[IFA 2018] LG unveils world’s first 8K OLED TV

South Korean premium TV maker LG Electronics said Wednesday that it would introduce the world’s first 8K organic light-emitting diode TV in Berlin, containing 7,680x4,320 pixels. The 88-inch 8K LG OLED TV will be the biggest OLED screen to be unveiled at the IFA 2018, the biggest show for home appliances in Europe, running for six days from Friday in the German capital. LG’s 8K organic light-emitting diode TV (LG Electronics)The 8K OLED TV will feature over 33 million self-emitting pixels to pro

Aug. 29, 2018

All Galaxy S10 variants to feature in-screen fingerprint sensor

[THE INVESTOR] A fingerprint scanner integrated into a physical button on a smartphone will likely become a thing of the past as Samsung Electronics, the No. 1 smartphone maker in the world, is expected to have a fingerprint sensor built into the screen for its Galaxy S flagship lineup in 2019.Samsung is preparing to adopt the biometric technology that allows users to scan their fingerprints on the screen for all three variants of the 10th edition of the Galaxy S, according to an industry source

Aug. 28, 2018

Samsung SDS seeks lead in ‘intelligent factory’ management

Factories have grown smarter over the years with tech-driven facilities automation and process optimization. And today, the concept of smart factories has taken on a new meaning with the adoption of artificial intelligence and big data analytics technologies.　Embracing this development, Samsung SDS has set out to be a leader in “intelligent factory” management solutions, which uses AI, the internet of things technology and data analytics to manage factories more efficiently and cut down operatio

Aug. 28, 2018

Galaxy Note 9 wins positive feedback overseas

Samsung Electronics Co.'s new smartphone, the Galaxy Note 9, is receiving favorable reviews from global tech experts for its excellent display and Bluetooth stylus, industry sources said Tuesday."The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is the most functional, feature-packed, and premium Android smartphone in the world," said British evaluator T3 in its review on the Galaxy Note 9.T3 said while the new smartphone's Bixby artificial intelligence assistant is "still definitely a work in progress," the device is

Aug. 28, 2018

LG Chem to raise low cobalt battery sales to 40% next year

LG Chem, a leading battery maker in South Korea, said Monday the company will increase the sales portion of low cobalt batteries for laptops and other digital devices to 40 percent next year, in light of the industry’s efforts to reduce cobalt use. The company has been trying to reduce cobalt use for various IT applications. Cobalt is a raw material that is difficult to secure due to its tight supply stemming from political risks in the primary cobalt producer, the Democratic Republic of Congo.D

Aug. 27, 2018

Samsung Display continues OLED excellence in latest mobile devices

Samsung Display’s organic light-emitting diode panel has continued to prove its excellence in Samsung Electronics’ latest premium smartphones and tablets. Samsung’s latest smartphone Galaxy Note 9 sports the largest OLED display on any of its phones with a 6.4-inch panel, 18.5:9 aspect ratio and quad high definition with a resolution of 1440 x 2960 pixels. The Samsung Display panel boasts screen reflectance, absolute color accuracy, peak brightness, native color gamut, contrast ratio and screen

Aug. 26, 2018

Artificial intelligence to take center stage at IFA 2018

Interconnectedness and voice commands are going to be the most established features of an upcoming trade show for home appliances and electrical devices amid the expanding dominance of artificial intelligence into the consumer electronics sector. Taking place in German capital Berlin from Friday for a six-day run, IFA 2018 will serve as a place for world-leading tech giants -- around 1,800 exhibitors -- to boast their latest technology highlights ranging from intelligent and interconnected home

Aug. 26, 2018

Samsung Electronics officially rolls out Galaxy Note 9 in 56 countries

Samsung Electronics on Friday officially launched the Galaxy Note 9 smartphone in 56 markets around the world, including South Korea, the US, Canada, China and India, as well as all of Europe and Southeast Asia.Following this initial rollout, the South Korean tech giant plans to bring the Note 9 to 120 markets by early September, and embark on expanded marketing activities, the company said.The ninth edition of the Galaxy Note series sports a 6.4-inch AMOLED display and the largest-ever battery

Aug. 24, 2018

[Weekender] Riding solo: Koreans embrace personal mobility devices for urban travel

When 30-year-old Kim Young-hoon started a new job at a tech firm in Pangyo this year, he decided on a practical investment: an electric scooter for his daily commute from his home in Seohyun-dong located about 5 kilometers away.　After all, whizzing to work on electric scooters seemed to be the popular thing in Pangyo, a tech-savvy neighborhood south of Seoul known for its quickness to adopt new technologies and trends.　Five months into scootering to work, Kim is beyond satisfied with his purchas

Aug. 23, 2018

Small-sized batteries back in game: Samsung SDI hikes focus

South Korean battery maker Samsung SDI is raising its focus on its small-sized lithium ion battery business, as the category has returned to the mainstream of cordless power tools and household devices popular today. Samsung SDI’s small-sized battery business is projected to bring in more than 400 billion won ($357 million) in operating profit this year, riding on strong global demand for cylindrical batteries, according to projections by local securities firms including Mirae Asset Daewoo.  (Sa

