8K translates to an exact resolution of 7,680×4,320, and while there’s no publicly available 8K footage, NHK has been experimenting with an 8K image sensor, the output of which could be displayed on this TV natively. In order to reduce the flicker that comes with driving plasma TVs at such a high resolution, Panasonic and NHK created a brand new driving method which they claim can display 8K with rock solid stability.

The TV is designed to promote the research and development of Super Hi-Vision, something NHK has been working on for several years. They also intend to film the upcoming Olympics in SHV with the help of the BBC. Public screenings are being arranged in Japan, the US, and the UK, so if you didn’t get tickets, 8K on such a large screen may be the next best thing to actually being there.

[via Panasonic Japan]

That climbs all the way up to $7,299 for the largest 75-incher in the 8000 Series. Alternatively, you can get the 7500 Series from $2,399, the 7100 Series from $2,199, and the 6500 Series from under $1,579. In addition to LCD screens, Samsung has new plasmas for 2012: the top-spec PNE8000 kicks off at $2,249 for the 51-inch model, while the cheapest 51-inch Samsung plasma is the 3D, smart TV enabled PN51E6500 at $1,619.

Some of the sets get Samsung’s “interactive remote” which, we’re assuming, is the touchpad and microphone-enabled Samsung Smart Touch Control the company revealed earlier this month. That will allow you to navigate through smart TV menus by gesture or voice command.

We’ll have to wait a little longer to find out exactly how much Samsung’s OLED set will cost – figure on something comfortably in excess of the top-tier LCD and plasma models, however – and bear in mind these figures are the company’s “minimum advertised prices” for dealers. You may see some mark-ups in-store, so don’t be afraid to haggle.

[via Engadget]

Inside is a 4 x 80W ICEpower amp for the midrange and 1 x 40W for the treble, along with an ambient light sensor to automatically adjust screen brightness. Interestingly, there’s no other mounting option beyond on the wall: B&O has even integrated the mount into the plasma set itself.

As for the BeoLab 12 speakers, they use B&O’s own Acoustic Lens Technology to project sound 180-degrees. They use a 3/4-inch Acoustic Lens for the treble, a 2-inch midrange and two 6.5-inch flat CosCone woofers for the lower frequencies, angled in towardsthe wall. There’s also a 2-inch aluminum cone to help the Acoustic Lens system do its magic.

An ICEpower class D amp provides a total of 480W – twin 160W for the bass, 80W for the mids and 80W for the treble – and the system can adapt to the room, the wall and, indeed, whether you place the BeoLab 12′s with the cones at the top or the bottom.

No word on pricing, but the BeoVision 12-65 will arrive in March and the BeoLab 12 speakers in the spring. Expect them both to be expensive.

These screens can be used for all sorts of things from checking into signals in pre-production to performing precision color correction. The screens are large enough to get two images for display at one time allowing for simultaneous color correction of left and right 3D images.

Anytime you see reference and professional in one sentence things are going to be expensive. The 42-inch plasma screen is $3,720 and the 50-inch version is $5,215. The screens are full HD 3D ready and have slot card inputs for left and right 3D images. They have overscanning and underscanning modes and a lot more.

Meanwhile, Panasonic’s coveted plasma display production – which was previously expected to shift to Shanghai, bringing the production line equipment back up to speed – will no longer be restarted. In a dramatic move, Panasonic’s headquarters will decamp from Osaka, Japan, and move instead to Singapore.

Panasonic blamed the continued strength of the Japanese yen and sidelined demand from developed markets for the underwhelming quarter, with sales in Europe, China, Asia, Japan and the Americas all down by as much as 13-percent. However, those global figures hide some pockets of success: sales in Nigeria over the last six months have leapt 64-percent year-on-year, and in India 40-percent, excluding Sanyo-branded devices.

Nonetheless, Panasonic’s semiconductor business is floundering, with a 7.4bn yen ($94.8m) operating loss in Components and Devices “mainly due to significantly worsened profit in semiconductors.” Overall, Panasonic now estimates its 2012 full-year results will include a 420bn yen ($5.4bn) net loss.

