Why Curved Screens are the Next Innovative Trend

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Between televisions, smartphones, tablets and laptops, most consumer electronics share one distinguishing characteristic: their flat, rectangular displays. It looks like technology is changing that though with a newer trend called curved screens. 

Unlike previous similar wavy displays that featured a contoured glass over a flat display, these new devices and electronics actually use an innovated curved display that offers a variety of benefits from being more ergonomic to improving the multimedia experience.

About Curved Screen Technology

Deemed the new flat screen, curved technology using displays based on OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology, which has made it simpler for manufacturers to enhance or improve two-dimensional screens. Curved screens, which are flat panels that are bent after the fact are also flexible, which means they can be bent with a certain amount of pressure. 

Curved screens are made possible because of a newer flexible glass called Willow, which is manufactured by Corning. It is about as thin as a piece of paper and is chemically coated to enhance transparency and conduct electricity. The thinner the glass, the more curvature you can get. The OLED displays are placed on this type of glass. Televisions with these types of curved and flexible screens can bend on demand by using a remote control. 

Samsung was one of the first to market both televisions and smartphones with the curved screen technology. In 2013, the Samsung Galaxy Round, which is a tablet/smartphone hybrid, was released with its concave screen. The telecommunications giant also introduced a 55-inch OLED TV, which not only had a stunning picture with its 4,500mm curvature radius, but an almost $10,000 price tag to go with it. LG also came out with a 55-inch OLED television, which has a 5,000mm curvature radius.

Besides the Galaxy Round, the LG G Flex from T-Mobile also uses the curved screen technology. Because the curved screen contours to your face, the design reduces the distance between your mouth and the microphone, thus enhancing voice quality. The OLED display also provides a bright, vivid panoramic experience and reduces the glare. In addition to these two devices, it is also rumored that the Apple iPhone 6 is designed to use the same concave screen technology.

Benefits of Curved Screen Technology

Curved screen technology will take some getting used to, especially as more manufacturers create products with it. However, there are several benefits to using it:

- More ergonomic: Phones with curved screens fit more comfortably in your hand.

- Improved multimedia experience: Similar to an iMax experience, the curved screen enhances multimedia viewing by negating the distortion of the screen’s edges and create an image that is perceived as flat. 

- Increased battery life: The LG G Flex has a “tap to life” function that allows users to tap twice on the phone to wake it up instead of picking it up and turning it on. It also has a 3500mAh battery, which produced a longer life than typical smartphone batteries.

Wave of the Future or Just a Gimmick?

Curved screens may just seem like a marketing gimmick, especially when it comes to televisions, since mounting and viewing may require extra attention. However, researchers strongly believe that curved screen displays are the next innovative trend in electronics.

YOU MIGHT LIKE: The Future Is Now: Self-Healing Phones Hit the Market

Smartphones with curved screens offer reduced glossiness typically found in flat displays, and improve screen privacy. That, coupled with the subtle concave of the screen, has opened up the doors to improving on this technology for other products and for future generations.

*by andreascy*

Four Quick Ways to Freshen Up Your Small Business

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

So your small business is making you some money, but it could probably be making more. 

Some simple but commonly overlooked steps could help bring in more customers and encourage shoppers to frequent your store.

Small Business Success

Statistics used to be daunting for those choosing to venture out and start their own businesses, but America seems to be showing a trend toward devotion to small businesses in more recent years. Current data indicate two out of three small businesses survive at least two years, while half find success for five years or longer. To help ensure your business is one of the survivors, read the following tips to freshen up and attract customers to your small business:

1. Neat and Clean

No one wants to rummage through a dark and dusty store. Make sure your store and storefront are well lit and clean. This means no dust, no cobwebs and no unsightly maintenance issues. If, after cleaning, the store still feels drab, try a fresh coat of paint. If lighting is an issue, go with a gloss or semi-gloss to help reflect light and brighten the space. Also, ensure your parking area is free from trash and well illuminated. If your parking lot stripes are dull or curbs are chipped, have your parking area resealed and repainted for a fresh and inviting look. Never allow potholes or other damage to accumulate, as even the most primed customer will not want to park their vehicle in a damaged parking lot.

