I’ve tried to wrap my head around why, after centuries of hiking through Korea’s countryside in everyday clothes, Koreans have started to invest so much in technical outdoor wear. The likely cause I can think of is the wider appeal for outdoor gear as styles become more comfortable, durable and stylish.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/XB0WHP
(Korean celebrities SNSD Yoonah and Lee Min-Ho in advertisement for Korean hiking apparel brand, Eider)

As Korean outdoor apparel becomes trendier, it is also becoming more technologically advanced. Take for example, South Korea’s Kolon Glotech Inc. The company has developed a new generation of heated clothing that relies on Heatex Technology, the world’s first heat-generating textile.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/11BHO2W

Normally, electrically heated garments can keep people warm, but they can seriously weigh you down. Kolon Glotech, Inc. has come up with an advanced new fabric that actually creates heat within the textile by using a conductive polymer  instead of depending on heating wires which pose a danger for burns. Moreover, the fabric looks and feels like a regular piece of clothing so it does not reduce comfort.

Heat control? Not a problem. The heating power of the cutting-edge textile can be controlled using your smartphone!  This innovative garment can be connected to a smartphone app, which lets you adjust the heat to high, medium or low. In addition to this wearable functionality, the app is especially convenient for outdoorsy folks by also including GPS tracking, routing and emergency location forwarding.

Now that you know how to dress for the current weather, here’s a guide to some of the best places to hike in Korea this spring.

If you know of any other Korean outdoor products with cool technology, please share with us because we’d love to try it out!

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/14r2QSE

Beauty Goodies for Him & Her

The beauty of subcoms is that subscribers can try out sample products before deciding to make a purchase. These benefits could be seen most clearly with beauty product subcoms since most people do not have the time or money to try out every single beauty product on the market. ‘Meme Box’’and ‘GLOSSYBOX’ are two Korean-based beauty product subcoms that have successfully launched in Korea. Beauty experts choose the five to six best items to package and deliver them on a monthly basis. While each box may contain products worth about 80,000 won (about 80 USD), subscribers do not need to pay more than 30,000 won (about 30 USD) for each delivery.

Treats for Man’s Best Friend

A new Korean subcom called Petsbe caters to a whole different audience… pets. With a monthly subscription, you can receive a box full of surprises for your puppy pal at reduced prices. By selecting your dog’s age, weight and health, the products delivered to your door are specially curated for your pet’s preferences and needs. Monthly packages include pet food, toys, hygiene products and snacks. Currently this service is only for dogs but the company has expressed the possibility of releasing boxes for cats as well.

Products for Your Lovely Baby

Like every good mother, you want only the best for your children. You should sign up for a cool new Korean subcom catering to babies! Bebe & Co. offers premium baby products for a monthly fee of 33,000 won (about 33 USD). Each month a childcare expert packages together a box of products that is appropriate for the season. For no extra shipping costs, you get the monthly delivery that is personalized with products that fit your child’s age. There are two categories to choose from: bebe Box and Organic Box. bebe Box includes products for your child such as baby bottles, toys and picture books while Organic Box includes organic food ingredients that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

It is great that Korean subcoms are now expanding beyond just beauty products to suit the needs of a more diverse audience. Which service would you like to subscribe to?

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/14i3PEh

A Platform Within a Platform

Take for example, Anipang. The hugely popular game by SundayToz built on the Kakao Game platform perfectly illustrates how apps can tie in with KakaoTalk to integrate customers’ contact list to share and rank friends, fueling competition and greater interaction.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/106UaKf

Another game app to take advantage of the Kakao platform is NextFloor’s Dragon Flight, which racked up 11.6 million downloads in Korea within one month (source: http://tnw.co/Yq7Yzb).

Since the platform was opened internationally, new games have come out at a rapid pace. Korean company LoadComplete, created Disco Panda, which has climbed to become one of the five most popular games at the time of this writing. It is another puzzle style game like Anipang with a panda bopping to the beat of disco music in the background. Get your groove on!

Photo Credit: http://onamjuo.blog.me/182807749

Kakao Chatting Plus: More than Games

Besides games, there are also apps that enhance the user experience within KakaoTalk. Lets look at two popular apps that can be downloaded directly within a KakaoTalk conversation (see image below).