In the report released today, Samsung has been reported to have a 20.6 percent share of the TV market in North America, a 1.2 percentage point increased year over year compared to 2010, and its highest market-share position since the year 2009. As far as units shipped and revenue percentage for LED TVs during this same 1st-half of 2011 period goes, Samsung is at 23.8 percent and 32.02 percent respectively, while 18.2 and 25.4 percent shares for units shipped and revenue re-claim Samsung their top spot in the USA for LCD TVs.

As far as both plasma and LED 3D TVs, Samsung grew units market share to 45.4 percent in the first half of 2011 while their dollar share in 3D TV is currently at 42.9 percent. That’s big, that’s huge, that’s dominant. As far as Quixel Research specifically notes, four out of five of the “top TV models sold in the U.S” in quarter two of 2011 were, you guessed it, Samsung televisions (this is based on dollar value). Along those same lines, market research firm IHS iSuppli reported that more than one in five TV purchases in the USA during the first quarter of 2011 had a screen size of 50-inches or larger, this being the new all-time high for screens of this size.

Samsung notes that they’ve released several TV sets to meet this giant demand for big-screen HDTVs. These models include their LED D8000 and LED D7000 flagships in screen sizes of 60 and 65-inches as well as a series of 64-inch plasma TVs. Inside these TVs, Samsung notes they’re seeing a “strong consumer interest” in TV apps, reminding everyone that their HDTV version of their Samsung Apps store is active and doing quite well in percentage growth (500%) in content offerings since inception and a total of over 900 apps available at this moment globally. Samsung notes that the download of Samsung Apps are soon to be approaching 10 million and are doubling every three months amongst consumers the world over.

Three of the sets – the Panasonic VIERA TC-P42X3, TC-P46X3 and TC-P50X3 – support 720p HD, while a further four – the Panasonic VIERA TC-P42S30, TC-P46S30, TC-P50S30 and TC-P60S30 – crank that up to 1080p Full HD. The remaining twelve models all support Full HD resolution and 3D, and include the VT30, GT30 and ST30 series.

Full details – including pricing and availability – of the new plasmas are in the press release below. Some of the sets are already in stores now.

Press Release:

PANASONIC ANNOUNCES PRICING AND AVAILABILITY FOR ITS AWARD WINNING 2011 PLASMA MODEL LINE

Plasma Sales Show Growth, Pointing To Bright Future

SECAUCUS, NJ (March 1, 2011) – Driving the resurgence of Plasma HDTVs, Panasonic Corporation of North America, the industry and technology leader in High Definition and Full HD 3D televisions, recently announced pricing and availability for its award winning 2011 Viera Plasma line-up. This announcement coincides with Display Search’s recent analysis and conclusion that 2010 was a great year for Plasma TV panels, with shipments growing on a Year/Year basis every quarter since Q4 ’09. NPD also produced data showing a growth in Plasma sales.

In a February 3, 2011 report – Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report, Display Search reported:
Q4 ’10 Plasma TV panel shipments grew 1% Q/Q (Quarter-Quarter) and 9% Y/Y
After falling from 15.1 million in 2008 to 14.8 million in 2009, Plasma TV panel shipments jumped to 19.1 million in 2010
Panasonic was a top panel supplier in 2010, with a 22% Y/Y (Year-Year) growth on a unit basis

The report further stated that “Plasma TVs were well-suited for consumer’s purchasing habits in 2010, providing the most affordable large flat panel TVs for many consumers. In addition the strong industry push for 3D TV helped, as some reviewers and consumers concluded that Plasma TV had superior 3D performance compared to LCD TV, at least in terms of flicker.”

Ken Park, Display Search Senior Analyst for Korea TV Market Research added “With 3D functionality, Plasma can re-position itself as a lasting technology in the TV industry.”

The NPD Group also reported that Plasma sales were on the rise. The Port Washington, N.Y. based market research firm reports that the Green Bay Packers weren’t the only big winners of the Super Bowl: Sales of plasma TVs jumped 45% in units, and 11% in dollars during Super Bowl week, compared to the same period last year. About half of those sales were of 50-inch plasma sets, with an average price of $670, down $170 from last year. The average price of 42-inch plasmas fell $100 to $451, according to NPD.

