Samsung Electronics Co. on Friday said it will undergo a massive reorginization and split into two big operating divisions, one focused on consumer products like television sets and cellphones and the other on components such as memory chips and displays. For the past two years, Samsung operated four main divisions - chips, liquid crystal displays, consumer electronics and cellphones. Now it will join its subdivisions into two organizations. Samsung Electronics' current CEO Lee Yoon-woo will retain his position and become the CEO of the Device Solution devision, that will handle the company's component, semiconductor and LCD businesses. At the age of 57, Mr. Choi Gee-sung, current president of Samsung's cellphone unit, will lead the Digital Media and Communications division.
Samsung Electronics is the world's biggest manufacturer of memory chips, liquid crystal displays and flat screen televisions. It ranks second behind Finland's Nokia Corp. in mobile phones. However, like most giant company names in time of recession, it has been struggling of late amid the global downturn and falling prices. Samsung is scheduled to announce its Q4 2008 earning on January 23rd.

Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, the number one monitor brand in the world, announced today the addition of a super-thin LED monitor to its "Touch of Color" (ToC) family - the P2370L. This new high-end, model has a Light Emitting Diode Back Light Unit (LED BLU), instead of the cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) found in standard LCD displays, and reproduces more vibrant color and higher contrast ratios than other monitors. With its sophistication-meets-high technology form factor, the P2370L display will ship in late first quarter with an MSRP of $399.

Samsung Electronics America, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, today introduced an innovative PC-over-IP (PCoIP) display solution in conjunction with Teradici Corporation. Teradici's PCoIP technology is incorporated into the Samsung SyncMaster 930ND 19-inch display, which delivers a true integrated desktop computing experience over standard IP networks. Such a solution allows users to operate a remote host PC and use the 930ND as a local desktop monitor. The integrated PCoIP display features a 1000:1 contrast ratio, 5ms response time and a resolution of 1280 by 1024 pixels. The monitor also has four USB connectors, 2-way HD audio and DVI-out for a second display, and supports both PCoIP and RDP modes. The 930ND is currently compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems.

Two more Samsung monitors will be making it easy for notebook and netbook consumers to enjoy the entertainment and productivity benefits of an additional display, thanks to integrated USB graphics technology from DisplayLink Corp. Demonstrated for the first time at 2009 International CES, the new Samsung SyncMaster D190SU and D220SU monitors were announced soon after the launch of Samsung's first DisplayLink enabled SyncMaster 2243QW display. As already mentioned, thanks to DisplayLink's USB graphics hardware inside the monitors, users can connect their portable computer to them with the simple snap of a USB connection, without the need of a discrete graphics card. Both SyncMaster configurations - the 19-inch D190SU and 22-inch D220SU will be demonstrated at CES in the USB TechZone in DisplayLink's booth in South Hall 3, 30368. Additional details are unknown at the moment of this publication.

Samsung Electronics America, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, made official today the launch of their first 22-inch 3D LCD monitor. The SyncMaster 2233RZ comes with special high-tech active shutter glasses that make over 350 games to appear in three dimensions for your eyes. The 3D glasses are also designed so that users can simultaneously wear prescription glasses comfortably. Planned for April launch, the $399 22-inch widescreen 3D LCD boasts 1680x1050 native resolution, 300 cd/m2 brightness, 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 170/160 (CR>10) horizontal/vertical viewing angles, 3ms GTG response time and Samsung's 120Hz Dual Engine. The Samsung 2233RZ will be compatible with NVIDIA's new GeForce 3D Vision graphics cards.
"More users are enjoying higher performance games and movies using high-performance graphic boards," said R.A Atanus, Vice President of Product Marketing at Samsung Electronics' Information Technology Division. "As entertainment content becomes more available, the need for hardware technology to maintain increasing volumes of software content becomes more important. Combining this new 3D technology with Samsung's LCD monitor creates an optimal viewing tool - for uses ranging from teaching and using 3D modeling to playing the latest video games."