2. Curb Appeal

It's important to catch the eye of passersby, and curb appeal plays a critical role in this. Make sure your signage is new and fresh looking, well lit at night and large enough to read from across the street. A bright red door is said to be a good omen and will help draw a potential customer's attention to your entrance. Consider potted plants and perhaps a small sitting area, such as a bench, to further beautify your space.

3. Sale, Sale, Sale!

Many shoppers are driven by impulse. The promise of a great bargain to be found within is often enough to pique curiosity and change a looker into a buyer. BOGO (buy-one-get-one) sales are proven in many markets, and free samples are a surefire way to garner interest. Whatever sale you advertise in your storefront, don't leave your sale sign up for too long. Buyers don't put much faith in ongoing sales. End a sale after a week or two, and wait a while before advertising another, so customers feel you are truly offering good deals and not just advertising to get them in the door. Clearance sales can also be profitable enticements, but again, don't overdo it, or you could damage your credibility.

4. Celebrate the Season

An ever-changing storefront will capture attention from shoppers who regularly pass your store. If your storefront never changes, they will never notice you. Take advantage of the various seasons, holidays and town events to liven up your storefront. Change your storefront displays to incorporate current events, and promote yourself as family oriented and supportive of your community.

Conclusion

These simple steps can produce big results and help you build a larger customer base, translating to more sales. Just be sure you greet each customer as they enter and provide assistance as necessary, and word of mouth will bring in new visitors every day.

YOU SHOULD READ: Five Steps to Improve the Image of Your Store

Looking for feedback.

*by andreascy*

Five Steps to Improve the Image of Your Store

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

A passerby's first impression of your store is an important part of increasing foot traffic to your business. 

If you are in need of a few ideas to help you improve the image of your business and to make your storefront really stand out, take a look at the five steps below. 

Freshen Things Up

Take a notepad, and walk into the parking lot of your store, looking at it as if you have never seen it before. With fresh eyes, imagine you are a new customer seeing it for the first time. Write down any items you notice can be improved. See if the sidewalk is cracked, if any paint is chipping, if lights are burnt out, if your awning and signs are in good condition and if it is truly a good representation of your brand. Also consider if there are any renovations you can make to the exterior of your stores, such as replacing broken windows, adding siding, pressure washing or repainting.

Invest In Signage

If your store is in a complex, you may have restrictions on the type of signage you are allowed to post. 

Some cities even have restrictions about the types of signage they allow businesses to hang. Check with your complex and/or city to learn what you are allowed, and invest in outdoor signage that will alert more people to your products and services. This could be done by replacing your current signs, adding lighted window signs, sidewalk signs, posters or banners.

Make a Daily, Weekly and Monthly Checklist

To keep the interior and exterior of your store looking fresh, new and inviting, make a checklist of items that need to be taken care of on a daily basis. This could be anything from sweeping in front of your store to picking up trash, maintaining trash receptacles, wiping down windows, detailing door jams and cleaning all surfaces inside your store from top to bottom. By creating a checklist of these items, you can tackle tasks in bite-sized portions, instead of waiting until they have spiraled out of control.

Add a Pop of Color

Even if your store in fairly mainstream or conservative, find ways to add pops of color that will make your storefront stand out. To make a color pop, you do not have to make color choices that are bright and bold. Instead, opt for color choices that are on opposite sides of the color wheel, such as black and white or blue and yellow. You could even consider redoing your store logo or changing the colors in your logo so they stand out more.

Window Displays

If your storefront has room to create a window display, use the items in your windows to attract customers. If setting up window displays is not your strong suit, hire a professional interior designer or window designer to switch out your window displays ever four-to-six weeks. You want to keep your windows fresh and new, so keep your display materials but find ways to remix them to create new displays. If you do not have room to create a window display, install indoor banners, signs or window decals to attract more attention to your store.