Developed by Amusepark, DrawingTalk for Kakao expands the way you can communicate on KakaoTalk. Instead of simply typing text, you can use this app to literally draw pictures and then share them within KakaoTalk conversations. This app comes in handy if you need to show something visually or even draw directions on top of a map. You can create images from scratch or draw over an existing image that you already have in your photo library. For those of you who have a Samsung Galaxy Note, this is a nice supplementary tool.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/11BjKNK

Another app, developed by Kiwiple Inc., is called Filter Camera for Kakao. This app allows you to edit photos and directly upload them into KakaoTalk conversation boxes or Kakao Story. By using this app, photos are edited just the way you want and can be shared easily among friends.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/14bhBsE

A Social Network Platform

Launched about one year ago, Kakao Story is an Instagram-like app that connects via KakaoTalk. As of March 2013, this photo-sharing social network has managed to rack up 35 million users of all ages. The relative ease of navigating the app might be the reason for its popularity, plus you can add and invite friends directly from your KakaoTalk contact list.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/YnMExc

A Integrated Voice Calling Option

KakaoTalk users do not need to open a separate app to make calls (like Skype or Viber). Instead, you can just use the Group Call option to organize a phone call between three to five friends within KakaoTalk. You can also have a private conversation with one person also and not worry about expensive phone bills. Two character voice filters are available (Talking Tom and Talking Ben) which add a little color to the calling option. If you haven’t tried already, I highly encourage you to test it out with a friend. The voice filters are still pretty hilarious to me no matter how many times I use them. This voice chat option is available over wifi, 3G or LTE connections.

Photo Credit: KakaoTalk official Facebook page

 What Else is New?

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/16bPfwC

Kakao Inc. is also testing out a beta version for PCs. The company asked people to sign up from March 20th to 24th to be the first test users. They are planning to officially release the PC version at the end of May.

Looks like Korea is becoming a major hub for mobile app development. Are you a fan of KakaoTalk?

We’re back today with a new and refreshed list of Korea’s finest automobiles. This time we are not just looking at horsepower figures, but other factors as well such as performance, design and efficiency, three areas that have become more top of mind for car buyers and enthusiasts in 2013. Join us as we look at some of the top performing Korean cars for every taste.

1) For the Eco-Minded Family: 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Photo Credit: http://aol.it/13od8xS

First up on our list is the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. With increased fuel efficiency and the ability to operate in all-electric mode for long spans of time, this car is as eco-friendly as it is well designed. It has a large capacity 10.5 kW Hybrid Starter Generator (HSG), a higher output 35 kW electric motor, a more powerful 47 kW Lithium Polymer battery pack and an optimized hybrid operating strategy. With these enhancements, the 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid can go farther distances for longer and the best hybrid offering from Korea at the moment.

2) For the High Rolling Executive: 2013 Hyundai Equus

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/XYjSWE

Back on our list this year is Hyundai’s flagship Equus, which has been revamped to compete on the same level as better known luxury sedans from companies with European names. The Hyundai Equus runs on a very powerful 5.0-liter Tau V8 engine that puts out 429 horsepower. In addition to what’s under the hood, the engineers behind the Equus have spent time revamping the exterior design of the car. In particular, the Equus has HID headlights with LED turn-signal indicators and sculpted front fog lights which differentiate this model from rivals. Moreover, the 2013 edition has a unique color offering: a new White Satin exterior with Saddle interior… very classy! The Equus earns top points with us for its smooth cruising and spacious cabin.

3) For the Newlyweds: 2013 Kia Optima

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/ZqgFfb

The Kia Optima is on our list thanks to its good fuel efficiency, safety scores and upscale features. In its mid-size sedan class, the 2013 Kia Optima provides great value with its powerful four-cylinder engines. The interior is comfortable and includes innovative features usually found in upscale mid-size cars such as Bluetooth, satellite radio and Kia’s Uvo infotainment system, push-button start and dual-zone automatic climate control. This model is also available in a hybrid version.

