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Local Double A Baseball

Friday night I'm taking in a local Baseball game. It is the Wichita Wind Surge who are in last place in the Double A Texas League North. With a brand new team and stadium a couple of years back I had aspirations of being a devout fan with season tickets. I realized quickly that it was no longer a poor man's entertainment and have not followed the team at all. I wouldn't be attending a game Friday but my daughter's second graders are being recognized for some sort of reading achievement and she has free tickets. We went last year.. same deal.. and had a good time. The stadium is top notch. It's way over priced but nice. I miss the old stadium and the cheap seats.

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[Executive Corner] Orchestrating “Affectionate Intelligence” With AI Processors Exclusive to LG OLED

Imagine a TV that not only delivers your favorite shows in incredible picture quality but also connects with you on a deeper level. That concept is no longer bound to imagination, as LG’s latest TVs are capable of understanding what you want and need, tailoring every moment you spend with it through ‘Affectionate Intelligence.’ This is the essence of LG’s unwavering commitment to crafting empathetic algorithms through three decades of technological innovation. This ethos seamlessly extends to the development of its AI chipsets, which are designed to foster more meaningful TV interactions.​

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As a testament to this dedication, LG’s Alpha AI processor, engineered exclusively for its OLED TVs, made its global debut a decade ago as one of the biggest breakthroughs in TV processing technology history. This AI-powered processor is constantly evolving based on customer feedback, which guarantees a TV experience that only gets better with time.

Amidst the widespread adoption of OLED panels, LG OLED TVs set themselves apart courtesy of the first OLED-dedicated AI processor. This processor leverages advanced algorithms and cutting-edge upscaling technology to unlock uncharted levels of picture quality within LG OLED TVs.​

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Various processing technologies continue to evolve with AI, notably showcasing significant performance enhancements in the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) – essential for affectionate intelligence – with a remarkable surge of 400 percent. LG’s latest OLED evo TVs1 are equipped with the new α (Alpha) 11 AI processor which boosts processing speeds by 30 percent compared to its predecessor.

What’s more, LG’s premium AI processing technology has expanded to LG QNED TVs, taking the performance of its high-end LCD TV lineup to new levels. LG QNED TVs feature the Alpha 8 AI processor to achieve a 1.3-fold increase in AI performance and 1.6-fold increase in processing speed compared to its predecessor. These remarkable advancements come together to form a powerful yet refined audiovisual experience that heightens the audience’s sense of immersion.

At the core of LG’s AI TVs lies a deep understanding of the user’s preferences, habits and desires. Seeking to enrich the home entertainment experience with versatile personalization and added convenience, the latest LG AI TVs can recognize voices based on unique webOS profiles, making it easier to deliver personalized recommendations based on their personal viewing history.​

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This user-centric approach lets users access their favorite or most-used content and services in an instant, while Picture Wizard works to tailor picture quality to their preferences to foster a deeper understanding and connection. Picture Wizard lets users pick from a range of image options, so that they can fine-tune images to their liking and receive greater viewing satisfaction without having to learn everything there is to know about technical aspects such as brightness, contrast or sharpness.

With sound quality now deemed just as important as image quality in completing the viewing experience, AI processing technologies have been evolving to help the TV’s audio performance catch up. AI Sound Pro offers richer and fuller audio while the LG TV’s built-in speakers produce virtual 11.1.2 surround sound to heighten immersion. The AI can even enhance dialogue clarity by separating vocals from the soundtrack, making it seem like sounds are emanating naturally from the screen’s center. Moreover, WOW Orchestra creates three-dimensional audio which works in unison with the TV’s built-in speakers and compatible LG soundbars, creating a unified sound together.​

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LG’s focus on the webOS smart TV platform, which powers over 200 million smart TVs, is clear for everyone to see. webOS enriches everyday life experiences with versatile personalization and enhanced convenience in the form of individual profiles, voice recognition and recommendations based on viewing history. With its extensive user base, LG is set to maintain a strong presence in targeted advertising, FAST and content streaming services.

Lastly, the webOS Re:New program2 offers the latest webOS upgrade to existing LG Smart TV owners to guarantee the most up-to-date TV experience for the next five years. That means consumers purchasing an LG OLED TV or LG QNED TV launched in 2024 can benefit from the latest webOS platform until 2028.

