iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
In July 1999, EE Times reported that South Korean CRT makers were preparing to challenge Japanese manufacturers’ reported monopoly on flat-TV CRT production. The accessible article listing frames the contest as a struggle expected later that year; it does not establish which companies took part or how the contest ended.
What the 1999 report said
EE Times published B.H. Seo’s article, “Koreans to challenge Japanese in flat CRT production,” on July 21, 1999. Its listing lead says South Korean CRT makers were “bracing for a fierce struggle later this year” with Japanese manufacturers that “now hold a monopoly on flat-TV CRT production.” That is the publication’s summary, not a quotation attributed to a named interviewee. Read the EE Times listing.
The available listing establishes the story’s central point: a reported competitive challenge in a specialized part of television manufacturing. It does not name the Korean companies, specify production capacity or investment plans, or identify who later won production share. Those details cannot be inferred from the headline and lead.
What “flat CRT” means
A cathode-ray tube (CRT) forms an image by directing electron beams onto a phosphor-coated screen. In television marketing and technical descriptions, “flat” can refer to the visible front surface without meaning that the tube is flat throughout: a screen may look flat from the outside while retaining substantial curvature on its inner surface.
#1 Best Overall
- Bright, clear picture: Bring entertainment to life on our 24" flat screen TV with bright 720p HD—perfect for bedrooms, kitchens, and beyond. Roku Smart Picture cleans up incoming TV signals, optimizes them, and chooses the right picture mode.
- Seamless streaming: With fast Wi-Fi and apps that launch in a snap, Roku Select Series TVs get you to your entertainment quickly. You get excellent picture quality, clear sound, automatic updates, and more. It’s simple to use. Hard to outgrow.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
- A world of free entertainment: Enjoy a huge selection of free live TV, news, sports, movies, shows, and much more—all just a click away.
- More streaming, less searching: With personalized picks right on your Home Screen, quick access to the sports and entertainment you watch most, and fast and easy search in one place—the days of endless scrolling are over.
The CRT overview describes LG Flatron as an exception with flat inner and outer surfaces. It says the design used bonded glass and a tensioned rim band for implosion protection. These distinctions help explain why “flat-TV CRT” was a meaningful product category, but the available EE Times listing does not say which precise tube designs the 1999 contest involved. See the CRT overview.
How slimmer CRT designs fit the wider story
Manufacturers also worked on reducing CRT depth, an important drawback of conventional tube televisions. The overview associates Superslim and Ultraslim designs with LG.Philips Displays and Vixlim with Samsung SDI. These names provide broader context for efforts to keep CRT televisions competitive; they are not verified as products or companies mentioned in Seo’s 1999 article.
Rank #2
- 13-inch combo TV/DVD player; measures 14.25 x 15 x 14.4 inches (W x H x D)
- Compatibility with DVD movie, CD audio,CD-R/CD-RW, DVD-R, and VCD discs
- JPEG Viewer enables you to create slideshows with digital photos stored on disc
- Digital coaxial audio output connects to your multi-channel audio/video receiver for surround sound content
- Glow-key remote control, icon-based on-screen displays, V-chip, and an auto-clock
Flatness and depth addressed different physical characteristics: a flatter face changed the screen surface, while a slimmer tube sought to reduce the space the set occupied from front to back. The available sources do not support a model-by-model comparison of performance, price, or market share.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWhat happened to CRTs afterward
The later history should not be mistaken for the immediate result of the 1999 competition. The CRT overview describes the technology as eventually displaced by flat-panel displays and reports that Samsung SDI stopped CRT production in 2012. That retrospective context shows how the industry changed, but it does not reveal which manufacturers gained ground in the particular contest EE Times previewed.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- RCA to HDMI Converter: Converts analog RCA composite (Yellow, White, Red) input to HDMI 720P/1080P output on HDTVs/Monitors. Only support RCA to HDMI. NOT Support HDMI to RCA!
- Plug to Play: AV to HDMI converter doesn't need extra drivers, just plug and play, easy to use. Please hook up the USB power cable (included) to 5V power adapter when using this RCA to HDMI adapter.
- Wide Compatibility: This av hdmi converter supports for all standard TV formats such as PAL, NTSC3.58, NTSC4.43, SECAM, PAL/M, PAL/N. Provide advanced signal processing and make videos come to life.
- Extensive Use: Composite to HDMI converter widely applied to PS2, PS3, Xbox, N64, WII, STB, VHS, VCR, DVD Players and other devices with standard composite AV input.
- Attention & Package: Please ensure to connect this rca to hdmi converter to power source to make it work. Package include: 1x RCA to HDMI Converter, 1* Micro USB cable (adapter not included), 1*User Manual. Please free feel to contact us if you have any product problems.
Rank #3
- 1:10.1"TV screen is full HD
- 2:Small TV built-in, ATSC tuner to receive your favourite local free-to-air TV programmes
- 3:Main formats compatible with the TV's USB port: AVI, MOV, MPEG 1, MPEG 2, MPEG 3, MPEG4, XVID, AVC, MP4, H.264, HEVC(H.265), FLV, MKV, MP3, JPEG, WMV, RMVB, AVI, MKY, 3GP
- 4:HDMI and AV inputs:This portable TV offers enhanced compatibility with a wide range of devices.Sync up to HD 1080P video from your to this TV via HDMI/AV cable (not included). You can also connect many other devices to this small TV, such as DVD player, TV sticks, Xbox, game consoles,kindle fire, computer, camera,and more
- 5:Package accessories: 10.1inchportable TV, AC adapter, manual, remote control, antenna, car 12v cable
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

