The Display Industry News Source 11.11.11

Nokia's Nanotechnolgy-Enabled Phone (Video Above) - via TechCrunch

Oversupply Leads to First Ever Year-to-Year Shipment Decline for TFT-LCD Industry - "Some 208 million TV panels are forecast to be shipped in 2011 from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and China, down 6% from about 220 million units in 2010, according to DisplaySearch, the display market research and consulting firm, realizing the first-ever year in global TFT-LCD industry to see year-on-year (YoY) shipment decline. Thanks to increasing demand from emerging markets, makers` new models and specifications, vendors` discount promotions in the year-end high season, and brand vendors` optimistic sales goals for 2012, however, DisplaySearch forecasts the global LCD TV market will begin to rebound the next year." via cens.com 

Small and Medium Size Panels Lead the Way in Q4 Production - "Most small- to medium-size flat panel production lines at Taiwan-based LCD panel makers are operating nearly at full capacity due to strong demand for small- and medium-size panels from the tablet PC, digital toy, e-book reader, smartphone and DSC sectors, according to industry sources. Taiwan-based flat panel makers Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT), HannStar Display and Giantplus Technology as well as Korea-based Hydis have been benefiting from the growing applications for small-to medium-size panels, indicated the sources." via DigiTimes

Major TV Manufacturers Scale Back Production Due to Popularity Surge in Smartphones and Tablets- "With Sony and Panasonic releasing statements that they both plan on cutting their flat screen panel production by 50%, investors are worried that this move is too little, too late. Japan has been taking the right steps by cutting costs and moving production lines, but weak growth in the US market has been hurting their sales for years. The recent mega-quake and its tsunami has also thwarted production." via ShopJimmy.com

Taiwan-Japan Alliance Taking Shape in TFT-LCD Industry to Counter South Korean Competition? - "Japan-based home appliance giant Panasonic Corp. has for the first time placed flat panel and outsourcing orders with Taiwanese TFT-LCD (thin film transistor liquid crystal display) manufacturers, major local business dailies reported Wednesday. Panasonic's flat panel orders for two Taiwanese LCD makers -- Chimei Innolux and AU Optronics -- reached 43 percent of its projected demand for flat panels, media reports said. Other Japanese consumer electronics companies, such as Sony, Sharp and Toshiba, have also increased their flat panel and outsourcing orders with major Taiwanese makers, according to the reports. Citing market analysts, the reports said the Japanese companies' move indicates that a Taiwan-Japan alliance is taking shape to cope with keen competition from their South Korean counterparts." via Taiwan News