the Razer DeathStalker Ultimate is the same acclaimed, customizable LCD trackpad and LED keypad combo introduced on the Razer Switchblade concept, which can currently be found in production on the Razer Blade gaming laptop and the Star Wars: The Old Republic gaming keyboard. This unique interface transforms gaming keyboard functionality into a customizable control panel with 10 dynamic, adaptive tactile keys that can be used to bind commands, macros, skills and spells for an unparalleled in-game competitive advantage. Each key can display any image by using Razer's Synapse 2.0 software, offering gamers the smartest keyboard on the market.

Japanese display maker iiyama introduced a new 21.5-inch LED-illuminated desktop monitor that boasts of an impressive 53.5 percent energy savings compared to similarly-sized CCFL-illuminated monitors. LED-illuminated monitors typically offer 30-40 percent energy savings. The ProLite E2278HD from iiyama was announced for the Japanese market earlier today, which will start selling in early-August, priced at 13,800 JPY (US $176).

The iiyama ProLite E2278HD packs a TN-film LCD panel that's LED-illuminated. It features 1920 x 1080 pixels native resolution, 5M:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 250 cd/m² maximum brightness, and 5 ms response time. Display inputs include DVI (HDCP-capable) and D-Sub (VGA). Measuring 514.5 mm x 177.5 mm x 369.5 mm (W x D x H), it weighs about 2.7 kg. Its stand allows basic tilting.

ASUS announced its newest 27-inch 3D desktop monitor, the VG278HE, which packs an LED-backlit LCD panel capable of 144 Hz refresh rate, which adds 24 frames per second to 120 Hz display output, making 3D gaming look even more fluid. The VG278HE makes use of a TN-film panel, with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution, and 2 ms (GTG) response time. It supports NVIDIA's 3D Vision 2 (kit to be purchased separately). Display inputs include dual-link DVI (dual-link needed for such high refresh-rate, even at 1080p resolution), D-Sub, and HDMI (lower refresh rates with single TMDS link). 6W stereo speakers make for the rest of it. ASUS did not announce pricing or availability.

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP and Pearson, Simon, Warshaw & Penny, LLP today announced that a federal court jury this morning found that Toshiba Corporation and its subsidiaries conspired with the world's other leading manufacturers of Thin Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Displays ("TFT-LCDs") to raise and fix the prices of TFT-LCD panels and certain products. The jury awarded damages of $87 million. Federal antitrust law requires the trebling of these damages, resulting in a $261 million award against Toshiba.

Richard M. Heimann, co-lead counsel for plaintiffs, stated, "We are very pleased the jury found in favor of the plaintiffs and found that Toshiba violated the law, particularly in light of the government's decision not to criminally prosecute Toshiba for its misconduct. The case demonstrates once again the critical role our civil justice system plays in holding corporations, no matter how powerful or where they are based in the world, accountable for violating U.S. antitrust laws."

Toshiba Corporation (Toshiba) and its subsidiary, Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC), announced today that a jury in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (San Francisco) has issued a verdict against Toshiba in the amount of US$87 million due to alleged antitrust practices in the LCD business. Given credits for settlements by other defendants, Toshiba expects that it will not have to pay any damages as a result of this verdict, even after trebling under U.S. antitrust laws.
This class action was filed in 2007 by direct purchasers of LCD panels and related products in the United States.

Toshiba has consistently maintained that there was no illegal activity on its part in the LCD business in the United States, and Toshiba continues to hold that view. While Toshiba appreciates the jury's time and effort, Toshiba believes that the jury's verdict is in error as to the finding of wrongdoing on Toshiba's part. Toshiba plans to pursue all available legal avenues to correct that finding.

Samsung Display Co., Ltd., a global leader in display panel technologies and products, announced today that it has begun conducting business as a newly merged corporation with Samsung Mobile Display and S-LCD corporations.

Samsung Display is the world's largest display manufacturer, now with 39,000 employees and seven production facilities worldwide. Oh-hyun Kwon, vice chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics, was elected CEO of Samsung Display at the general meeting of stockholders and board of directors.

