So who needs a cable box anymore when there are app-laden, internet-connected smart TVs everywhere? That’s a question a lot of people have been asking, and one that got a lot more interesting at the CES keynote presentation by Samsung’s Boo-Keun Yoon.
Yoon, along with Comcast president Brian Roberts, announced a new partnership between the two companies that puts access to Comcast’s Xfinity service on Samsung’s smart TVs. Through a new “web-like” interface, users can search though TV programing and video-on-demand offerings as well as program their DRVs for recording, all though a smart TV interface without going to the menu on a set-top-box. A similar level of access will be available on Samsung’s Galaxy tablet PCs and will allow users to view streaming content on the portable device.
But Comcast isn’t the only new TV partner. Time Warner Cable’s CEO Glenn Britt also joined Yoon in announcing that Time Warner Cable customers will be able to access their subscription content on Samsung smart TVs and the tablet PCs. TWC already announced a similar feature for Sony smart TVs earlier this week.
One of the features of the new TWC app (available on Samsung’s app marketplace on their TVs) will allow users to access DVR content from any smart TV in the house without the need for additional set-top-boxes. This function can greatly extend the user’s TV subscription without the additional box rental fee.
Sony has announced a new prototype display technology called Crystal LED that it hopes will prove to be the next step in image quality for consumers.
Taking on the likes of Samsung and LG, both of which have unveiled 55-inch OELD TVs at CES, Sony’s 55-inch prototype uses millions of tiny LEDs to act as pixels and offers a Full HD self emitting display.
The light source is mounted directly onto the front of the television in a red-green-blue formation. This method apparently ‘dramatically improves the light use efficiency and offers higher contrast ratios, wider colour gamut and high refresh rates and response time when compared with current LCD and plasma displays.
Bright as a button
The full HD screen uses over six million LEDs, packed into a tightly designed space, and can produce 400 nits of brightness, which is comparable with OLED displays of the moment.
Intriguingly, Sony added this new technology was “parallel to its continued development and commercialization of OLED displays, and Sony will work conscientiously to bring the “Crystal LED Display” to market.”
Some TV mounts can tilt and swivel. However, OmniMount is giving the mount a makeover with its new ActionMount line.
Designed for active lifestyles, the new trio of TV mounts offers a full range of motion. That basically means that users can raise the TV up to 21 inches or lower it 21 inches. That makes this mount perfect for activities such as gaming, exercise, 3D and even group viewing.
Designed and engineered in the USA, the ActionMount series includes a total of three mounts. The PLAY20 and PLAY20X can fit TVs up to 32 inches and 20 pounds, offering up to 15 inches of vertical and horizontal adjustment. The PLAY20X also comes with a 9-inch arm extension. The PLAY40 can hold TVs that are 60 inches and beyond, up to 40 pounds. This is the one that offers the widest range, with up to 21 inches of vertical and horizontal movement.
All three mounts also have post-installation leveling, tilt and pan, and cable management.
LG’s 2012 TV line up is out of the CES 2012 gates, and it’s looking pretty tasty with diminishing bezels and growing screens and ever-better image quality all round.
The top of the 2012 TV tree is the LG EM9600, a 55-inch OLED TV that LG is claiming as the world’s largest.
It’s a mind-blowing 4mm thin, comes with “unrivalled” 3D picture quality and comes in the LG Cinema Screen design that we told you about earlier (meaning bye-bye bezel).
We should see the LG EM9600 UK release date land in the second half of this year. We’d tell you to start saving up but, to be honest, we don’t think six months’ of saving is going to do it.
Get thee to the bank
Size is everything to LG this year, it seems, as it’s also busted out what it’s calling the world’s largest Ultra Definition 3D TV – it’s a ridiculous 84-incher with 3D and Smart TV connectivity, known as the LG LM960V.
That Ultra definition promises picture quality of 8 million pixels – that’s four times the resolution of existing full HD TVs (3840x2160). Yikes.
You can also tinker about with the 3D depth as you watch and play on the set, while 3D Sound Zooming takes care of the tri-dimensional audio layout – the UD TV is heading to market in the second half of 2012 as well.
And the rest…
The rest of the range – you know, the TVs you might actually be able to afford to buy – seem to pale in comparison to all that world’s ultra largest excitement.