DisplayLink unviled today that Samsung's new 22-inch Samsung SyncMaster 2243QW monitor is the third model to feature the company's proprietary technology. The new monitor makes it possible for busy office workers and business professionals to use a simple USB cable to extend their desktop and visual workspace, boosting usability and flexibility. Up to six displays can be easily connected and powered off of one PC. There's no need for additional graphics cards or complex software installation. The Samsung 2243QW has a 1680x1050 16:10 resolution, a 1000:1 contrast ratio, and 5-millisecond response time. In addition to the built-in USB hub used for DisplayLink-enabled connections, the 2243QW features traditional VGA (15-pin D-sub) and DVI-D inputs. The monitor is compatible with both Mac and Windows systems, and comes with a pivot function that allows it to operate in either portrait or landscape mode. The Samsung SyncMaster 2243QW is available now through Samsung's official resellers and distribution channels for $399.99 USD.

Samsung Electronics announced today at the Storage Visions 2009 Conference that it has developed a 100GB single-level cell (SLC) solid state drive for use in servers for applications such as video on demand, streaming media content delivery, internet data centers, virtualization and on-line transaction processing. As an alternative to traditional 15K rpm hard disk drives (HDDs), the new performance-optimized 100GB Enterprise SSD can process IOPS (input/output per second) more than 10 times faster than the fastest 15K rpm SAS HDD available. Designed to remove the system performance bottleneck in enterprise storage applications, the high-performance 2.5-inch enterprise drive reads data sequentially at 230 megabytes per second and writes sequentially at 180 MB/s. The 100GB SSD's advanced performance is attributed to a sophisticated 8-channel controller, improved NAND flash and special drive firmware, all developed by Samsung. The drive also consumes only 1.9 watts of power in seek mode and 0.6 watts in idle mode, reducing power and heat loads to minimum. Samsung intends to start mass producing the 100GB SS805 drive in the first quarter of 2009.

Samsung was a bit late to the netbook party with its first NC10 netbook, but now the company is going to catch up on others with NC20. Samsung NC20 will supposedly be the NC10 successor, and while the attention this week is on NVIDIA and Intel, the NC20 will be powered by a VIA platform. The reported specifications claim a 12.1-inch display, a 1.3GHz VIA Nano U2250 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM and a 160GB hard drive, all packed in a system that weighs 1.5 kilograms and costs US $642 (Euro 450). The netbook will feature built-in Bluetooth 2.0, Wireless 802.11b/g, single Ethernet, a 3-in-1 memory card reader and a 1.3MP camera. Other details remain sketchy for now, it's also unclear what platform this VIA CPU will plug into. Samsung will presumably debut the NC20 at CES next year.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, announced today that it is now mass producing 25 and 50 gigabyte (GB) solid state drives (SSDs) for performance-optimized server applications such as video on demand, web serving and on-line transaction processing.
Designed specifically for the enterprise market, the new Samsung single-level-cell (SLC) SSDs have about twice the random write performance of its standard 32GB and 64GB SLC SSDs.

Samsung has come up with a new 23.6-inch, slick and stylish widescreen LCD monitor, the SyncMaster 2494HS. This one takes a step forward in overall look and feel, going away from the rather plain Samsung glassy design. The SyncMaster 2494HS features a modern 1920x1080 16:9 wide resolution, appropriate for movie lovers, an exceptionally high 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 300cd/m2 brightness and a 5ms response time. Vertical viewing angles for this screen reach 160-degrees and horizontal angles 170-degrees. There are also two 3W stereo speakers built-in. Inputs include HDCP-compatible HDMI, DVI-D, and single analog RGB. The Samsung SyncMaster will go on sale in mid-December in Japan for around 40,000 yen ($423).

Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, announced today that it has begun mass producing 256 gigabyte (GB) solid state drives for use in notebooks and desktop PCs. With the addition of the high-speed 256GB drive, Samsung now offers the most extensive line of SSDs in the industry with 8, 16, and 32GB SSDs for low-density designs and 64, 128 and 256GB alternatives for the higher densities.