As a store owner or manager, it is easy to miss the opportunities to improve your storefront, because you get so accustomed to looking at it each day. You can use the ideas above to freshen up your appearance and call attention to your store to entice more walk-ins and foot traffic.

*by andreascy*

What To Look For In A New TV

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Buying a new TV can be a lot more complicated than it used to be. With options including HD, plasma, LCD, and a large range of different specs in the term of pixels and Hz, it can be difficult to decide which TV is worth buying and which is just hyped up with fancy terminology. 

Because you are spending your valuable money and possibly taking out some in store finance to purchase a TV, it’s important to choose one that works best for you.

Choosing a Size

Size is important and for most of us; after all, bigger is better. Important considerations include that there is a limit between a ‘good size’ and a ‘good price’. As a general rule, usually any TV over a certain size will be more expensive and for most, that size is 42-55 inches. A 42” TV is actually one of the best budget TV sizes, especially considering that most are only a few hundred above 36” TVs while a 62” might be several thousand pounds in comparison. Budget verses Size is a crucial thing to consider so take your time and shop around to see what is the biggest size you can get for a reasonable price. If you settle on a bigger TV then you could always choose to apply for cash loans to help pay for the television.

What do all of those Quality Terms Mean Anyway?

Pixel ratio, video processing, what do all of those terms mean anyway? For most of us, bigger numbers can confuse us into thinking that we’re getting a better TV, but for the most part, a lot of it is really just hype. The standard HDTV TV only has about 40 pixels per square inch which is about 8 times lower than your average iPhone screen which is retina display. In this light, HD quality might actually be a little lower than you think anyway. New 4K TVs are already coming out but these usually only have about 160 pixels per inch. Terms such as 120Hz and 240Hz refer to video processing while terms such as 1080i and 720p refer to display resolution and maximum light output. Usually these factors are actually less important than simply calibrating your TV correctly to display well in your light conditions.

Plasma verses LED verses LCD 

There are multiple types of TVs but Plasma, LED and LCD are the three most common. Most experts recommend plasma as the most consistent quality TV in a room without a lot of sunlight, mostly because plasma provides the best contrast and screen uniformity. LED screens are best when paired with local dimming, and LCD screens can be extremely good as well so long as the colour saturation is correct.

Options

From 3D to smart TV, most televisions today are a lot more complicated than their predecessors. A smart TV can usually be connected to the internet, can often be used to play games and can be used to answer email or even log onto your social networks. Anyone with a game station probably has all of these features already, so it might not be necessary to purchase a smart TV. Many TVs now come with built in smart apps so you might not have the option to purchase an old fashioned TV without these options. 3D is usually vastly overrated, mostly because most people don’t actually use the 3D feature. Watching 3D requires you to purchase 3D movies and wear 3D glasses, so this can be a hassle that most people would rather do without. However, a 3D TV will play normal movies so it won’t limit your access to the television you love. 

TRENDING: Why Curved Screens are the Next Innovative Trend

Any thoughts?

*by andreascy*

Microsoft Research: Pen-and-Touch Interaction for Touch-Screen Displays of All Sizes

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

This video shows a demonstration of in-place commands that work on direct touch displays.

Michel Pahud walks through some in-place command work done at Microsoft Research including pen and touch with toolglass bimanual techniques. In-place commands are menus that appear next to the finger. 

They can work on small displays like slate, but also on very large displays so the user doesn't have to reach for the menu.

Please send your comments and suggestions and also share your ideas with us. Keep updating yourself by following us on Twitter. 

*by andreascy*

Ocular's Future of Touch Presentation at 2012 SID Display Week

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Ocular LCD: A Different Philosophy... A Different Kind of Company

Ocular LCD, Inc. headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a leading supplier of touch panels and display products to the embedded technology industry. Ocular’s innovative technologies enable equipment manufacturers to quickly bring to market product solutions with leading-edge, touch-enabled display capabilities.

