Hasta La Gadget!

Bigger is better – and when you think about how far display technology has progressed over the years, here we are with the Samsung ES9000 which measures a whopping 75-inches across diagonally. unveiled in South Korea a few days ago, it is without a doubt that the Samsung ES9000 is officially Samsung’s flagship smart TV, and the company intends to use this to make further inroads into the global large screen premium TV market.

Just what kind of visual magic can 75-inches of goodness offer? Well, I guess this is definitely one of the moments when we will concede and say, “You have to see it for yourself to believe it.” Boasting a luxurious design in rose gold color, it has a bezel that measures just 7.9mm, and will also deliver a Diamond Black Panel for the best visual qualities in its class. Needless to say, this is not going to be cheap at all, so expect to burn a hole in your pocket if you want one of these puppies in your living room.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Samsung sees stronger TV sales, to roll out entry level TVs, Top 10 CES Gadgets,

Samsung has priced up the vast 75-inch ES9000 HDTV we basked in the Full HD glory of yesterday, confirming our predictions that you’ll need deep wallets as well as strong walls if you want one in your living room. Headed initially to South Korea, though expected in Europe by the 2012 holidays, the oversized TV is priced at a hefty 19.8m won ($17,436).

That’s over $230 an inch, though viewed in those terms you’re getting some impressive behind-the-scenes tech thrown in too. The Samsung is unsurprisingly a Smart TV, which means you get home network streaming from a NAS or computer, an internet browser, the ability to stream from sources like Netflix and BBC iPlayer (depending on region) and other web-connected widgets.

It also has a pop-up webcam on the top, which is used for video conferencing, face recognition and gesture control; there’s more on how those work here. Most impressive, though, is the picture quality, with stunning colors and incredible brightness.

All of that is wrapped up in a slimline 7.9mm-thick bezel with a rose gold finish, and it can wirelessly link to a speaker system, smartphone and tablet. More on the Samsung 75ES9000 in our hands-on from yesterday.

Samsung 75-inch ES9000 TV gets hefty $17k price in Korea is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Samsung‘s ES9000 LED HDTVs were overshadowed by the company’s 55-inch OLED announcements, but the flagship LCDs are taking their turn in the spotlight now with the vast 75-inch model leading the way. SlashGear caught up with Samsung in London today, along with a hastily-freighted-in first 75ES9000 unit that had been brought specially from Korea this week.

Even if you have a sizable LCD or plasma strung up on your living room wall, it’s hard not to be impressed by the scale of the 75ES9000. 75-inches of 1080p Full HD resolution makes for a set that’s bigger than some peoples’ actual windows – then again, who needs natural daylight and a view when you can call upon live, on-demand and internet content through Samsung’s Smart TV system.

The ES9000 series has the same Smart TV functionality as we played with on the D8000, with the latest apps for the UK market including Netflix, BBC Sport – just in time for Wimbledon and the 2012 Olympics – and BBC iPlayer. There’s also a pop-up webcam that appears from above the top edge of the bezel, used for video calls, gesture control and face-recognition. This particular unit was running Korean software, though, as its literally just dropped in from Samsung HQ.

With WiFi onboard, among other things, the 75ES9000 can hook up wirelessly to speaker systems and your home network, and stream video, photos and music from your phone – that’s a Galaxy S III looking dwarfed in the photo below – and picture quality is incredible. Viewing angles are practically 180-degrees, and the color saturation rivals some OLEDs we’ve seen.

So how much will this slab of 75-inch visual goodness set you back when it launches in time for the holiday 2012 shopping season? Unfortunately Samsung isn’t saying, though it’s not a hard guess to predict this won’t be anywhere near a cheap TV.

Samsung 75-inch ES9000 HDTV hands-on is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The UK is getting a new way to watch television today with the introduction of the YouView set top box, which offers on-demand content from the likes of the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4 in addition to standard Freeview content. Lord Sugar unveiled the box today in London, saying that it offers an easy to use interface while combing live TV with on-demand internet content.

The on-demand content partners at launch will include the BBC, ITV, Channel 5, and Five, with television shows and movies being pulled down from their current online libraries. The box will feature an EPG that will allow you to see what’s currently showing on Freeview channels, and also look at programming schedules seven days in advance. On top of that, the box plays nice with HD channels, and you can pause and record live TV.

YouView will be available in two options; a subscription free set top box for £299, or subsidized as part of an internet or phone package. The box will be available in stores like Amazon, John Lewis, Richer Sounds, and Comet. YouView will be available for purchase towards the end of July, and BT and TalkTalk are expected to announce their packages including the box shortly.

YouView launching in the UK this month is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Since 1999, the BBC’s Red Button feature has delivered alternative camera angles, sports scores and the like over broadcast spectrum, but it’s now set to become internet enabled. Channel surfers shouldn’t expect a full-blown web experience, however, as the Beebs stresses it’s not about to include everything and the kitchen sink in terms of functionality. Rather, their Connected Red Button aims for simplicity. Punching the clicker could bring up the iPlayer to catch previous episodes of shows or save recipes from a cooking program for later viewing on a computer or smartphone. Companion screen experiences such as the Antiques Roadshow app, which is slated for a September release, are also part of their web-connected roadmap. Mum’s the word on when these new features might roll out, but we’re promised the BBC’s Olympics coverage will give us a taste of what’s to come.

BBC introduces Red Button to the internet, thinks they’ll be great pals originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 Jun 2012 11:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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