A trial production of 42″ Samsung OLED TVs could begin as early as 2011 accroding to olednet.com

With the order of equipment to produce 5.5G panels, Samsung is expected to be able to produce 30″ and 40″ OLED TV models.

“Samsung SMD will be in full 5.5 generation’s system by the 1st half of 2011 with the completion of orders for 5.5 generation’s evaporator. It is for getting firm stance in mobile display market and in a more robust large-area AMOLED TV market.

The newly adopted 5.5 generation’s evaporator of Samsung SMD can increase the mobile display production volume up to two times, which is currently manufactured by 4 units of 3.5 generation’s evaporator and also can produce 42 inches of AMOLED. It can produce 4 sheets of 30 inches’ AMOLED which is introduced in the exhibition by Samsung SMD recently.”

Looking forward to doing a Samsung OLED TV review.

There are rumours that the first LG OLED TV, the 15″ LG 15EL9500 will be released in Europe this month instead of May.

Pricing is still expected to be around 1999 euros. Click on the following links for updated LG OLED TV specs and LG OLED TV pricing. Thanks.

Despite claims last month that Sony would still continue production of the XEL-1 OLED TV for markets outside Japan, supplies appear to be running thin.

I was inspired to do a quick check after speaking to a salesperson a Sony Style location in Toronto. I asked if the XEL-1 was still available and he replied that it was not.

Online, it seems that those of us in North America looking for the first OLED TV may be out of luck.

Sony USA – Add to Wishlist (for the last few months)

Sony Canada – The product you are looking for could not be located, please check the name and try again.

However, outside North America , your chances are better.

Sony Australia – Still in stock, for $7,000

Sony U.K. – May be available at your local Sony Center

If anyone else has anything to add to this quick survey, please leave a comment below. Thanks.

The LG 15EL9500 will be available to European consumers starting in May 2010 and the U.S. during the summer of 2010. Click here to buy the LG OLED TV.

From the LG Austria press release:

LG Electronics (LG), a leading global supplier and technology leader in consumer electronics, brings to Austria a TV to the latest generation on the market. The only 3mm deep and 15 inches wide 15EL9500 is equipped with the latest OLED technology (Organic Light Emitting Diode) for total television experience of the future. With  sharp contrast from 10.000.000:1, a reaction time of 0.001 ms and an extremely low power consumption. This design and high-tech device comes in early May on the Austrian market.

“The OLED technology uses an organic material that can apply to very thin and even flexible surfaces. Therefore, the 15EL9500 is one of the slimmest TVs in our portfolio and is ideal for any trend-setter, “said Reinhard Huebner, Retail Marketing, LG Electronics Austria.

Elegant high-tech wonder

The 15EL9500 is HD Ready () 1366×768 pixels and impresses with its extremely sharp contrast of 10.000.000:1 – This is the highest value ever achieved by LG. This TV consumes one third less power than LCD TVs of the same size.

The TruMotion 100Hz technology, and the reaction time of 0.001 ms of 15EL9500 provide realistic image reproduction without delay. The organic light emitting diodes, there is no longer afterglow, so the LG OLED TV pur pleasure guaranteed. The USB 2.0 port of the TV plays HD DivX, MP3 and JPG data, and is easily a multimedia device for any living room. The sound is not to be underestimated: the sound system with Clear Voice2 provides the optimal sound experience for outstanding picture.

The LG is available 15EL9500 LG’s first OLED TV, and available in May 2010.

Translated from German with Google Translate.

Saying that demand for the XEL-1 OLED TV is slowing in Japan, Sony is stopping OLED TV sales there.

They say that overseas sales will continue, but having tried to order one of these, there doesn’t seem to be too much inventory available. Full story exerpts below from Reuters.

“Sony said it had stopped production of ultra-thin TVs using organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology for Japan, just a little over 2 years since it launched its first set. It plans to keep selling the TVs in overseas markets, a spokesman said.

OLED displays use organic, or carbon-containing compounds that emit light when electricity is applied. They produce crisp images and do not need backlighting, making them slimmer and more energy-efficient than LCDs, the most popular type of flat TV.

Sony has aimed to become a leader in the technology and positioned the product as crucial in its drive to regain its reputation as an innovator after losing out to Apple Inc in portable music and Nintendo in video games.

“I want this world’s first OLED TV to be the symbol of the revival of Sony’s technological prowess. I want this to be the flag under which we charge forwards to turn the fortunes around,” then president Ryoji Chubachi told a briefing in October 2007.

It is still technologically difficult to make large OLED panels and to produce them cheaply, limiting their potential as a mass-market product. Sony’s only model is an 11-inch set sold for 200,000 yen ($2,222) in Japan, considerably smaller and more expensive than other flat TVs.

“As flat panel TVs are getting bigger and cheaper, hurdles for OLED models have become higher, at least in the short term,” said Hisakazu Torii, vice president of Japanese TV market research at DisplaySearch.

Torii said the next big trend in the market will be 3D TVs and LCD TVs using light emitting diode backlights, and that mass adoption of TVs with OLED panels is some time off.

Sony said it would end sales of OLED TV in Japan when inventory runs out. It plans to continue putting money into research and development and production for North America, Europe and other overseas markets.

“We will continue to consider new products and applications including OLED TVs,” Sony spokesman Shigenori Yoshida said.”