Dell today announced the immediate availability of new displays that combine performance and value to enable customers amazing viewing experiences. The six new displays join Dell's industry-leading portfolio of solutions, which has once again ranked #1 in flat-panel display market share in North Americai, and #2 in flat-panel shipments worldwideii, according to DisplaySearch.

The newest additions to Dell's industry-leading portfolio of displays, the new P and E displays offer customers diverse solutions that help them get the most out of every environment.

Acer America today announced the Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 line of Ultrabooks in the U.S. Slimmer and lighter than earlier generations of the Timeline series, the new Timeline Ultra models are just .81 inches thin, weigh as little as 4.3 pounds and offer the best of both worlds -- a slim, lightweight design, larger displays, all-day battery life, and powerful Intel and NVIDIA technologies - making them some of the most robust and versatile Ultrabooks on the market.

The ultra-thin profile of the Ultra M5 Series delivers a minimalist, modern look. The stylish silver cover is made of an aluminum alloy that not only looks modern and elegant, but adds to the system's overall sturdiness. The 15.6-inch models include a sleek edge-to-edge display that keeps the LCD screen smooth and streamlined. A full-size chiclet keyboard with an independent standard numeric keypad makes typing more comfortable and increases productivity.

ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of computing, consumer electronics and communications solutions, today announced four new trade (TAA) compliant VESA mountable displays ideal for corporate, government and education environments -- including the VG2239m-TAA, VG2439m-TAA, VA2251m-TAA and VA2451m-TAA.

"We value our customers, and look to provide them with solution choices that fit their individual needs. As a part of this commitment, we felt it was important to bring our display heritage and expertise to the TAA compliant monitor market to help federal governments get onto GSA Schedule Contracts with a display partner they know and trust," stated Erik Willey, LCD monitor and PC product marketing director at ViewSonic.

Nanosys Inc. and the Optical Systems Division of 3M Company are joining technologies to provide wide color gamut technology for consumer electronic displays, allowing Liquid Crystal Displays ("LCDs") to display 50 percent more color.

3M and Nanosys will work together to commercialize Nanosys' Quantum Dot Enhancement Film ("QDEF") technology. QDEF is a drop-in film that LCD manufacturers can integrate with existing production processes. It utilizes the light emitting properties of quantum dots to create an ideal backlight for LCDs -- one of the most critical factors in the color and efficiency performance of LCDs.

Mitsubishi made an addition to its DiamondCrysta Wide series with the RDT272WX-BK, a 27-inch widescreen LCD monitor. It utilizes an IPS LCD panel with 1920x1080 pixels resolution, 3.5 ms response time, 178°/178° H/V viewing angles, 8,000:1 contrast ratio, 250 cd/m² brightness, and panel power consumption of 39W. Display inputs include TV, 2x HDMI, 1x DVI, and 1x D-Sub. 6W stereo speakers are included. Measuring 643 x 230 x 444 mm (WxDxH), the RDT272WX-BK weighs about 6.6 kg. It is slated for mid-June.

LG Display, a leading manufacturer of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display, introduced today a 5" Full HD LCD panel for smartphones - the highest resolution mobile panel to date. Allowing smartphone users to view Full HD content in the same quality as on TVs and monitors, LG Display and its new panel significantly advances the cloud computing experience widely considered the next major internet trend.

LG Display's 5" Full HD LCD panel is a step forward past existing mobile display technology. The LCD panel based on AH-IPS (Advanced High Performance In-Plane Switching) technology features 440ppi and 1920x1080 resolution, providing for the first time Full HDTV quality on a smartphone. With 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, the panel is also 0.5 inches larger, 2.2 times denser in pixels, and 1.3 times more advanced in ppi than the preceding 4.5" panel at 329ppi and 1280x720.

ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of computing, consumer electronics and communications solutions, today announced its latest LED backlit monitor solution - the VX2460h-LED - offering the thinnest profile available for its size and class category.

