This is the thinnest TV ever

In the future, commuters will be shuttled around in self-driving cars, and couch potatoes will be able to peel their TVs off of walls.

LG Display (LPL)showed off its newest, thinnest-ever TV panel at a press event in South Korea Tuesday. The 55-inch display is about as thin as a DVD and weighs less than a 13-inch MacBook Pro, which is 4.5 pounds, or 2 kilograms. It can be hung on a wall using a special magnetic mat.

Amazing as it is, the ultra thin TV is only a proof of concept for now -- you won't find it in a Best Buy near you anytime soon. But it shows the potential of OLED, the technology that makes it possible to make high definition displays flexible, thin and lightweight.

At the press event, the head of LG Display's OLED group told reporters the company would increase its OLED production this year.

OLED displays are made from sheets of organic (carbon-based) materials which emit their own light. As a result, manufacturers can eliminate the layer of fluorescent backlighting found in traditional displays, such as LCD screens.

LG and Samsung sell several OLED TV models already, but they cost thousands of dollars, and aren't nearly as thin. It might take another five years for the prices to come down in order for larger OLED displays to be commercially viable, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

The real benefit of OLED technology will most likely be realized within wearables, digital cameras, smartwatches, tablets and mobile devices. The malleable technology provides more saturated colors, higher contrast and greater brightness than LCD displays.

Ryanair profit rises as softer approach widens customer base

Ryanair said full-year earnings jumped 66pc as Europe’s biggest discount carrier ramped up winter capacity and sought to lure a new generation of passengers with a softer approach to customer service.

Profit after tax in the year through March rose to €867m ($948m), Ryanair said in a statement on Tuesday. That’s €247m higher than the top end of predictions made the previous year. For fiscal 2016, the airline predicted profit of €940m to €970m.

Ryanair, which raised its guidance for 2015 earnings five times, is targeting major European airports and looking to tempt passengers away from network airlines such as Deutsche Lufthansa and Air France-KLM Group. With low-cost carriers approaching the end of a what chief executive Michael O’Leary has described as a “land grab” for market share, the Irish airline is extending efforts to broaden its customer appeal into a third year.

LG Watch Urbane review: Android's best Apple Watch rival

The LG Watch Urbane is probably the first smartwatch to take the need for high-end style seriously, but does it pull it off?

Wearable technology has long been criticised for its lack of style; many of the early attempts at smartwatches seemed to take more inspiration fromKnight Rider and Dick Tracy than Tag Heuer or Rolex. But amid growing pressure to extend the appeal of wrist-worn devices beyond sci-fi fanatics and 90s detective cartoon enthusiasts, wearable technology makers have finally started paying attention to fashion.

The industry received a massive boost this year when Apple launched itslong-awaited Watch – a device that some analysts predict will sell 36 million units in its first 12 months. Notably, Apple pitched the Watch as a fashion item rather than simply a gadget, with former supermodel Christy Turlington Burns figuring prominently in the company's promotional activities.

Now other smartwatch makers are being forced to up their game, and ensure that they put as much care into the design of their devices as the functionality. So far, LG has been the most successful on this front, developing first the G Watch R, with a large circular face and sporty design, and now the Watch Urbane, made from luxury materials and with a high-end price tag to match.

With its metal body and stitched leather strap, the LG Watch Urbane clearly hopes to be to Android users what the Apple Watch is to iPhone users. It has a premium feel and, thanks to the latest Android Wear software release, it is has many of the same features as the Apple Watch – including hands-free actions, always-on apps, WiFi support and an emoji recogniser.

However, unlike the Apple Watch, the LG Watch Urbane is bold and distinctive. It immitates traditional watch design and bears more than a passing resemblance to some Michael Kors products – a brand that divides critics. This is not a safe crowdpleaser, it is a distinctive fashion item that customers will either love or loathe.