Panasonic’s 2011 Plasma line-up features TVs in the following screen sizes- 42-inch class (41.6” measured diagonally); 46-inch class (46” measured diagonally); 50-inch class (49.9” measured diagonally); 55-inch class (55.1” measured diagonally); 60-inch class (60.1” measured diagonally) and 65-inch class (64.7” measured diagonally). Following on the critical success of last years Full HD 3D Plasmas (named best in show at the 2010 CES Convention), Panasonic introduced three full HD 3D model lines for 2011- the VT30, GT30 and ST30. In addition, Panasonic offers the S30 and V30 series in traditional 2D 1080p technology, for a total of 19 Plasma screens available in 2011.

Pricing & Availability
Full HD (1080p) 3D Plasma:
TC-P65VT30 (65-inch class-64.7” measured diagonally)-$4299.95-Available May, 2011
TC-P55VT30 (55-inch class-55.1” measured diagonally)-$2799.95-Available April, 2011
TC-P65GT30 (65-inch class-64.7” measured diagonally)-$3699.95-Available May, 2011
TC-P60GT30 (60-inch class-60.1” measured diagonally)-$2799.95-Available May, 2011
TC-P55GT30 (55-inch class-55.1” measured diagonally)-$2199.95-Available March, 2011
TC-P50GT30 (50-inch class-49.9” measured diagonally)-$1899.95-Available March, 2011
TC-P65ST30 (65-inch class-64.7” measured diagonally)-$3299.95-Available May, 2011
TC-P60ST30 (60-inch class-60.1” measured diagonally)-$2399.95-Available May, 2011
TC-P55ST30 (55-inch class-55.1” measured diagonally)-$1799.95-Available February, 2011
TC-P50ST30 (50-inch class-49.9” measured diagonally)-$1499.95-Available February, 2011
TC-P46ST30 (46-inch class 46” measured diagonally)-$1299.95-Available February, 2011
TC-P42ST30 (42-inch class 41.6” measured diagonally)-$1099.95-Available February, 2011

1080p FHD Plasma:
· TC-P60S30 (1080p-60-inch class-60.1” measured diagonally)-$1899.95-Available May, 2011
· TC-P50S30 (1080p-50-inch class-49.9” measured diagonally)-$1099.95-Available February, 2011
· TC-P46S30 (1080p-46-inch class-46” measured diagonally)-$949.95-Available February, 2011
· TC-P42S30 (1080p-42-inch class-41.6” measured diagonally)-$799.95-Available February, 2011
·
720P HD Plasma:
· TC-P50X3 (720p-50-inch class-49.9” measured diagonally)-$799.95- Available February, 2011
· TC-P46X3 (720p-46-inch class-46” measured diagonally)-$699.95-Available March, 2011
· TC-P42X3 (720p-42-inch class-41.6” measured diagonally)-$599.95-Available February, 2011.

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company:
Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC), a market and technology leader in High Definition television, is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth’s natural resources and protect our environment through the company’s Eco Ideas programs. Information about Panasonic products is available at www.panasonic.com.

Yep, they’re right. The HDTV really does have a great picture. But you know what? I don’t want it anymore. In fact, it has become such an eyesore for me in my living room that I want nothing more than to see it disappear into another room, only to have it replaced by one of those new Panasonic plasmas or a Samsung LED display.

See, the problem with my Panasonic plasma is that it’s old. In fact, I bought it back in 2007 when I believed that it would carry me into the future. After all, the televisions I owned prior to that lasted me a decade (or longer) without me even considering the possibility of replacing them. They were my trusty companions during countless sporting events and an untold number of now-canceled sitcoms.

So, in 2007 when I bought my plasma, I figured I had just purchased another trusty friend that would last me through the years.

