Battle Royale

Samsung is Obsessed with Being the World's First

"Samsung Electronics, the world third largest handset maker only behind Nokia and Motorola, pursues a high price policy for sleek multifunctional cell phones rather than mass production and sales. Accordingly, its product lineup is 3 or 4 times larger than the rivals.

To some extent, the strategy serves as the foundation of profit making by attracting early adopters and those who prefer being different from others. On the other hand, ‘the world first’ image plays an important role in the light of the nature of Samsung’s business as the image helped the company survive in the Korean market characterized by high demand for multifunctional handsets. However, its obsession with the image sometimes provoked criticism from the market.

Samsung’s zeal for being the first to launch a 3-megapixel phone is a case in point. Korea’s all top three handset makers announced the launch of a 3-megapixel phone this month. Earlier this month, LG Electronics was believed to become the first to release a new product. But, Samsung suddenly cut in front of LG, as if it was to get even with LG which had hurt Samsung in 2-megapixel phones. Pantech&Curitel publicized the development of a 3-megapixel camera phone module and LG announced the launch of a 3-megapixel phone last Sunday.

The game was over only when Samsung and LG released Korea’s first 3-megapixel phone simultaneously on Monday. The world first 3-megapixel phone was launched by Casio last May. This time, Samsung underscores the 3x zoom lens, a function of stand-alone cameras that the company claims to be the first to apply to its handsets. That is the typical way of Samsung.

It even more fussed last year when the 1-megapixel phone first appeared in the Korean market. Samsung’s excessive marketing efforts caused a stir in the market in October 2003, when all the attention was focused on who would be the first to launch a 1-megapixel camera phone.

Stunned by the information that Pantech&Curitel would bring out the first megapixel phone in a few days, Samsung distributed a press release announcing its launch of the first 1.3megapixel phone in Korea. Pantech&Curitel attacked Samsung for deliberately disturbing its marketing campaign by circulating false information on the ground that Samsung’s camcorder phone had yet to complete quality test by mobile operator and field test while its products had already completed all the required process.

Samsung later admitted that the press release was inaccurate, however its attempt to put a damper on the market worked anyway. A few days after the extraordinary effort that Samsung made, Casio announced the release of A5403CA, the world first 2-megapixel camera phone. With all the desperate attempts, the nation’s handset giant looked more pathetic than ever." Full story @ Telecoms Korea

Nitto Denko to build plants in S Korea, Taiwan

"Japan's Nitto Denko Corp plans to add a factory for processing and cutting polarizing film in both South Korea and Taiwan to meet rising local demand for the key liquid crystal display (LCD) component in these major LCD-producing countries.

The establishment of the two new plants is estimated to cost around 10 billion yen (US$92 million).

Nitto Denko already has one plant in each country.

The new South Korean factory is slated to begin operating in February 2005.

Its output is expected to be supplied to Samsung Electronics Co and LG Philips LCD Co for their production of personal computers and television sets.Nitto Denko holds about a 60% global market share for polarizing films." Full news @ Asia Times Online

World's smallest HDD

"Leading the world in smaller HDD production, Toshiba will release in autumn the world's smallest HDD, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. The 0.85-inch HDD, the first hard drive to deliver multi-gigabyte data storage to a sub-one-inch form factor, can be used to enhance smaller, lighter, more efficient products such as cell phones, digital camcorders and portable storage devices.

0.85-inch HDD, Toshiba
Open price
Available from September 1, 2004"
Link Full news @ Japan Today

World's Smallest HDD

China says Japan's E China Sea exploration provocative, dangerous

"China on Thursday repeated its concern over Japan's exploration for resources in a disputed area in the East China Sea, calling it a provocative action that could be dangerous for bilateral relations.

"Provocative actions of Japan are very dangerous," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said at a regular press briefing. "China will closely follow developments and reserves the right to make further reactions." Full news @ JapanToday

To quote that guy: "See what I mean every time when I say the Chinese accuse others of exactly what they are doing? Next time let me just say ditto, OK?"

Hitachi, Pioneer wide-screens don't have obsolesence in mind

" The next step in television technology is usually one step behind reality when it finally reaches the retail racks and shelves.

Which is partly why TV makers don't put a yearlong moratorium on development once a certain model is introduced. Unlike the auto industry - with which the high-end TV market usually shares more than a few characteristics. For example, the 2005 Mercedes-Benz C Class, just introduced, won't be altered by an appreciable measure until the 2006 Mercedes-Benz C Class is unveiled in 12 months.

If this play-it-by-ear policy makes for confusion among video reviewers, imagine what it does to consumers.

Pioneer and Hitachi are among the exceptions to the rule of planned obsolescence in consumer electronics - their products have a shelf life well beyond that of bananas and digital cameras." Full article @ Newsday.com