4) For the Trendy Soccer Mom: 2013 Hyundai Sante Fe

Photo Credit: http://aol.it/ZRLCqk

With many people looking towards buying SUVs, it made sense for us to look at some of the best SUVs made in Korea. On our list is the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe which comes in four different levels: Santa Fe Sport and Sport 2.0T, and Santa Fe GLS and Limited. The Santa Fe Sport models seat five and the Sante Fe is slightly larger, seating seven. All models come with a ‘Driver Selectable Steering Mode’ which offers options including Comfort, Normal and Sport.

5) For the Adventurous Family Man: 2013 Hyundai ix35 /Tucson

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/15l2iJV

The New ix35 is our other favorite SUV made by Hyundai. This model has greater fuel efficiency due to its new ‘Nu’ 2.0-liter Gasoline Direct Injection engine. Other technological advanced include Hyundai’s FLEX STEER system which is available on the C‑SUV model for the first time. Like Hyundai’s Santa Fe, the ix35 has three driving modes which the driver can adjust to their particular needs. There’s even a special hydrogen fuel cell version of the ix35 that Hyundai is building for a number of municipalities across Europe.

6) For the Cool Jock or Class Rep: 2014 Hyundai i30 Three-Door

Photo Credit: http://aol.it/Y2gOJh

Introduced at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the New Generation i30 three-door looks similar to its 5-door model but is a sportier (and slightly cheaper) option that appeals to younger crowds. It is designed with a distinctive, sporty style, which incorporated Hyundai’s fluidic design language. Hyundai has also touted that this model deliver the best power-to-efficiency ratio in the segment.

7) For the Recent Graduate: 2014 Kia Pro_cee’d

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/16I5Fhu

This hot new hatchback by Kia was recently unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. Not only has the three-door car gotten a facelift, it now comes with Kia’s 1.6-liter GDI engine that delivers 201 horsepower. Its sportiness is sure to be attractive for younger crowds. In particular the new design includes a front bumper with larger air intakes, new LED headlamps, a honeycomb grille, larger side skirts and a redesigned rear bumper.

Any questions about these great Korean cars? Drop us a question in the comments.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/16DJEQM

Growing Prevalence of Hanok

The rapid destruction of hanoks was a concern for the Korean government back in the 2000s, instigating a new beautification policy that encouraged people to mend their homes with government support. Since then, not only have hanok-filled neighborhoods around Korea blossomed into historically-rich preservation sites, but their influences have permeated into other design projects around the country.

Hanok-inspired Places

Recently the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized 11 places in Korea as model examples of hanok-inspired spaces. What is interesting is that ACTUAL hanoks were excluded from this list. Instead the list highlights spaces that have blended the old and the new in a non-home setting. Below are a few entries that made the cut.

• Baesangmyun Brewery has taken cues from hanok to create its courtyard space, that holds ceramic stills. The open courtyard is surrounded by wooden, hanok-inspired structures.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/WqXoKD

• Dadam is a high end Korean restaurant operated by Korean conglomerate, CJ Group. It has been popular for hosting foreign visitors and is known for its hanok-influenced restaurant interiors as well as the exquisite Korean serving plates used.
  

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/16DJI35

• Chosun Hotel has renovated some of its rooms to have hanok-inspired interiors. The entire floor surface was created with plain levels to reinterpret the floors that Koreans lay down to sleep on. Furthermore the open space has a zen-like atmosphere which is representative of hanok style.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/113nCDg

Experience Hanok for Yourself

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/XTKupH

As spring has finally arrived on the peninsula, we recommend you get out and experience hanok for yourself. Bukchon (“The North Village”), located in the heart of Seoul, has successfully preserved an urban setting that dates back 600 years. Many of the hanoks found here are currently being used as private homes. Aside from admiring the architecture through walking tours, there are also a string of art galleries, museums and restaurants for you to enjoy. The city has also set up “Bukchon 8 Views” which are designated photo spots that offer the most riveting views of hanoks and their surroundings. For more information, visit http://bukchon.seoul.go.kr/eng/index.jsp.

It is interesting to see where this hanok trend will go. Where would you like to see hanok influence next?

What gives Samsung a strong upper hand compared to other phone manufacturers is its ability to create almost all of its own smartphone components in-house. From displays to quad-core processors, the individual parts for the Galaxy S4 are all made in Korea by Samsung which makes the company independent of other suppliers (source: ZDNet).

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/Yj6lXb

How is the Galaxy S4 different from the Galaxy S3?

