Connectivity, content anchor Samsung's TV thrust

LAS VEGAS--Samsung is banking on more seamless connectivity between its electronic products, particularly its "smart" TVs, and content to reel in consumers at this year's Consumer Electronic Show.

At the press briefing here Monday, company executives unveiled a series of software features for its range of smart TVs, as well the goggle box itself including its Ultra High-Definition (UHD) model S9, to anchor its TV business strategy for the year ahead.

The S9 features Precision Black Pro technology, which delivers the deepest shades of black and high-contrast ratios and dimming control. It comes with a quad-core processor to ensure smooth visual quality and multitasking, and a three-way 2.2-channel sound system to deliver improved audio fidelity over typical TVs, it said.

In terms of improved software for these TVs, Samsung showcased the Smart Hub which is the user interface for its TVs. Content is now divided into five specific categories, namely On TV for currently playing content; Movies & TV Shows from content providers; Photos, Videos & Music from the user's personal collection; Social with content from friends and the user's social media accounts; and Apps from Samsung's library.

Voice-based commands was another feature, as Samsung unveiled its S Recommendation with voice interaction. The voice-activated recommendation engine will suggest relevant content from various online sources based on user ratings and views, the company said.

It also highlighted its Evolution Kit, which it unveiled on Jan. 2 before the start of CES 2013, and it allows owners of Samsung's 2012 range of TV to upgrade to the latest platform without having to buy another hardware device. No pricing details were released.

Kevin Kwang of ZDNet Asia reported from the Consumer Electronics Show 2013 in Las Vegas, United States.