LG unveils VR for G3, its own virtual reality headset inspired by Google Cardboard

Today LG announced the impending launch of its own virtual reality headset, a low-tech device which sits somewhere between Samsung VR and Google’s DIY Cardboard kit. LG calls it “VR for G3.”
As the name implies, LG will bundle its virtual reality headset with its G3 smartphone. The promotion will occur in “select markets” in the coming months. For now, that’s all we know about the release date.
Here’s how the device works, according to LG:

The design of VR for G3 is based on the blueprint for Google Cardboard, available online for home DIY fans. The neodymium ring magnet on the side of the VR for G3 works with the magnetic gyroscope sensor in the G3 to select applications and scroll through menus without touching the display. VR for G3 requires no assembly other than inserting the phone in the viewer.

http://venturebeat.com/2015/02/09/lg-teases-vr-for-g3-a-virtual-reality-headset-inspired-by-google-cardboard/

AM 740 KVOR - Breaking News - Stimulating Talk - Air Force Falcons - Depend On It! - Future TVs Will Be Paper Thin and Rollable, LG Says [From ABC News]

http://www.kvor.com/common/more.php?m=58&ts=1405098304&article=1E69B613091511E4B51EFEFDADE6840A&mode=2

LG has a very flexible 18-inch display, promises 60-inch rollable TVs

http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/09/lg-roll-up-tvs-flexible-oled/

LG webOS TV emulator available for PC.

Ever wanted to try LG's webOS for smart televisions, but without buying an LG TV? Fret not, as LG has the answer for you - there's an emulator in the SDK. You can download the SDK from here, and opt to only install the emulator. This is clearly geared towards developers, so there's not a whole lot you can do once you load up the emulator (a VirtualBox image), but for those of you interested in webOS development this is very interesting.

http://developer.lge.com/webOSTV/sdk/web-sdk/

So Real it's Scary

Comment from friend:

   Ha!  That's funny (and I think the comments are wrong about it being green screen - sure, you could do the same trick using green screen techniques and then making sure you use actual actors to fake reactions, but a strong sheet of about 1/4" thick clear acrylic overlaid on top of the flat screens would prevent any damage to the screens and still not spoil the effect).  But, that said, my favorite elevator video is still that girl ghost in the elevator trick from Brazil.

OpenLGTV Project reverse engineering and research on LG Television

OpenLGTV is a non-commercial project for legal reverse engineering and research on LG Television firmware which is partially Open Source.

http://openlgtv.org.ru/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Slashdot: Hot Or Not — 3D TV

From Slashdot

Hot Or Not — 3D TV
Several sources have written to tell us that in terms of hype at this year's CES show, there is none bigger than that surrounding 3D TV. Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, LG, and Toshiba all have their own flavors of hardware and ESPN announced a 3D sports channel, but Microsoft seems to be bucking the trend with their apparent lack of 3D interest surrounding the Xbox product.
 
"We're yet to see any major brand at CES pushing a 3D TV that doesn't require them. In most cases these aren't the basic Ray Ban style you might have worn to watch Avatar. In many cases they'll actually require power. For example, Sony's 3D TVs use a 'frame sequential' display method, which involves active-shutter glasses that turn on and off in sync with the images. Some TVs come with the glasses and have the transmitter built in, but again, in some cases you'll need to buy the transmitter and glasses separately."

