By Martin Vedris
SYDNEY: Samsung’s new LCD TV range, announced today, includes the series nine, with LED backlighting that works in combination with the 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.
Samsung’s General Manager, Mark Leathan, said today that while Samsung had 200 Hz technology, which they unveiled in IFA Berlin recently, he said that Samsung has focused on the LED backlighting technology in the Series 9 because he said it delivers a decisive visual impact.
“In our recently completed annual Newspoll HD TV Survey, nearly 78 per cent of people said picture quality was a key factor in deciding on their HD television. We are confident that this unit will deliver the highest quality pictures available on an LCD TV,” Leathan said today in a statement, with the research data coming from the Samsung HDTV Survey, September 2008, conducted by Newspoll.
In terms of achieving the picture quality, Leathan was referring to the combination of Samsung’s LED Smartlighting in screen backlighting system and the TVs 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.
Samsung has not forgotten it’s plasma TVs — the company will soon be releasing a Series 7 plasma and then a Series 8 plasma in early 2009.
The Series 9 LCD TVs are available in 46 and 55 inch sizes at $5,499 and $6,999 respectively.
Also announced were the new Series 7 and Series 8 LCD TVs, both have Samsung’s subtle ruby red Crystal Design and Samsung’s new networking and content features. The Series 8 has a slim frame that measures less than two inches.
The Series 7, 8 and 9 TVs all offer four key media solutions to increase the interactivity of the TVs.
InfoLive provides constant connection with a real-time RSS viewer for news, weather and stock information. It means that viewers can view live internet feeds while watching TV content at the same time.
WISELINK pro allows viewers to plug and play pictures, videos, movies and music through a USB 2.0 connection on the TV. Consumers can plug their USB key directly into the TV to view their stored content.
The TVs can be linked to a PC via DLNA and an in-built Content Library stores a variety of informational and entertainment content such as fitness programmes, recipes and games for children. There is also a collection of art images and the TVs can display images whilst playing music.
The Samsung Series 7 is available in 40, 46 and 52 inch sizes at recommended retail prices of $3,999, $4,699 and $5,999 respectively.
The Samsung Series 8 is available in 46 and 52 inches from for $4,999 and $6,299 respectively.
All new TVs will be available in October.