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With Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, New Soundbars Not Only Sound Great, They’re Designed with the Environment in Mind SEOUL, Apr. 6, 2021 — LG Electronics (LG) is commencing the worldwide rollout of the 2021 LG Soundbar lineup, with new models delivering a more premium audio experience, versatility and convenient control while upping the ante with eco-consciousness designs and packaging. The new lineup offers high-quality audio, easy connectivity, smart functionality and stylish aesthetics with a modern look that are designed to complement LG’s stunning TVs and works well with any décor. New for this year, the company’s soundbars allow users to take advantage of LG TV’s AI Sound Pro feature. Audio from the TV is played through the soundbar via TV Sound Mode Share, delivering the superior audio processing power of AI Sound Pro on the more capable speakers of the new soundbars. LG’s soundbars now offer all of the same sound modes as its latest TVs, allowing users to easily switch between the soundbar and the TV using the TV remote. The 2021 lineup is compatible with multiple voice assistants including Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Siri.1 Now it’s easier than ever to control devices and play one’s favorite music from compatible device and services. And with support for Apple AirPlay 2, customers can stream, control, and share their favorite music and other content directly from their iPhone, iPad or Mac. When it comes to performance, LG’s 2021 soundbars inherit all the strengths of their predecessors with many of the new models featuring Meridian Audio tuning and Meridian technology, when in Music Mode for an exceptionally authentic listening experience. A new feature, Meridian Horizon technology, is the result of LG’s long-term partnership with Meridian Audio.2 This innovation up-mixes two channel stereo content into immersive, multichannel audio to provide audiences with a truly immersive listening experience regardless of their position or location in the room. All the 2021 soundbars from LG support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for dynamic three-dimensional audio. With Dolby Vision compatibility via 4K pass-through, the new models ensure the level of picture and sound quality needed for genuinely cinematic home viewing. LG’s soundbars also combine up-firing front height channels with wireless rear up-firing height channels to envelop users in lush, textured sound. Many of the new models are Hi-Res Audio certified, insuring lossless playback at 24bit/96kHz with all the vibrancy and nuance of the original studio recording. Upgraded user convenience and easy connectivity are built into the 2021 LG Soundbar lineup with HDMI eARC support enabling a higher bitrate, high resolution content and uncompressed Dolby Atmos® audio with just one cable, while USB playback and Bluetooth streaming offer more convenient ways for users to enjoy their favorite audio content on the latest models. LG’s sophisticated AI features further elevate the user experience. AI Room Calibration offers optimal sound in any environment, using spatial awareness technology to measure a room’s dimensions then customizing the soundbar’s audio settings in accordance with the specific characteristics of the space. AI Sound Pro uses adaptive sound control to automatically adjust frequency range and sound field extension, depending on which genre of content the user is watching: news, music or cinema. While the importance of home entertainment has grown in the era of social distancing, so has concern for the environment and consumer support for companies and products that demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainability. From production processes to the materials and packaging used, LG’s latest soundbars are designed with the health of the planet in mind. In its effort toward a sustainable future, LG is taking a more eco-minded approach to product development, packaging and shipping of its 2021 soundbars, designing the first audio products in the industry to receive SGS Eco Product Certification. For many soundbar model cases LG replaced materials used in previous models with recycled materials, one model featuring jersey fabric made of recycled PET bottles.3 Certified as Global Recycled Standard-compliant and UL environmental claim validated, each SP7Y soundbar means almost seven fewer plastic bottles occupying landfills. To reduce environmental impact and waste even further, LG adopted friendlier packaging for its entire soundbar lineup. Using mainly recycled molded pulp and far less EPS foam and plastic, the packaging has earning Eco Product certification from Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS), a respected provider of testing, inspection and certification services based in Geneva, Switzerland.4 To receive this designation, the soundbars were deemed by SGS to have minimal environmental impact as they emit less air pollutants, contain few hazardous substances and provide a high degree of recyclability. What’s more, the packaging is designed in an “L” shape so more units can fit in fewer trucks, which means lower CO2 emissions, a crucial part of achieving environmental sustainability. New LG Soundbar models including SP11RA, SP9YA, SP8YA, SP7Y and SPD7Y will begin rolling out starting this month in key markets in Europe and North America, with additional models coming later this year. Specifications: FEATURES SP11RA SP9YA SP8YA SP7Y SPD7Y Sound Total wattage 770W 520W 440W 440W 380W Channels 7.1.4 5.1.2 3.1.2 5.1 3.1.2 Rear Speakers Rear & Up-Firing Optional (SPK8) Optional (SPK8) Optional (SPK8) Optional (SPK8) Dolby Atmos/ DTS:X Y Y Y DTS:X Virtual Y Meridian Horizon Technology Audio and Meridian Audio (Music Mode) Y Y Y Y Y Hi-Resolution Audio Y Y Y Y Y AI Room Calibration Y Y Y – – AI Sound Pro Y Y Y Y Y Convenience eARC Y Y Y ARC Y 4K Pass-Through with Dolby Vision Support Y Y Y – Y Works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, AirPlay 2 Y Y Y – – LG TV Synergy TV Sound Mode Share, Sound Bar Mode Control Y Y Y Y Y Eco Eco Product (SGS) Y Y Y Y – UL ECV Y Y Y Y Y # # # 1 Models SP11RA, SP9YA, SP8YA are compatible with multiple voice assistants. 2 Models SP11RA, SP9YA, SP8YA, SP7Y, SPD7Y feature Meridian Horizon. 3 Model SP7Y uses jersey fabric made from PET bottles. 4 Models SP11RA, SP9YA, SP8YA, SP7Y are certified as Eco Products by SGS. View the full article

Stepping Away from Phone Manufacturing and Sales Enables Company to Focus on Growth Sectors Including EVs, IoT and B2B Solutions SEOUL, April 5, 2021 — LG Electronics Inc. (LG) announced that it is closing its mobile business unit. The decision was approved by its board of directors earlier today. LG’s strategic decision to exit the incredibly competitive mobile phone sector will enable the company to focus resources in growth areas such as electric vehicle components, connected devices, smart homes, robotics, artificial intelligence and business-to-business solutions, as well as platforms and services. LG will provide service support and software updates for customers of existing mobile products for a period of time which will vary by region. LG will work collaboratively with suppliers and business partners throughout the closure of the mobile phone business. Details related to employment will be determined at the local level. Moving forward, LG will continue to leverage its mobile expertise and develop mobility-related technologies such as 6G to help further strengthen competitiveness in other business areas. Core technologies developed during the two decades of LG’s mobile business operations will also be retained and applied to existing and future products. The wind down of the mobile phone business is expected to be completed by July 31 although inventory of some existing models may still be available after that. # # # View the full article

If necessity is the mother of invention, then innovation could be viewed as the father of the patent. As of the end of 2020, LG Electronics was one of the world’s top patent holders with more than 87,000 patents to its name, many of them related to steam technology found throughout the company’s lineup of premium household appliances. Two successful products that rely on steam for their effectiveness are LG Styler and LG TWINWash, appliances that in themselves are the result of years of research, development and tinkering. In fact, the Styler debuted in 2011, nine years after the idea of the steam-based wardrobe management product was given the green light to begin development. Without a patent system to protect the hundreds of thousands of hours and hundreds of millions of dollars invested to develop products like LG Styler, there would be little incentive for companies to innovate. In fact, the Styler is a compilation of more than 180 LG patents covering features such as the Moving Hanger to shake bacteria and allergens* out of suits and dresses to the tune of 200 vibrations per minute and Gentle Dry to draw moisture out of clothes without shrinking or damaging delicate fabrics. The patented TrueSteam in conjunction with Pants Crease Care deliver wrinkle-free trousers with sharp creases, all without an ironing board. While the innovation inherent to LG Styler launched a whole new category in home appliances, LG TWINWash was a game changer in its own way. The engineers and designers behind LG TWINWash took a look at a mature product that hadn’t seen much innovation in decades and got to work on solving the age-old problem. With TWINWash, not only can one launder a pair of pants and some socks without feeling guilty about wasting water and electricity, frazzled parents can wash heavily soiled baby clothes separately from adult clothes… simultaneously. One of the patented core technologies that made TWINWash possible is LG’s Direct Drive, which could deliver more reliable, more effective and quicker results than competing technologies. One of the many people responsible for LG’s innovation leadership is Dong-won Kim, Ph.D. Laboratory Leader of Living Appliance R&D Lab at LG who is responsible for over 1,000 patents during his 25 years as a researcher at LG. In 2019 he was honored with the Invention King of the Year Award by the Korean Intellectual Property Office. “Fundamentally, a home appliance should be able to minimize the effort needed to complete one or more household chores but it has to be convenient and easy to use as well,” Kim explained.” When developing a new product, it is essential to constantly ask oneself, ‘Is this bringing value to the customer?’ At LG, we believe this should be the basis for all good product design.” Kim gets his ideas for his inventions from listening to LG customers and everyday people. “LG Styler came from a conversation I had with the wife of a colleague who told me she removed wrinkles from clothes by hanging them in a steam-filled bathroom,” Kim recalled. “The Styler takes this basic concept and expands on it with a combination of user-friendly design and a number of other unique technologies.” “The idea for LG TWINWash came after a survey we conducted in 2007 in which 60 percent of the responders said that they wished their washing machines could wash separate loads at the same time,” Kim said. “I’m sure other washing machine makers had heard this complaint before but a two-drum washing machine is no simple matter, which may explain why TWINWash still has no equal even after six years.” Like all of LG’s products, LG TWINWash and Styler are products based on innovation and creativity fueled by the need to make consumers’ lives more convenient. But innovating can be a laborious and expensive process and this is where the patent system can help drive technological advancement. For inventors like Kim Dong-won, the assurance that his intellectual property will be protected is incentive to keep creating and improving consumers’ lives. # # # * Certified by the British Allergy Foundation (BAF) for reducing 99.9 percent of house dust mite allergens and Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Certified as an asthma and allergy friendly® appliance by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). View the full article