Skype to offer video service on LG, Panasonic TVs

From: Yahoo News


Privately held Skype has forged deals with consumer electronics makers LG Electronics and Panasonic in a bid to move its Internet video service beyond the desktop computer to the living room TV.
The service, which includes free video calls between Skype members, will compete with consumer video conference services being developed by bigger companies such as networking giant Cisco Systems Inc and Polycom Inc, which plans to develop consumer video services with International Business Machines Corp.
Skype, a former eBay unit, said both LG and Panasonic will have high-definition TVs supporting its service around mid-year.
Both television makers will embed the Skype technology in television models with Internet connections and will sell separate Web cameras that have built in microphones for television viewers who want to use Skype.
Skype said Panasonic will support Skype in its VT and G series televisions in the United States, with screen sizes up to 65 inches. LG will embed Skype in 26 new LCD and plasma screen TVs, which will also come in a range of sizes.
Both LG and Panasonic are expected to demonstrate the service this week at the Consumer Electronics Show, the annual gadget showcase in Las Vegas.
Skype also plans to announce support for high-definition video services on computers at the technology show, including partnerships with makers of high-definition Web camera suppliers faceVsion and In Store Solutions. High-definition Skype services will work on computers with a 1.8 Gigahertz processor and a high-speed broadband connection of about 1 megabits per second upward, Skype said.

Free TV for cell phones and mobile devices

FROM : http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10223478-94.html

Free TV service could soon be coming to a cell phone near you.
Broadcasters announced Today Monday April 20th, at the NAB conference that a new pilot program is launching in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area that will allow people to watch free mobile digital television on cell phones and other mobile devices.
Local affiliate stations for CBS, NBC, PBS, Ion, and Fox will broadcast their programs beginning in late summer for mobile devices, which includes cell phones, laptops and car entertainment systems.
Broadcasters throughout the country are switching to all-digital transmission in June as part of a government mandate. And as part of the switch, some broadcasters will also broadcast their over-the-air TV signals on a digital sub-channel for mobile devices. The standard that will be used to transmit the signal is called ATSC Mobile DTV. And the hope is that consumer electronics makers, like cell phone manufacturers, will include the technology in their products so that they can receive the signals.
The trial in the Baltimore-Washington area is expected to kick off later this summer. But it's only the first step toward offering free mobile DTV. Broadcasters in 28 markets, including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston and Atlanta, said they will be broadcasting their signals in mobile DTV.
The biggest hurdle for the new mobile TV service is building a viable ecosystem of products and services around the technology. For example, right now there are no devices that even support mobile DTV. But some companies have built prototypes. LG and Samsung have already been showing off mobile DTV handsets. Dell is showing off an Inspiron Mini10 Netbook PC with a built-in Mobile TV tuner at the NAB show. And other consumer electronics products have also been shown off at the Consumer Electronics Show and CTIA, both of which took place earlier this year.
But devices won't likely get into the hands of consumers, unless U.S. carriers subsidize and sell them. And that might be harder to achieve than actually building the devices. In the U.S., wireless operators control the cell phone market. They subsidize handsets and determine which features are available on which devices.
Today, three of the four major wireless operators already offer their own mobile TV services. AT&T, Sprint Nextel, and Verizon Wireless each sell TV packages for around $10 to $15 per month. These services include a mix of live TV as well as on-demand programming and specialized mobile-only content.
MobiTV, which supplies the back-end for many of these mobile TV services, says a hybrid approach is needed to get operators on board.
"The biggest problem with Mobile DTV is getting the ecosystem in place," said Kay Johansson, CTO of MobiTV. "Right now the service bypasses the carrier. And if there is nothing in it for them, there isn't an incentive for them to offer it."
On Monday, MobiTV announced that it's partnering with Sinclair and PBS to create a hybrid mobile TV service it is calling, MixTV. The MixTV business model combines free mobile DTV with a subscription based seven-day window of on-demand programming. MobiTV is demonstrating how this service would look at the NAB conference this week. The company is also showing off how a hybrid approach could allow broadcasters, mobile operators, and content providers more interactive and personal ways to advertise to consumers.
While MobiTV has grown its mobile TV viewership by at least 100 percent in the last year, the number of people subscribing to such services is still relatively small. At the end of 2008, MobiTV had about 6 million subscribers. But analysts predict that mobile TV market could grow to 50 million users in the next few years. Johansson believes that a hybrid service that offers free local TV shows with premium cable programming, on-demand programming, and made for mobile content will grow the market the fastest.
"I don't think you could reach the 50 million subscriber mark with free-to-air mobile TV alone," he said. "I think you could with a subscription service. But the MixTV model combined with personalized and interactive advertising could accelerate adoption."