LG Introduces Rollable OLED TV (arstechnica.com)

One of the 2019 TV models LG outlined at its CES press conference today was the LG Signature OLED TV R (65R9), which has a display that can roll up and disappear into its base when you're not using it. "LG calls the TV 'a revolutionary innovation that helps address the very human need for an aesthetically pleasing environment' and says it is 'redefining space' to offer unprecedented levels of 'immersion' and 'a new level of space integration,'" reports Ars Technica. From the report: LG says to expect picture quality on par with its just-announced 2019 4K OLED lineup. That means 120Hz and AI image processing using LG's new Alpha 9 Gen 2 CPU. The TV's base -- the same one it rolls into -- houses a 4.2-channel, 100-watt soundbar with Dolby Atmos support. Additionally, the TV doesn't have to scroll all the way in. As seen in one of the images at the start of this article, it can fold down to what LG calls "Line View." This has five modes: music, clock, frame, mood, and home dashboard. Music offers an interface for playing music from the base. Clock shows the time, date, and weather. Frame displays a scrolling line of photos streamed from your smartphone, which is the mode in the photo above. The mood mode is for aesthetics, and home dashboard will allow access to some of LG's usual TV software features. No price has been announced yet, but TechCrunch reports that it could cost more than the 8K TV LG announced last week, which will compete directly with Samsung's $15,000 8K offering. LG says the Signature OLED TV R will be available for purchase in the second half of the year.

Comments

Re:What, again?

[PhunkySchtuff]

From TFA:

OK, so it's just a TV. And the R is not even a totally new concept; I saw an earlier prototype of a rollable OLED display back at CES 2009. But that display was 13-inches, had major limitations, and did not yet look like a consumer product. This time, we're looking at a full-featured, 65-inch TV that's actually coming to market this year.

How often can i be rolled?

[prefec2]

If it can be rolled without breaking for 1000 times, it will last only little more than two years, maybe three when you can limit it to one view per day. I want to use devices for at least 10 years.

Re:What, again?

[jrumney]

The innovation this time around is that they now have a screensaver of Banksy's Girl with Red Balloon that displays as it rolls up, so you can pretend you are in an auction house, in case you get sick of pretending you are at the end of an upside down 1970's slide show.

Re:What, again?

[mapkinase]

>This time, we're looking at a full-featured, 65-inch TV that's actually coming to market this year.

Now all the billions of people who had watch their movies on plastic roll-up screens with their ancient projectors can jump in to the new exciting inventions.

Re:The TV no one asked for

[rickb928]

Projection isn't yet as wonderful to view as OLED screens.

OLED screens that simply 'go away' have huge appeal. First, they let you have that wall back. For other things. Second, it's practical to deliver a rollable 200 inch screen, while a fixed 200 inch screen might not fit through your door, and would be pretty fragile. I know, nobody needs a 200 inch screen. Nobody needs an 80 inch screen either. And the minimized mode is excellent.

No one asked for Walkman cassette players. OR CDs. DVDs. Nope. Especially Walkman players, that was a market Sony created. There were maybe 100 skaters like me that strapped an underdash cassette player to a bundle of NiCd batteries, put on those Pro-4AA cans to isolate us from the real world, and limped around like we were cool. Sony figured something out that really didn't exist, and it was 'damn, i need that'. Out of nowhere. Rollable screens will be the same thing. Just not Sony.