BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With the voices of its consumers as its guide, Samsung Electronics today at its IFA 2011 press conference explored how its unique product portfolio fulfills the needs of consumers who wish to be a part of “a Smarter Life, a Smarter World,” where consumer electronics provide purpose and meaning to each user. Samsung’s product lineup, including new updates to its visual display, mobile and digital imaging solutions, will be displayed September 2-7 in Hall 20 at Messe Berlin.
Welcome to a Smarter Life, a Smarter World
Before hundreds of IFA 2011 attendees, Boo-Keun Yoon, president of Samsung Electronics’ visual display business, welcomed the crowd following the first of a series of video vignettes entitled “A Smarter Life: A Smarter World” in which Samsung consumers detailed what they need and want from various products. Each product segment was preceded by a similar vignette.
“How does Samsung continue to contribute to a Smarter World? We accomplish this by investing $8.1 billion U.S. in research and development,” he said. “We accomplish this by continuing to be one of the world’s top holders of intellectual property patents. And we accomplish this by constantly listening to the voices of our consumers.”
Reinforcing the company’s leadership across its many product categories during today’s event, Yoon highlighted Samsung’s entrance into a new era of TV design and its growing product lineups in the digital imaging, IT solutions and mobile categories, including an exciting new mobile chat service that reflects Samsung’s platform agnostic approach.
“The year ahead is filled with anticipation,” Yoon said. “We are in a fascinating period of transition as we evolve from our history as a provider of world class hardware products to becoming a leader in software and services. Our leadership in each market can be summed up in a single word – innovation.”
Yoon also detailed Samsung’s re-branded CSR platform, Hope for Children. In Europe, the Hope for Youth initiative is based on the idea of innovation to support the development of disadvantaged children. Samsung plans to support the initiative with a combination of technology education and apprenticeship programs.
A New Era in TV
Following President Yoon’s opening remarks, Michael Zoeller, Samsung’s European marketing director for television and audio visual products, explained the company’s entrance into a new era in its design history—One Design, which is an approach to blend design and technology into a product that signifies “oneness” and sense of unity.
Zoeller showcased the One Design concept through an array of announcements, including the introduction of the new, virtually edgeless 60-inch D8000, which features an ultra-narrow bezel. New content partnerships were also unveiled at today’s event, which included new apps from prominent partners including Real Madrid and Berliner Philharmoniker.
As the No.1 TV manufacturer in Europe, Samsung’s unrivaled leadership was also noted. Receiving over 350 awards across nine major European countries in 2011 alone, Samsung Smart TVs occupy the No. 1 position in product reviews among 10 European consumer magazines—including the top eight spots from Netherland‘s consumer publication Consumentenbond. Further demonstrating Samsung’s unmatched achievements, the company was recognized as the “Best Consumer Buy for Televisions” from the European Image and Audio Association, EISA.
Zoeller went on to also unveil how Samsung is expanding its Smart Blu-ray Players and Home Theater System offerings to provide consumers with a broader range of products to start living the “Smarter Life.” The CRT TV upgrade gives Samsung’s Smart Blu-ray and Home Theater products the capability to connect to television sets—no matter the age, allowing consumers to take their older televisions to the next, connected level. This CRT TV upgrade underscores Samsung’s commitment to providing consumers with a greater level of access to both rich content and experiences.
Flagship Products - NX200 & MV800
Samsung’s 2011 flagship NX200 camera also launched at today’s event. The NX200 is the premier compact system that possesses a 20.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, which is more than any other product offered in the market.
“The NX200 possesses all the capabilities of its predecessors but when it comes to high performance specs and the ability to produce great images, the NX200 breaks new ground,” said Malcolm Andre, European regional product manager for Samsung digital imaging. “Its professional quality features make this an extremely powerful camera for high quality image capture, whatever the lighting environment.”
Professional quality is ensured with the camera’s premium features like the i-Function lens, which lets users control exposure values such as shutter speed and aperture into the lens. The NX200 takes this one step further with i-Function 2.0. By adding intelli-zoom functions and Smart Filters to the i-Function controls in Lens Priority Mode, users have more control at their fingertips than ever before. Users can also benefit from a range of nine different lenses available for the i-Function system. Similarly helpful is Smart Panel, which possesses intuitive features such as Hot Key, enabling users to jump easily to key functions without the need to scroll through confusing menus to get to their desired shot. The NX200 makes taking perfect pictures simple and fuss-free, even for first-time users, by aggregating all settings and options onto a single LCD display.
“Our approach has never been to design products based on the skill level of a photographer,” Andre said. “Instead, we start from the premise that a consumer should never miss life’s most important moments, and then we figure out what it is they need to capture them easily, in high quality, and in their own creative way.”
Such creativity fostered the development of the Samsung MultiView MV800. Also launched at today’s event, the Samsung MultiView MV800 comes equipped with a 3-inch-Wide Flip-Out Touch Screen Display, a unique new feature that allows today’s increasingly ambitious camera user to frame the perfect shot from any angle, both high and low, as well as self shot, without having to contort themselves.
Factoring into the camera is a 16.1 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom lens for close-up captures, and a 26mm wide angle lens for capturing larger gatherings in high definition. Additional features include the Smart Touch 3.0 user interface, with both standard and customizable Wallpaper backgrounds, enabling customers to drag and scroll through menu options and launch the required feature with only one touch. Also included are the Picture-in-Picture function, Live Panorama, Smart Filter, 3D Photo and Magic Frame for added creativity and enjoyment.