But little did I know at that point that televisions would advance the way they have in the past three years. The television that I thought was so slim then is now fat compared to the LEDs currently available. Plus, my current television has just two HDMI ports — a pittance in today’s “more is better” market.

It gets worse. That plasma sitting in my living room doesn’t have all the goodies that current-generation devices do. It doesn’t have the Netflix that Panasonic just announced support for in its 2010 television models. It lacks Pandora for when I want to listen to music. And it certainly doesn’t allow for Skype. In fact, it’s little more than a glorified remote by today’s standards.

So, I want to break out from the prison I found myself in. I want to go out, buy a new HDTV and finally get out from under the anti-connected environment I find myself in. But alas, televisions are expensive. And justifying a $2,000 purchase for a device that will likely only deliver an incremental gain in visual quality doesn’t sound like such a great idea.

Plus, I’m concerned with what comes next. If it took just three years for my current television to join the retirement community, how long will it take for a new set to do the same? All the rage was HD three years ago. Who knows what we’ll be talking about three years from now?

Alas, I find myself in the circle of tech love: I have a device that works just fine and satisfies most desires, but I want the device that satisfies my every desire. The only problem is, like every other tech-obsessed fan, I realize that it will only take a few years until my next desire comes along.

So, maybe I’ll just stick with my current plasma. It does the job and there are several set-top boxes out there that can give me the functionality I desire. Plus, I can save all that cash and, I don’t know, buy a new home-theater set-up.

Did I mention that the one I have now just doesn’t cut it anymore?

As with the larger GT25 sets, the two new models support VIERA CAST internet access, with streaming Netflix, Pandora and YouTube support, together with Skype video calls using the company’s webcam peripheral.  A USB port can be used to add a WiFi dongle, external storage or even a keyboard.

Of course they’re both Full HD too, with 24p cinematic playback and a 2D-to-3D converter.  The new 42-inch Panasonic VIERA TC-P42G25 3D HDTV has an MSRP of $1699.95, while the 50-inch TC-P50GT25 has an MSRP of $2099.95.  Both will hit stores later this month.

Press Release:

PANASONIC EXPANDS ITS LINE OF FULL HD 3D VIERA PLASMA TVS

New VIERA GT25 Full HD 3D Plasma Series Introduces New 42-inch Class and 50-inch Class Screen Sizes

SECAUCUS, NJ (August 16, 2010) – Panasonic, a worldwide leader in Full HD 3D1 technology, announced today the expansion of its award-winning line of Full HD 3D VIERA® Plasma TVs with the launch of the Panasonic VIERA GT25 Series of Full HD 3D Plasma TVs2. The series will feature Panasonic’s first 42-inch class (41.6” measured diagonally) Full HD 3D Plasma TV, broadening Panasonic’s range of Full HD 3D TV offerings and addressing consumer requests for a smaller 3D set for video gaming.

The VIERA GT25 Series features 42-inch class (41.6” measured diagonally) and 50-inch class (49.9” measured diagonally) screen sizes. The TC-P42G25 will have an MSRP3 of $1699.95 and the TC-P50GT25 will have an MSRP of $2099.95. Both models will be available in late August 2010. Active Shutter 3D Eyewear required for viewing 3D content is sold separately. Complete technical specifications for the GT25 Series are now available at www.panasonic.com.

The VIERA GT25 series augments Panasonic’s VT25 series (named Best in Show at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show) of Full HD 3D Plasma TVs providing consumers with a broader product line which now ranges from 42-inch class through 65-inch class screen sizes. Panasonic also markets 85-inch class, 103-inch class and 152-inch class professional Full HD 3D Plasma models.

“From the beginning, Panasonic has led the charge into the immersive world of 3D home entertainment by offering end-to-end 3D home entertainment solutions including Full HD 3D VIERA Plasma TVs, 3D Blu-ray Disc Players, professional and consumer 3D camcorders, the nation’s first suite of 3D TV channels with partner DIRECTV, and the authoring of 3D Blu-ray movies in cooperation with the Hollywood studios,” said Henry Hauser, Panasonic Vice President, Merchandising, Display Group. “The debut of our VIERA GT25 Series of Full HD 3D TVs further expands our portfolio of 3D offerings and makes it even easier for consumers to join the immersive world of Full HD 3D for the home.”

