Saturday, February 04, 2012 Corning and Samsung Mobile Display Form New OLED Glass Venture. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 at 10:48 Corning Incorporated and Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd. have signed an agreement to establish a new equity venture for the manufacture of specialty glass substrates for the rapidly expanding organic light emitting diode (OLED) device market. Based on a recent NPD DisplaySearch report, OLED technology advanced rapidly in 2011, setting a trend that is forecasted to continue through this decade. They estimate that OLED display revenues will exceed $4 billion in 2011 (approximately 4% of flat panel display revenues), and will reach more than $20 billion (approximately 16% of the total display industry) by 2018. According to Corning, the newly formed entity will supply OLED backplane glass substrates for Samsung Mobile Display, as well as for the broader Korean market. Samsung said it is playing a leading role in this emerging market through its Galaxy mobile device products and Super OLED TV technology introduced in January at the International Consumer Electronics Show. Corning’s ongoing advanced glass technology development includes a strong focus on high-performance displays. Most recently, this focus has been demonstrated through Corning’s new Lotus Glass substrates, which are believed to deliver the higher processing temperatures and improved dimensional stability needed to produce the new high performance displays. "Samsung Mobile Display has led the global display industry by constantly seeking innovations and challenging current technologies' limits. We are confident that combining our business powers with Corning's technology leadership will deliver greater value to our clients,” said Soo In Cho, Samsung Mobile Display’s president and chief executive officer. “Corning and Samsung have a long and successful partnership in the display industry, dating back nearly 40 years to the early days of television,” said Wendell P. Weeks, Corning’s chairman, chief executive officer, and president. “The strength of our business relationship is built on Corning’s ability to develop and make high-technology glass with the key attributes that enable Samsung’s next-generation displays. Together, we have led the evolution of displays – from the high-growth years of CRT, to our current successful business supplying world-leading substrates for today’s high-definition LCD TVs, and now to the launch of this important new venture to advance OLED technology,” Weeks stated. The new business will be located in Korea. Blonder Tongue Buys R.L. Drake. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 at 10:44 Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. announced today that it has completed the acquisition of the business of R.L. Drake, LLC. Both companies provide system operators and integrators serving the cable, broadcast, satellite, IPTV, institutional and professional video markets with solutions for the provision of content contribution, distribution and video delivery to homes and businesses. Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. provides system operators and integrators serving the cable, broadcast, satellite, IPTV, institutional and professional video markets with solutions for the provision of content contribution, distribution and video delivery to homes and businesses. The company designs, manufactures, sells and supports an equipment portfolio of standard and high definition digital video solutions, as well as core analog video and high speed data solutions for distribution over coax, fiber and IP networks. "As respected leaders in the field of Cable Television Communications, Blonder Tongue and Drake together offer customers more than 125 years of combined engineering and manufacturing excellence with solid histories of delivering reliable, quality products” said James A. Luksch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Continuing with our strategic plan, by maximizing synergies amongst our highly respected engineering, manufacturing and marketing teams, customers will reap multiple benefits including additional new and innovative products delivered to market faster and more affordably.” “For many reasons a void has developed in the CATV industry leaving even the largest cable MSO's searching for companies capable of developing and delivering innovative new products. Blonder Tongue and Drake plan to fill that void by shortening the development and manufacturing cycle to deliver the most complete compliment of business and product solutions in our industry,” added Luksch. “To maximize customer support, both companies will continue to operate separate entities in two locations- Blonder Tongue in Old Bridge, New Jersey, and R.L. Drake in Franklin, Ohio, respectively.” The acquisition was for the purchase of substantially all of the assets of R.L Drake for a purchase price of approximately $6.5 million, subject to certain adjustments based upon a post-closing audit of the balance sheet of R.L. Drake and additional contingent purchase price payments of up to $1.5 million in the aggregate that may be made over the next three years if certain financial results are realized. R.L. Drake’s unaudited net sales for 2011 were approximately $10.0 million. NAB Releases Statement on Time Warner Cable's Fourth Quarter Earnings Report. