Hasta La Gadget!

Sony has announced that it will roll out 55-inch and 65-inch X9000A 4k LED TVs this year, in addition to three non-4k Bravia lines: the W900A, W802A, and W650A. The X9000A has an outstanding 3,840 x 2,160 resolution, and boasts a wide range of features, including Color IQ technology, Motionflow XR, S-FORCE Front Surround audio, and Sense of Quartz.

The X9000A utilizes the 4K X-Reality PRO processing engine, upcaling content to four times full HD resolution. The processing engine enables the incredible image quality by matching pixels against its database source while analzing, refining, and cleaning up videos. Color quality is high due to the TRILUMINOS Display, which displays a wider array of colors than you get with a standard HDTV, including various hard-to-reproduce hues.

Audio is handled via Sony’s Signal-to-Sound architecture, which, according to the announcement, “makes every moment real – from the roar of a packed stadium to the quietest whisper.” Like the video, audio is refined and optimized for the highest quality possible. The TVs have S-FORCE Front Surround and Magnetic Fluid Speakers, which are very energy efficient, reducing energy usage up to 35-percent. The X9000A can be controlled using an NFC-compatible Xperia smartphone via the One-touch Remote.

To ensure that the picture is always as clear as possible even when objects are zooming around, the X9000A features Motionflow XR 800Hz, which fills the gap between frames with transitional images, delivering up to four times the number of images as a TV without the technology. Because the X9000A is an LED TV, the Motionflox XR will provide an LED boost to intensify lighting when needed, while darkening will take place as well when called for.

The X9000A 55-inch and 65-inch will be launched in Europe in July.

Sony announces 55-inch and 65-inch X9000A 4K LED TVs is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Samsung is going big with TVs at CES 2013: big in screen size, and big in resolution, with the record-setting 85-inch Ultra HD UN85S9000 at the top of a new HDTV line-up that also includes OLED models. The largest UHD set we’ve seen so-far, the Samsung UN85S9000 delivers four times the resolution of an 1080p Full HD TV, as well as 3.2-channels of 120W sound and all of the Smart TV functionality you’d hope for. Meanwhile, Samsung has refined its 55-inch OLED monster, with a special new 3D feature catering for two people wanting to watch different things.

Inside the 85-inch behemoth, there’s not only 2D to 3D conversion, but HD to UHD conversion, along with Smart TV features like streaming, apps, motion control, and voice control. It’s all powered by an A15 quadcore 1.35GHz processor, something you’d more commonly expect to find in a high-end phone or tablet, as well as support for the Smart Evolution Kit which will add new features further down the line. However, it’s likely to unusual easel-style mount which will grab the most attention (at least before the screen gets powered on).

Samsung has been pushing OLED as the Next Big Thing in TV technology, and the 55-inch KN55F9500 Real OLED TV is the latest iteration of the company’s vision. Built around the same quadcore processor as the UN85S9000, and with all the Smart TV functionality including voice control and streaming media, the OLED set is also the first to feature Samsung Multi-View, which uses 3D display technology to show two viewers (each wearing active 3D glasses) different content simultaneously.

That works in 2D and 3D, and even delivers stereo audio to the viewer thanks to tiny speakers built into the glasses. There’s also Smart Evolution Kit Connector support, and a new version of Motion Control gesture recognition that can better track hands held at up to 45-degree angles.

Most regular buyers will head to Samsung’s LED 8000 Series or LED 7000 Series sets, of course, also new for CES 2013. The 60-inch UN60F8000 borrows the 1.35GHz quadcore A15 of its bigger brother, along with the same Smart TV functionality, motion and voice control, and streaming from the web and mobile devices. It also gets Micro Dimming Ultimate for more precise control of the LED backlighting, and De-Jagging Pro for cleaner edges. 3D crosstalk is down too, by 30-percent, and even web content is meant to look better, with text and image processing applied to the TV’s browser.