Aug. 23, 2018

LG to unveil first wearable robot, CLOi SuitBot, at IFA

LG Electronics said Thursday that it would unveil its first wearable robot in Berlin later this month at a global home appliance trade show. This will make the South Korean tech giant the latest player in the increasingly competitive robot business. At IFA Berlin 2018, which kicks off Aug. 30, LG will officially introduce the CLOi SuitBot, a robot designed to compensate for humans’ limited muscle strength in a variety of situations. The company says it will have medical and industrial applicatio

Aug. 23, 2018

KT’s Genie Music prepares visual music platform with holograms, AR

Genie Music, a music platform owned by mobile carrier KT, is preparing to develop a visual music platform using hologram and augmented reality technologies, with an aim to provide immersive media content in the era of the fifth-generation network, the company announced Wednesday. During a press conference at the K-live concert hall in Sangam-dong, northwestern Seoul, the company staged a short joint concert featuring late pop singer Yoo Jae-ha and the group Sweet Sorrow, visualized in hologram f

Aug. 22, 2018

Wardrobe wars: Tech giants face off over clothing care systems

Samsung Electronics on Tuesday unveiled its first steam closet Air Dresser, joining the growing market for clothing care systems led by LG Electronics. As a newcomer in the market, Samsung has tried to adopt as many of the latest technologies as possible in the Air Dresser, to catch up with rival LG’s Styler. The tech titan’s closet system features Samsung’s steam technology used for its washing machines, wind control technology for air conditioners, deodorization technology for refrigerators an

Aug. 21, 2018

Joonggonara raises W5b investment from local financiers

South Korea’s biggest used goods online marketplace Joonggonara has raised 5 billion won ($4.47 million) in fresh investment from JB Woori Capital and Kiwoom Securities, the company said Tuesday. Together with 8 billion won in Series A funding from venture capital investors in 2015, Joonggonara’s total funds raised now reach around 13 billion won, it added. Founded in 2003, Joonggonara is Korea’s largest online marketplace where users can buy or sell used goods, with more than 16 million monthly

Aug. 21, 2018

Samsung showcases Air Dresser clothes refresher

Samsung Electronics Co. on Tuesday showcased a new garment care appliance that allows users to remove dust, odor and even germs from clothes at home.The South Korean tech giant unveiled the Air Dresser, which provides a four-level garment care program: air, steam, dryer and purifier.Samsung said the Air Dresser is comprised of various know-how of its home appliances, including the steam technology of its washers, odor treatment system of refrigerators and filtration of air purifiers.  Air Dresse

Aug. 21, 2018

Workers view ICT as globally competitive but lagging in policy, regulation

South Korea's information and communication technology industry is globally competitive but falls behind in policy and regulation, according to the results of a survey of the sector's workers on Tuesday.The recent poll conducted by the Institute for Information & Communication Technology Promotion among 838 people in ICT businesses found 47 percent of them see the country's ICT industry policy and regulatory conditions as low compared to other countries. Only 20.8 percent answered that the condi

Aug. 21, 2018

SKT expands utilization of machine learning to genomic analysis

SKT's IoT/Data Unit Head Chang Hong-seong (left) holds an agreement with Macrogen CEO Yang Kap-seok in Seoul on Monday. (SK Telecom)South Korea’s leading mobile carrier SK Telecom is moving to use its machine-learning technologies to analyze human genomes in order to raise the predictability of rare diseases, the company said Monday. The telecom giant signed a partnership with Macrogen, a local precision medicine business, to develop AI solutions that would predict probabilities of critical dise

Aug. 20, 2018

[Herald Interview] When startups are nipped in the bud

With widespread internet connectivity, high receptiveness to new technologies and a trend-conscious public, South Korea is arguably the optimal market for startups to introduce and test new tech-based services.Despite these opportunities, however, Korea can also be one of the most challenging places for startups due to rigid regulations that often shut down or limit the growth of new business models, such as those in high-growth sectors like smart mobility and financial technology.　This regulato

Aug. 19, 2018

[Photo News] Samsung unveils QLED TV experience zones

QLED TV ZONE -- The newly furbished QLED TV Zone at Samsung Digital Plaza in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, is displayed Sunday. Samsung Electronics has installed the QLED TV experience space at some 300 Samsung Digital Plaza locations nationwide to showcase the premium TVs’ superior display quality as well as unique features such as the “magic screen” and “magic cable.” (Samsung Electronics)

Aug. 19, 2018

KT ready for 5G showcase in Indonesia

South Korean mobile carrier KT said Friday the company has completed preparations for its showcase of fifth-generation mobile services at a stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, during the Asian Games. In partnership with the country’s leading telecom company Telkomsel, KT will run a 5G zone where visitors can experience the Korean mobile carrier’s pilot services via 5G-enabled tablets and virtual reality games that were introduced at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in February.  KT engineers install c

Aug. 17, 2018