Live from LG's CES press conference
We're here at LG's press conference at the Venetian, plenty of HDTVs on stage as we wait for things to start.
7:55 a.m. (pst): "We will begin in 5 minutes"
8:00 a.m. - "Please take your seats" (we're standing)
8:03 a.m. - Things are starting, they promise to limit themselves to 45 minutes, the stopwatch has started.
8:03 a.m. Introducing Michael Ahn - President and CEO of LG North America
8:05 a.m. - etc. etc. business growth talk
8:06 a.m. - LG's goals - top three in LCDs, top two in phones, #1 in front door refrigerators - LG - Life's Good
8:08 - Vice pres of Marketing - Allan Jason to introduce the 2008 lineup we came to see
8:10 a.m. - slides, growth in flat panels - 15% market share target by next year in plasma. goal of 10% market share in fiscal '08 for LCD
8:11 a.m. - Cornerstones of '08 lineup include design and picture quality. All 1080p flat panels announced will be ISF-ready. The G60 series of TVs will be THX audio certified, with embedded, invisible speakers.
8:15 a.m. - 8 product series, 17 1080p models. LGX series of LCDs - 1.7-inches thick. LG70 includes a "full wireless" flat panel. - 802.11n
8:16 a.m. - BH200 shipping at $799,. LHT888 tuned by Mark Levinson, introducing Mark Levinson himself
8:21 - Cursory mention of LG/Netflix box
8:22 a.m. - News on cellphones - 3 CES innovation awards for LG Voyager, LG Venus, LG Muziq. LG Shine won a Red Dot award
8:23 - LG Shine, LG Venus & LG Voyager highlights, talking about design elements that are the focus for 2008.
8:28 - Plans to announce major partnership with a film studio tomorrow at 1:30, no details or future plans. No new phones on display now, but more "later" in 2008
8:30 - Dr. Woo Paik Pres & CTO takes stage to announce MPH mobile DTV system
8:33 - A working cellphone with MPH system is shown, and GPS with embedded MPH system -- cool, but probably dangerous. Indoor MPH standalone antenna.
8:36 - President of Harris is now onstage to talk about MPH
8:38 - Open Mobile coalition includes 20 broadcasters, MPH platform broadcasts from standard DTV towers
8:40 - LG & Harris working with broadcasters and industry groups to launch MPH in 2009
8:42 - That's all folks, its time for the wrap up, plus Q&A.
8:44 - How does LG respond to WB changing sides in the format war? - A: Waiting to see how things pan out. If Paramount & Universal stick with HD DVD, LG will continue releasing dual format players. If.
8:45 - Does the wireless HDTV support 1080p? - Yes, via 802.11n
8:46 - What's inside the LG / Netflix box? - A: No info, wait 'til summer for specifics
8:48 - How many retailers carrying the DTV convertor boxes built by LG when coupons hit? - No announcements on specific retailers branded as Zenith and retailer private labels.