Ideal for consumers, gamers, enthusiasts and discerning buyers alike, the VX2460h-LED is a sleek and stylish 24" (23.6" Vis.) ultra-slim widescreen display that pairs a 1/4" ultra-slim thickness with advanced imaging technologies to reduce eye fatigue after extended viewing.

AU Optronics Corp. announced that it will participate in China Optoelectronics Display Expo & China International TV Festival 2012 (CODE & CTVF 2012) in Shenzhen from May 10-12 and showcase its varied combinations of innovative display technologies and interactive applications to offer high value-added customized solutions.

AUO's theme for the show this year is "Boundless Views, Lively Up Close", as illustrated by more advanced 3D functions, super narrow bezels, and next-generation technology integrations to deliver the ultimate viewing experience for consumers. The exhibition highlights include 50" Super Narrow Bezel 3D TV display, Pattern Retarder 3D TV displays featuring the all-new 39" and 50" in size, and 4K by 2K Ultra-High Resolution TV display. In terms of public information displays, AUO will demonstrate a 138" LED display wall assembled with AUO's 46" Super Narrow Bezel LED panels, boasting the world's narrowest bezel-to-bezel distance. The 65" Photo-Sensor In-cell Touch E-board and 50" FHD Transparent display with application on vending machine will also be on display. In addition, qHD Ultra-High Resolution AMOLED, Transparent AMOLED, and One-Glass-Solution (OGS) touch panels are being demonstrated to provide customers with the widest choices of high value-added display applications.

AOC introduced a pair of new 50-series desktop monitors, the 21.5-inch e2250Swdn, and 24-inch e2450Swd. The two are LED-backlit LCD monitors, and its makers maintain that these draw up to 50 percent less power than CCFL-lit monitors. Both models feature 1920x1080 pixels resolution, 5 ms response time, and 20,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and inputs that include DVI-D (HDCP), and D-sub (VGA). Both models feature 15 mm slim profile. The e2250Swdn is priced at US $149.99, while the e2450Swd goes for $179.99.

Acer announced a pair of G Series 21.5-inch LED-backlit LCD monitors, the G225HQLAbmid and G225HQLAbd. Both monitors pack a glossy TN-film panel, with 1920x1080 pixels resolution, 5 ms response time, 250 cd/m² maximum brightness, and 1000:1 static contrast ratio. The monitors feature Acer Crystal Brite technology, and up to 100 million colors reproduction. The Eco Mode feature works to conserve power. Where the two models differ is inputs and speakers. While the G225HQLAbmid features HDMI, DVI-D (HDCP), D-Sub, and built-in 2W stereo speakers; the G225HQLAbd lacks HDMI and built-in speakers. Both will be released to market towards the end of May.

Iiyama Corp. has just launched the ProLite T2234MC, a 21.5-inch monitor which features an IPS panel and makes use of projective capacitive touch technology to allow for two-finger multi-touch. Designed for 'Interactive Digital Signage, Instore Retail, Kiosks, Gaming and Interactive Presentations', Iiyama's new widescreen LCD also has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, an 8 ms response time, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 225 cd/m2 brightness, 178°/ 178° viewing angles, D-Sub and DVI inputs, and USB connectivity.

The ProLite T2234MC has a recommended price tag of 629 Euro.

Mitsubishi Electric Japan, launched a duo of 23-inch widescreen LED-backlit LCD monitors under its DiamondCrysta Wide series, the RDT234WX and RDT234WX-S. The two differ with the RDT234WX having an anti-glare matte coating, while the RDT234WX-S lacks it. The monitors are backed by IPS panels the provide richer color reproduction, with 1920x1080 pixels resolution, and response time as low as 3.5 ms, if its Overdrive feature is enabled. Both monitors provide 1000:1 contrast ratio (8000:1 DCR), 250 cd/m² maximum brightness, and display inputs that include two HDMI, one DVI, and a D-Sub. 545 x 170 x 394 mm (WxDxH), these monitors weigh around 4.9 kg. Other features include 2+2W stereo speakers and TV tuning (optional). The RDT234WX is slated for May 16, and the RDT234WX-S for June 15.

