Cheaper Screens

Good news for cheaper OLEDs: China's huge screen factory is finally rolling at full speed

• BOE has started mass production at its huge new factory in China
• It's cranking out OLED panels for use in monitors, laptops and other devices
• These OLEDs will be more affordable, and provide competition to drive down pricing with the dominant players, LG and Samsung

In a move that's set to usher in more affordable OLED monitors and laptops, BOE has officially flicked the switch to crank the production lines into action for its Generation 8.6 panels.

The Elec reports that mass production of Generation 8.6 OLEDs began this week at BOE over in China, with the manufacturer holding an event in Chengdu to celebrate the milestone.

Apart from the technical interest and a further indication that China is doing things that Europe can't, perhaps there is another hint that the world may still be moving away from the written word.

There are two videos and a picture embedded in the above article and the previous blog post to this one was a parody video which said things in a way that the written word never could.

Major politicians may emit spoken words that make little or no sense, but in doing so they may also have their faces transmitted to millions of screens. The words are heard, the screens are seen. Politically, which matters more?

 

A Makerfield Win For Our Andy!

Among the chuckles, a number of nails are hit on the head here.

 

Clearly unsustainable

BBC 'loses 300,000' licence payers as 'clearly unsustainable' licence fee considered

The BBC lost 300,000 licence fee payers in the last 12 months, an MP told the Commons as the corporation came under pressure, announcing major job cuts. At Culture, Media and Sport, a Tory MP branded the BBC's financial model 'clearly unsustainable'.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is overseeing a comprehensive review of the BBC's funding and governance to ensure the broadcaster remains financially sustainable and independent for decades. Her review, launched in late 2025 as part of the Charter renewal process, focuses on modernising how the BBC is funded as viewing habits change.

Conservative Nigel Huddleston said: "Last year the BBC lost another 300,000 licence fee payers. The BBC's current scale and financial model is clearly unsustainable. Yesterday the BBC announced controversial cuts, including "The World Tonight" and "Money Box Live", without anyone in Parliament expressing a view. That is not right.

Below is a good question from the comments, but it's no good expecting a coherent answer from Lisa Nandy, her job is to make sure the state broadcaster survives. 

Lee Simpson
I haven't watched the BBC in years, yet I still have to pay the licence fee because I like to watch live football on Sky Sports which I also pay a subscription for. I am basically paying twice. Why?

People who talk all the time

On a recent holiday bus journey, Mrs H and I found ourselves sitting a few seats in front of an old chap and male companion. For the entire journey of about 40 minutes, the old chap didn't stop talking apart from a few brief observations from his friend. We don’t know what he was talking about though, in these cases we’re fairly good at ignoring content.

We came across another example over coffee in an M5 service area. The were four people at the next table, two men and two women and one of the women was another non-stop talker. There were three other people who could have said something, but there was no need, they mostly left it to the constant talker. She was still talking when they left.

Common enough of course, but what keeps listeners listening to non-stop talkers? Maybe they don’t, we certainly didn’t.

When issues aren't issues

Some interesting results from the Makerfield by-election, especially when we consider issues which are supposed to be politically important.

• Howling Laud Hope (Loony) -45 (0.10%)
• John Dyer (Ind) – 37 (0.08%)
• Peter Ward (Rejoin) – 35 (0.08%)
• Dan Clarke (Libertarian) – 18 (0.04%)
• Ed Gemmell (Climate) – 18 (0.04%)

Hmm- Ed Gemmell of the Climate Party secured fewer votes than Howling Laud Hope of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party and so did Peter Ward of the Rejoin EU Party.

Will Ed Miliband take note of how voters view climate change?

Will Keir Starmer take note of how voters view the EU?

Nope, they don't need to, these issues aren't issues if the political focus isn't on them.

Look, a squirrel!

Historic crucial pivotal crunch

That's it, our holiday is over so early tomorrow morning we'll be trundling back up the M5 to sunny Derbyshire. Meanwhile we're finishing off the stock of ginger biscuits we brought with us all the way from Derbyshire in case Devon doesn't have any.

Tomorrow morning, as we grab a hasty coffee before setting off, we may even miss early news about the result of that historic crucial pivotal crunch Makerfield by-election, but every cloud...

Out on the tiles

Deadly danger: Employers' liability insurance association warns of solar boom risks

A total of 74 workers died on German construction sites in 2025. Of these, 26 died as a result of a crash. 15 of these fatal accidents occurred on roofs. The employers' liability insurance association therefore warns of additional dangers due to the boom in photovoltaic systems. This is because more and more fitters, electricians and maintenance workers are working on hard-to-reach roof surfaces. Missing fuses, brittle components and unsuitable access can have fatal consequences there...

Photovoltaic systems take more workers to dangerous heights

Roofs have long since ceased to protect buildings from wind and precipitation. They now also serve as locations for photovoltaic systems and other technical facilities. As a result, assembly, maintenance, repair and cleaning work increases significantly. However, many solar panels are located in areas that are difficult for workers to reach.


When we had a new roof last year, the roofer told us we should contact him before installing solar panels as he'd come across a number of dodgy solar installations. Cowboy installers drilling through roof tiles for example, or not replacing tiles correctly.

Not that we intend to have solar panels on our nice new roof.