Life as we knew it may never be the same again. More time spent at home has piqued the interest of consumers looking to adopt a more intelligent way of living. This growing desire for seamless, connected, “work and play” environments is what is bringing the future faster to consumers today. Fortune Business Insights predicts1 the smart home market to reach USD 622.59 billion by 2026. In fact, that’s barely scratching the surface if LG ThinQ as anything to say about it. What makes the smart technology less daunting today is because now everyone has a smartphone. And through that smartphone, consumers can control all aspects of their connected devices from the bed, the car or the office. The fact that the LG ThinQ app has been downloaded over 30 million times is proof that there is an audience that’s hungry for the conveniences offered by smart products. But what conveniences are we talking about here? Well, in one research study, LG ThinQ app users in the US said they were most satisfied with the app’s remote-control capabilities.2 Although some smart appliances such as robot vacuums are able to do the work for you, there still isn’t a washing machine that can pick up dirty clothes off the floor or a refrigerator that stocks itself. But just being able to control and monitor the home ecosystem from any location brings a whole new dimension of convenience. The LG ThinQ app was designed to seamlessly connect with the company’s AI-enabled products and services, giving the user full visibility and access to all compatible home appliances while home or on the go. One Korean user discovered LG ThinQ to be an invaluable solution for her laundry routine. “With remote control and monitoring, I can set the washing machine to finish according to my schedule, which means I’m always free to take the laundry out immediately. I no longer have to worry about smelly or wrinkled clothes,” the user said.3 Proactive Customer Care (PCC) and Smart Diagnosis expand the user experience and is another key way ThinQ has made customers’ lives easier. After self-diagnosing every connected appliance on the system, the ThinQ app alerts users and relays insightful suggestions and tips for maintaining their products’ peak performance, such as changing the filter at appropriate times. “It’s great to have the ThinQ app on hand to remind me when it’s time to replace the air purifier filter,” said one participant in the survey. Instead of having to call in and wait hours (or days) for a service technician to visit, PCC and Smart Diagnosis help users identify and resolve the issues themselves. One ThinQ user noted, “Thanks to the PCC feature I’m able to receive alerts on my parent’s appliances so I can do all the maintenance work for them.” Beyond adding value, LG smart home solutions are delivering more environmentally friendly features to match the priorities of environmentally-conscious consumers. In fact, energy-saving capabilities are one of the top drivers for American consumers switching from conventional devices to smart home products, according to the survey. On the LG ThinQ app, energy monitoring dashboards displaying monthly usage information are available for every appliance so that users can see where they might be able to save energy by modifying their behavior. “I can never remember if I shut the refrigerator door all the way or switched the TV off,” admitted an environmental advocate who participated in the research. “Being able to check and control all of this on my phone is a huge relief.” Vacation mode is another proven way to minimize energy use in the home when empty, and features such as Active Save perform tasks like measuring refrigerator openings throughout the day so that refrigerators can switch from low to high power modes automatically, all according to when the user prefers using them. The ThinQ app is constantly evolving to better meet consumer needs. Additional features to be introduced in the 1st half of this year include Scan-To-Cook and Meal Kit orders which take the stress out of planning and preparing meals at home. Future features and services will focus on delivering the freedom and convenience that make LG customers’ lives measureably more comfortable than without ThinQ. Learn more about LG’s smart appliances and the ThinQ app at www.LGThinQ.com. # # # 1 https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/smart-home-market-101900 2 Kantar survey commissioned by LG surveyed 500 respondents with household incomes within the top 60 percentile in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. 3 Nielsen survey commissioned by LG interviewed 40 Korean IoT brand users between ages 20-44. View the full article

This is first installment of ‘On the Job’, where we put the spotlight on some of the talented and creative individuals in the global LG family. Today we take a look at the important role played by the company’s innovative digital designers. As any creator or inventor will agree, taking an idea and turning it into something real is no small feat. When it comes to creating a new product, it is the role of the digital designer to translate the concepts, sketches and plans generated during the design process into a three-dimensional representation of what the finished article might look like. Giving virtual or physical form to something that does not yet exist can be just as challenging as it sounds and it’s the job of LG’s digital design professionals to turn imagination into reality. While pen and paper will always have their place in design, digital designers normally utilize more advanced tools such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and 3D printers to give shape to projects. VR makes it possible to realistically simulate how a product will actually look and feel, offering valuable insights that looking at a drawing or inspecting a 3D-model on a computer screen simply cannot deliver. LG’s designers even create virtual environments based on real living spaces so that prior to a design being finalized, they can accurately assess the product’s ability to spatially and aesthetically harmonize with a range of different interior styles and configurations. The selecting of colors, materials and finishes is a crucial part of the design process and can mean the difference between how a product is perceived and received by consumers. Digital designers provide valuable support in this area as well. The work of LG’s digital designers were instrumental in getting the green light to make LG Furniture Concept Appliances a reality. The arrival of 3D printing has made the essential step of transforming a product’s design into a tangible model considerably easier for digital design pros. The ability to create three-dimensional drafts of products which can be touched as well as viewed helps LG’s designers identify areas that need further consideration faster than ever before. 3D printing not only reduces the need to rework designs, it also shortens the overall product development time, allowing LG to bring products to consumers faster. As LG digital designer Lim Hwi-tae explains it, “The role of a digital designer is to create something out of nothing, to take an image or a world that exists only in the imagination and bring it to life using technologies such as VR and 3D printing. “Our biggest goal as digital design practitioners is to shorten the amount of time it takes to bring new and improved products to market,” said Ryu Byoung-gi, another dedicated digital designer at LG. “The detailed digital visualizations we produce during the product development phase help to make that happen, and that’s something we’re all very proud of.” By turning the imaginary into reality in less time, LG’s digital designers continue to make significant contributions to the realization of the company’s global, consumer-centric mission – to create innovation for a better life. # # # View the full article

Cassette-type Ceiling Air-Handling System Helps Create Healthier and Safer Indoor Environments SEOUL, Mar. 25, 2021 — Commercial air conditioning technology from LG Electronics has garnered a number of recognitions from trusted international organizations for its ability to improve indoor air quality. Certifications from Intertek, TÜV Rheinland and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) awarded to LG Dual Vane Cassette system are confirmation of the effectiveness of LG HVAC solutions in delivering clean air. The LG DUAL Vane Cassette is the world’s first HVAC solution to receive UL’s GREENGUARD Gold Certification for low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. LG Dual Vane Cassette was also recognized by Intertek for reducing the presence of harmful particles in indoor air.1 Its outstanding air purification capabilities are possible thanks to LG Plasmaster Ionizer+ technology which emits over 3 million ion clusters to attract and carry away allergens and bacteria. For these reasons alone, LG DUAL Vane Cassette is the ideal option for use in schools and healthcare facilities where air quality is of utmost priority. Another recognition comes courtesy of TÜV Rheinland which certified LG’s 5-step air purification system for effectively removing ultrafine dust, allergen and harmful bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus from the air.2 What’s more, LG Dual Vane Cassette’s air-cleansing and allergen-removing capabilities are also certified by the British Allergy Foundation. LG’s Dual Vane Cassette is an effective and versatile system air conditioning product featuring two vanes that help to deliver strong airflow and wide, even coverage. With six different modes, users can tailor airflow direction and strength to any space or to suit their own individual preferences. “These trusted certifications attest to the importance LG places on prioritizing its customers’ well-being,” said James Lee, executive vice president and head of LG’s Air Solution Business. “HVAC plays a central role in making indoor environments comfortable and safer for their occupants and LG will continue to deliver solutions that meet the highest international standards for healthy operation and effective performance.” # # # 1 Certified by Intertek for removing more than 99.9 percent of bacteria including Escherichia coli KCCM 11234, Staphylococcus aureus KCCM 40050 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa KCCM 11321. 2 Certified by TÜV Rheinland for removing 99.9 percent of ultrafine dust measuring 50 nanometers in up to 35 minutes and 99.9 percent of ultrafine dust measuring 100 nanometers in up to 41 minutes. Also certified for reducing up to 99.9 percent of Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria in 60 minutes and up to 99.4 percent of Phi-X174 virus in 30 minutes. Tests conducted in chamber of 60 meters3. View the full article