While the VIERA® GT25 Series represents a new price point, the models include many of the same innovative features found on the critically-acclaimed VIERA VT25 models including Panasonic’s proprietary IPTV functionality, VIERA CAST™ which features USB connectivity, allowing for the addition of a wireless LAN adaptor, keyboard and USB memory. VIERA CAST now includes such favorite entertainment sites as Amazon Video-on-Demand™, Netflix™, Google’s YouTube™, Picasa™ Web Album, Bloomberg, Pandora, Twitter and a weather service, as well as Skype4™ on Your VIERA TV. With ease of use as a major focus, VIERA CAST’s interface implements quick keyword input (like a cell phone) to help retrieve favorite content faster and easier.

Another prominent feature of the GT25 series that is also found in the VT25 series is VIERA Link™, which allows Panasonic owners to control their VIERA Link compatible audio and video products with just one remote. This feature also affords the consumer the opportunity to add a network camera to the mix. And THX® Certified Display certification insures that every Panasonic Full HD 3D TV displays motion pictures and television content with the quality and color palette that the director intended.

Like its VT25 counterpart, the GT25 series also features 600Hz Sub-field Drive; 1080p Full HD resolution; 1080 lines of moving picture resolution; VIERA Image Viewer (for viewing of digital still images), 24p Cinematic Playback and new fast switching phosphors.

The GT25 Series also includes 2D to 3D conversion which can convert a 2D image or video to 3D.

Panasonic’s range of Full HD 3D VIERA Plasma HDTVs, when coupled with Panasonic’s 3D Blu-ray Disc players (DMP-BDT100, DMP- BDT300, DMP-BDT350) bring a new era of immersive visual entertainment into consumers’ homes, by creating a 3D experience that easily rivals the best that can be seen in cinemas. In addition, Panasonic and DIRECTV recently ushered in a new age in the rapid growth of 3D entertainment for the home with the launch of n3DTM powered by Panasonic – a DIRECTV channel dedicated exclusively to 3D programming. n3D powered by Panasonic is now available at no additional cost to millions of DIRECTV HD customers and features a range of sports and entertainment programming exclusively in 3D. Panasonic is the exclusive presenting sponsor of DIRECTV’s n3D channel, one of three 3D TV channels from DIRECTV that deliver movies, sports and entertainment content from some of the world’s most renowned 3D producers.

All Panasonic VIERA® Full HD 3D TV models are also Full HD TVs that display pristine 1080p content in two dimensions (2D) for conventional HD viewing.

For more information on Panasonic’s Full HD 3D technology, visit www.panasonic.com/3D.

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company:
Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC), a market and technology leader in High Definition television, is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth’s natural resources and protect our environment through the company’s Eco Ideas programs. Information about Panasonic products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

# # #

Notes:

1 Panasonic “Full HD 3D” is defined as follows:
compatible with 1080p 3D signal
panel has native resolution of 1920x1080p display
depending upon the model, different 3D signal processing is used

2Current 3D content will be limited and may include certain Blu-ray Disc titles and satellite programming. Additional equipment and/or subscription fees may apply. 3D Blu-ray Disc player (sold separately) is required to view 3D Blu-ray Disc content and Active Shutter 3D Eyewear (sold separately) is required to view all 3D content.

3 Suggested retail price – all prices are in US dollars.

4 Access to a broadband Internet connection is required. Panasonic’s Communication Camera (TY-CC10W) is required for Skype video functionality and is sold separately. Skype is not a replacement for traditional telephone service and cannot be used for emergency calling.

Meanwhile the Samsung BD-C7900 and BD-C6800 Blu-ray players each have 1GB of internal storage, integrated WiFi, Samsung AllShare support and Samsung Apps support.  They’ll be $399.99 and $279.99 respectively.  The BD-C5900 has 3D, AllShare, WiFi and Apps, with an entry level price of $229.99.  Finally, their portable counterpart, the Samsung BD-C8000, is a 10.3-inch portable Blu-ray player with WiFi, AllShare and Samsung Apps, and will be priced at $499.99.

