Samsung Electronics had the same area away from the main show floor that it had last time and organised its displays around vertical applications. The first display was a big LED display. As we heard at BETT, Samsung is starting to win some business for its LED displays, although it was first shown over two years ago at CES. Oner of the changes in the business in Europe is that final assembly of the cabinets has been moved from Suwon to Eastern Europe, which has reduced lead times to around two months, which has made a significant difference to acceptance by corporates, we heard. Previously, lead times were longer, which was a barrier to sales.
The latest LED range starts at 1.5mm pitch (800 cd/m²) and includes 2.0mm and 2.5mm (both 1,200 cd/m²) in the fine pitch range. The full indoor range adds nine further configurations from 3.175mm to 16.5mm with 2,000 cd/m² of output in the IPS range and three more from 3.175mm to 6.35mm in the IPE range. In outdoor products, Samsung goes from 6.35mm to 25.4mm and with 7,500 or 9,000 cd/m² in the tiled (XPS) range. The XB range is described as ‘LED in a box’ and is designed for simple replacement of LCDs. The XR100F is for sports perimeters and has 10mm pitch and 6,750 cd/m².
Samsung’s LED-based Curved Display had pride of place. Image:Meko
Turning to LCD, Samsung was promoting its Quantum Dot backlit LCDs, which it calls QLED. At least one analyst seems to have been confused by Samsung into thinking it is something to do with OLED, so we guess that the company thinks it is succeeding with its marketing. 55″ and 65″ UltraHD displays with QLED were on show, although the formal product announcements all seemed to stay at 72% of NTSC gamut coverage.
We’ve reported in the past on TN-LCD-based electronic shelf labels (ESLs) from Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Electronica 2014 Roundup) but we think that this is the first time that we have seen the technology being promoted as part of the digital signage range of Samsung Electronics in Europe. There are six sizes available based on E-Ink EPD technology from 1.6″ to 7.4″ and with a claimed battery life of five years. Monochrome or coloured models are available and the coloured ones have an NFC option. Samsung has a gateway system to control labels in a 20 m (line of sight) radius and there is also a remote controller.
Samsung is now selling ESLs. Image:Meko
Samsung has been promoting its outdoor signage LCDs and at the show the company had the OH85F, which has been tested in Zurich as we recently reported (Samsung OH85F Tested for First Time in Europe) The 85″ UltraHD unit is one of four units in the OHF range (46″/55″ and 75″ with FullHD) that all have 2,500 cd/m² of output and are just 85mm thick. The OMF range is for ‘semi outdoor’ use and is available in 46″ and 55″ versions with 24.6mm (OMF-W) or 14.5mm (OMF-K) bezels and the same brightness as the fully outdoor versions.
There was no movement on the ‘who has the narrowest bezel’ competition in video walls, and Samsung has stayed at 1.7mm (1.15mm + 0.55mm) that it launched at Infocomm last year.
The company had the DM65E-BC PCap interactive display that we saw at BETT a couple of weeks ago.
Samsung has a range of UltraHD display in 85″ (with and without touch) as well as 49″/55″/65″/75″ and 98″ units. However, the mainstream ranges continue to support FullHD in 32″/40″/43″/49″/55″/65″/75″ and 82″.
An unusual application was an ‘Interactive gym’ that used a mirror display.
This Samsung mirror display is used in gyms. Image:Meko
As you would expect, Samsung has upgraded to a new version of its Tizen smart platform and at the show there was a significant area devoted to software partners.