GALAXY Note and GALAXY Tab 7.7
To further encourage consumers to lead smarter lives, Samsung introduced a number of new mobile products, including the GALAXY Note, GALAXY Tab 7.7, the Wave 3 and the GALAXY WiFi 3.6.
The GALAXY Note is a new category of product, developed through Samsung’s deep consumer understanding and insight. It combines core on-the-go benefits of various mobile devices while maintaining smartphone portability, to create a whole new user experience.
The GALAXY Note has a 5.3” display which is the largest screen size with smartphone portability. It features the world’s first and the largest HD Super AMOLED display, an expansive high-resolution screen that provides an immersive viewing experience. Taking full advantage of the large screen, users will be able to do more tasks to create and consume more, with minimum scrolling and screen transitions, while on the go. An advanced pen-input technology, called the S Pen, is combined with the GALAXY Note’s full touch screen to introduce a new type of user-experience.
Powered by a 1.4GHz dual core processor and HSPA+ connectivity, the GALAXY Note delivers a unique combination of connected and creative freedom. Weighing an incredibly light 175 grams at 9.6 millimeter thin, the smartphone also includes an advanced 8MP camera that can be enjoyed in full color and clarity.
In addition to unveiling the GALAXY Note, Samsung has introduced the GALAXY Tab 7.7, the latest addition to Samsung’s range of tablets. Boasting premium credentials, the GALAXY Tab 7.7 offers a number of features to provide a superior mobile experience:
- Superior Super AMOLED Plus display: wider and clearer, ultra-vivid screen; proven to be the preferred touch screen technology for smartphone users
- Maximum portability: premium design with thin and light hardware
- Ultimate performance: powerful dual 1.2 GHz processor, fast connectivity and long‐lasting battery
- Broadest usage and customization: widest variety of applications, games and content to create personalized tablets for each user
Samsung also unveiled the chic Wave 3, a powerful, thin (9.9mm), beautifully designed smartphone that combines a market-leading 4’’ Super AMOLED display with a powerful (1.4GHz) processor and HSPA+ connectivity – a great package for the style-conscious consumer who also wants great power, connectivity and rich multitasking.
Finally, Samsung announced the launch of the GALAXY WiFi 3.6, a powerful multimedia player which runs on Google Android. WiFi connectivity ensures the device can be used to communicate with friends and family as well as provide music and video on-the-move.
New Possibilities in Communication
Opening new possibilities in communication, Samsung has launched its ChatON service, a global communication service that works across all major smartphone and feature phone operating systems. ChatON allows users to interact with friends and family, regardless of device platform – functionality across multiple platforms lets all users join in, sharing text, images, hand-written notes and video instantly. Users can chat in groups, while a Web client will allow the easy sharing of content and conversations between mobile and PC.
The ChatON service will be available in more than 120 countries, supporting up to 62 languages and featuring two functionality options. A basic functionality option is available for feature phone users who prefer simple and easy usage, allowing users to share text, pictures, calendar, contacts and emoticons through an easy-to-access client.
For business customers, Samsung is enhancing enterprise capabilities of the GALAXY Note through its partnership with Juniper Networks. Juniper’s Junos Pulse SSL VPN provides secure remote access to corporate network resources. The SSL VPN enables large enterprise and service providers to meet high-volume secure access and authorization requirements, protecting corporate data with centralized control and supporting employees' personal devices efficiently.
Series 7 CHRONOS Launch
Samsung launched the Series 7 CHRONOS Notebook PC at the press conference today, heralding a new age in premium computing.
Encased in a stunningly thin and compact aluminum chassis, the high-spec Series 7 CHRONOS with Intel’s Core i7 Quad Core embraces the ExpressCache™ technology, providing an extra 8GB of flash memory on the motherboard. This enables faster start up as well as increasing the overall performance; web browsing is 2 times faster (based on Microsoft Internet Explorer) while the device takes just 2 seconds to wake up.
In addition to providing exceptional speed, the Series 7 CHRONOS also delivers maximum performance in terms of display. Incorporating Samsung’s latest ‘MAX screen’ technology, the Series 7 CHRONOS enables users to experience an extra inch of immerse viewing, without sacrificing mobility or portability, with the 15.6” display being contained within the form factor traditionally associated with a 14” model.
Digital Appliances
Samsung unveiled its new home appliances at a separate press conference, showcasing the combination of Samsung’s innovative products and the latest smart technology.
Samsung announced the launch of an expanded range of ecobubble™ washing machines, the first washing machine in the market to generate special bubbles, enabling great performance from the start, so cold water washes like hot water. These soap-rich bubbles penetrate deeper and dissolve faster into fabrics, so you can save on energy but still get quality results.
Samsung also introduced a new G-Series refrigerator that maximizes the interior space with the same outer size. It uses Samsung's cutting-edge Eco Slim technology. In 2010, Samsung introduced the side-by-side fridge, adapted from Eco Slim. This year the company expanded its line-up to the French door and fridge freezers. The latest G-series offers 60L in capacity, which is more space for optimal food storage that can reach up to 400L capacity, as well as super energy efficiency of A+++.
Finally Samsung’s digital appliances division announced the launch of the NaviBot S, a visionary robotic cleaning device that provides hands-free automated floor cleaning, building on the already successful introduction of its robotic cleaner line-up.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2010 consolidated sales of US$135.8 billion. Employing approximately 190,500 people in 206 offices across 68 countries, the company consists of nine independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Memory, System LSI and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, semiconductor chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.