Although today’s women have made progress in gaining more freedoms and rights, there is still much room for improvement. In much of the developed world, women can work outside the home, vote in elections, decide if they want to have a family, even become president if they so choose. But the customs and standards of the 18th century prevented women from detaching themselves from the family and domestic functions that were imposed on them and from following their true dreams. With Maria Anna Mozart, the older sister of the musician and composer Wolfgang Amadeus, it was no different. Since childhood, “Marianne” easily handled musical instruments and performed at concerts with her brother, where she gained prominence and was an inspiration for many. But as she grew older Maria Anna had to put her career aside to build a family, causing her great talent to be forgotten over time. Aiming to amplify visibility around this important story of classical music, LG Electronics in Brazil brought Marianne’s work to the 21st century through technology. With access to 66 letters and 90 pages of the musician’s diary, the contents of her diary were transformed into musical notes, making it possible to hear what Anna wanted to express but was not able at that time. A German interpreter was invited to record the reading of Marianne’s letters and diary. All texts found written in German were carefully analyzed so that the pronunciation tone became the song entitled Das Königreich Rücken, the imaginary kingdom between Marianne and Mozart. The communication campaign was conducted by the agency Almap BBDO. The concept behind it was to honor the memory of Marianne and many other talent women who have been forgotten over time. It was a way for LG to celebrate the power of women on this International Women’s Day. Because of its originality, the campaign saw significant mentions in various media outlets covering marketing, lifestyle and technology. A video of the musical composition is available on LG Brazil’s social network channels and on YouTube. By LG Brazil Staff # # # Photo Credits: https://bit.ly/3eMLFFf View the full article

Announced by LG’s US office on the United Nation’s International Day of Happiness (March 20), The Happiness League is honoring “Superhero Teachers” from across the United States for their heroic efforts equipping students with social and emotional wellness skills needed to persevere and succeed in life. These champions of social-emotional learning have gone above and beyond to support today’s youth as the global pandemic, coupled with rising social and political discord, worsened a growing national mental health crisis. America’s youth face an exceptionally high risk, with 63 percent of young adults reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.* “This month marks a full year of social restrictions that have created a potentially dangerous tipping point for the mental health of America’s youth,” said Christine Ackerson, head of corporate social responsibility for LG Electronics USA, whose flagship CSR program, Life’s Good: Experience Happiness, is behind The Happiness League initiative. Whether logging on to teach virtually or donning PPE in classrooms every day, teachers have had to reimagine how to engage their students and ensure safe and positive learning environments in the new environment. Teachers worked on the front lines and played a crucial role in maintaining consistency, normalcy and inspiration for America’s children. “They are truly superheroes providing our youth with the courage to endure and prosper, and deserve special recognition,” Ackerson said. These educators inspire their students to embrace six sustainable happiness skills: gratitude, human connection, positive outlook, purpose, generosity and mindfulness. Over the next several weeks, 50 Superhero Teachers across the United States that personify these “Super Skills” will be inducted into The Happiness League and honored by LG and its Experience Happiness partners – Be Strong, CASEL, Discovery Education, Inner Explorer and The Greater Good Science Center – for their dedication and inspiration to young people. Each teacher will be awarded an LG UltraWide computer monitor and receive a commemorative superhero cape highlighting their super skill. The award-winning Life’s Good: Experience Happiness program already has reached more than 4 million students with a science-based curriculum developed to equip youth with the skills necessary to better cope with stress and anxiety, build resilience and support a life-long happiness mindset. Backed by decades of scientific research, Experience Happiness worked with experts in social-emotional learning, education and the science of happiness to identify the six happiness skills, which can be learned, practiced and strengthened. To learn more about happiness super skills and meet America’s Superhero Teachers, click here. By LG USA Staff # # # * “Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, June 24–30, 2020,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 14, 2020. Photo Credits: https://www.lgexperiencehappiness.com/happinessleague View the full article

While the trend toward online engagement was well underway long before the pandemic, social distancing has forced many companies to look at how they could further improve customer engagement in an era when physical trade shows and retail showrooms were off-limits or cancelled altogether. As a result, the move toward a more virtual world has accelerated for many companies, with its share of successes as well as disappointments. One success story is LG’s experience in leveraging a virtual destination beloved by millions of MZ Gen and other gamers around the world – Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Released in 2020, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, or ACNH for short, quickly became one of the most popular games on the Nintendo Switch platform, breaking the console game record for the most digital unit sales in a single month with five million purchases at launch, and to date has sold more than 31 million copies worldwide.* While enjoying the game’s colorful, cute, and oddly soothing form of escapism, players can drop by LG dream addresses OLED ISLAND and LIT ISLAND by using codes DA-7677-3136-5978 and DA-2218-2553-1949. LG is the first-ever consumer electronics company to have its own dream addresses in ACNH, both of which are open to any of the game’s residents. On OLED ISLAND, visitors can experience a virtual lifestyle with LG OLED TV and learn about the product’s strengths and features while visiting special zones filled with LG OLED products, such as the home cinema zone and the Self-lit Gallery. Additionally, visitors can hunt for hidden treasure across the island – there are a total of 40 wrapped gifts to be found, each with a TV inside. On LIT ISLAND, tourists will find a gaming zone, music studio, gym, soccer field, baseball field and a basketball court all featuring LG OLED TVs. The island offers other entertaining diversions as well, such as hidden pathways that can be explored with a variety of tools to be obtained to earn a special prize. Players can also head over to the Instagram account of LG’s virtual influencer, Reah Keem, to check out her fun-filled visit to the island. Expanding upon VR and AR, LG Virtual Studio allows consumers to bring LG’s award-winning OLED TVs and innovative range of AV products into any room in one’s home virtually. With detailed, 360 degree rotatable renders of each model, visitors can clearly see how LG’s products would look in a given space and how much room they would take up. By simply visiting the LG Virtual Studio website, consumers can get a good sense of which options are best suited to their homes and lifestyles. Another helpful virtual resource for consumers interested in buying or learning more about LG TV products is LG TV Simulator. Use this tool to see how much space every 2021 LG TV (including OLED, QNED Mini LED, NanoCell, UHD and FHD) requires and how they would look in different types of interiors. The simulator offers three living room sizes to choose from, six interior styles and every TV screen size and mount option to make the virtual experience as customizable and accurate as possible to the real experience. For consumers more interested in upgrading their TVs than playing games, LG is employing virtual reality and augmented reality to help customers choose the right product even when visiting the showroom is off limits. Thanks to AR technology, the LG OLED Gallery Series TV site instantly turns one’s living room into a fully furnished space enabling customers to visualize how LG OLED Gallery TV would look in one of four themed environments – Gallery, Sports, Gaming and Cinema. Whether it’s an online gaming world or an augmented reality site for shoppers, virtual environments are proving themselves to be immensely useful during these unprecedented times of social distancing. And with the pandemic speeding up the arrival of the metaverse, engaging fans and potential customers in virtual environments such as ACNH will only become more commonplace. # # # * https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/index.html View the full article

LG Electronics is committed to taking systematic action across its diverse business portfolio to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from all of its operations by 2030. Expanding its eco-friendly businesses such as electric vehicle (EV) components and solutions as well as renewable energy business is a key part of this strategy. To better understand why LG and other forward-thinking companies are investing heavily in ESG, it’s important to first understand at what we’re facing. Extreme weather conditions and climate-related natural disasters are on the rise all around the world. Reports warn that sea level will rise by 30 centimeters by 2100, with even more rise caused by land ice melt.1 Unprecedented monsoon rains in Pakistan last year caused devastating floods in Karachi that left hundreds of thousands of people homeless. In Australia, bush fires raged for months due to soaring temperatures and drought whereas in California and the western half of the United States, more than 8,000 wildfires laid waste to the natural environment and drove thousands from their homes. And it’s not only homo sapiens that are under attack. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 20 to 30 percent of all species will be at risk of extinction if the current average global temperature rises by 1.5 to 2.5 degrees Celsius. A staggering 40 percent will become extinct if the temperature rises by an additional four degrees Celsius. With their habitats gone, many animals will simply be unable to survive, which won’t bode well for even for the species that manage to dodge extinction. The world’s nations are working together to slow the advance of climate change, with key examples of this cooperation being the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and the 2015 Paris Agreement. While the former involves mostly developed nations and focuses solely on the reduction of greenhouse gases, the latter is notable for bringing together both developed and developing nations and recognizing the need for financial support, technology transfer and operational transparency in the fight to reduce emissions globally. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. The agreement calls upon its signers to gradually reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide to ultimately achieve carbon neutrality by the second half of the 21st century. Carbon neutrality is a state where carbon dioxide emissions are effectively net zero, meaning the amount of carbon emitted is equal to that removed from the atmosphere. This will ultimately require the phasing out of fossil fuels and converting to 100 percent renewable and highly efficient energy sources. Nations including Denmark, England, France, Hungary, New Zealand and Sweden have already enacted laws targeting the goal of carbon neutrality. Other developed countries such as the US, China and Japan, have not yet enacted relevant legislation but have announced specific goals pertaining to carbon neutrality, while South Korea’s leaders have outlined a plan to become net zero by 2050. Not only nations but global corporations are also concerned about the environmental impact of their operations, as are their customers. Of the US-based companies that participated in the Deloitte Resource 2020 Study, about 75 percent reported that their customers expected renewable energy sources to account for a certain percentage of all business-related electricity usage. The study also found that approximately 77 percent of companies are now engaged in actively promoting the use of renewable energy, a trend that is expected to continue and grow in the coming years. More companies today are acknowledging that in order to secure long-term business viability and grow brand loyalty, it is essential to pursue a low-carbon future. For its part, LG is growing its renewable energy business and has established 6.7MW PV power-generation facilities in South Korea, generating a combined 8,832MWh of solar energy in 2019 alone. That same year, LG started mass-producing the LG Solar Car roof for EVs, which can charge a vehicle’s battery using collected solar energy. LG is also contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases through solutions that increase the mileage of electric and hybrid vehicles, and also via a wide range of residential and commercial solar power products. In the process of broadening its portfolio to embrace a more eco-friendly business, LG Electronics expects to cut greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing by 50 percent compared to 2017 by the end of 2030. LG Carbon Fund was established in 2017 to support the development of GHG-reducing technologies and solutions through the virtual cycle concept wherein all profits from LG Carbon Fund investments are funneled back into the effort to reduce greenhouse gases. LG is also an active participant in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project, which seeks to curb harmful emissions through investing technology and capital in developing countries. For its efforts, Corporate Knights’ recent 2021 Carbon Clean200 report ranked LG 13th among publicly traded companies with the highest level of eco-friendly management based on various factors such as reduction of carbon emissions during production of goods and services, usage of eco-friendly materials and conversion to alternative energy.2 LG was praised for its efforts in producing home appliances with first-class energy-efficiency ratings. The next installment of this ESG series will take a look at LG’s wide ranging and innovative efforts to create more environmentally-compatible consumer and commercial products. # # # 1 https://www.climateaction.org/news/warming-oceans-to-raise-sea-levels-30cm-by-2100-study-finds 2 https://www.corporateknights.com/reports/2021-clean-200/clean-200-16136460 View the full article