The LG LM660T, LM669T and LM670T all fall into LG’s Cinema Screen range, which means they’ll rock the 1mm bezel and come with Cinema 3D (4 pairs of 3D glasses and 2 pairs of Dual Play glasses will be included). The LM660T comes in a 32-inch edition, while all three will be available in 42-inch, 47-inch and 55-inch flavours.
The LG LM760T is equally catchily-named, and will come in 42-, 47- and 55-inch editions, what with its LED display, Cinema 3D glasses, stupidly thin bezel and magic remote.
Not had enough product names thrown at you yet? Good news, there’s more LED goodness in the form of the LM860V with 3D capability, Wi-Fi, magic remote and a dual-core processor to power Smart TV premium.
While 3D still will play an important role in all the major TV makers’ 2012 plans, all of them also will be focusing strongly on smart TV features that go beyond just a screen full of apps for Netflix and Pandora.
At the opening “press day” at the Consumer Electronics Show, LG spoke a lot about the company’s new line of Google TVs. The new models will include the Google TV platform built into a CINEMA3D TV that uses LG’s FPR passive glasses technology. Also included will be a Magic Remote Qwerty—a remote that combines the features of LG’s Wii-like remote and a QWERTY keyboard to make use of social media and other web features easier. The system allows for multitasking, so users can tweet or browser the web while watching TV.
LG’s Magic Remote also adds voice recognition this year to allow voice-controlled commands to access TV features.
Not all LG smart TVs will include Google TV. For the non-Google models, the company’s Netcast system will provide access to about 1,200 apps and include smart search functions to make it easier for users to search for content over a variety of apps at the same time.
Other CES news from LG included the expansion of the company’s FPR passive glasses CINEMA3D TV line, including a 4K 3D LED model, an 84-inch LED TV and a 55-inch OLED 3D TV that’s only 4mm thick.
Sony, one of the original product partners with Google TV, will also launch new products featuring that platform, including a line of TVs, a set-top-box and a connected Blu-ray player.
Sony also demonstrated a 4K Crystal LED TV that does not require any backlighting and two prototype glasses-free 3D TVs
Sharp’s biggest news was about their new largest screen size (an 80-inch LED 3D TV), but the company also has developed a new smart TV system called Smart Central. Smart Central combines the TVs content apps into a system that’s categorized into areas such as video, games, photos, social and more. Also included is Sharp’s Aquos Live feature that allows users to get help with their TVs live directly through the online connection. New feature called Beamzit lets you play content from wirelessly-connected PC—it sounds like a DLNA variation, which we’ll check on later at the show. Smart Central will be available on 60-inch and larger TVs
In a packed-to-the-roof press conference Monday, Samsung introduced its new line of products, including a 55-inch OLED TV, LED and Plasma TVs, Smart Features, and home theater gear. Here’s a rundown:
The 55-inch Super OLED TV, scheduled for release this year, is what Tim Baxter, president of Samsung Electronics North America, called the “ultimate TV.”
Produced from a single pane of glass, the set features a minimalist design, 3D capabilities and improved color accuracy over conventional LED TVs, and fast response times the company claims virtually eliminates motion blur. It also has a built-in camera that recognizes movement for intuitive control, and two unidirectional array microphones with noise cancellation technology for clear voice recognition. A new dual-core processor allows users to run multiple apps, while an improved Smart Hub provides access to content from a single screen.
LED TVs and Plasmas
The line of new TVs include all or some of Samsung’s three technology initiatives:
·*Smart Interaction *- Launch and use apps more easily through motion and voice control and face recognition, which launches favorites based on individual users
·*Smart Content*-Share photos, memories and memos from the TV to the cloud to smart devices, manage health directly from the TV
·*Smart Evolution*- Select Samsung TVs in 2012 can be upgraded with the latest technologies through installed kits.
Samsung’s UNES8000 Smart LED TV and UNES7500 Smart LED TV feature 3D, while the 8000’s Micro Dimming Ultimate analyzes the picture in hundreds of pieces to optimize the LED backlight and video signal, which generates a 20 percent increase in brightness for richer colors, brighter pictures and higher contrast ratios.
The lines follow a minimalist design and feature a .2-inch bezel.The 8000 also has a new metallic U-shape stand.
The PNE80000 Plasma TVs have a new black bezel design, a 1.5-inch profile and Plasma +1 ultra-slim bezel design, which reduces the gap between the bezel and screen content. The plasma’s Real Black Pro Panel is designed to produce deeper blacks than previous models. The PNE8000 includes Smart TV features, 3D, Smart Interaction and a dual-core processor.
