Sony and Panasonic have joined forces to develop next-generation TV sets using OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology. Earlier on Monday, the two companies announced in a statement that they will share technologies - as they try to stay competitive with South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co., the current leader in TV sales.
Sony and Panasonic, both facing pressure from Samsung Electronics Co. and other Asian TV manufacturers, reported record losses for the fiscal year ended March 31. The companies hope to be able to achieve low-cost mass production of OLED TVs by 2013.
Samsung Electronics Co. is planning to start selling OLED TVs with big screens later this year.
Great news! Can't wait to see these OLED's in person. I've never been to CES or anywhere where I can view one. I wonder how they will compare to current Plasma and LED models. I was under the impression that OLED wasn't going to be affordable until 2015 or later. Looks like I may have to hold off on getting a new tv for another year or two.
@squidpuppet: Yep, the OLED problem as was discovered sadly by Sony was longevity. PQ is outstanding in sharpness, colours, and black levels to rival any plasma. And of course the screens are thin enough enough and flexible enough that theoretically they could be rolled up when not in use. The first wall size TVs become possible with OLED. It is a promising tech. but only if a way is found to make the sets last for a longer time than they have so far.
Affordable OLED appears to be the only real chance out there that something will finally eclipse the picture quality of CRT based HDTV technology. No plasma HDTV, including the legendary KURO and no LCD/LED HDTV, including the recent Sharp Elite has bettered the picture of a CRT HDTV. Behemoths though they are, they have yet to be affordably outclassed for picture quality. Hopefully that will soon change.
we all know the best first 50 inch sets will be maybe $4000 or maybe a bit more so I think it will be quite a number of years until we have an oled set for $2000 to rival the current Panny VT-50. When that happens great; until then it's a Panny plasma for me.
My only problem with samsung is that they put in cheap low voltage (10v) capacitors that aren't able to handle the load well, causing them to pop. I have had to replace all the capacitors (25v) on my tv as well as a couple of friends.
Sony and Panasonic have joined forces to develop next-generation TV sets using OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology. Earlier on Monday, the two companies announced in a statement that they will share technologies - as they try to stay competitive with South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co., the current leader in TV sales. 
