Curves are the new way to get pleasure out of watching TV.
Samsung recently introduced in Manila its Curved UHD TV, the brand’s newest TV model. We had first dibs on the sleek set during Samsung’s audiovisual road show held recently in Blue Leaf Events Pavilion, which was transformed into a coliseum with curved “brick” walls where the LED TVs were mounted.
Changik Choi, Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp. (Sepco) audiovisual business adviser, explained how the Curved UHD TV works, and why it’s better than the usual flat screen that’s been Samsung’s best-selling TV line.
Natural angle
“It is the first curved TV. The human eye is round, and the curved screen shortens the distance between the eye and screen’s corners, creating a natural viewing angle,” Choi said.
The Curved UHD TV was introduced in Germany last year, and is for “a niche market that wants something different.”
Choi employed superlatives to describe the TV: ultra-high definition, dramatic viewing of panoramic scenes, crisp colors with PurColor technology, 55-, 65- and 78-inch screens—and a six-figure price tag starting at P300,000.
Ultra-high definition is four times better than high definition, said Amby Molina, Sepco product marketing head for AV. “The details on the screen pop out, and pictures have depth. It gives a 3D-like experience minus the glasses. The curved screen puts the viewer at the center of the action,” said Molina.
Samsung UHD Curved TV runs on Quad Core-plus processor and can be upgraded with the Smart Evolution Kit. It also features voice interaction, voice control, built-in camera, face recognition and motion control. It is compatible with Samsung apps, and one can even use a Samsung phone as a remote control.
The TV can also double as a computer monitor. We can imagine how extra-engaging “Game of Thrones” would be on such a screen, but what about local channels which still run on analog technology? And the Wi-Fi speed we have that requires patience?
Upscaling
Molina said the Curved TV “upscales the picture quality of local channels,” while the Quad Core-plus processor makes connectivity faster. She suggested optimizing the TV by using the Soccer Mode function that lets sports fans zoom in, highlight and record their favorite game scenes, or the interactive Family TV function which allows one to grab screencaps and record audio, and save it in a USB drive.
TV audio quality is fine, but if you want a thin speaker to go with your thin TV, there’s Samsung SoundStand, a speaker that looks like a large laptop at just over an inch thick. It’s so discreet we thought it was part of the TV stand. This space-saver has a built-in woofer and runs on Bluetooth, so there are no messy wires.
New Samsung home entertainment systems were also introduced at the makeshift coliseum by hunky gladiators, completing our coliseum road show experience.
Visit www.samsung.com/ph.