In surround sound, meanwhile, the Samsung HT-C9550W, HT-C6900W and HT-C6600 all support 3D; the C9550W has 7.1 surround while the other two make do with 5.1.  Both the C9550W and C6900W have wireless rear speakers and WiFi; all three support AllShare and Samsung Apps.  They’ll be $1,799.99, $699.99 and $599.99 respectively.

Press Release:

SAMSUNG UNVEILS WORLD’S FIRST PORTABLE BLU-RAY PLAYER WITH 3D CAPABILITY; FURTHER EXPANDS 3D PRODUCT LINE-UP

New Blu-Ray Players and Home Theater Systems Offer Immersive 3D Experience At Home

RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ, August 11, 2010 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced the U.S. availability of the world’s first portable Blu-ray player with 3D capability. The Samsung BD-C8000 delivers true 1080p HD video, enables 3D playback when connected to a 3D-capable TV and used with 3D glasses, and features a brilliant 10.3-inch screen. It includes built-in Wi-Fi for easy access to advanced connectivity features, including an expanding library of content and applications via Samsung Apps and HDMI 1.4a support. With three hours of battery life, the Samsung BD-C8000 is the perfect travel companion for anyone who wants an outstanding entertainment experience while on the go.

Samsung also introduced three additional standalone Blu-ray players and three new Blu-ray Home Theater Systems that deliver crystal-clear picture and sound quality with new features that will excite both the first-time owner and the audiophile.

“Blu-ray has raised the bar for video and audio quality that consumers expect to see at home. We led the way in 3D TVs and are excited to do the same for 3D Blu-ray players and Home Theater Systems. With the industry’s broadest line-up of 3D capable home entertainment products, there is a product to suit every home and wallet,” said John Revie, senior vice president of Home Entertainment at Samsung Electronics America Inc.

Expanded Range of 3D-Capable Blu-ray Players Helps Future-Proof Entertainment Options

Samsung’s latest Blu-ray players bring the wonder of 3D entertainment into the home. The Samsung BD-C7900 Blu-ray player is designed for the HD guru. With two HDMI outputs, the BD-C7900 makes it easy to connect multiple HD sources to experience a full 1080p picture and digital surround sound. The two HDMI outputs also allow for support of legacy receivers so there is no need to upgrade to a new HDMI 1.4 receiver; the user can simply connect their receiver to the HDMI 1.3 output for rich, lifelike surround sound audio. This sleek and stylish device offers built-in WiFi for seamless connectivity to Samsung Apps. It also features Samsung’s proprietary AllShare™, which allows people to wirelessly sync digital devices so that they can enjoy music, movies and photos directly from their DLNA certified PC, camera and mobile devices to their Samsung TV screen.

For those looking for a versatile home entertainment experience, Samsung’s BD-C6800 Blu-ray player includes built-in WiFi enabling it to wirelessly receive web-based content via Samsung Apps and playback media files from DLNA certified devices via Samsung’s AllShare™. The entry-level BD-C5900 is designed for those looking for a high-performing yet affordable 3D Blu-ray player.

All Samsung Blu-ray players support a wide range of media formats and access to an expanding library of applications through Samsung Apps, the first HDTV-based applications store. These new 3D Blu-ray players deliver a premium experience with both 2D and 3D content and allow consumers to future-proof their living rooms for when they are ready to purchase a 3D HDTV.