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 at 10:37 In response to Time Warner Cable's announcement yesterday of its fourth quarter earnings, NAB Executive Vice President of Communications Dennis Wharton issued the following statement: "Given that Time Warner Cable just announced a quarterly net income increase of 44 percent and annual profits of $1.3 billion, it's time for pay TV's poster child for skyrocketing rates to come clean on retransmission consent. Time Warner and its front group the American Television Alliance claim that broadcast retransmission consent fees are responsible for escalating cable rates. That claim is false. The fact is that local TV station carriage fees account for less than 1 percent of the cost of a monthly cable bill. "It's laughable to suggest that broadcasters are responsible for higher cable rates." According to data compiled by SNL Kagan, the average cable bill has risen at a rate faster than inflation. In addition, a filing submitted to the FCC by NAB found that in 2010 retransmission consent fees were approximately six-tenths of one percent of a pay-TV operator's revenues. That conclusion, reached by researchers Jeffrey Eisenach and Kevin Caves, can be found on page 22 of the filing's Attachment A. Read the NAB filing here. HDTV Sets in More Than Two-Thirds of U.S. Households. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 at 10:45 New consumer research from Leichtman Research Group, Inc. (LRG) found that 69% of households in the United States have at least one high definition television (HDTV) set -- up from 17% in 2006. Over the past five years, 52% of US households adopted HDTV. Additionally, 48% of HDTV households have more than one HDTV. Overall, about one-third of all US households now have multiple HDTV sets -- up from about one-sixth of all households two years ago, and 4% five years ago. Yet, about 45% of TV sets in HD households, and close to 60% of all TV sets in the US, are not HDTVs. The report also finds: • 85% with annual household incomes over $75,000 have an HDTV -- compared to 67% with annual household incomes of $30,000-$75,000, and 48% with annual household incomes under $30,000 • Mean reported spending on an HDTV set was about $940 -- 23% less than two years ago, and about half the reported spending five years ago • Among those getting HD programming from a cable, satellite, or Telco TV provider, the perceived mean number of channels of HD programming is 75 -- up from 53 two years ago, and 28 five years ago • Less than 3% of all US households currently have an HDTV set that is 3D-capable -- and 45% of this group do not watch any content in 3D • Nearly 80% of adults in the US have heard of 3D TV -- of those who have heard of 3D TV, 5% are very interested in getting a 3D TV • 21% of all households purchased a new TV set in the past 12 months, and 19% of all households plan to purchase a new TV set in the next 12 months "In just the past five years, over half of all US households have adopted HDTV, bringing the total to nearly 70% of all households having at least one HDTV set" said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, Inc. "While lower prices have helped to expand the base of HD households, and those who have multiple HDTV sets, still close to 60% of all TV sets in US households are not HDTVs -- this provides ample opportunity for the sale of more HDTV sets going forward." The findings are based on a survey of 1,302 households throughout the United States, and are part of a new LRG study, HDTV and 3D TV 2011. This is LRG's ninth annual study related to HDTV. FCC Hosts Conference on Technology Support for Small Businesses. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 at 10:07 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in association with E-Commerce Now, the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), will be hosting an educational and networking event entitled, “Technology Support for Small Businesses,” on February 15, 2012, from 8 am to 4:45 pm at the DC Convention Center. The event is open to the public and will provide opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners to learn how technology can improve business plans and increase profitability. “Technology Support for Small Businesses” is a key component of an FCC partnership with a number of corporations, civic organizations, and other Federal agencies to help small businesses leverage technology to fuel their future success. Highlights of the event include two workshops, “Boosting Your Business Using Technology,” a presentation on creating an e-Commerce presence on the web and, “Getting in Tune with Your Customer Base,” a how-to on using social media to engage your customers. The event will also include sessions on such topics as cloud computing and technology tools to improve cash flow. Ken Yancey, CEO of SCORE, states that the conference presents a rare opportunity for small business owners to obtain a great deal of information in a free, single day event. Following the event, SCORE will provide attendees with free, one-on-one mentoring on the latest business technologies and techniques. To register and to see the full event schedule, go to the website: www.ebusinessnow.org/events.

