Samsung Electronics is making its new range of high-definition 'smart televisions' the hub of compatible gadgets that can link via wi-fi and allow content to be viewed across different screens. This is part of the company's theme of 'The Smarter Life - Agenda 2011' that makes it possible to connect to 'cloud' computers where a variety of programmes optimised for each screen are stored.
President of Samsung Electronics, B.K.Yoon told the Consumer Electronics Show here on Thursday that the television was set to strengthen its role as the dominant, central force of technology in human lives. The 'smart tv' with its ability to share content from multiple devices and also connect to the Internet was the place where everything was coming together. He highlighted the philosophy of 'human digitalism' that was necessary to embed technology with a human touch.
The best example of this, he said, was the role played by a Samsung Projector Phone as an invaluable tool that helped the trapped Chilean miners overcome fear and boredome during their long ordeal. "We can do more for human life, and people are our priority," he said.
The company's concept is to 'break down the walls' between devices and provide access to applications hosted on a store designed for the smart televisions, two ultra-thin LED series of which were unveiled at CES a day earlier. Samsung will develop the now growing 'cloud-based' services as a gateway to access and share content. As of now, 118 countries access Samsung's applications store, billed as the industry's first for televisions.
The gadgets that can readily link to the wireless hub around the smart television or the company's router are compatible PCs, mobile phones and tablet computers such as the Galaxy Tab. There is, in addition, the capability built into Android devices from the company, to use the interactive features of the high-definition televisions. These include web search and access to social media. The social media features are designed to work with on-demand television, helping the viewer share comments and ratings in real time.
Mr. Yoon said the vision for the smart tv could not be implemented without content partnerships, for which it had partnered with companies such as Comcast and Time Warner Cable, the latter accessible on the Samsung Tab as live television. Dreamworks, the animation giant, is in the network, working on 3D content for the home, its CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said, commending Samsung's foresight in embarking on this technology and establishing a dominant role for itself worldwide. Adobe is also part of the alliance with Samsung, as its president and CEO, Shantanu Narayen explained during a keynote presentation by Mr. Yoon. The partnership makes it possible for Flash-based content to be accessible across the range of devices - smartphones, tablet computers and television. Adobe's AIR platform which is used to build a variety of software applications will be used to build such applications for television. This development would bring millions of websites with content to these new screens.
The features of the new series of LED televisions and services targeted at the US were highlighted at a media presentation by David Steel, Executive Vice-President of Samsung Electronics North America, Tim Baxter, President of the company's Consumer Business Division, and John Revie, Senior Vice-President.
The product highlights at CES from Samsung included a 10.1 inch notebook computer with a sliding keyboard, the Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series. This computer, powered by the Intel Oak Trail processor platform supports High Definition resolution of 1366 by 768 pixels, has Windows 7 operating system, and can act as a connecting hub with other devices that are certified by the Digital Living Network Allliance. The Nexus S Android phone, an Android media player, a full HD Q 10 camcorder featuring 'switch grip' for left-handed inviduals, the SH100 compact wi-fi enabled camera (which can be remotely zoomed and controlled using an Android Galaxy S smartphone), HMX - H300 series HD family camcorders with 65x zoom, are other gadgets from Samsung on show.