Photo Credit: http://onforb.es/ZEuJzl

The actual design of the Galaxy S4 takes strong design cues from its predecessor and is made from the same plastic material. So how is it different? In a nutshell, the S4 is thinner and 3 grams lighter (which is great!!!). In terms of hardware, the Galaxy S4 basically takes every previous wonderful asset to the next level. The Galaxy S4 has a 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display with improved resolution at 1080p, which makes it slightly larger than the 4.8-inch display found on the Galaxy S3.

The Galaxy S4 provides better performance since its battery capacity is higher (2,600mAh, up from 2,100mAh) and the processor is also stronger (will be coming to market with either a 1.9GHz quad-core or a 1.6GHz octa-core). Also the rear-facing camera is upgraded with a boost from 8 megapixels to 13. Now remember, these are only the hardware improvements!

Tada! What are the Most Impressive New Features?

Reviewers are saying that the Galaxy S4 software is what really sets it apart from other competitors.

Eye Tracking & Gesture Recognition: Smart Pause/Smart Scroll/Air View

Photo Credit: http://cnet.co/14orNMP

Prior to the official Galaxy S4 announcement, there were rumors that Samsung was working on an innovative eye scrolling feature. Rumors were right! “Smart pause” is a new feature that uses the front camera to detect whether you are looking at the screen while watching a video. If you look away from the screen, the video automatically pauses. Similarly, “Smart Scroll” can tell if you are looking at the screen while reading an article on a webpage. When looking at your phone, you can tilt the phone up or down to scroll up or down.

Finally, “Air View” lets you operate certain apps without actually touching the device. All you need to do is hover your finger over the display to see a preview of certain content. Plus, if you want to switch web browser tabs or skip a song on your playlist, just swipe your palm over the display. Pretty neat huh? This will come in handy when you’re cooking, driving, or in any other instance when your hands are full!

A better S Voice (Siri-like voice assistant)

Samsung updated its Siri-like voice assistant, S Voice for the Galaxy S4, too. Now when you enter your card, S Voice Drive is automatically initiated. Through it, the Galaxy S4 is capable of reading emails out loud and can also respond to text messages, check the weather and provide navigation while you are driving. The Galaxy S4 is a ‘Life Companion’ indeed!

S Health (fitness tracking)

Photo Credit: http://cnet.co/16vEer6

Samsung is also growing its ecosystem of offerings to include fitness/health apps and devices. The Galaxy S4 has a new app called S Health which acts sort of like a fitness diary that tracks how many calories you burn and eat. Samsung is planning to roll out three accompanying accessories called the S Band, Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) and Body Scale which together can help monitor your total fitness progress.

S Translator (instant text and voice translation)

Whether you are travelling in a foreign country or have to quickly translate something from one of your colleagues or friends around the world, the Galaxy S4 comes in handy with its S Translator tool. This feature lets you speak in one language and have the phone translate it! At the launch event in New York, Samsung demonstrated how someone could type a question in English and then have the phone speak the translated Chinese version verbally. Pretty awesome. Other supported languages include French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.

Dual Camera with Fun Features

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/Wl3Vrr

The new and improved camera on the Galaxy S4 has a whole series of features on its own. The rear camera has an autofocus 13-megapixel sensor and the front-facing camera is 2-megapixels. “Dual shot” allows the user to use both cameras simultaneously so that you can add yourself into the photo (kind of like a postage stamp). This works for video recording as well. Another neat feature is “Drama Shot” which lets you take multiple bursts of photos that can be connected for a single extended image. The new Eraser feature lets you remove unwanted elements from a photo frame. With this feature, you can edit photos to make it look like you were never there! Sneaky…

Samsung’s Smart Supply Chain

While many of the Galaxy S4 components are made by a division within Samsung, the touch screen chip is actually being supplied by a Korean touch sensor solution provider called MELFAS Inc.

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Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/XS5Rtu

The touch screen chip is the Melfas 8PL533, and is integral to making the Galaxy S4’s awesome touchscreen features work. MELFAS actually developed its first semiconductor fingerprint sensor back in 2003 and has been providing touch sensor chips for many electronic devices in addition to mobile phones such as MP3 players, A/V components and home appliances.

