SINGAPORE — Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd has launched in Southeast Asia new products supporting its vision of connected living, including an 8K television and appliances all integrated via Bixby, its intelligence platform.
At the Samsung Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO) Forum 2019 on Monday, the company showcased its new products: its 2019 QLED TV lineup, the Frame, The Wall, lifestyle TVs, and the next generation of its Family Hub refrigerator and QuickDrive washing machine. An exhibition at the sidelines of the event also featured its latest digital appliances like vacuum cleaners and air-conditioners, among others.
Samsung Electronics Singapore President Eugene Goh said in his keynote speech at the forum that the company’s new TVs and digital appliances are geared towards streamlining and simplifying day-to-day tasks for “a more personalized user experience.”
“All our innovations are linked to our bold vision for connected living… As Samsung continues in our relentless pursuit of innovation, we hope to expand connected living outside of your homes and into the cities that you live in,” Mr. Goh said.
He said the company will leverage on new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and 5G as these “will drive a new era of innovation and disruption across every business and profession.”
“By harnessing the power of the advances, we will pioneer a new generation of immersive, personal, and intelligent experiences,” the official said.
QLED TV
Samsung on Monday launched its QLED 8K TV lineup, which features 98-inch, 85-inch, 82-inch, 75-inch and 65-inch models. The 98-inch model is its largest TV.
Its 8K TVs are equipped with Samsung’s AI-powered Quantum Processor, which allows it to calibrate lower-resolution sources and make all content 8K-quality — a plus as true 8K content as of now is limited.
Other products in Samsung’s QLED TV lineup for the year include its 4K TVs that range from 43-inch to 82-inch in size.
The new QLED TVs will feature Samsung’s upgraded Ultra Viewing Angle technology for consistent picture quality in various viewing conditions, while the Direct Full Array technology allows the light to be adjusted to create deeper and more precise blacks. They also carry support for the HDR10+ standard and come with Samsung’s Ambient Mode.
The expanded lineup of TVs includes more than 20 models and has more large-screen options, which Samsung said is a response to consumer demand for bigger TVs.
Aside from its QLED lineup, Samsung also exhibited The Frame and The Wall during the event. The Frame lets users display an artwork — which can come from your personal collection or Samsung’s Art Store partners that include renowned institutions and artists — on the screen, making the TV part of their homes seamlessly when it is not being used. The Wall, meanwhile, is a customizable MicroLED modular TV.
FAMILY HUB, QUICKDRIVE
At the forum, it also showcased the next generation of its Family Hub refrigerator, which features enhanced AI and IoT technologies for a connected home user experience.
The 2019 Family Hub now features support for the new Bixby, offering more services to allow users to control and monitor IoT home devices and services via voice commands. Some features accessible via Bixby on the fridge include weather reports, top news, music, and mirroring third-party apps from your Galaxy phone, among others. Bixby’s voice ID technology also distinguishes each family member’s voice to tailor content for individual needs.
The new Family Hub likewise features a Family Board, which is a virtual bulletin board allowing users in one home to interact.
As for food management, Family Hub-equipped refrigerators let users view what’s inside without opening doors and tag items for reminders and expiry dates. These appliances also have a Meal Planner feature which makes recipes based on preferences and the items in the fridge. Users can also use the Recipes app to search and make meals.
Meanwhile, Samsung’s new QuickDrive-equipped washing machine WW7800M is also IoT ready. It has an AI assistant called Q-rator which has three key features: Laundry Planner, which lets users manage a laundry finishing time; Laundry Recipe, which gives recommendations for wash cycles based on fabric type, color, and degree of soiling; and HomeCare Wizard, which monitors the machine by remote.
The machine likewise comes with the AddWash feature, which allows users to add items, detergent, or fabric softener to their laundry load any time during the cycle.
The company’s QuickDrive technology cuts washing time by 50% and energy use by 20%, it said.
LOCAL AVAILABILITY
The Philippines will carry the 82-inch and 75-inch QLED 8K TVs, according to local officials, as well as all 4K models. Meanwhile, other Samsung products that will be or are already available locally are the The Frame; the Flat Style, Optimal Fresh Zone and Black Edition refrigerators; its HotBlast microwaves; the FlexWash, AddWash, and Activ DualWash washing machines; the PowerStick and Robot Cleaner vacuums; and the Wind-Free Basic and WiFi air-conditioners.
Information on local pricing and availability of other products was not immediately available. — Bettina V. Roc

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