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Well this is just a tad bit su.rprising. Samsung has announced new blu-ray and TV offerings which utilize Google TV to give end-users the “Smart TV” that everyone thinks we need these days. We’ve heard the rumor before – and just the other day Samsung said they were only “looking into it” when I asked one of their reps about Google TV – but they were just trying to throw us off the trail.
Another reason it surprised me is because Samsung had just introduced their newer line of internet connected products the day before, which were running Samsung’s own proprietary system.
They’re the first company using Google TV alongside their own solution: these days, it’s either one or the other. (Blu-ray players not being counted here.) They join Sony, and now Vizio in the race to capture the “new age” of consumers who need to be able to use apps on anything they buy. Anywho, we’ll be seeing if we can find these new products at CES this week, although I’m sure there’s not much more you can say about Google TV itself. Still, it’ll be worth seeing if Samsung has done anything to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Press details straight ahead, nod goes to Android Central for the heads up.
SAMSUNG EXPANDS BLU-RAY AND COMPANION BOX LINEUP
New Blu-ray Player and Companion Box Enabling Google TV Unveiled at iCES 2011LAS VEGAS, Jan 7, 2011—Today at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd. ., unveiled a new Blu-ray player and companion box enabling Google TV, as part of its ongoing smart TV product offerings.
As part of Samsung’s continued roll-out of smart TV products and services, Samsung’s new Blu-ray player and companion box enabling Google TV lets consumers surf the Internet on their TV screens just as they would on a computer including the ability to update social networks, track fantasy football scores, check e-mail and more.
Seamlessly integrating web content into a traditional TV watching experience, Samsung’s new Blu-ray player and companion box enabling Google TV feature an Android based platform, which will include a variety of Internet services for consumers. . In addition, a special Google TV remote control will provide users with a full QWERTY keypad and voice search supported through an internal microphone.
Sitting at the heart of Samsung’s smart TV home digital entertainment, the new Blu-ray player and companion box enabling Google TV will be on display at CES Booth #11033 throughout the show. The new devices are expected to be available at retail by 1st half, 2011.
For more information about Samsung’s technology lineup at CES 2011, and to track buzz during the show, visit www.samsungces2011.com.
How many times can they use the phrase, “Blu-ray player and companion box enabling Google TV” in one press release? Did they contract Microsoft’s product naming department to come up with that one? It’s worse than “Windows Phone 7 Series” would have been. Anywho, is this one device or two?
Oh, when did I miss the boobtube becoming the smart set? :P
Su.prise? No Samsung is a jack of all trades and a ace of none. I got suckered into the galaxy s line. That FYI still have no froyo. They will not get another dime of mine unless its for a pair of shoes or something that that they can’t break promises on.
@ksizzle,
My sentiments exactly. Only difference is I never went for their android phones. Have had older products of theirs and they don’t seem to have changed at all.
I’ve never owned a Samsung Phone, but they’re TVs are sweet!
Samsung is great for fixed-firmware devices. Buy their TV’s. Buy their appliances.
But don’t ever buy a Samsung device that claims to get software updates because you will never see an one from Samsung. I hope the brilliant XDA devs get working on this device, ‘cuz that’s the only way it’ll ever see an Android update.
Hell no! never again! After getting stuck with 2.1 on my Vibrant, I will never get a Samsung device again. I rather get a LG product. Now those are sweeter.
Dont buy ANYTHING from Samsung. Over the past ten years or so, I’ve spent well over $50K on Samsung products; HDTVs, home theaters, etc. Once upon a time (less than two years ago) Samsung had unparalleled customer service. I had an issue with a panel on one of my LCDs about a year and a half ago. Samsung service came to my house and switched out the panel right there on the spot. Most recently, I had an issue with a blu-ray home theater. It took over 3 months of fighting and arguing with them to have the issue resolved. At one point they refused to talk to me or return my calls for five weeks. They called me back very quickly after my lawyer called them. By a person who spoke flawless English (funny how fast threats of legal action lit a fire under their ass). During that same period of time, my uncle had to threaten legal action for similar reasons. He had an issue with his new LED HDTV. It should also be noted that when you do call customer service, you will almost certainly get a person whose first language definitely is not English and probably not their second or even one hundred fourteenth language. They read from a script and either dont understand you, or pretend not to. Only when legal action is threatened will someone who speaks your language get on the phone with you. I’ve never owned a Galaxy S, but I have a friend who is currently battling Samsung over warranty issues with his Galaxy phone-why that particular issue isn’t handled through his carrier, I don’t know or care. This isn’t just one department of Samsung, this is completely across the board-phones, TV, appliances,etc. While I can’t speak for Samsung’s phones since the last Samsung phone I had was an Alias, all of their other products are a crap-shoot. They work great when they work, but if something goes wrong (which, for some reason is increasingly less rare) you are in for a ton of fun dealing with customer service. If you have the option of buying a store warranty and it’s a GOOD one, I highly recommend getting one, because you are in for a battle otherwise. To be crystal clear, I’m not a Samsung “hater”; while I am typing this, I have a Samsung 120hz LED HDTV on with the sound coming through a Samsung Dolby 7.1 home theater (the replacement previously mentioned). Hopefully, they stay in perfect working order because if I have to get into it with Samsung again, someone may die. I’m sure that there are people out there who will read this and post about how great Samsung is, how they came to their house, updated their phones to Android 13.9, fixed everything in the house, turned their old CRT into a 480000Hz 120″ 7680×4320 UltraHDTV, rescued the cat from a tree, and farted rainbows and unicorns in the living room. For them I say “good for you” you may hit the lottery next. For everyone else, I say “BE VERY CAREFUL”. In short; be VERY careful when buying ANYTHING from Samsung, read customer reviews, and most importantly, read EVERY WORD of the warranties offered to you. Good luck.
@Ravidavi
It should be pointed out that most, if not all of Samsung’s newer HDTVs and home theaters are not fixed firmware. The blu-ray in particular occasionally states when you load a disc that if you dont have the newest firmware, the disc may not play correctly. Just thought I would point that out.
Have to agree with others here.
Positive – I have LCD and TV from Samsung, great stuff. Nothing bad to say about it
Negative – I owned a Samsung phone. Software was bad, really bad, no updates – ever.
Here is the deal with what seems to be is some hatred for Samsung products. On the Cell Phone side 2.2 Froyo has been released to all Carriers and for whatever reason only Sprint has decided to release the update. It is the Carriers responsibility to send the update to your phone not Samsung. The only thing Samsung does when it receives updates from Google is make sure that 2.2 would be capable with the hardware.