Sadly, in 2021 there are still millions of children worldwide who don’t have access to quality education. Like many developing countries around the world, Kenya is working hard to address this situation and meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 on the delivery of an inclusive and equitable education for its people. To provide its youth with the learning opportunities they deserve, a key component of Kenya’s efforts is renovating and expanding existing infrastructure. In Machakos County, about 60 kilometers southeast of Nairobi, the LG team in Kenya is supporting this worthy goal by helping to improve learning facilities at several local schools, including the Machakos School for the Deaf and the Kyumbi Primary School. LG is working in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Kenya and the county government of Machakos to provide students in the county with a learning environment that can help them reach their full potential. From boosting students’ health and attendance to increasing academic achievement and providing a greater sense of self-worth for both students and teaching staff, improving a school’s facilities has been shown to have a number of positive effects. To better serve its 225 hearing-impaired students, the Machakos School for the Deaf identified the need for a new library as well as a significant upgrade to its existing water borehole and plumbing. As a key donor, LG Kenya participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the library last month. During the event, students thanked benefactors with enthusiastic songs and dance and participated in a tree planting to enhance the school’s grounds. LG Kenya is also contributing toward the construction of two new toilet blocks and donating several home appliances including refrigerators for the school’s kitchen and washing machines and dryers to keep students’ uniforms clean. “The pandemic has increased the need for safe, resilient and healthy communities, and schools are a large part of that equation,” said Habitat for Humanity Kenya spokesperson Ruth Odera at the ceremony. “We are glad to contribute towards meeting this need in Machakos County through providing quality buildings and improved access to water and sanitation at the Machakos School for the Deaf.” Addressing ceremony attendees, LG Electronics Managing Director for East and Central Africa, Kim Sa-nyoung, added, “LG believes strongly in giving back to the community and making life better. This project is also important to us since it aids Kenya’s overall efforts to meet the United Nations’ SDG4 and create fair and equal learning opportunities for all.” LG Kenya is also part of an initiative benefitting 400 early learners at Kyumbi Primary School in Machakos County. In operation since December, the project involves the construction of restrooms, classrooms, kitchens and various other facilities to improve learning outcomes. At an event to mark the project’s launch, Father Joseph Mutuku cut the ceremonial ribbon and blessed the construction site on behalf the school’s official sponsor, St. Christopher Catholic Parish Kyumbi. The work at Machakos School for the Deaf and Kyumbi Primary School is set to be concluded by March this year, with all infrastructure fully completed and ready to support the next generation in their learning journey. Through forging partnerships and fostering trust with the local community, government and like-minded organizations, LG is making a difference today, and helping to pave the way for a better tomorrow. By LG Kenya Staff # # # View the full article

Entering 2021 has given Australians new hope as they recover from a year that most might want to delete from memory. However, others would urge these people not to forget a year that still had so much good on display, especially down under where Aussies were determined to pull together and do what it takes to make life better for its people, every single day. To honor those staring directly in the face of difficult times, LG kicked off its LG Local Legends (#LGLocalLegends) program last May. Since then, LG has crowned 24 local legends who have been doing their bit and more for local communities to make lives that bit easier for so many around them. LG Electronics in Australia has awarded each winner’s selflessness with LG home prize packages that let them live life more easily through the company’s convenient and connected devices. Some of their stories were featured on the company’s global newsroom to promote and inspire similar acts of kindness among people of other nations. With so many outstanding gestures and noble actions made among the 2020 LG Local Legends winners it wasn’t hard to find more individuals to highlight. Let’s meet three more from this special group of people almost a year on from its creation. EMPOWERING YOUNG WOMEN Merissa Forsyth was named an admirable LG Local Legend for her efforts in empowering young girls to be comfortable and confident in their own bodies through her not-for-profit Pretty Foundation. Close to nine years ago she had her eureka moment and quit her corporate job to focus on campaigns empowering women and girls alike. And after endless research and meetings with experts she discovered that in Australia, 38 percent of 4-year-old girls are dissatisfied with their bodies, 34 percent of 5-year-old girls reported an intention to diet and 68 percent of 5- to 8-year-old children reported being teased for their appearance,* which gave birth to the Pretty Foundation – a charity focused on early education and prevention. “Why wait for girls to become women before celebrating them?” said Merissa. With this in mind, she felt it was her duty to form the Pretty Inspirational Awards, which coincide with International Women’s Day, to celebrate the grand achievements of girls under 18 years of age. These inspiring girls were given the spotlight as role models for the younger generation thanks to their strong character, amazing skills and impressive abilities across various fields. RESCUER OF MISSING AUSSIES Adele Jago deservedly claimed her LG Local Legend status after dedicating thousands of hours every year searching for missing persons, such as those lost in the Australian bush or misplaced due to natural or man-made disasters. Through her passion and dedication to protecting and rescuing others, she founded a not-for-profit organization, Search Dogs Sydney, which utilizes a dedicated team of qualified volunteers that train canines to aid the NSW police department in the search for missing or lost people. “Approximately 38,000 people go missing in Australia every year, and more than 2,600 have been missing for a while,” said Adele. “Lowering these statistics is what motivates me every day.” In the future, she hopes to have teams like Search Dogs Sydney all over NSW that can be deployed as soon as someone is reported missing. LIFEGUARD FOR QUEENSLAND’S BEACHES Inspired by his father’s involvement in lifesaving rescue teams, Scott Collins has dedicated 36 years of his life to keeping Queensland’s beaches safe. As a volunteer for the non-profit organization Surf Life Saving Australia, the largest volunteer movement of its kind and Australia’s leading coastal water safety, drowning prevention and rescue authority, Scott was more than qualified to be an LG Local Legend. National coastal safety is crucial in keeping Australians and tourists safe around some of the nation’s most dangerous parts. Between 2018 to 2019 alone, there were 122 coastal drownings which is above the past 15-year average. Lowering this heartbreaking statistic is what motivates Scott and his team to ensure appropriate educational programs and lifesaving services are in place to address Australia’s issues when it comes to coastal safety. The LG Local Legends campaign brings LG Australia so much closer to local consumers, and displays the team’s unwavering support for those sharing its commitment to making life better. Click here to learn more about the LG Local Legends recognized in 2020. By LG Australia Staff # # # * Source: https://prettyfoundation.org/why-pretty View the full article