Samsung was hit on Monday by two separate patent infringement complaints issued from Spansion Inc., the world's No. 3 maker of flash memory chips by revenue. The complaints were filed with both the International Trade Commission (ITC) and the U.S. District Court in Delaware. Sunnyvale-based Spansion claims that more than "one hundred million mp3 players, cell phones, digital cameras and other consumer electronic devices" are made with Samsung flash memory chips that violate Spansion patents. As a result, over $30 billion worth of Samsung products that contain patented Spansion technologies were sold over the past five years.
"Spansion has patents that are fundamental to flash memory. Samsung itself has cited these patents many times in its own patent filings, underscoring industry acceptance of the fundamental nature of Spansion's (intellectual property)," Robert Melendres, Spansion's executive vice president and general counsel, said in a statement.
Samsung defended itself, saying that it "forbids infringement and unauthorized use" of the intellectual property and "plans to respond actively to this litigation," according to Lee Eun-hee, a company spokeswoman. Spansion is now seeking for damages and for the court to ban sales in the U.S. of products with the affected Samsung chips.

Samsung today released five new SyncMaster LCD monitors that use the glossy-black design theme the company has been fascinated with, for some time now. Their screen-sizes range between 15.6 inch and 23 inch. The SyncMaster 633NW is a 15.6 inch display, while the 933SN is an 18.5 inch one, both with a native resolution of 1360 x 768 pixels.

The 2233SW and 2333SW come with a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and are sized at 21.5 and 23 inch respectively. The 2133SW is a 20 inch panel with resolution of 1600 x 900 pixels. All the above monitors sport a response time of 5 ms, and inputs that include DVI-D, and D-Sub. The monitors are HDCP capable. Prices in Japan, range between US $187 and $312.

I doubt someone expected this to happen so quickly, but Samsung's recently covered 23-inch 2342BWX high-resolution LCD display won't be the only one on the market for long, because Dell is also getting ready to ship the brand new SP2309 soon. Just like the Samsung, Dell's upcoming LCD will boast the remarkable 2048x1152 QWXGA resolution on a 23-inch 16:9 viewable display size. The remaining specs include dynamic contrast ratio of 1000:1, 300 cd/m² brightness, 98% color gamut, 2ms response time, 2-megapixel camera with microphone and VGA/DVI and HDMI inputs. The Dell SP2309 should start selling later this month. It's price is estimated at around $419.99.

Samsung is today adding a new 23-inch 2342BWX widescreen LCD display, that boasts an ultra thin black bezel and a 2048x1152 QWXGA resolution. That's in fact the world's first 23-inch display with such unusual resolution. The 16:9 screen is dedicated for office work and is large enough to fit two A4 pages side by side as well as the vertical Vista Sidebar. Samsung claims that the 2342BWX eliminates the need of a second display in the office, with such a wide resolution it can fit almost everything. Other specs that enrich the monitor even more, include a 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, a 5ms gray-to-gray pixel response time and a very small pixel size (0.249mm). Samsung will launch the display first in Korea for the equivalent of $295 (₩399,000), then it will spread the model across the world. I almost forgot, don't count on receiving the display with the girl from the picture. ;)

Freescale Semiconductor and Samsung Electronics, a world leader in display technology, have announced their collaboration to address the burgeoning market for energy-saving and environmentally friendly light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
"Freescale's LED backlight driver technology is the industry's most compact and integrated solution," said Arman Naghavi, vice president and general manager of Freescale's Analog, Mixed-Signal and Power Division. "Our collaboration with Samsung on LED backlighting - clearly a disruptive technology - will help spur further innovation and growth in the LCD market."

Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, announced today that it is now mass producing 25 and a 50 gigabyte (GB) solid state drives (SSDs) for performance-optimized server applications such as video on demand, web serving and on line transaction processing. Designed specifically for the enterprise market, the new Samsung single-level-cell (SLC) SSDs have about twice the random write performance of its standard 32GB and 64GB SLC SSDs.

Samsung has released a new 22-inch CX-2233GW LCD display today. It comes in a sleek white finish and offers a 22-inch wide diagonal, 1680x1050 resolution, 300cd/m2 brightness, 1,000:1 contrast ratio (dynamic 20,000:1), 5ms response time and a DVI HDCP compatible port. That's pretty much everything about the CX-2233GW, it's an ordinary 22-inch LCD with "new" look. You will be able to pick up one for under €200 when it becomes available in Korea.