In addition to its products, extensive technical knowledge and 25 years of experience allows Ocular to work closely with manufacturers to design display capabilities that meet the unique requirements of their applications, including the demands of extreme environments. 

Ocular has a rich history of innovation and this spirit is part of the Ocular culture and continues today with the development of many patented solutions in touch panel technology, LCD displays and display system ruggedization techniques.

Today we' ll present to you the third annual Future of Touch and Interactivity Conference that took place on June 7th, 2012 as part of The Society for Information Display (SID) Display Week in Boston. Industry leaders were invited to discuss how touch and interactive solutions are shaping the display industry. 

David Nolte, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Ocular, presented during Session 1: The Future of Touch on the topic of projected capacitive touch panels and how they have advanced with larger sizes and simpler structures.

Read also :
Touch screen technology : How it works

*by andreascy*

At NAB Show - HP DreamColor Display & Hurlbut Visuals

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Digital film and video production with color critical control from start to finish.

Shane Hurlbut A.S.C. Cinematographer from Hurlbut Visuals talks at NAB Show about the changes he has made to his production workflow since integrating HP's DreamColor Display with 7 pre set color spaces including REC 709 and Adobe RGB. 

Shooting with today's digital pro cameras - like RED and Canon, Shane uses the DreamColor on location as his eyepiece for getting the color right from the beginning. 

His 1st exposure to the DreamColor was on the set of Act of Valor. He also talks about the DreamColor's seamless integration for both field and post editing.

READ ALSO: Color Critical Film Production : HP Dream Color Displays and Hurlbut Visuals

We would like to ask you to please share our posts with your friends and help us get the word out, through social media and word of mouth. 

Thanks again for visiting us! Stay tuned folks! 😉💛

*by andreascy*

Color Critical Film Production : HP DreamColor Displays and Hurlbut Visuals

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

This is a 2.5 minute video talking with Shawn Hurlbut of Hurlbut Visuals about the value of having the HP DreamColor display in his film production workflow. 

From controlling color on location using the DreamColor as his eyepiece for digital cameras to matching up colors in the edit bay this workflow eliminates time and money in his productions.

Find more on :
http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/press

*by andreascy*

Corning Gorilla Glass : Changing the way we think about glass

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Why is Corning® Gorilla® Glass so important to your everyday life? Watch this short video to find out!

*by andreascy*

A Day Made of Glass : Made possible by Corning

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Watch "A Day Made of Glass" and take a look at Corning's vision for the future with specialty glass at the heart of it.

Learn more about Corning at corning.com. Search for career opportunities at corning.com/careers.

Check out more articles about Corning Gorilla® Glass on :

http://officialandreascy.blogspot.com/search/label/Corning#.T9ybfLUthNo

*by andreascy*

Corning Glass : The Evolution of High Performance Displays

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

One of the latest trends in the display industry is diversification. 

Glass backplane substrates and cover glass - along with other components - must also advance in order for high-performance displays to reach their full potential. 

Ultimately, glass remains a superior substrate that enables displays to perform at their best. 

Corning is developing innovative galss solutions optimized for several emerging display technologies.

Check out more articles about Corning Gorilla® Glass on :

http://officialandreascy.blogspot.com/search/label/Corning#.T9ybfLUthNo

*by andreascy*

Corning Glass Supports the Ultrabook™ Vision

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Robert Quinn, End Market Intelligence Manager, Corning Display Technologies, discusses how Corning's naturally thin EAGLE XG® Slim glass substrates are ideal for applications like the Intel-inspired Ultrabook™.

Check out more articles about Corning Gorilla® Glass on :

http://officialandreascy.blogspot.com/search/label/Corning#.T9ybfLUthNo

*by andreascy*

Corning® Gorilla® Glass: Enabling touch technology

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Listen to Peter Bocko, chief technology officer, Corning Glass Technologies, and Jean-Marc Jouanno, technology director, Large Cover Glass, discuss why Corning® Gorilla® Glass is an ideal cover for interactive white boards, digital signage, and other large-size public or multi-touch displays in the latest edition of the Viewing Angle.