Daily Tech Term Sponsored By Laird. Waveform Monitor Special type of oscilloscope used in television applications. Typically used to measure and display the level, or voltage, of a video signal with respect to time. The level of a video signal usually corresponds to the brightness, or luminance, of the part of the image being drawn onto a regular video screen at the same point in time. It can also be used to visualize and observe special signals in the vertical blanking interval of a video signal, as well as the color burst between each line of video. Waveform monitors are often used to assist with the calibration of television cameras, and to "line up" multiple cameras being used at the same location in order to ensure that the same scene shot under the same conditions will produce the same results. Or, as a tool to assist in telecine (film-to-tape transfer), color correction, and other video production activities. Community Loudspeakers New M-Class Stage Monitors Live Series Condenser Mics from MXL Radial Engineering ProRMP Re-Amp Box Matrox MC-100 Mini Converter with Multiplexer Hilio 1k LED Light from Litepanels New QTV Teleprompter Systems from Autocue Gepco V-Light Active Fiber Cable System CSI Copperlink 3G/HD/SD-SDI 4 Output DA New Digital Audio & USB Solutions from Gefen Techflex Non-Skid Expandable Sleeving JK Audio BlueDriver S-Series Bluetooth Adapters New Broadcast Solutions from Wohler Technologies Ensemble Designs BrightEye Mitto Scan Converter Shure VP89 / VP82 Series Shotgun Microphones ESE DV-207 1x4 3G/HD/SD-SDI Reclocking DA Audio-Technica AT2022 X/Y Stereo Microphone Kata Pro-Light Source-261 Video DSLR Backpack Williams Sound Digi-Wave Wireless System Atlona 3G-SDI/HD-SDI/SD-SDI to HDMI Converter VisionFrame Monitor Wall from Middle Atlantic RDL HD-MA35U/A 35W EcoFriendly Mixer Amplifier Anton/Bauer Dionic HCX Battery & QRC Goldmount Belden Brilliance 1-Piece HD BNC Connectors Sescom iPhone iPad & iPod A/V Media Interface Neutrik powerCON Series TRUE1 Connector - NEW! Hoodman HPF1 Titanium PhotoFrames Kramer Electronics HD Signal Conversion Solutions ikan Elements Modular HD DSLR Video Rigs AJA FiDO Single & Dual-Channel Fiber Converters Advanced Fiber Products Video Media Converters Wohler AMP2-16V HD/SD-SDI Audio / Video Monitor Miller Camera Support Compass Series Fluid Heads Sescom 5D/T2i AGC Disable Y-Splitter Cable Hoodman EX Kit Pro LCD Viewfinder Adaptor Kit Bebob V-Series Lithium Ion V-Mount Batteries New Rip-Tie mini Fuzzy Zip Tie Cable Wraps Anton/Bauer Dionic HCX High Capacity Battery Audio Technica BP4001/BP4002 Dynamic Mics Davis & Sanford 7518XB Mid Level Spreader Tripod AVP SuperHD+ Micro Video Jackfields Crown XLS Series DriveCore Power Amplifiers Yellow Jacket AMS Cable Protection System Fiberlink 3353 & More HD Fiber Solutions from CSI UltraStudio Pro USB 3.0 from Blackmagic Design The Latest HD Solutions from Atlona Technologies Cam Wave HD-SDI Wireless System from IDX JonyShot Parabolic Microphone System from JonyJib EZ Series Connectorized Products from RDL CORIOview 4 Window 3G-SDI Processor from TV One Professional Interface Control from JL Cooper BlueDriver Bluetooth Audio Interface from JK Audio SRH750 Professional DJ Headphones from Shure KATA Bumblebee 222 Ultra-Light DSLR Backpack Matrox MX02 Mini HD/SD I/O Device & Converter Audio-Technica BPHS1 Broadcast Stereo Headset HD DSLR Camera Solutions from 16x9 Inc. Tascam HS-P82 High Resolution Field Recorder Ensemble Designs BrightEye Series Signal Converters DM500 Portable Digital Audio Monitor form ATI VR mini Portable 2 Drive RAID System from CalDigit Produced by the Markertek News Team Meet the Markertek Writing Team That Creates All of This Original Content. Prepared By The Markertek Engineering Department... Mix Minus What? Joe Klinger of JK Audio has put together a short and easy to understand explanation of Mix Minus, an audio signal that is carefully designed to avoid feedback and echo in a conference or telephone interface application. Here is a typical scenario: Three people are at a conference talking on separate microphones. There is a fourth person participating in the conference over a telephone link. The conference is in front of a large audience, so the three microphones are mixed together and played over the PA system. The phone participant’s voice is also added to the mix to be played over the PA system. And now, the problem: What audio signal do you send to the phone participant? If you send the same mix that you are playing over the PA, you would complete a circle of audio from the caller back to the caller. This is a potential source of feedback and annoying echo. The solution is to create a special mix to send to the phone link. This would be a “Mix” of the three microphones, “Minus” the phone participant. Without getting into the details of how to create the Mix Minus signal, (JK Audio has product specific information in the individual product user guides) there is one simple rule that must be followed; Do not send caller audio back to the caller. You might say, “I thought a Digital Hybrid would solve this problem.” A digital hybrid phone line interface is the best choice for bringing a telephone call into a conference or interview. The digital hybrid will prevent the three microphones from echoing back through the phone line, and returning mixed with the caller audio. Simply stated, the digital hybrid has the ability to remove the transmit audio (the three microphones) from the audio coming in from the phone line (caller’s voice). If you inadvertently mix the caller’s voice back into the transmit mix (three mics + the caller), the digital hybrid will try to remove the caller’s voice from the caller’s voice. This results in a confusing mess of echos and a “talking into a barrel” sound. Mix Minus may sound complicated but it is really just a simple rule, kind of like keeping a microphone away from your PA speakers. Feedback through a phone line brings the same annoying result, it’s just a bit harder to resolve. Weekly Tech Tip Sponsored By Ocean Matrix.

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