Samsung announced two new desktop PCs, that drive the company's eco-friendly initiative. Pictured below, are two models: the MV100 Mini-Tower, and the MZ100 Slim-Tower (look at those dark cuboid objects). Both feature identical system specifications, they feature Intel processors, an Intel G43 chipset based motherboard, and a GeForce 9600 GT 512 MB graphics card. Optionally, the GeForce 9500 GS is also available. What sets these desktops apart, is the fact that they consume as less as 60W when in power-saving mode, and 1W in stand-by.

IBM, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics, and ARM today announced they will develop a comprehensive 32 nanometer (nm) and 28nm Systems-on-a-Chip (SoCs) design platform based on high-k metal-gate (HKMG) technology from the IBM-led joint-development alliance. Under this multi-year collaboration, ARM will develop and license a design platform of physical intellectual property (IP) including logic, memory and interface products for the Common Platform technology alliance of IBM, Chartered and Samsung for distribution to their customers.

Samsung Electronics Co., the world leader in advanced memory technology, announced today that it is sampling the industry's smallest two gigabit (Gb) DDR3 devices. By using 50 nanometer (nm) class circuit technology, productivity of the new devices is 60 percent higher than DDR2 devices of an equivalent density. The new 2Gb DDR3-based modules, which enable use of up to 16 gigabyte (GB) RIMMs (registered in-line memory modules), will save over 40 percent of the power of 1Gb DDR3 memory modules.
"We have focused on maximizing density alternatives and power savings to make our 2Gb DDR3 solution as flexible as possible for designers," said Jim Elliott, Vice President, Memory, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.

It looks like Samsung has finally decided to take the dip into the ULPC market with the announcement of a netbook slated for October. Pictures of this unnamed netbook have emerged that shows a milky-white, slightly Apple-ish chassis with a 10.2" screen. Only the most essential keys make it to the keyboard, omitting special multimedia keys.

This netbook is said to ship with the Windows XP operating system, it is driven by a Intel Atom N270 processor with 1 GB of memory. Storage configurations could have 80 or 120 GB HDD as standard. It comes with a 6-cell battery for a rated operation time of roughly 5 hours.

After having won the battle for supremacy over HD DVD, Blu-ray is on its way to become the standard consumer video format. It is not just a format, it's an industry in itself which begins from HD content creation production houses to recording companies to the consumers who again, invest in necessary equipment such as high-definition displays, Blu-ray disc players, etc. An important name in this industry, Samsung, which makes high definition televisions and players has noted that the format has five years left to remain a premium content format.

In an interview to Pocket-lint, the director of consumer electronics at Samsung UK, Andy Griffins said "I think it [Blu-ray] has 5 years left, I certainly wouldn't give it 10". Griffins believes that 2008 is the year of the Blu-ray, where consumers embrace the format by purchasing necessary appliances. He added that Samsung is heavily back-ordered in regard to appliances at the moment.

Samsung Electronics, the world's largest maker of flash memory chips, said today that it is considering an acquisition of SanDisk Corp.

We are considering various opportunities regarding SanDisk but nothing has been decided,

said James Chung, a spokesman at Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung. Possible acquiring of SanDisk would help Samsung save about 400 billion won ($355 million) in royalties annually, it has been reported.

It would have a significant impact on the supply and demand in the flash memory industry, ... Samsung could create additional demand from SanDisk's customers.

said Lee Sun Tae, an independent analyst at Meritz Securities Co in Seoul. On the other side, Mike Wong - SanDisk's official spokesman said that SanDisk is not aware of Samsung being interested in any acquisition. Expect more information, when there's any.

Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, announced today that it has begun sampling low-density, higher-performance solid state drives (SSDs) that are only 30 percent of the size of 2.5-inch SSDs and highly cost-efficient to manufacture. With the introduction of these smaller, low-capacity SSDs, Samsung now offers an attractive replacement for existing hard drives used in low-cost PCs. Available in densities of 8GB, 16GB and 32GB, the new multi-level-cell SSDs will be mass produced beginning next month.