It’s not clear if there are any other Korean suppliers for the Galaxy S4 yet, but we’ll update our post once we find out.

We’re very happy we’re no longer speculating the specs for the Galaxy S4. So many new features! What’s your favorite new feature on the Galaxy S4? Tell us in the comments!

Mid-century modern was all the rage in 1953, when the iF (International Forum) Design Awards were established. Now, 60 years later, diminutive devices dominate the 4,352 entries from 51 countries. They were judged by renowned experts across the industry and, like recent years past, Korean companies were well represented.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/Vot3F

This year’s iF Product Design Awards recognized many Korean companies for their innovative product designs in categories including transportation, lifestyle, audio, telecommunications, computer, home textiles, medicine/health+care and more. Here are my top five picks out of all the award-winning products the Koreans submitted.

1. The Galaxy SIII by Samsung Electronics

Photo credit: http://bit.ly/XqAczf

Not to miss any opportunity for recognition, the Samsung Galaxy SIII smartphone was a winning entry for this year’s iF Design Awards. Introduced and discussed in our blog numerous times already, this smartphone has really taken off. Here the Galaxy SIII was recognized for its nature-inspired design and color. Furthermore, the unique curved surface creates the illusion that the device is slimmer and gives it a smoother look overall, despite its near-phablet-size 4.8-inch LCD display.

2. The Concealed Door Lock by Ssangyong Engineering & Construction

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/13UG4CD

This is for savvy interior designers or those who need some tight(ly integrated) security! The Concealed Door Lock looks like a completely flat panel set flush in the surface of a door. The large rectangular handle stays recessed until you enter the correct numerical security code or swipe an RFID-embedded access card. Once you’ve passed the security test, the handle pops out and allows you to enter. This lock not only looks cool, it’s also quite intuitive, providing a physical signal as to whether or not you are authorized to enter.

3. The IC200T Pico Projector by INNOIO CO., Ltd.

Photo credit:http://bit.ly/12NzXAr

If you’re looking for a way to project videos, pictures, websites or presentations from your smartphone onto a large screen, just hook your mobile device up to the IC200T pico projector. A 5-inch screen isn’t always large enough and this projector can put your content on the wall, the ceiling or even a screen. This might come in handy when you are making a presentation, teaching a class or entertaining your kids with a slideshow of pictures from the vacation you took while they stayed home with the babysitter. The compact cube-shaped projector is easy to pack for travel.

4. WIZBRICK by GS Engineering & Construction

Photo credit:http://bit.ly/XH4OdJ

This design innovation by GS Engineering & Construction may transform the landscape of cities where biking is prevalent. The organic bicycle rack can be assembled anywhere you want. The individual components that make up the rack can be rearranged (just like legos) or resized so that the full rack fits seamlessly into the location. In addition, it is solar powered, making it eco-friendly as well!

5. 55LM960 3D LED TV by LG Electronics Inc.

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/wc8nXs

So this isn’t one of the OLED TVs we recently wrote about, but it still is very very sleek, pretty  and probably a little closer to our price range, too. This TV has an extremely thin bezel measuring 4.1 mm (about the same width as a pencil), making the screen appear as if it is floating in the air. Here’s a link to a video that explains how LG managed to make such a beautiful TV design using its Cinema Screen Design technology. Apparently there are different TV stand styles to choose from, but I actually like the wing-shaped stand shown in the image above.

Which of these products would you most like to add to your pocket or home? Tell us in our comments.

beSUCCESS was created with the mission to find out why Korean tech startups struggle outside Korea. Its core ambition is to promote Korean startups on a global stage and help overseas startups successfully come into Korea. With these goals in mind, beSUCCESS is organizing its 2nd annual tech/startup conference to bring together the global technology and startup community.

