LG announces a first monitor with Nano IPS technology-- the 32UK950, a 32-inch UHD 4K number featuring HDR600 support for even higher dynamic range peak brightness and Thunderbolt 3 compatibility.

Nano IPS technology involves the addition of nanometer-sized particles to the LED panel. According to LG the particles absorb excess light wavelengths, "greatly enhancing" on-screen colours. The monitor displays 98% of the CI-P3 colour spectrum, making it ideal for prosumers seeking "superb colour reproduction."

The 32UK950 is also the first monitor with surpport for Thunderbolt 3 docking, allowing the setup of dual 4K monitors. It connects to modern notebooks such as the Macbook Pro via single Thunderbolt 3 cable (no charging adapter or USB cables required) transmitting video, audio and 60W power.

Customers wanting to know the HDR capability of a future monitor get a helping hand from the DisplayHDR-- a VESA standard setting baseline HDR quality levels for PC displays.

Developed with the input of over two dozen member companies, the High-Performance Monitor and Display Compliance Test Specification (or DisplayHDR) measure 3 distinct levels of HDR performance. These are baseline (DisplayHDR 400), mid-range (DisplayHDR 600) and high-end (DisplayHDR 1000), with each level based on 8 parameters.

According to IDC global monitor shipments total 28.5 million units in Q2 2017-- a -6.4% Y-o-Y decline, although some of the market softness can be attributed to comparison with a strong Q2 2016.

That said, some market issues persist. After all, shipments are also down by -1.2% on a Q-o-Q basis, the first sequential decline on a Q2 since 2014. A mid-year quarter sequential decline is typically sign of the digestion of excess inventory, troubling since Q1 2017 also opened in the red.

However the analyst insists "optimism abounds," particularly around replacements of old monitors approaching end of life, as well as potentially strong back-to-school and holiday seasons. As such, IDC forecasts a -1.7% decline for H2 2017. The full-year 2017 forecast stands at 117m monitors, while Q2 2017 shipments are to total 27.8m, a -2.2% Y-o-Y decline.

Looking further to the future, 2021 shipments are expected to be less than 112m, the result of adoption of mobile devices at lowper price points.

Asus announces a 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 resolution) gaming display-- the VP28UQG, a 28-inch monitor featuring a TN film panel with a grey-to-grey response time of just 1ms.

Being aimed at the gamer market, the VP28UQG supports AMD FreeSync adaptive v-sync technology and includes a number of "Asus GamePlus" features. These include OSD crosshairs, frame-rate counters and game genre-specific display presents. Maximum refresh rate reaches 60Hz, and it can smoothly drop to 40Hz to reduce screen tearing or choppiness when paired with a compatible graphics card.

Further specs include 10-bit colour support, maximum brightness of 300cd/m² and 1000:1 static contrast-ratio. Flicker-free and low blue light technologies boost eye comfort, while colour preset modes incde 3 screen tone modes and 4 colour temperature presets. Connectivity includes DisplayPort 1.2a and x2 HDMI v2.0 ports, with a 3.5mm jack for audio pass-through.

The AOC I1659FWUX is a portable 16-inch monitor featuring 1920 x 1080 resolution, USB 3.0 connectivity and a stand allowing customers to use it in either landscape or portrait mode.

The monitor features a glossy piano black plastic case, and carries an IPS panel with 60Hz refresh rate, 700:1 contrast ratio and 160-degree viewing angles. As mentioned earlier the stand allows either landscape or portrait use, and an auto-rotation feature is built-in.

The Video Electronics Standards Group (VESA) forms a special interest group (SIG) to address the standards covering the virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) markets.

As the creator of multiple display standards, such as DisplayPort, Embedded DisplayPort (eDP), EDID and DisplayID, VESA should be well positioned to investigate AR/VR compatability issues. Currently the industry lacks a standard covering head-mounted displays and eyeglasses, leading to increasing confusion and complexity for both developers and customers, impeding broader acceptance of such products.

The VESA AR/VR SIG is open to both VESA members and non-members, and will discuss the needs of all ecosystem players, namely headset makers, glass makers, and other types of providers. The SIG will work with other VESA task groups and other standards organisations to build a "robust ecosystem," starting from physical connections, data transfer protocols, software drivers and application layers.

Studio F.A. Porsche designs the latest AOC monitors series-- the Porsche Design Series (PDS), available in 24-inch (PDS241) and 27-inch (PDS271) sizes, both sitting on a unique asymmetrical stand.

The two monitors feature ultra-slim bezels on the left, right and top, and the minimalist chassis is just 5.2mm thick. Resolution is 1920 x 1080, and the AH-IPS panel offers "SuperColor WCG" technology for greater colour gamut (100% sRGB and 90% NTSC colour space) and super wide viewing angles.

Display panel refresh rate clocks at 60Hz, response time is 4ms, contrast ratio is listed at 1000:1 and brightness rating is 250 cd/m2. Also included are AOC Low Blue Light and Flicker-Free technology.

Philips announces the 349X7FJEW-- a 34-inch curved monitor featuring an UltraWide QHD VA panel with 3440 x 1440 resolution, 1800R screen curvature and wide colour gamut support.

The monitor has a design complete with an edge-to-edge display and subtle curves on the chrome and glass stand. The stand offers height and tilt adjustment, and users can replace it with a VESA mount. A LowBlue mode reduces eye fatigue, while AMD FreeSync support reduces stuttering, tearing or motion blur when paired with a compatible graphics card.