Check out more articles about Corning Gorilla® Glass on :

http://officialandreascy.blogspot.com/search/label/Corning#.T9ybfLUthNo

*by andreascy*

Corning® Gorilla® Glass 2: Enabling Thin & Tough Glass Solutions

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

See Senior Research Scientist Kevin Reiman demonstrate the toughness and durability of Corning® Gorilla® Glass 2.

Check out more articles about Corning Gorilla® Glass on :
http://officialandreascy.blogspot.com/search/label/Corning#.T9ybfLUthNo

*by andreascy*

Microsoft Research : Enabling Concurrent Dual Views on Common LCD Screens

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Can your laptop show you two different views simultaneously? 

The answer is yes and here is how : Twisted Nematic (TN) is the most widely used LCD technology today, especially on laptop screens. Some color combinations may become indistinguishable when viewed at a certain angle. Exploiting this, we can hide and show information at different angles without special hardware. 

Two completely different images can be shown at different viewing angles by spatial multiplexing or by temporal multiplexing. This method works across various TN-based LCD screens. Similarly, two movies or video games can be played simultaneously for different viewing angles, allowing people to watch different programs or play video games with personalized views. 

*by andreascy*

Glass matters : Trending toward high performance displays

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Howdy folks! Today's topic is with Dr. Peter Bocko and John Bayne who share their insights on the irreversible trends that define the high performance of the display industry, as well as how Corning continues to provide specialized glass to help enable these trends. More on the video below :

If you like our Blog then we will appreciate if kindly you'll share this topic with your friends and other social circles. This help us to reach bigger audiences and more people of course that can benefit from our topics too. Feel free to spread the word about us and subscribe on our RSS feeds and Newsletter. See you soon!

*by andreascy*

Samsung All-in-one PC SERIES 9 hands on video

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

The new Samsung All-in-one PC SERIES 9 offers a brilliant entertainment experience with immersive 3D technology, an ultra-clear yet super-thin 27" full HD display, and high quality sound optimized by JBL. 

In addition, the blistering power of the 2nd generation Intel Core i7 processor and on-board AMD Radeon graphics ensure you have all the processing and video power you'll need. 

*by andreascy*

NHK and Panasonic announced a 145-inch Ultra High Definition Plasma Display with 34 million pixels

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

NHK has announced a 145-inch Ultra High Definition plasma display, with 16 times the resolution of a regular Full HD display. This follows the 85-inch LCD display announced by NHK last year (Source DigInfoTV).

This prototype was co-developed with Panasonic. It has almost 34 million 0.417 mm square pixels, 7,860 horizontally and 4,320 vertically, and a frame rate of 60 fps. 

This display uses a new drive system to stabilize the picture throughout the panel, by scanning several pixels simultaneously in the vertical direction. Even in a panel with about 4,000 scan lines, this achieves a stable picture without flickering. 

"Even when viewed from 1.6 m away, this Ultra High Definition display makes you feel as if you're looking at a real scene. It doesn't use 3D technology, but the picture is so realistic, you feel truly immersed in the scene." 

This is the world's first Ultra High Definition plasma display. As the pixels of a plasma display are self-emitting and the display therefore doesn't require a backlight, it has superior viewing angles, responsiveness and color reproduction. 

"One major feature of this 145-inch Ultra High Definition display is that it gives a very even image at such a high resolution. Another big feature is, because it's Ultra High Definition, it efficiently shows 8K x 4K pictures, which have a huge pixel count." 

"At present, we think this system will be used in commercial settings first, such as theaters, rather than in the home." 

This new plasma display will be on show to the public from May 24-27, at NHK's Science & Technology Research Laboratories in Tokyo.

*by andreascy*