Photo Credit: http://oslaunch.cafe24.com/eng/

The conference last year was a huge success, attracting partnership deals with major global tech conglomerates, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Samsung, as well as over 350 startups and 1,500 attendees. The startups had the opportunity to meet with over 100 well-monied VCs and investors from Korea and beyond.

be INSPIRED: Startup Incubator

Photo Credit: http://oslaunch.cafe24.com/eng/

This year, beLAUNCH will be held from May 1 through May 2 at COEX Auditorium with the theme: “Revolution”. beSUCCESS expects this year’s conference to have an even greater turnout with over 2,500 attendees. Moreover, they have already confirmed global CEOs and thought leaders as speakers at this year’s conference including Evernote CEO Phil Libin, Silicon Valley Bank Chairman Ken Wilcox, 500 Startups partner Christine Tsai and a host of domestic and global startup stars including the CEOs of Kakao Talk and Coupang. (See the full list of confirmed speakers at beLAUNCH here.)

be INVOLVED:  Startup Battle
Photo Credit: http://www.besuccess.com/?p=8441

Are you up for a challenge? In addition to panels and speakers, beLAUNCH is accepting entries for their startup battle, which gives Korean developers an opportunity to showcase their startups/products in front of influential investors, media and a global audience. Do you have what it takes to win the Startup Battle? I definitely encourage you to take the chance…YOLO! (You Only Live Once ;) ).

If this sounds like something you’d like to attend or participate in, apply here: https://www.younoodle.com/podium/er/belaunch2013/enter.

What is OLED technology? Read more to find out what’s behind it, who the major players are and what it means for you.

Big investments mean big advancements

LG recently announced plans to invest more than $600 million in OLED production (WSJ source), hinting that home OLED TVs will likely hit shelves in the relatively near future. Samsung, Korea’s other major television maker, also has announced it would begin sales of its new smart TVs equipped with OLED technology (Bloomberg source).

Putting the Korean TV makers at a whole other level, Samsung and LG each announced the world’s first curved 55-inch OLED televisions at CES 2013.

Photo Credit: http://nyti.ms/UULjMk
(Curved TVs shown in photo above are by LG)

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/Wy8EAk
(Curved display shown in photo above is by Samsung)

No details on availability yet, but the curved screen is said to be incredibly difficult to create, so bravo Korea on this breakthrough technology! The curved TVs are said to create a more immersive and lifelike viewing experience.

So, what’s all the commotion around OLED? We’re here to help!

What is OLED?

OLED stands for “Organic Light-Emitting Diode” and is praised by tech experts as a vast improvement from past TV technology including plasma and LCD displays. In a nutshell, OLED panels can emit their own light when electric currents are passed through. LCD displays require a separate backlight source. OLEDs don’t need the backlight and therefore can be fitted into incredibly thin TV sets. No wonder LG’s 55-inch OLED TV is only 4mm thin! That is almost half the depth of an iPhone 5!

Plasma TVs also create their own light at the pixel level, but the technology is antiquated, creating far too much heat and requiring far too much electricity. This means they need bulky fans to cool them down and extra electronics to deliver all that power. For consumers, this means plasmas are very thick. You might think of OLED as being evolved from plasmas, rather than LCDs.

For even more technical information, you can read this page.

Top 5 Reasons Why You Might Want an OLED TV

Photo Credit: http://nbcnews.to/Y58TVA
(Pictured above is a Samsung’s Super OLED TV)

1. Design: Like we mentioned above, because OLEDs do not require backlighting, the TVs can be designed to be exceptionally thin and very very light.

2. Color Accuracy: The OLED technology, using WRGB color pixels, is said to replicate highly colors more naturally and accurately, providing a more realistic viewing experience.

3. No Blur: Thanks to fast response times (1000 times faster than LED TVs), fast-moving images on your TV won’t appear blurry. Whether you are watching an exciting soccer game or intense action movie, the images will appear razor sharp.

4. Eco-friendly: OLED TVs consume less energy than other TVs so if you are concerned for the environment (or your power bill), this might be a plus for you.

5. Wider viewing angle: Ever feel like you can’t see the TV well from your side of the couch or from across the room? Since LCDs work by blocking light, they naturally have viewing obstacles from certain angles. On the other hand, OLEDs produce their own light so they have a wider viewing range. OLED TVs therefore have less distortion from all viewing angles.

How Soon Can You Have One?

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/Uz5WzB

LG announced yesterday that its 55-inch OLED TV will finally be available in the UK in July for a hefty sum of £10,000. It’s the only other market LG has made the OLED TV available besides Korea. Any takers? The 4mm slim TV design and overall picture quality is attractive for sure, but I’m not sure if I want to invest that much for just a TV.

How much would you pay to buy a 55-inch OLED set? Let me know in the comments.