The explosive demand in smartphones and tablets is sapping demand for conventional televisions. Major TV manufactures, therefore, are adding more hardware and software features by spending more for improving viewing quality, said officials at Samsung and LG Electronics.

Samsung and LG, the world’s top two TV manufacturers, will release UHD TVs in various sizes during the show. This is a part of “desperate efforts” to cushion a steep fall in profit and to find new growth momentum.

Japan’s Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Toshiba, as well as Hisense and Haier of China are also fully set to display UHD TV models. Top executives at Samsung and LG Electronics will unveil more updated business strategies for UHD TVs to the Korean media in a news conference by each during the show.

“This year, Samsung Electronics will be aggressive in promoting UHD TV models,” said an executive at the company.

LG Electronics, however, will focus more on highlighting its organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TVs. Its new TV chief Ha Hyeong-hoi and LG Display CEO Han Sang-beom, the world’s top panel supplier, will meet the local media to show their OLED-related business strategies, according to LG officials.

The top TV maker Samsung also plans to release a flexible remote-controlled OLED TV.

Samsung, the world’s biggest technology company by revenue, will be expanding their line-up of smart accessories and items for the home with Wi-Fi enabled refrigerators, air-conditioners and microwave ovens.

Officials say Samsung will release more “wearable devices” this year. Display, a display-making unit of Samsung Electronics, as the company believes the wearable device market is on the rise and the concept of “smart home” has started to gain ground.

It’s been rumored that Samsung was developing the sequel of Galaxy Gear and some others, although the company has yet to confirm it. But a Samsung executive said; “There will be brand new products that will be unveiled only to our clients. Those are conceptual and not for mass-market.”

3D printing and IoT 

The “Internet of Things” is a norm that the technology industry can’t escape. Surely, the concept will be hugely boosted at the technology fair.

Simply put, according to experts and officials, applications and Web-based services have taken advantage of personal data, and that trend is now trickling down to appliances, personal gadget (life fitness trackers) and other hardware.

“The technology world is becoming more complex and connected. IoT is the new trend and business opportunity that we can’t afford to lose,” said the LG official, confirming that it was developing its wearable devices.

Amid the new trend, the technology world is going to actively embrace is the IoT concept to vehicles. Audi of Germany is going to announce a new partnership with software giant Google for a new generation of connected vehicles.  

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are also attempting to approach leading carmakers for an expanded business tie-up. Specifically, LG is set to hold a series of meetings with major carmakers during the show to persuade them to purchase LG-manufactured car infotainment systems, said officials.

Lastly, 3D printing is also considered the “hot-issue” at the exhibition. Samsung and LG said this is the industry that has high growth potential. They plan to release 3D printers equipped with latest technologies.
 
yckim@koreatimes.co.kr,