To explore the various efforts the LG Home Entertainment Company is making to curate life-enriching experiences for every kind of user, stay tuned to the LG Newsroom.​

By Jung Jae-chul, home entertainment research and development lab leader of HE R&D Lab at LG Electronics

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1 LG OLED evo M4 and G4 models.
2 Pop-up notifications offering a full upgrade without the need to select specific UX, UI or features are only sent to customers who have agreed to receive them. Please note that this upgrade does not cover the TV’s hardware performance, features or durability.

Source: LG

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[Customers at Heart] LG’s Commitment to World-Class Customer Service

In the first episode of the ‘Customers at Heart’ series, we take a closer look at how HiTeleservice – LG’s dedicated customer service subsidiary – is enhancing the customer experience through improved customer service around the world.

In the cutthroat world of business, having a great product isn’t enough. Companies need to excel in distribution, marketing and innovation to stay ahead. But even with all that, poor customer service can destroy a brand’s reputation and the loyalty it took years to build.

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LG knows this well and is stepping up its game in customer service on a global scale. The goal is to create a standout customer experience by applying its proven customer care expertise from home to abroad.

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This year marks the start of a new chapter, with HiTeleservice – LG’s customer service arm – setting up a robust support system to help boost the performance of LG’s service centers worldwide. HiTeleservice’s expert Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) will take the lead, sharing their knowledge and skills in customer service practices, talent development and operational strategies internationally.

The plan is to iron out any differences in service quality that come from cultural and operational variances, aiming for consistently high service standards everywhere LG operates. With Customer Care Centers in over 40 countries, supporting more than 50 languages, LG is serious about providing top-notch support, whether online or offline.

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HiTeleservice is now ready to roll out significant support after a thorough review of LG’s global customer service operations. The first step is to upgrade the skills of global CSRs with best practices in customer service, focusing on problem-solving from the customer’s viewpoint. They’ll also get access to English training materials from LG’s learning platform.

But it’s not just about a one-off training session. LG is building a system for ongoing CSR talent development and providing advice for running an efficient organization. This long-term strategy is all about keeping service standards high through continuous improvement.

Moreover, HiTeleservice will offer comprehensive training programs to its own CSRs, including language skills for better global communication and specialized training to hone their core competencies. The aim is to develop customer service pros capable of providing expert advice whenever and wherever they’re called for assistance overseas.

In accordance with its recent reinterpretation of AI as Affectionate Intelligence, LG believes that AI can be harnessed to foster more compassionate and understanding customer experiences. Consequently, the company is progressively incorporating AI into its customer service operations.

One such AI innovation is ‘Smile Plus,’ a customer service call system that uses AI to boost the speed and precision of CSR responses. It offers CSRs a comprehensive view of various customer data, including purchase, delivery, installation and service histories from all touchpoints, such as the website, LG ThinQ app and service call records.

Additionally, LG has devised and implemented an AI-driven feature, ‘STT/TA (Speech-to-Text/Text Analysis),’ which transcribes customers’ verbal expressions into text in real-time, eliminating superfluous tasks and averting miscommunication. STT/TA is also capable of understanding the context of the service call and proposing optimal solutions. Furthermore, LG intends to launch its ‘AI Voicebot,’ an autonomous service call solution presently in the development phase, within the year. This service is designed to handle straightforward inquiries during peak service call times or when calls are experiencing delays.

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LG’s dedication to customer service goes beyond the Customer Care Center. It includes sales and repairs, spreading its high service standards across the globe. This involves sending experts to train staff on-site in other countries and hosting group training sessions for overseas personnel. Since 2011, LG has been sharing its successful Korean sales strategies with teams in the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Southeast Asia.

In essence, LG is not just selling products; it’s delivering an experience. And with this new initiative, it’s committed to offering each customer, regardless of their location, an unparalleled level of service.​

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Source: LG

Google Clock Alarm Off/Snooze Behaviour

I want to ask if anyone else is seeing an odd behaviour with the standard Google clock app alarm, regarding the Off & Snooze buttons when the alarm is triggered. I'm still running a Galaxy S10+ these days, am satisfied with it until I find an offer I can't refuse to upgrade.

I've noticed the functionality of the buttons keeps switching back and forth every few months from a slider to push buttons. Since two days ago, the alarm shutoff screen is a slider - slide right Off and slide left Snooze. But for the past 3 months it had been two distinct push buttons - Snooze on the left and Off on the right, with the action being a touch of either button.