LG introduced the Flatron M2380D LED-backlit LCD monitor with TV-tuner. As a monitor, this 23-incher sports 1920x1080 pixels resolution, with 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 250 cd/m² maximum brightness, and 5 ms response time, with a trio of display inputs: DVI, HDMI, and D-Sub. The built-in TV tuner converts it into a conventional 1080p HDTV. The Flatron M2380D should be available in two color options, white (-WH) and black (-BK). Pictured below is the Flatron M2380D-WH. In the Japanese market, it goes for the equivalent of US $307.

NEC Display Solutions of America, a leading provider of commercial LCD display and projector solutions, announced today the latest addition to its next-generation MultiSync EA Series, the 22-inch EA223WM for high-performance enterprise users.

Improving upon its predecessor, the EA223WM is mercury-free and more energy efficient as a result of LED backlighting technology. This reduces power consumption, allows a new slim and light weight chassis and creates more desktop space. Its integrated touch-sensitive controls enable simple display adjustments through the On Screen Display (OSD). Its smart sensing technology includes ambient light and human sensors to automatically detect work conditions and determine the proper display brightness. The advanced ControlSync is a truly unique feature, which allows users to control up to six next-generation MultiSync EA Series displays and adjusts up to 26 settings of each monitor simultaneously via the master monitor. This is most beneficial for multi-monitor setups.

Samsung Display Co., Ltd, a global leader in display panel technologies and products, announced today that it has been officially launched as a new corporation, spun off from Samsung Electronics. Samsung Display held its inauguration ceremony yesterday and will begin business operations in earnest after carrying out incorporation registration on April 3.

Donggun Park, executive vice president and head of the former Samsung Electronics' LCD Business was elected CEO of Samsung Display. The company, which recorded 22.7 trillion KRW (approximately 20 billion U.S. dollars) in annual revenue in 2011 as Samsung Electronics' LCD Business, became the world's largest display manufacturer overnight, based on its 20,000 employees and five production facilities worldwide.

Japanese firm I-O Data has today unveiled a new addition to its monitor line-up, the LCD-MF242E widescreen which features a 23.6-inch LED-backlit (TN) panel, a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, a 5 ms response time, and the ECO power-saving function.

I-O Data's monitor also has a maximum brightness of 300 cd/m2, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio (5,000,000:1 DCR), D-Sub, DVI and HDMI inputs, and two 2 W speakers. The LCD-MF242E is backed by a three-year warranty and will go on sale in mid-April at about $237.

One of the biggest suppliers of LCD panels to notebook and PC monitor manufacturers, AUOptronics, has been convicted by a US court on Tuesday, of price-fixing, a serious anti-competitive practice that cripples innovation and is bad for consumers and progress of the industry. The company faces fines as high as US $1 billion, which could amount to a big blow to the company that already finds itself facing losses.

AUOptronics' conviction follows the December 2011 mega-settlement of LCD makers including Samsung, Sharp, Hitachi, HannStar, and Chimei Innolux. At the time, AUOptronics and LG Electronics were the only fence-sitters. LG Electronics agreed to pay a US $400 million fine, in 2008. AUOptronics' current position is that it finds the evidence presented against it, which led to the conviction as being "distorted and incomplete," and that it will appeal against the verdict. The quantum of fine levied against AUOptronics will surface in the months ahead.

South Korean titan Samsung Electronics has today confirmed the rumors regarding the spin-off of its LCD (liquid crystal display) business. The LCD unit, which posted an operating loss of $668 million for last year, will be 'set free' as of April 1st, and will be renamed Samsung Display Co.

"The spin-off will allow us to make quicker business decisions and respond to our clients' needs more swiftly," said Donggun Park, executive vice president and head of Samsung's LCD unit.

While it's pushing out LCDs, Samsung is still going to make big investments ($5.8 billion this year) in panel technology, focusing on the high-growth OLED segment.