As for the 60-inch UN60F7500, that sticks with the same quadcore processor but does without the Micro Dimming Ultimate technology; otherwise, it’s the same mixture of De-Jagging Pro smoothing, Precision Black intelligent contrast control, and improved 3D crosstalk prevention. Both the 8000 and 7000 Series support the Evolution Kit.

Finally, there’s a new plasma set on offer, the Samsung Plasma 8500 Series, with the 64-inch PN64F8500 promising the darkest blacks and brightest pictures ever from a plasma TV. It shares the processor and Smart TV features as its LED brethren, but adds Deep Black Algorithm II and Real Black Pro for a combination of computer-controlled white light reduction – keeping those black areas inky – as well as 2.5x brighter whites when necessary. There’s also a new “nanocarbon compound” used to reduce stray ambient light.

Samsung doesn’t have availability or pricing details for either the UN85S9000 or the KN55F9500, though neither is likely to be cheap. The LED 8000 Series will ship in the first half of 2013, along with the LED 7000 Series, and the Plasma 8500 Series.

Samsung reveals full Ultra HD, OLED and Smart TV lineup at CES 2013 is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Second screening is what executives like to call what you’re doing with when you’re looking at your phone in front of your TV. Dish Explorer is the closest anyone has come to making an app that actually enhances TV the experience with more content. More »

Samsung knows there’s more to a home entertainment room than a big screen TV alone, and the company has a bevy of new A/V kit for CES 2013 including home theater systems, Blu-ray, and the wireless speakers. Those looking for the complete surround sound experience have the Samsung HT-F9750W Home Theater System to consider, offering 1,330W of 7.1-channel surround sound (and virtual 10.1-channel support thanks to the DTS-Neo Fusion codec “upscaling” from 5.1- or 7.1-channel source material). It uses a vacuum tube and digital amp combo for sound as well as a 4K scaler processor and de-blocking algorithm for video – running on a 900MHz dualcore – together with the same AllShare streaming support as Samsung’s Smart TV line-up over the integrated WiFi connection.

There are two HDMI inputs and Bluetooth, while the bundled speakers include two towers and a rear wireless unit. All get Ceramic Polypropylene Injection Diaphragm spacer cones, for what Samsung promises is an improvement in audio response times.

If that’s too big for you, the Samsung HW-F750 Soundbar also features a vacuum tube and digital amp comp, with 310W out of 2.1-channels and support for virtual surround sound. A wireless subwoofer keeps the bass end happy, and there’s 3D Sound Plus processing which matches the virtual surround sound depth with the depth of 3D images on-screen. Bluetooth streaming supports mobile devices and certain Samsung TVs.

Also toting Bluetooth is the Samsung DA-F60 Portable Wireless Speakers, using aptX for higher quality streaming (with compatible source devices, such as Samsung’s more recent smartphones) and NFC for easier pairing. It also supports streaming from select Samsung TVs.

While streaming from Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Video on Demand, and other online sources has been built into Samsung’s Smart TVs for some time now, the company also has a new Blu-ray player for CES. The Samsung BD-F7500 can upscale to 4K resolution, and features integrated WiFi for AllShare streaming from mobile devices. It can also stream to a Samsung phone or tablet, thanks to Smart View support. Inside there are two 900MHz dualcore processors, and 7.1-channel analog audio outputs.

The Samsung HT-F9750W Home Theater System, HW-F750 Soundbar, DA-F60 Wireless Speakers, and BD-F7500 Blu-ray player all will go on sale in the first half of 2013, with pricing to be confirmed.

Samsung reveals TV and audio accessories galore at CES 2013 is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Opposites do attract, and no where is that precept more common than when
comedy is blended into a good horror drama. Like salt and pepper,
they’re an odd pairing. Yet for some reason, they go hand-in-hand.
So why does a plot device intended to make one laugh and another to
frighten the ‘be-jesus’ out of us seem work so well together?