Internet used by 3.2 billion people in 2015

Nearly half of the global population will be using the internet by the end of this year, according to a new report.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations body, predicts that 3.2 billion people will be online. The population currently stands at 7.2 billion.

About 2 billion of those will be in the developing world, the report added.

But just 89 million will be in countries such as Somalia and Nepal.

These are part of a group of nations described as "least developed countries" by the United Nations, with a combined population of 940 million.

Mobile

There will also be more than 7 billion mobile device subscriptions, the ITU said.

It found that 78 out of 100 people in the US and Europe already use mobile broadband, and 69% of the world has 3G coverage - but only 29% of rural areas are served.

Africa lags behind with just 17.4% mobile broadband penetration.

By the end of the year 80% of households in developed countries and 34% of those in developing countries will have internet access in some form, the report continued.

The study focused on the growth of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector over the past 15 years.

In the year 2000 there were just 400 million internet users worldwide, it said - an eighth of the current figure.

"Over the past 15 years the ICT revolution has driven global development in an unprecedented way," said Brahima Sanou, director of the ITU telecommunication development bureau.

"ICTs will play an even more significant role in the post 2015 development agenda and in achieving future sustainable development goals as the world moves faster and faster towards a digital society."

Amazon's sales reporting change could raise tax bill

Amazon, the global online retailer, is changing the way it records sales in a move that could see it paying more tax.

Transactions carried out in European markets were previously recorded in Luxembourg, with which Amazon had a low-tax agreement.

Now sales made through subsidiaries in the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy will be registered in those countries, the retailer has said.

Amazon had received heavy criticism for its tax avoidance policies.

"More than two years ago, we began the process of establishing local country branches of Amazon EU Sarl, our primary retail operating company in Europe," the company said in a statement.

"As of 1 May, Amazon EU Sarl is recording retail sales made to customers through these branches in the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy.

"Previously, these retail sales were recorded in Luxembourg."

Amazon added that it was "working on opening a branch for France".

In recent years, the European Union has intensified its investigations into the tax deals negotiated by global companies with countries such as Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

It suspects that such deals amount to illegal state aid and distort competition.

Last year, the European Commission - the EU's executive arm - launched a formal investigation into Amazon's tax arrangements with Luxembourg.

And the EU is also looking into tech giant Apple's tax dealings in Ireland, coffee-shop chain Starbucks' dealings in the Netherlands, and Italian carmaker Fiat's agreement with Luxembourg.

China cuts import taxes to boost consumer demand

China will cut import taxes on consumer goods by more than 50% on average in a bid to boost consumer spending.

High tariffs for imported goods have prompted some Chinese consumers to shop abroad or through agents.

By lowering the fees, China may hope to bring some of that consumer spending home.

The government is particularly keen to promote domestic demand as the country is growing at its slowest rate since 2009.

The tariff reduction is an "important measure to create stable growth and push forward structural reform", said the Ministry of Finance.

From 1 June tariffs for Western-style clothing will be reduced to 7-10% from 14-23%.

Taxes on ankle-high boots and sports shoes will be halved to 12%. Import tariffs on skincare products will fall from 5% to 2%.

However, its not just import taxes that drive up the prices of imported consumer goods in China. VAT and other taxes also play a part.

Analysts say consumers in China pay around 20% more for luxury goods than those in Europe.

Google Says It 'Messed Up' Over Race Slur

Google has suspended its Map Maker tool indefinitely after users typing a racist slur were shown the White House.



Google has apologised saying it "messed up" after a search for a racial slur on its maps service pointed users to the White House.

People searching for "n**** house" were shown the residence of Barack Obama, the first black President of the US.

It was flagged up on Wednesday and Google fixed the issue within hours.

But users have pointed out that hundreds of other derogatory terms entered into the search bar can see users directed to specific points on the map.

In a new blog post, the search company said it was "deeply upset" by the problem and was working to overhaul how some of its search algorithms work.

It said: "This week, we heard about a failure in our system - loud and clear.