Have seen it happen over and over several times in the past 3 years, and am curious whether it's tied to periodic updates or some feature that I'm not aware of; there is no setting that manages this behaviour. While the main function of the buttons isn't impaired, it's odd to wake up groggily trying to figure out if I should touch the Off button or slide the center button to turn Off. Only once had it impacted me, when it was in slider mode and I accidentally turned it on Snooze instead of Off, getting surprised a few minutes later while getting dressed and suddenly the alarm rings out again.

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LG TVs Pioneer Immersive Audio Experience With Apple Music in Spatial Audio With Dolby Atmos

LG Smart TV Users Receive 3-Month Free Trial for Apple Music, Celebrating
First Arrival of Apple Music’s Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos Available on TVs

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SEOUL, May 2, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) introduces a new and thrilling feature on its smart TVs for users who enjoy streaming music. LG Smart TVs, including OLED models and QNED models with Dolby Atmos®,1 are the first TVs to support Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos from Apple Music. Available starting this week, the trailblazing immersive music experience mesmerizes listeners with compelling sound and elevates audio pleasure to new heights.

To celebrate this remarkable milestone, LG is offering three months of Apple Music free to LG Smart TV users worldwide.2 The 3-month free trial is available within the Apple Music app of compatible LG Smart TVs (2018 models and later) running webOS 4.0 and higher, as well as lifestyle screen models StanbyME, StanbyME Go and MyView Smart Monitor.

Apple Music is an ad-free streaming service with a massive library that allows subscribers to listen to over 100 million songs and 30,000 expertly curated playlists. Apple Music also presents a range of exclusive content including Apple Music Live, a concert series featuring live video stream, a post-show video playback, live-recorded albums and exclusive pre-show artist interviews. LG Smart TV users can effortlessly access Apple Music by voice command, in the LG Content Store, Apps or through the Music Quick Card3 on the Home Screen, which serves as a convenient portal to uninterrupted listening entertainment.

Music available in Dolby Atmos further enriches the audio experience, delivering an elevated level of clarity and depth with multi-dimensional sound. Apple Music automatically plays Dolby Atmos tracks on compatible LG Smart TVs, and when paired with Dolby Atmos-enabled LG soundbar models, the sound harmonizes to immerse listeners in a next-level listening experience. What’s more, there’s no need to adjust the volume when you switch to listening Dolby Atmos tracks, thanks to the loudness normalization algorithm implemented.

Even on LG Smart TVs not supported by Dolby Atmos, users can still enjoy mesmerizing sound of Dolby Atmos by connecting to a Dolby Atmos LG soundbar.4 LG Smart TVs can also directly connect to Apple AirPod or other Apple devices via Bluetooth to enjoy Dolby Atmos.

Songs and albums available in Dolby Atmos are clearly labeled on Apple Music with a badge on the album’s detail page. Music lovers can easily explore their favorite tunes available in Dolby Atmos with Apple Music’s extensive range of curated playlists.

“The introduction of Dolby Atmos through Apple Music on LG TVs transforms how we listen to music on the big screen,” said Chris Jo, senior vice-president of platform business at LG Home Entertainment Company. “LG is dedicated to elevating the content streaming experience for music enthusiasts around the world, and we will continue to offer easy access to and great music experience across devices.”

LG continues to elevate the audio experience with immersive sound and a diverse range of content. LG Smart TV users can effortlessly help users discover new features and services through the easy-to-use webOS platform.​

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1 Apple Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos is available on LG OLED TV models launched from 2018 to 2024 and QNED TV models Q90T and above.
2 The promotion will commence in 137 markets on April 30, and on September 1 in the UK. The promotion will conclude in all markets on April 29, 2025.
3 Music Quick Card is available on LG 2022 TVs (4K and 8K OLED, QNED), 2023 and 2024 TV models (UHD and above models).
4 Feature is available when pairing to the Dolby Atmos-supported LG soundbar such as 2024 models: S95TR, S90TY, S90TR, S77TY, S75TR, S70TR, S70TY, TV matching models SG10TY, SC9S; 2023 models: SE6S, S77S or 2022 models: S95QR, S90QY, S80QR, S80QY, S75Q.