Better ZigBee performance, faster processing, lots of I/Os highlight $999 HC-800 home control processor from Control4, debuting at CES 2012; new HC-250 is Control4’s powerful new in-room controller.
Introduced today at CES 2012, the new HC-800 from Control4 is the company’s most powerful home automation controller yet, and it’s packed with connectors that were lacking in its predecessor, the HC-1000.
The 1U piece is “the most powerful processor we’ve ever delivered,” says product manager Kordon Vaughn, ticking off the list of features: on-screen Navigator (Control4 interface) and audio through HDMI, analog and digital outputs to deliver four independent audio zones, two RS-232 ports, six IR ports and more ….
“eSATA on the back panel is wicked! says Joey Ferrell of Tennessee Home Theater by HomeSecure, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
For seasoned Control4 dealers, the new unit could be described like this: “Take the power of the HC-1000, combine that with the features of the old HC-500 and you have a blazingly fast controller that can keep up just about anything you throw at it,” says Shawn Lemay, president of Sound & Theater, an integration firm based in Buffalo, N.Y.
In addition to its powerful processor, the HC-800 offers much better ZigBee performance than previous Control4 hubs, with an external antenna and a 20db amp to boost the wireless signal.
“Expect much faster performance,” says Vaughn. “It can process ZigBee packets much more quickly and offers much greater coverage.”
Complementing the HC-800 is the new HC-250 in-room controller with PoE for a “really clean install,” Vaughn says.
Core 3 UI enables the generation of dynamically rich user interfaces with greater power and efficiency. Effortlessly integrate fluid gestures-driven navigation, scrolling lists that bounce, H.264 streaming video, and SIP voice communications. And all this new capability actually comes at a lower cost, cutting programming time by up to 40%!You have the absolute best solutions at your disposal to surpass anything on the market, and now Core 3 UI empowers you to be even more competitive by offering truly amazing custom GUIs in less time.
Sony Personal 3D Viewer
At Electronic House we’ve frequently said that 3D is best viewed on a BIG screen. A puny 32-inch TV just isn’t large enough to fully appreciate 3D. So what about one so small you can fit it in your backpack? Sony’s personal 3D Viewer may be small, but when you put it on it offers a picture that’s equal to a 150-inch TV. The unit includes two separate OLED screens, each with 720p resolution, a fast refresh rate and no 3D crosstalk. Hook it up via HDMI to your 3D Blu-ray player or PS3 to enjoy 3D without the need to hang a huge screen on the wall.
TomTom GO2535 LIVE GPS
Not only will a GPS navigator help you find your way to new places, the GO LIVE service will give you up-to-date traffic reports and help steer you around problems to save you time. Other features include local fuel prices, Google search, weather and more with LIVE Services. It also includes built-in Bluetooth for hands-free cell phone calls.
Disney Appmates Cars 2 Set
As if there weren’t enough reasons for your children to want to use your iPad. Disney Appmates are physical little vehicles that interact with their own downloadable app from the iTunes store. Your kids can pretend they a driving as Lightning McQueen with interactive games that use these little cars as the touch interface on the iPad screen.
Olive O3 Music Server
iPod’s are good enough for most people, but do you have a truly discerning music lover on your gift list? Olive’s O3 music server doesn’t need professional installation, but it sounds like an audiophile component. The hard drive can hold up to 1,500 CDs. It can deliver sound quality up to 24-bit/192kHz with a high-quality DAC and built-in low-noise CD mechanism. Load your music with a computer or rip CDs directly. The color screen makes finding your music easy or you can use the free app.
RCA Wall Charger
If you’ve ever torn the house apart looking for a charger, then you’ll be able to appreciate this gadget. The charging station can replace any standard outlet and offers an instant USB connection to charge your gadgets so you don’t need to depend on your computer anymore. This is especially nice for iPhone users who found their new iPhones didn’t come with an AC adapter.
Samsung Galaxy 10.1 Tablet
Sure the iPad gets all the attention, but what if you’re not a trend follower. Maybe you know a tech-enthusiast who wants to stand out from the crowd. A Samsung Android tablet will do that, and the company’s 10.1 model does it the best. It’s large, includes a gorgeous screen, two cameras and all the Android Marketplace apps you need.
