End User

Yahoo TV Widgets Bring the Web to 2009 Samsung HDTVs

Samsung also announced an interface that brings web content right into the set for it's 2009 HDTVs. What's especially interesting about Samsung is that they are not using a proprietary system. Instead, they are using Yahoo's TV Widgets platform. Yahoo's system has an open API, which means pretty much any developer can create new widgets to bring make different types of content available. During the demo we got from Samsung at CES, we saw the YouTube videos, finance data, weather, and news widgets we've seen on other systems, but we also saw multiple movie rental and video on demand providers, and hookups to Flickr and Twitter. The widget that excited me most was something called Rallypoint, that lets you track fantasy league scores, standings, and player stats for all the players on your fantasy team in real time while you watch games on TV.  Here's the complete demo we got.

CES 2009: Amazon Video on Demand HD Downloads Coming to Panasonic HDTVs

In 2008, Panasonic launched VieraCast, a system that let you plug an Ethernet cable right into the back of the TV and access internet content like YouTube videos, photos on Picasa web albums, Bloomberg News reports, and weather info. It was only available on the top-of-the-line PZ850 series. For 2009, Panasonic is making the system available on more models, including its G10, G15, V10, and Z1 Series HDTVs, as well as on all 2009 Panasonic Blu-ray players.

Even more exciting is that Panasonic has added Amazon Video On Demand that will enable customers to watch more than 40,000 titles, including getting the latest new release movies the same day that they are released on DVD.  Customers will be able to watch titles right away with no downloading or waiting, and they can rent or purchase titles on a la carte basis with no subscription fees.  Once downloaded, it's easy to fast-forward, pause, or rewind a program. Using the Your Video Library feature, customers can keep a virtual library of their purchases and re-watch them anywhere, including their VIERA TV, Panasonic Blu-ray player, or via the web on any PC or MAC.

VieraCast is extremely easy to use.  The built-in Ethernet port makes it easy to hook up via an Ethernet cable or broadband router, and the slick gridded interface is simple to operate with your television's remote. There is no fee to use the VIERA CAST functionality.

All of these products are scheduled to launch in the spring 2009, but will be available for pre-order soon on Amazon.com.

We got a demo of the service while we were at the show. Check it out.

Samsung Rolls Out New LED-Powered LCD HDTVs

As we were waiting in the airport headed back from CES, we did a quick straw-poll asking what the most exciting thing people saw at CES was. We got lots of different answers, but "the new Samsung LED-backlit HDTVs" was on just about every list. It's not hard to figure out why. The sets really are gorgeous. The flagship 8000 series features a 240Hz refresh rate (the 6000 and 7000 series are 120Hz). All of the sets feature an Ethernet port, and and ATSC tuner.

Using white LEDs around the edge of the panel to provide backlighting gives the sets great brightness and contrast at an overall thickness of less than an inch.

Overall, Samsung LCD lineup for 2009 is a step up from last year. They've added a charcoal gray to the "Touch of Color" styling they introduced in red last year. The gray is subtle and elegant. The Series 7 line gets a 240Hz refresh rate.

While were at the show, Samsung's product trainer Dave Albers took us on a tour of of all of their new LCD HDTVs.

The Coolest TV Packaging Ever

In addition to digging on home theater, I'm kind of a design geek, so I'm surprised I didn't see this last year. It's TV packaging that turns into a stand. The whole thing is made out of expanded polypropylene that can be manufactured from recycled materials. It was created by a Tom Ballhatchet, a UK design grad student.

    

This post is getting copied to our manufacturers. I'd love to see these rolling out of Amazon's fulfillment centers. I'm just not sure how heavy it is. If it weighs a lot more than Styrofoam, it might be impossible for us to ship it free. I wrote Ballhatchet to try to find out. We'll see where that goes. My question to readers is, "if we offered TV with this packaging as an option, do you think you would you pay a shipping surcharge to get it?"

Oh, there's also a video.

I have no idea why they're playing, "We wear short shorts."

--Tod Harrick