Source: LG

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Samsung and O2 Telefónica Launch vRAN and Open RAN Network in Germany

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Samsung Electronics and O2 Telefónica today announced that the companies have launched their first virtualized RAN (vRAN) and Open RAN commercial site in Germany. It is the first time that Samsung’s 5G vRAN solution is being used in a commercial network in Germany. The site is now operating in Landsberg am Lech, Bavaria, providing high-performance and reliable 4G and 5G services to customers. In the coming months, the companies will expand the vRAN and Open RAN network to seven additional sites in the region, aiming to further extend the Open RAN footprint.



This milestone builds on the companies’ joint initiative, announced in October 2023, where they agreed to develop a roadmap for several tests of vRAN and Open RAN technologies. Following the extensive trials, O2 Telefónica and Samsung are now progressing from lab to field with the launch of this first commercial site.



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▲ O2 Telefónica and Samsung switched on their first vRAN and Open RAN commercial site in Germany




“We are taking another big step in our Open RAN journey. Together with Samsung, we are utilizing the latest Open RAN technologies in our mobile network. On the way to the network of the future, we are integrating new network solutions to provide our customers with outstanding connectivity. Open RAN is a building block that can help us to automate our network, deploy new updates faster and use network components more flexibly,” said Mallik Rao, Chief Technology & Information Officer of O2 Telefónica.



“Samsung is setting new standards for excellence in the telecommunications industry with our innovative vRAN and Open RAN capabilities. Celebrating Telefónica’s 100th anniversary, we are proud to be the key partner for O2 Telefónica on their trailblazing journey to usher in a new era of connectivity in Germany,” said Junehee Lee, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Sales & Marketing, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics.





Open RAN and vRAN: Bringing Greater Flexibility and Automation


O2 Telefónica is building an even more efficient and future-proof network leveraging modern and advanced RAN technologies, open interfaces and automation capabilities. Open RAN enables greater flexibility in the mobile network. Based on open interfaces, operators can combine network components from different providers and integrate them into their network.



Software-centric vRAN helps the adoption of cloud-native architecture, allowing network operators to better automate functions, introduce new technologies and services to their networks quickly and efficiently. This is important for accelerating network buildouts and adopting new 5G applications, including use cases that require low response speeds, such as virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) or latency-critical applications for enterprises.



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▲ O2 Telefónica is providing reliable mobile connectivity to its customers, leveraging Samsung’s 4G and 5G vRAN and Open RAN solutions






Samsung’s Advanced and Proven Network Solutions


The companies have successfully switched on this first commercial site just three months after the initial shipment of 4G and 5G solutions, leveraging Samsung’s expertise and pre-validated ecosystem proven from large-scale commercial vRAN and Open RAN deployments across the globe.



For the initial deployments, Samsung’s offering includes its market-leading 4G and 5G vRAN 3.0 solution and O-RAN compliant radios supporting low- and mid-bands (700MHz, 800MHz, 1.8GHz 2.1GHz, 2.6GHz and 3.6GHz), including 64T64R Massive MIMO radios. Samsung’s advanced vRAN 3.0 features enhanced capabilities for improved energy efficiency, optimized performance and intelligent automation.



As the next step, the companies will introduce Samsung’s intelligent network automation solutions to control life cycle management — from deployment and operation to maintenance. This O-RAN compliant automation solution offers the ability to accelerate innovative software-based network rollouts by enabling automated deployment of thousands of network sites simultaneously.





About O2 Telefónica
O2 Telefónica is a leading full-service provider of telecommunications services for consumers and business customers. The portfolio of the core brand O2 and various secondary and partner brands includes not only traditional telephony and Internet connections but also innovative digital services in the area of the Internet of Things and data analysis. In mobile communications, O2 Telefónica serves more than 45 million mobile lines (incl. M2M – as of December 31, 2023). No other network operator connects more people in this country. The company’s high-performance, award-winning mobile network reaches over 99% of the population. In the fixed network, O2 Telefónica offers its customers the greatest technological diversity and geographical availability of any provider in Germany. In fiscal year 2023, the company generated revenues of EUR 8.6 billion with around 7,500 employees. The company is majority-owned by the Madrid-based Spanish telecommunications group Telefónica S.A., one of the largest telecommunications groups in the world.

Source: Samsung

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