The excitement of a live sporting event with devoted fans hanging onto the edge of their seats is unmatched in terms of its energy. But with fans nowadays cheering from their living rooms instead of an arena or stadium, the passion of a crowd coming together to celebrate a goal, a basket, or a win was missing. This was the challenge that the LG team in Canada set for itself – to connect with sports fans to celebrate the moments that make life good, wherever they are, whomever they’re with. As part of its long-standing partnership with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), LG is launching a new campaign called #LifesGoodMoment dedicated to Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors fans. Knowing the intense emotional connection live sports can create, LG is seeking to build a similar sense of community for fans outside the arena. The season-long #LifesGoodMoment campaign recognizes the moments – great or small – that live sports can create. However you make them, and whoever you are with, it is these moments that make Life Good. “Naturally we recognize that conveying the LG “Life’s Good” brand vision can be a delicate matter at this time,” said Robin Powell, head of marketing at LG Canada. “We felt it was time to shift our efforts from marketing our partnership with MLSE, to using our sponsorship platform to shine a light on the power of the human spirit and the many ways that people continue to create moments that celebrate the importance of community.” The campaign features a six-episode content series that shares personal stories from dedicated Leafs and Raptors fans who were nominated for special recognition for their contributions to their local communities. Raptors shooting guard Norman Powell and Toronto Maple Leafs alumnus Wendel Clark are featured throughout the series and are instrumental in creating Life’s Good moments for these special award recipients. “This year’s challenges brought us a unique opportunity to redirect some of LG’s sponsorship investment into creating special Life’s Good moments for some of our most selfless fans,” said Galen Davies, senior director for global partnerships at MLSE. “We are proud to work with LG to create a program where fans could nominate community heroes who continue to deserve recognition in these uncertain times.” The #LifesGoodMoment campaign extends throughout the Leafs and Raptors seasons in 2021. A launch video kicks off the campaign followed by a content series that can be seen live on LG, Leafs and Raptors social platforms. Fans can share their own #LifesGoodMoment in the social content for a chance to win an LG Connected Home.* Creative agency Forsman and Bodenfors developed the insight and creative for the campaign while MLSE created and produced the content series. Media agency PHD is responsible for the paid social and digital campaign while social agency Reprise works with social media influencers to create additional content and execute the contest. Public relations efforts are managed by GCI Canada’s LG-One team. To see more of #LifesGoodMoment campaign, click here and here. LG and MLSE also partnered on an outdoor screen installation during the Maple Leafs and Raptors season-openers in the fall of 2019. The LED screen is 62 feet by 35 feet, a full 37 percent larger than the old screen, which gives Toronto sports fans a superior viewing experience. The installation of the LG outdoor LED screen is part of the reimagination of Maple Leaf Square, which takes place over the next several years and brings technological and infrastructure innovations to create a world-class fan experience inside and outside the arena. As the exclusive Consumer Electronics Partner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, LG is helping power a new fan experience through the latest sign and display innovations at Scotiabank Arena. By LG Canada Staff # # # * One Grand Prize consisting of LG Connected Home product suite, approximate retail value of CAD 10,000. Complete contest details here and here. View the full article

Partners Outline Joint Vision to Enable Digital, Consumer-grade Experiences in Automotive SANTA CLARA, Calif., Mar. 11, 2021 — LG Electronics (066570: KS) and Luxoft, a DXC Technology Company (NYSE: DXC), today announced the launch of their joint venture aimed at advancing the companies’ shared vision at enabling digital, consumer-grade experiences in automotive. Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, Alluto will drive the commercialization of production-ready digital cockpit, in-vehicle infotainment, passenger-seat entertainment (PSE) and ride-hailing systems based on the webOS Auto platform. The official Alluto launch event will take place online on March 15, 08:00 PDT at www.alluto.io. webOS Auto 2.0 offers access to a growing number of in-vehicle and connected services and brings greater control and convenience through enhanced head unit functionality. Unique in-vehicle features and functionality incorporate the essential components – such as multimedia processing, multi-display control, connectivity and security – to offer improved comfort and convenience to passengers and drivers. As a highly customizable and scalable platform, webOS Auto enables OEMs to create their own user experience. “With Alluto, carmakers can now tap into the vibrant webOS ecosystem from the edge to cloud and have a new, powerful alternative to innovate and differentiate future mobility experiences,” said Dr. I.P. Park, president and CTO of LG Electronics. “LG will continue to strengthen the webOS Auto ecosystem through strategic cooperation with diverse global technology companies.” “webOS Auto is not only an attractive platform but also a blueprint for the complete digital vehicle,” said Dmitry Loschinin, executive vice president, DXC Technology, and president and CEO, Luxoft. “DXC Luxoft will lead the deployment of webOS Auto platform in production-ready systems in automotive by contributing its global delivery network and its engineering at-scale delivery organization.” “Combining webOS with the industry leading technology of Luxoft and DXC represents an unprecedented offering and resource for the automotive market,” said Adam Woolway, CEO of Alluto. “With webOS Auto 2.0, Alluto is paving the road to the future by bringing the experiences from the living room to the car.” # # # View the full article

In One of Three Lawsuits, German Court Rules in favor of LG, Finds LG’s standard essential patent infringed SEOUL, Mar. 9, 2021 — LG Electronics (LG) has won a patent infringement lawsuit against TCL Communication Technology Limited and two European affiliated entities (TCL). Last week the Mannheim Regional Court in Germany ruled in favor of LG in a lawsuit the company filed against TCL in November 2019. The ruling found that TCL had infringed on claims in LG’s standard essential patent EP 2 627 146 B1 in Germany covering specific LTE technology. Following the court’s judgment, LG is taking immediate steps to stop TCL from the unlawful use of LG’s technology without license. TCL can appeal the judgment and a nullity action against the patent by TCL is pending at the German Federal Patent Court. Of the two remaining lawsuits filed by LG against TCL, one took place on March 2 while the third lawsuit will be heard in May. “Our patented technologies are the fruit of continuous research and development and are central to our ongoing competitiveness in the industry and what motivates our employees to think creatively,” said Cho Hwi-jae, vice president and head of LG’s Intellectual Property Center. “We believe it is our responsibility to vigorously protect our intellectual property against any and all unauthorized uses.” LG is a global technological leader in the mobile communications field and possesses one of the largest portfolios of standard essential patents in the field. According to TechIPm, a professional intellectual property research and consulting firm, LG ranked first globally for five consecutive years (2012 to 2016) in the 4G (LTE/LTE-A) standard essential patent category. And Germany-based market intelligence company IPlytics recently ranked LG third globally in 5G standard essential patent category with over 3,700 patent families. # # # View the full article

Imagine a home where the facial recognition-equipped front door automatically opens to welcome you inside, followed by an air shower that blows away germs and viruses from the outside world that may have settled on your skin, hair or clothing. As you enter each room, your presence is detected and the lighting and temperature intelligently adjusted to your preferences. You can even open the curtains to take in the view beyond your window with a simple voice command from across the room via AI speakers. Behold, the home of the future. And thanks to LG Electronics’ innovative solutions, the smart home of the future is a reality in the LG ThinQ Home in a suburb of Seoul here in South Korea. The integrated one-step solutions that are employed throughout LG ThinQ Home are a key element of our Business Solutions Company, which develops unique All for One solutions that bring together a broad range of products and services from LG and partners via LG’s integrated home gateway for the sole benefit of the client – the one in the company’s All for One philosophy. LG’s integrated solutions are able to meet several different needs simultaneously and through the application of intelligent technologies, we’re also able to learn from the client to continuously improve their quality of life. Customer value is derived from our ability to seamlessly integrate complex and diverse products, systems and technologies into a cohesive whole, delivering a completely new, more convenient user experience. Through this integration, residents in an LG-equipped home can enjoy convenient control of various functions such as the security system and outdoor cameras as well as LG’s ThinQ-enabled home appliances via the ThinQ app, again available through LG’s integrated home gateway. As demonstrated throughout LG ThinQ Home is LG’s commitment to sustainability and application of sophisticated smart solutions to enhance energy efficiency. LG not only develops products that minimize energy consumption, we also provide solutions to collect and store renewable energy from sources such as sunlight. This allows us to seamlessly weave together a variety of environment friendly products and systems to reduce a home’s energy footprint and monthly utility bills. Designed around the three core values of security, convenience and entertainment and brought to life by LG’s comprehensive solutions, LG ThinQ Home presents an altogether more satisfying and streamlined vision of modern home life. Because security is such an important part of home safety, LG’s facial recognition system makes sure that only authorized persons can gain access. Automated systems take care of a significant amount of home and appliance management, creating more time and energy to enjoy the entertainment provided by our latest smart TVs and audio products. Such enjoyment is enhanced by the fact that personalized settings travel with each family member as he or she moves from one room to another. In LG ThinQ Home, 12 advanced and strategically placed detectors can identify individuals by their body dimensions and adjust the settings of a room, such as the air conditioner or lighting, to create the most personal of spaces. Looking ahead, LG ThinQ Home will eventually be able to “read” a person’s mood through smart wearable devices and recommend the most appropriate content to watch on an LG TV or the best music to play on LG smart speakers or soundbars. Audio and video content can also be enjoyed on any of the five smart mirrors installed throughout the LG ThinQ Home. As family members go about their morning routines in the bathroom or kitchen, they can catch up on the latest news and sports highlights or listen to their favorite tunes. In addition to making the home a better place, LG’s B2B Solutions Business Division is also focusing on providing innovative products for the healthcare sector. As one of the pillars of the company, the hospital solutions business is expected to be a significant growth engine in the current rapidly aging population. The goal of the business is to provide a variety of solutions, such as professional healthcare and non-face-to-face telemedicine care, so that medical services can center on prevention rather than the existing diagnosis and treatment approach to enhance the quality of senior care. Our innovative medical imaging solutions are optimized for various medical settings with professional monitors enhanced for clinical review, diagnosis and surgery as well as digital X-ray detectors. And LG’s holistic system solutions for hospitals such as ventilations and energy management help maintain a pleasant environment for even safer patient care. As LG ThinQ Home demonstrates, the integrated intelligent home isn’t years or decades away, it’s here now and LG’s growing portfolio of solutions is already capable of making the daily lives more comfortable, efficient and safe so we can deliver on the promise of a better life today. By Silas Choi, Head of B2B Solution Business Division # # # View the full article