Series/Model Estimated Selling Price Estimated Availability
BD-C8000 $499.99 July 2010
BD-C7900 $399.99 July 2010
BD-C6800 $279.99 July 2010
BD-C5900 $229.99 July 2010

Powerful New Blu-ray Home Theater Systems Deliver Immersive 3D Experience
The Samsung HT-C9950W is the ultimate combination of beauty, design and performance. It features a modern metallic finish and is the perfect complement to Samsung’s award-winning 9000 series LED TV. It delivers jaw-dropping home theater picture quality, and engaging, life-like and immersive entertainment experience that will please anyone looking for the best in home cinema. The HT-C9950W is as feature-rich as it is stylish – with slot-in disc loading, organic touch control buttons and a premium volume wheel. The 7.1 channel 3D surround sound system consists of four floor-standing speakers, two satellite speakers, one center channel unit, an anti-vibration subwoofer, iPod/iPhone dock, two HDMI inputs, and it comes with a dongle for wireless Internet connectivity so that you can easily access new content everyday via Samsung Apps, or use Samsung’s AllShare™ to watch content from your DLNA certified devices on the TV.

With the introduction of the HT-C6900W and HT-C6600, Samsung brings together the unsurpassed picture quality of 3D Blu-ray players with vibrant surround-sound audio, all in the perfect home theater package for small spaces.

The Samsung HT-C6600 offers an impressive slate of features – a Blu-ray player with built-in 3D, support for HDMI 1.4, access to Samsung Apps and WiFi dongle for wireless connectivity. In addition, the HT-C6600’s patented, high-performance Crystal Amp Pro technology dramatically enhances sound quality through its multi-variable feedback technology to deliver a complete immersive audio experience. The Samsung HT-C6900W offers all the features of the HT-C6600, plus wireless rear speakers, built-in WiFi, and a two-way center channel speaker for enhanced sound quality.

Press Release:

SAMSUNG ANNOUNCES “FREE THE TV CHALLENGE” APPS CONTEST;
DOUBLES APPS LIBRARY CONTENT

Reinforces market leadership in smart TV segment with new content and experiences

RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ, August 11, 2010 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today kicks off its Free the TV Challenge to find the most innovative applications for IPTVs, Blu-ray players and Blu-ray Home Theater Systems. With a total prize value of half a million dollars, the Challenge is open to all developers in the US starting today.

Samsung also announced that the number of applications available through Samsung Apps, the world’s first HDTV-based application store, has more than doubled since its launch five months ago. Beginning today, people can choose from a wide range of unique and premium apps across five categories – video, gaming, social media, sports and kids – including apps from ESPN and Hulu which are currently exclusive to Samsung. They can also download and enjoy the world’s first 3D video on-demand app to view trailers of 3D movies.

“We are thrilled that content owners continue to embrace Samsung Apps and that we have doubled the number of applications available to owners of Samsung 2010 connected TVs and Blu-ray devices,” said Eric Anderson, vice president of content and product solutions, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. “The Free the TV Challenge will continue that momentum by opening up these TVs to even more developers across the US who want to distribute their content on the biggest screen in the home. People want a connected entertainment experience with their devices and we encourage developers to free the TV by bringing new concepts, as well as existing apps from many platforms, to the TV.”

Samsung Free the TV Challenge Opens Today
With the Free the TV Challenge, Samsung is unlocking a new era in smart TV by helping free the TV for developers, who can now tap into the expanding market for TV applications. Developers can go to www.FreeTheTVChallenge.com to register for the contest, starting today. To be eligible, developers must live in the United States, submit the final app and provide a video that showcases how the app works to Samsung by November 11, 2010. The contest will be administered by New York-based startup ChallengePost, and entries will be judged based on the quality of the idea, functional implementation, and visual appeal. Total prize value is US$500,000. Roelof Botha from Sequoia, Mike Maples from Floodgate, Bob Borchers from Opus Capital and Jeremy Levine from Bessemer will serve as judges. Consumers will also have an opportunity to cast their vote online for the “People’s Choice Award.” Samsung will announce the overall winner at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV.

In addition, select applications submitted to the Free the TV Challenge will be made available to the large and growing community of Samsung Apps users. Samsung Apps is accessible on all 2010 Samsung Blu-ray players, Blu-ray Home Theater Systems and the majority of HDTVs with screen sizes 40” or larger.

Built with the developer in mind, Samsung Apps supports common web standards, like Javascript, XML and support for Adobe Flash Lite 3.1, and uses a single SDK for apps that runs across HDTVs, Blu-ray players and Blu-ray Home Theater systems. This eliminates many of the barriers to development by allowing applications to be written once and deployed across several platforms, ultimately enabling more versatile monetization for developers and a consistent, intuitive experience for consumers.

