4G smartphones set to steal limelight at CES

4G smartphones set to steal limelight at CES

LG Electronics will be promoting its Cinema 3D televisions that feature file film-type patterned retarder (FPR) technology, which has no flickering, reduces “cross talk,” or blurry images, and offers brighter screens. / Korea Times LG bulks up 3D TV lineup; Samsung accelerates camera push in Las Vegas By Kim Tong-hyung Technology companies at next month’s International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will unveil new hardware they say will mark the arrival of fourth-generation (4G) mobile broadband to succeed the current 3G technology. Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Motorola are among the major handset vendors that will be showcasing their first Long Term Evolution (LTE) smartphones and other 4G devices at the Jan.6 to 9 event in Las Vegas, as they look to further exploit the mobile Internet explosion and the insatiable craving for faster connections. HTC, Taiwan’s smartphone player that has been quicker than its rivals to roll out 4G handsets, has also chosen CES as the platform to reveal its highly-anticipated successor to the Evo 4G and G2. These products will provide ammunition for American mobile carriers Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint as they prepare to renew their competition in networks supporting 4G candidate technologies LTE and HSPA-plus. The transition to 4G in the advanced markets of North America and Europe will likely jolt what is already a red-hot smartphone market by providing a catalyst for handset upgrades. Verizon is expected to promote its first LTE handsets at the CES, while AT&T plans to match its rival with its HSPA-plus offerings. Samsung, which is beginning to command authority in the smartphone market after an underwhelming start, is preparing to present a ``full’’ lineup of LTE and HSPA-plus handsets at CES. The Korean technology giant hopes that its products will steal the thunder from HTC and its LTE-ready HTC Thunderbolt, its newest 4G handset that has already been snapped up by Verizon. The Taiwanese manufacturer already has some 4G ``firsts’’ in its cupboard, with EVO 4G being Sprint’s first 4G handset and G2 being the same for T-Mobile. Samsung’s advantage is that it could combine its LTE handsets with its strengths in telecommunications equipment and systems. The company reached a deal with American carrier Metro PCS in September to provide its LTE handsets and systems and also has an agreement with Sprint to provide 4G equipment. It will be preparing a separate section to promote its LTE devices and systems at CES, Samsung officials said. LG and Motorola are also rumored to be bringing LTE smartphones that run on Google’s Android mobile operating system at CES. Less stressful 3D experience Although much of the buzz for this year’s CES is in anticipation of new generation mobile devices like smartphones and touch-screen computers, dubbed as tablets, the biggest star of the show has traditionally been flat-screen televisions. And the hype machine for connected televisions and three-dimensional (3D) flat screens seems to be firing on all cylinders. LG, which has been generating less buzz in the 3D television segment compared to rivals Samsung and Sony, is vowing to use the upcoming CES as a platform to reintroduce itself as a serious 3D player. The company will roll out seven new 3D television models at this year’s event alone, claiming that its products are designed to offer better picture quality and a more comfortable viewing experience. LG’s ``Cinema 3D’’ televisions employ film-type patterned retarder (FPR) technology, which has no flickering, reduces ``cross talk,’’ or blurry images, and offers brighter screens. This reduces worries of eyestrain and headaches, which are some of the health problems that have been linked to 3D viewing. FPR also allows 3D glasses to be designed lighter, more polarized and curved more like regular glasses, a welcome change for 3D television viewers put off by clunky eyewear. ``Our 3D glasses are lighter and more comfortable to wear, and doesn’t require recharging or batteries. This will allow a larger number of people to enjoy 3D viewing at an affordable prices,’’ said an LG spokesman. ``Our 3D televisions also provide viewing angles of 180 degrees, which provides brighter and sharper stereoscopic images to viewers sitting anywhere in front of the television or even lying on a couch.’’ LG will display its 42-, 47-, 55-, and 65-inch models of its Cinema 3D televisions at CES and also unveil a 3D organic light emitting diode (OLED) television, 3D computer monitors, 3D projectors and 3D-enabled computers. Digital cameras have been a game dominated by the Japanese, but Samsung has been attempting to steal away some shares from the likes of Canon, Nikon and Sony. Samsung will be touting a broad lineup of new cameras at the CES, including interchangeable lens cameras, point-and-shooters and camcorders. Among the most notable products is the WB700, a 14-megapixel compact camera tailored for the premium segment. The camera also features an 18x ``super’’ zoom, raw image files support, full manual support, and HDMI-out and HD-video recording. The camera is also equipped with Internet connectivity that allows users to move the images through e-mail or post them directly on online video services like YouTube or social networking services like Facebook and Flickr.

thkim@koreatimes.co.kr