Established in 2011, The Busan Cinema Center is the official venue of the Busan International Film Festival, one of the most popular annual cinematic screening events in Asia. The distinctive building plays host to the festival’s celebrity-packed opening and closing ceremonies, but is also now home to another star – LG Electronics’ mesmerizing Transparent LED Film. Installed on one of the expansive windows of the Busan Cinema Center, LG’s state-of-the-art Transparent LED Film is immediately eye-catching, stopping visitors and pedestrians in their tracks as they gaze in awe at the vibrant, immense videos and images on displays. The massive installation covers an area of 206 square meters (45m x 4.5m) to create a colorful dynamic panorama that is breathtaking to behold. The most remarkable part of LG’s Transparent LED Film technology is obviously its transparency, allowing up to 73 percent of light to pass through, comparable to a car’s tinted window. When off, the window resembles an ordinary pane of glass but when turned on, it magically transforms into an impressive display of colors that pop and images that can’t help but command attention. The film’s scant two millimeter thickness means that the film can be customize to fit into the installation area. The sense of openness that LG Transparent LED Film delivers makes it an excellent solution for settings as wide ranging as corporate and hotel lobbies, museums, event halls, galleries and shopping malls. And because transparency by its very nature doesn’t require spaces to compromise or disrupt their original décor and spatial design, LG’s cutting-edge product allows venues to retain their unique aesthetics. Versatility is built into the DNA of this solution from LG, which can be configured vertically or horizontally, expanded by adding more film or trimmed parallel to the bezel to fit, if required. The thin film can even be installed with a curvature of up to 1100R, providing even more customization options and flexibility for customers. For the Busan Cinema Center, both the left and right edges of LG’s transparent display were formed into the sloped sides of a parallelogram to match the shape of the building’s windows. 330-meter LG LED Signage at Suwon KT Wiz Park Adding to the versatility of LG’s solution is its suitability for displaying multiple types of content, from advertisements and announcements to video clips and digital art. Able to meet the commercial display demands of a wide range of industries and sectors, LG offers an extensive lineup of signage solutions, including Micro LED Signage, LG MAGNIT, OLED Signage and Transparent OLED Signage as well as other LED options for indoor and outdoor situations. As the usage of, and applications for digital signage continue to expand, it is likely that the next generation of displays will offer enhanced, interactive experiences that will attract and enthrall audiences in inventive new ways. And as LG is demonstrating at the Busan Cinema Center, it has the technological and design qualifications to play a starring role in this exciting future. Click here to experience more of the possibilities of LG’s Transparent LED Film. # # # * All images and dramatizations are for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the actual product. View the full article

[Check out the previous episode of the 2021 Tech Trends series here.] The third and final installment of Beyond News’ 2021 Tech Trends series focuses on how LG products can make working and entertaining at home more enjoyable and fulfilling. Given the environment the world now finds itself in, devices and gadgets that offer better at-home productivity and entertainment solutions loomed large at this year’s CES. The biggest names in consumer tech offered up a multitude of innovations in their virtual showrooms geared toward making life better for the millions who now work and play primarily within the confines of their homes. As a consumer electronics company, LG has always had its finger on the pulse of what customers want and need. With its latest innovations in monitors, laptops and projectors, LG is helping consumers optimize their lives at home, whether they’re partaking in a marathon video conference call, wrapping up a class project, mashing the keys of their favorite MMORPG or kicking back with a blockbuster movie or bingeworthy show. A popular upgrade for working at home is a bigger monitor. LG UltraWide Monitor offers the best of two worlds, with an expansive 40-inch curved screen that displays more information so you can be even more productive, while also delivering a truly cinematic viewing experience once the work day is done. Boasting a Nano IPS display with 5K2K UltraWide (5,120 x 2,160) resolution and 21:9 aspect ratio, this multitasking powerhouse boasts 33 percent more screen real estate than a 16:9 aspect ratio sized monitor with picture quality that makes every movie and video more immersive to watch. While also ideal for getting work done, LG UltraGear gaming monitors really excel when there is some serious fun to be had, with its blazing speed, sharp and smooth image quality, futuristic design, and a multitude of gaming-specific features. LG’s UltraGear series offer an ultra-fast Nano IPS 1 millisecond Gray-to-Gray (GTG) response time and reduced input latency, ensuring seamless visuals and gameplay around. Most importantly, minimal screen-tearing and stuttering makes games look and feel more realistic so you can play your very best. For a more portable work option that can be easily transported from the living room to the dining room (and anywhere in between), one would do well to consider LG’s latest LG gram laptops. Available in 14-, 16- and 17-inch screen sizes, the 2021 gram models boast 16:10 aspect ratio displays that are perfect for laptop multitasking. Equipped with the latest Intel processors, speedy memory and responsive keyboards, LG grams deliver a performance befitting their sleek, premium designs. Stylish, slim and very lightweight, the 2021 LG grams feature narrower bezels that make it possible for these devices to feature screens larger than their svelte cases might indicate. Movie-going has been seriously curtailed in many countries due to social distancing measures. And while some might consider a TV, monitor or even a laptop adequate for movie night at home, real cinephiles would likely bristle at the prospect. LG’s new CineBeam 4K UHD Laser projector was designed for such consumers in mind, delivering an authentic movie theater-like experience that will please even ardent cinema buff. The advanced projector provides optimal image quality regardless of the brightness of the room, thanks to LG’s proprietary Brightness Optimizer technology. What’s more, this portable 11 kilogram unit can transform wall or ceiling into a “silver screen” so audiences will get great picture quality whether seated or lying down. With a wide range of choices to suit a wide variety of needs and preferences, LG’s latest innovations make it easy to work and have fun from the comforts of home. # # # * Images simulated to enhance features. May differ from actual use. View the full article

Innovative home appliances, solar panels, HVAC technologies and consumer electronics from LG Electronics are delivering high performance, connectivity, convenience, and energy efficiency to The New American Home® (TNAH) and The New American Remodel® (TNAR), the official show homes of the 2021 International Builders’ Show® virtual experience (IBSx) which took place earlier this month in Orlando, Florida, USA. The International Builders’ Show is the annual event sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the largest US trade group representing the home building industry. Located in the heart of central Florida, TNAH and TNAR 2021 are state-of-the-art showcase houses illustrating how any home can be transformed into a high-performance, high-tech space when integrating today’s building and appliance innovations to reduce energy consumption, increase efficiency and enhance daily life. Seven-time ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year LG Electronics was named NAHB Platinum Partner for both Net Zero homes. Net Zero Homes TNAH and TNAR encompass advanced, high performance products and functionality that homeowners look for when building, purchasing or renovating. Both homes have achieved the U.S. National Green Building Standard Emerald certification, ENERGY STAR Building certification, and Net Zero status from the U.S. Green Building Council: TNAH 2021 is a stunning, three-level single-family home that showcases the latest designs centered on urban living. The new 514-square-meter abode – the latest project from Phil Kean Designs – consists of three bedrooms, four full baths and one half-bath, a showroom three-car garage, innovative exercise room, and ultra-energy efficient, net-zero features. TNAR 2021, built in 1973, draws lineage from Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. Renovated by E2 Homes, the 722-square-meter home features a sleek chef’s kitchen, as well as six bedrooms, six bathrooms and two half bathrooms, ultra-energy-efficiency products, and a fully furnished cabana and an outdoor entertaining area with a large pool, spa and lanai. Renewable Energy Key to TNAH’s and TNAR’s environmental sustainability and appealing designs are rooftop installations of high-efficiency solar modules from residential renewable energy leader LG Business Solutions. Forty LG NeON® 2 60-cell modules help power each home to support their Net Zero designs. These popular high-efficiency modules generate more power from the same amount of sunlight than lower-efficiency modules of the same size while blending in unobtrusively to the look and feel of the home’s design. Chef’s Kitchens The chef’s kitchens in both homes feature built-in appliances – advanced pro-style ranges, column refrigerators, freezers, wine refrigerators and more – from LG’s fast-growing luxury brand, Signature Kitchen Suite. In addition to ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators and dishwashers, Signature Kitchen Suite appliances featured in the homes include first-ever innovations: pro-ranges with built-in sous vide functionality, along with induction and gas, wine column refrigerators with exclusive “Wine Cave” technology to better preserve at-home collections, and a unique built-in undercounter convertible dual-drawer refrigerator. Smart Laundry Appliances Energy efficient laundry appliances in TNAH and TNAR deliver added convenience and offer advanced technologies, elevated designs and designer-grade finishes. Featured innovations from the LG Builder division include the ENERGY STAR certified LG WashTower, an industry-first single-unit, vertical laundry solution takes up half the floor space, elevating consumers’ laundry experience while still tackling ultra-large loads. TNAH incorporates the new LG Studio WashTower in the exclusive Noble Steel finish, while TNAR features the LG WashTower in white, both complemented by LG Styler clothing care systems, which are certified “asthma & allergy friendly” by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America. Efficient Air Conditioning Systems Featuring efficient HVAC systems and controls from LG, TNAR embeds advanced comfort solutions that support the home’s Net Zero status and complement its unique design characteristics. TNAR boasts two award-winning LG Multi V S 5-ton Heat Recovery outdoor units. They are connected to a number of LG Vertical Air Handler units, which feature LG’s efficient inverter technology and offer discrete and flexible installation. Customizable comfort can be controlled via wall-mount controls or with a smartphone using the LG ThinQ app. Tours of the homes are offered virtually. Visit The New American Home’s virtual experience and The New American Remodel’s virtual experience to learn more about the construction process, as well as the final showcase homes. The final version of the homes will be available indefinitely on buildersshow.com. By LG USA Staff # # # View the full article