To further support developers, Samsung is launching a series of Free the TV Developer Days, where developers will get hands-on demonstrations of the Samsung Apps platform and a tutorial on the Samsung SDK, as well as participate in a Q&A session with Samsung engineers. The first session will be held on August 31, 2010 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, CA, and Pandora Founder Tim Westergren will speak at the event.

More information on Samsung’s Developer Days and registration for the Free the TV Challenge is available at www.FreeTheTVChallenge.com.

New Apps Demonstrate Diversity of Content and Services
Samsung continues to see explosive growth in smart TV and has more than doubled the number of available applications in its library within five months. In addition to various free apps, Samsung today expanded its library of apps with the addition of ESPN’s Next Level application, as well as a variety of other premium apps that offer a variety of 3D, sports, casual gaming, weather and family-oriented content at the touch of a button.

The new ESPN Next Level app, available as a free download exclusively through Samsung Apps, is expected to be a hit with sports fans. With four main sections, the app will allow fans to access in-depth looks at sports events and players in the news; predictive picks of the day’s games across all major sports; research nuggets from the ESPN Research team; and insights from Peter Keating, Senior Writer at ESPN The Magazine, who gives his unique perspective on a variety of statistical subjects. Samsung and ESPN plan to introduce a ScoreCenter app in the Fall of 2010, based on the popular app currently available on mobile devices.

Samsung will soon launch the world’s first 3D Video On-Demand app which offers viewers sneak previews of upcoming 3D movies. All apps are available from today and can be downloaded directly on the TV via their Internet-connected HDTV, Blu-ray player or Blu-ray Home Theater System*.

Samsung, the market leader in smart TV, is committed to expanding the types of experiences available to consumers. In 2008, the company was the first to deliver text-based RSS feeds, bringing news, weather and stock information directly to the TV with its InfoLink feature. In 2009, Samsung added Yahoo! widgets to the smart TV experience, as well as streaming video services with providers like Blockbuster and Amazon video-on-demand. With the launch of Samsung Apps this year, Samsung is broadening the smart TV experience, bringing services such as text-based information, casual games, sports, communications, social and location services, and HD and 3D video to consumers. The addition of these new premium apps underscores momentum around the platform as leading content providers continue to recognize the platform’s flexibility in delivering the growing types of content that meet consumers’ demand. Today, more than 60 industry-leading partners have made personalized, easy to use smart TV experiences available to consumers through Samsung Apps, including exclusive HDTV-based apps content from ESPN and Hulu Plus, among other leading brands like Blockbuster, Facebook, Google, Netflix, Pandora, Twitter, USA TODAY and Vudu.

It’ll also be accompanied by the LG LX6500, a supposedly more affordable mid-range 3D HDTV version.  Since a 3D set is no use without the content to enjoy on it, LG’s 3D-capable BD580 Blu-ray deck is expected to arrive in April 2010, along with the active shutter glasses required to view 3D content.

As for the 720p HD Skype video camera accessory, which turns certain LG HDTVs into video VoIP terminals, that’s expected to arrive in May.  After that, LG will release some 0.27-inch thick LED-backlit HDTVs, their LEX9 and LEX8 series, which will support 480Hz and be available in up to a whopping 72-inch model starting from mid-to-late June 2010.

[via Electronista]

The big news with the 25mm thick sets is that they are plasma TVs. I am a fan of plasma tech and have been bummed that the tech is slowly disappearing. The line is called Skinny Frame and supports 1080p resolution. The TV boasts a 600Hz refresh rate for clear images.

Connectivity for the line includes three HDMI ports and a USB port. The screen sizes in the line are 60-inches and 50-inches. The bad news is that the sets aren’t cheap at 3,800,000 won for the biggest set and 1,700,000 won for the 50-inch version. That works out to over $1100 for the 50 incher and over $3300 for the 60-inch version.

Via Engadget.com