Thanks to advancements in display tech, manufacturers have been able to rethink and bend the form of televisions in unimaginable ways. For example, at CES 2020, LG showed off a roll-up TV that could retract into a soundbar. Now, at CES 2021, LG is back with yet another crazy idea: A transparent TV that can roll up from the foot of a bed.
LG says it has managed to achieve 40 percent transparency on a 55-inch OLED screen — a dramatic improvement over previous generations that were only about 10 percent see-through. Transparency is key in this concept because the Smart Bed TV, as it’s called, isn’t simply meant to stream TV shows and movies. It can also function as a smart home device and roll up from the bed to show you information — like the time, weather, or when your morning alarm is set to go off.
Despite the thin panel, LG has also squeezed in a set of built-in speakers, which it claims are embedded in the transparent frame itself.
The Smart Bed TV isn’t designed just for bedrooms, either. The company hopes to bring it to public places like malls and restaurants as well — if it ever gets released widely, that is. The whole module isn’t tethered to the bed, either, and can be relocated to other spaces in a home.
“Transparent OLED is a technology that maximizes the advantages of OLED and can be used in various places in our daily lives, from stores, shopping malls, and architectural interiors to autonomous vehicles, subway trains, and aircraft,” said Jong-sun Park, LG Display’s senior vice president and head of commercial business. “It will grow into a next-generation display that can change the existing display paradigm.”
LG’s new transparent TV isn’t the first of its class. Manufacturers like Samsung and Panasonic are actively developing the tech behind such displays to power the next generation of televisions. You can’t buy any of them, though, and even if one of these companies does release one sometime soon, the price tag will probably be enough to put you off. Case in point: LG’s rollable OLED TV went on sale last year in South Korea for a jaw-dropping $87,000.
Instagram is making its way to yet another screen, and this time, Apple TV is getting a taste of the Reels rabbit hole. The company has launched a dedicated Instagram app for Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the big screen. So, if watching one quick clip on a phone somehow turns into an hour of scrolling, there's now a much larger screen for that.
Instagram brings Reels and more to Apple TV
Audio-Technica, a brand well known for making some of the best studio and professional headphones on the market, has just come out with the ATH-AWX7000, which the company itself claims to be its "finest headphones ever." The new flagship closed-back headphone has debuted at an eye-watering price of $3,799. It combines hand-finished Japanese woodwork with a newly developed 58mm driver.
The earcups are made from Kiso cypress, a prized wood historically used for Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Each housing is finished by hand with traditional Echizen lacquer, which brings out the grain and is expected to darken over time. The frame and sliders are finished in a deep navy kachi-iro shade traditionally associated with samurai.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.