[Check out the first episode of the 2021 Tech Trends series here.] This installment of Beyond News’ 2021 Tech Trends series focuses on how LG’s products are helping people stay healthier wherever they go. Staying healthy goes hand in hand with practicing good hygiene both inside and outside the home. And if CES 2021 is anything to go by, appliances and devices that promote better hygiene will be one of the major trends in consumer electronics this year and quite probably for the foreseeable future. Always responsive to the needs and concerns of its global customers, LG showcased several products and technologies at its virtual CES exhibit that are designed to boost hygiene and protect people’s wellbeing. Let’s take a look at some of the company’s latest health-centric innovations and how they can make life better. For anyone who feels that a conventional face mask just doesn’t do enough to keep them safe, or is too uncomfortable to wear on a daily basis, LG presents the revolutionary LG PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier. The innovative device uses two H13 HEPA filters to prevent up to 99 percent of harmful particles from entering the wearer’s respiratory system,1 and makes breathing easy (unlike your average face mask) with its DUAL Fans and the patented Respiratory Sensor, which syncs the fans with the user’s breathing cycle. And thanks to a design based on extensive facial analysis, the PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier also offers day-long comfort. The LG PuriCare Wearable is just one of the company’s growing lineup of premium air-care solutions, which also includes residential models and a handy portable option that is great for cars, cafés or even a baby’s stroller! Fast becoming a must-have item in the home and office, air purifiers can rid the indoor environment of fine dust particles and other airborne matter that can be detrimental to one’s health. LG PuriCare 360° Air Purifier boasts a distinctive 360-degree design and powerful fan that enables the device to send out fresh, filtered air in every direction and to all parts of the room. A great option for those who share their abode with furry friends, the LG PuriCare Pet eliminates pet-related odors up to 55 percent more effectively than the standard LG PuriCare 360° model.2 With its specialized Pet Mode, it can draw in pet hair, as well as dust and other microscopic particles as small as 0.01 micrometers in size thanks to HEPA Filter3, to help keep the home free of sneeze- and itch-inducing allergens. And then there is the PuriCare Mini Air Purifier, a model that provides supreme portability with a size and weight equivalent to that of a plastic, 500 milliliter bottle of water. Fitting easily on a desk, table or car seat, PuriCare Mini can refresh the user’s immediate environment for up to eight hours on a single charge and also collects dust from the air to ease allergy-related problems.4 What’s more, the Bluetooth-enabled device lets users monitor the quality of the air around them via the LG ThinQ app for smartphone. In conjunction with effective air purification, a high-quality vacuum cleaner is essential to creating a healthy, hygienic place to live. Making its debut at CES 2021, LG’s latest cordless stick vacuum, the CordZeroThinQ A9 Kompressor+, comes with a brand-new charging station that automatically empties the vacuum’s dustbin. This outstanding feature saves users from a messy job and prevents dust from escaping back into the environment. Another excellent feature of the new CordZero model is its ability to transform from vacuum to mop (and back again) with its easy-change cleaning attachments. With the Power Mop attached, LG’s multifunctional cleaning solution sucks in dust while wetting and cleaning the floor. Conveniently, water is automatically dispensed into the mop head to keep it from getting dry, thereby ensuring optimal results and minimizing fuss for the user. LG even provides a way to remove germs and bacteria as well as allergens5 from clothes while simultaneously delivering that freshly dry-cleaned look without any expensive, time-consuming trips to an actual dry cleaner. Introducing the amazing LG Styler. From jackets to dresses, from business shirts to pants and winter coats, LG Styler can refresh and revitalize all kinds of clothing as well as items like teddy bears and backpacks. The Styler uses LG’s TrueSteam® technology to ensure the hygiene of users’ garments, and moving hangers to shake out any unsightly wrinkles. It also has the Pants Press feature built into its door, which creates a sharp pants crease that helps users look good and frees them from the hassle of ironing. Assisting consumers and their loved ones to stay healthy both inside and outside the home, the latest solutions from LG deliver impressive hygiene benefits and peace of mind. And during these trying times, those are two things that can really mean a lot. Stay tuned for future installments of TECH TRENDS here at LG Beyond News. # # # 1 Blocks 99.95 percent of harmful particles with 99.95 percent elimination rate H13 HEPA filters, removing micro particles such as dust, virus, bacteria and allergen. Certified by TÜV Rheinland for eliminating 97.3 percent of viruses and 93.5 percent of bacteria in 8m3 room and 99.1 percent of pollen in 3m3 room with ambient temperature of 25°C (± 2°) and relative humidity of 50 (±10) percent. Product specifications may vary depending on regions and performance results may vary depending on environmental conditions and other external factors. 2 Test conducted by TÜV Rheinland comparing maximum suction of PuriCare Pet (model AS190DNPA) and standard PuriCare (model AS199DWA) in 8m3 lab at temperature of 23.0° C (± 5.0°) with a relative humidity of 55 percent (± 15 percent). Results may vary depending on environmental conditions and other external factors. 3 Test conducted by Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM). Based on internal testing methods using PuriCare 360° (AS281DAW) in a chamber of 30m3. Results demonstrated that, on average, LG PuriCare is at least 95 percent effective at deodorizing ammonia, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, toluene and formaldehyde. It is also 100 percent effective at removing toluene, and formaldehyde from an enclosed environment (KIMM standard test conditions: 4m2, substances used in test: SO2, NO2). Results may vary depending on environmental conditions and other external factors), 4 Test conducted by Intertek for clearing 99% of 0.3㎛ particulate matter at the High Speed Mode(H) within 155 minutes in the space of 8m3. Results may vary on depending on the environment and use of the unit. 5 Test conducted by Korean Apparel Testing and Research Institute (KATRI). Steam Hygiene option sanitizes 99.99 percent of harmful bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pneumococcal bacillus, for 6.4 kilograms load, the international standard test load. Also, certified by the British Allergy Foundation (BAF) for reducing 99.9 percent of house dust mite allergens and Esche-richia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Certified as an asthma and allergy friendly® appliance by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). View the full article

LG Opens Popular Platform and Integrated Content Services to Manufacturers to Deliver Better TV Experience to Even More Consumers SEOUL, Feb. 24, 2021 — LG Electronics (LG) announces the availability of its popular webOS TV platform ecosystem to other TV brand partners, disrupting the status quo in an industry known for its proprietary operating systems across different manufacturers. LG is now expanding its expertise beyond TV manufacturing to encompass webOS TV software platform development and adoption by other TV brands. This has the potential to reshape the TV business for both technology and content providers while significantly growing LG’s presence and prominence in the global home entertainment market. As an integral component of LG’s preeminent home entertainment ecosystem, webOS has delivered exceptional ease of use for LG TV owners through its intuitive interface design since 2014. Licensees of webOS TV receive the familiar and highly acclaimed UX design along with a rich pool of features such as voice search and control, integrated AI algorithms and easy connectivity that have earned webOS positive industry and consumer accolades. With LG webOS TV, partners also get a diversity of content options including access to global streaming service apps such as Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and sports streaming service DAZN as well as LG Channels, the company’s free premium content streaming service.* Compatible TV models also include the dedicated Magic Motion remote controller. Over twenty TV manufacturers from around the world have already committed to the webOS partnership, including brands such as RCA, Ayonz and Konka with more partners expected to join in the future. The webOS ecosystem is supported by technology partners such as Realtek, Nuance, Gracenote, CEVA and Universal Electronics, among many others. “The webOS platform is one of the easiest and most convenient way to access millions of hours of movies and TV shows,” said Park Hyoung-sei, president of the LG Home Entertainment Company. “By welcoming other manufacturers to join the webOS TV ecosystem, we are embarking on a new path that allows many new TV owners to experience the same great UX and features that are available on LG TVs. We look forward to bringing these new customers into the incredible world of webOS TV.” # # # * Content app availability vary by region. View the full article

Across the world, hospitals and health care facilities have been put to the ultimate test, pushed to their absolute limits. To help ease the burden on the Polish health care system, LG supported the 29th Annual Grand Finale fundraiser hosted by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (GOCC), the largest independent non-profit charity in Poland, to raise money that will be used to help care for the nation’s most vulnerable children. Since 1993, the GOCC has been supporting and promoting health care in Poland by purchasing state-of-the-art medical equipment for the nation’s hospitals and clinics, as well as establishing and running several medical and educational programs. The charity’s Grand Finale fundraiser on January 31 was packed to the brim with events, activities, concerts and sporting challenges that brought diverse communities together for non-stop fun and fund raising. By reaching out to regions with thriving Polish communities, the GOCC was also able to set up 79 international Collection Centres in locations such as Singapore, Bali, Mexico and as far away as a research station at the North Pole. LG kitted the Grand Finale TV studio out with 80 LG monitors, among them professional 4K LG UltraFine monitors with Ergo stands for use by studio volunteers during the grueling 27 hour long fundraiser that was televised nationally and streamed live on the Grand Finale website. To raise awareness and encourage more people to get involved, LG Poland also donated a smart LG Vivace washer dryer with Allergy Care to the Grand Finale’s online charity auction. Featuring steam to disinfect clothes and eliminate germs, LG Vivace proved to be a highly sought after product, attracting a host of bidders. To bring even more viewers and donations to the table, LG and partners promoted the GOCC 2021 event continuously on their social media channels. Photo Credit: Lukasz Widziszowski “With everything that has been going on and the social-distancing restrictions in place, this year we decided to focus on a digital fundraiser to introduce our kindhearted benefactors to donating online.” said GOCC spokesperson Olga Zawada. “Preliminary results totaled PLN 127,495,626 (USD 34.2 million), making it one of the highest preliminary amounts we’ve raised in our almost 30-year history, thanks in large part to online donations.” All proceeds from the auction were used to purchase potentially life-changing medical equipment for laryngology, otolaryngology and head diagnostics. Jerzy Owsiak, Chairman, GOCC (Photo Credit: Marcin Wichon) In an interview at the studio, Jerzy Owsiak, Chairman of the Board of the GOCC, personally thanked LG Poland for its contribution to the Grand Finale and LG’s entire Poland team is proud to have been able to support this noble initiative that shares LG’s goals – to make lives better. By LG Poland Staff # # # View the full article

In the Korea press, readers will often run across the term MZ Generation. No, this isn’t a new K-Pop group but a forced pairing of two groups – Millennials and Gen Z – which the rest of the world views as separate and distinct demographic cohorts. Separating consumers into different generations is useful for researchers and social scientists, who measure and document differences in attitudes and behaviors. Similar to how the term untact marketing was coined in South Korea to refer to connecting with consumers intimately but in a safer, more convenient and era-appropriate manner, MZ Generation is meant to more effectively describe the new consumer target that has quickly become the focus of many brands. Millennials (born 1981-1996) and Gen Z (born 1997-2012) cohorts may be distinctly separate in age but there are many similarities in the two groups as well, and this is the point that Koreans seem to find more compelling. After all, according to the Pew Research Center, “generational cutoff points aren’t an exact science.” Photo Credit: Life’s Good Film What makes Millennials and Z Gen similar – and what Koreans find more relevant, it seems – are that both demographics are digitally fluent, come from diverse backgrounds, care about social justice and climate change, and tend to be more educated than previous generations. When entering adulthood, both have been impacted by economic downturns and uncertainty, such as the 2008 financial crisis and the current COVID-19 pandemic. On a deeper level, MZ share common characteristics in their relationship with brands – it’s all about transparency and authenticity. Both want brands to mirror their values and dynamically cater to their preferences. Such values and preferences can range from beauty/fashion brands featuring ‘real’ women of various colors/shapes/sizes in their campaigns (i.e. Dove), to food/beverage brands becoming more health-centric/using natural ingredients (i.e. Chipotle), to automotive brands making conscious efforts towards conserving the environment via expansion into renewable energy (i.e. Tesla), and so on. Note that all of the reference brands are some of MZ’s favorites. Photo Credit: UNICEF Where does this obsession with transparency and authenticity come from? It’s fair to assume that such values developed in the post-modern, digital world – as MZers have increasingly grown up with social media, often facing challenges of maintaining their online personas and real-world-selves, as well as discovering truths in seas of misinformation/fake news, they are in constant pursuit of discovering authentic and transparent initiatives. If a brand promotes a CSR initiative in a developing country, MZ want to know about it. A brand pledges to become carbon neutral by 2025? They want to know about that as well. MZers are attracted to activities that reflect their values, especially in the context of the brands’ missions – a quality uniquely distinct from any prior generation. Photo Credit: Bloomberg MZ also strive to become the best versions of themselves, expecting brands to play an active role in that journey. Whether by helping them live more sustainably by providing reusable packaging with their foods/beverages, or educating them on how to participate in social justice campaigns by providing resources on how to donate to particular causes, or building platforms via social media channels where MZ can have a voice and make creative contributions. Through such intentional initiatives, supporting MZ in terms of their self-improvement and yet providing them autonomy, brands can become the young generation’s ally and work together to make life truly good. In that vein, LG has launched the MZ Project aimed at handing the content and creative power over to the young generation, thereby empowering them to craft their own stories and personal brands – be it through music or film. As LG “encourages their diverse and limitless possibilities,” MZ is encouraged to continue their creative and positive contributions to the world, especially in times of such incredible uncertainty. At the cusp of major milestones in life, MZers are still exploring and learning to understand the complicated nuances of the world – and to have a brand helping them engage with their peers/inspirations, as well as get closer to achieving their dreams, makes their lives a bit easier to navigate. And that’s exactly what LG wants to communicate to MZ – that no matter what they do and where they are, LG is there to support their creative endeavors and ensure that ultimately… Life’s Good. By Jamie Waltzer, LG Brand Strategy Task # # # View the full article

It’s the time of year when the world of home appliances turns its full attention to one of the biggest consumer appliance exhibitions of them all, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS). In line with every tradeshow in recent memory, this year’s edition of KBIS was held in an entirely virtual world last week, from February 9 to 11. LG Electronics was there to share its latest premium home and kitchen appliances to builders, interior designers and industry professional alike with its broad portfolio of differentiated brands – from its luxury Signature Kitchen Suite appliance line to its design and innovation-driven LG STUDIO offering, as well as iconic air care and vacuum cleaner products. For the first time, LG STUDIO is adding laundry solutions to its portfolio with the unveiling of LG STUDIO WashTower and LG STUDIO Styler at KBIS 2021. LG STUDIO WashTower is an industry-first, single-unit, vertical laundry solution that takes up half the floor space, while the LG STUDIO Styler refreshes, deodorizes and sanitizes clothing with the gentle power of steam. Designed to work hard and look good, LG STUDIO models offer exclusive features such as expanded capacity and elevated finishes like Noble Steel. The LG STUDIO WashTower also captured the coveted “Design Bites” distinction which recognizes top innovations unveiled at the show. Signature Kitchen Suite is LG’s brand driving innovation in the luxury, built-in kitchen appliance market. New for this year is the expansion of its award-winning line of wine column refrigerators with an advanced new undercounter model unveiled at KBIS 2021. LG’s exclusive Wine Cave Technology maintains the perfect conditions for storage, minimizing vibrations and temperature fluctuations while limiting light exposure and optimizing humidity. The companion Signature Sommelier app helps wine connoisseurs manage entire collections and is the first smart software that learns preferences and makes wine recommendations, including food and wine pairings, based on the wines stored in the user’s cellar. LG’s lasted innovations, including its InstaView® slide-in ranges and AirFry ProBake and Air Sous Vide cooking features, will be found in the LG Core Zone. First unveiled at CES® 2021, see these products come to life in artfully designed home renderings. See LG’s ultra-large capacity InstaView French Door refrigerators and side-by-side refrigerators with an expanded InstaView window and flat panel doors, all featuring the company’s exclusive slow-melting Craft Ice spheres along with cubed and crushed ice options. See LG WashTower and Styler steam closets take laundry to the next level while LG PuriCare air purifiers and CordZero vacuums with all-new auto-empty charging station help make keeping a healthier home easier than ever. To see more of LG at KBIS, go to www.lgvirtualshowroom.com/enter/core. # # # View the full article

The world endured drastic changes last year with everyone doing their best to adjust to the new environment. One thing businesses, families and society in general had in common was the greater reliance on technology to get them through this crisis. Innovation and the advancement of technology never ceases but the pandemic has made this evolution happen at an accelerated pace. Below are five hot topic keywords culled from leading research institution’s trend reports that are likely to dominate and heavily influence our lives in 2021: #virtual #VirtualInfluencer #AI #AIXExchange #LGCLOi #Robots #GuideBot #ServeBot #ChefBot #BaristaBot #UVrobot #LGPuriCare #LGPuriCareWearableAirPurifier #LGCordZero #LGPuriCare360AirPurifier #LGdishwasher #LGStyler #LGgram #LGUltraWide #LGUltraGear #LGUltraFine #LGTransparentOLED #LGOLEDSignage #mobility #LGOLEDAutomotiveDisplay #LGMagnaJointVenture #LGHyundaiIONIQConceptCabin # # # The Shape of Reality is Changing: PwC “Seeing Is believing” Report (2019), https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/technology/ publications/assets/how-virtual-reality-and-augmented-reality.pdf Robotics: IFR “Service Robots” Record (2020), https://ifr.org/news/service-robots-record-sales-worldwide-up-32 Hygiene: Study conducted by University of Arizona, https://www.ciriscience.org/a_96-Study-Reveals-High-Bacteria-Levels-on-Footwear Evolution of Home: PwC “US Remote Work” Survey (2021), https://www.pwc.com/us/en/library/covid-19/us-remote-work-survey.html/ Mobility: IHS Markit “Car of the Future” Infographic (2019), https://cdn.ihsmarkit.com/www/pdf/1219/414806070-1019-YJ-AUT-CarOfTheFuture-Infographic-LoRes.pdf View the full article