03/21, 8:11am
Samsung rolls out new Smart TV apps including FOX NOW, Spotify
Samsung has introduced three new Smart TV apps, with more coming this spring. Samsung Smart TV users now have the option to download FOX NOW, Spotify and Univision’s UVideos, adding to the company’s extensive range of function extending applications. The apps are available for immediate download to Samsung smart-enabled devices including Blu-ray players and certain home entertainment systems.
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03/08, 5:46am
LG reveals second take on its 27-inch Personal Smart TV
LG has revealed its revamped 27-inch Personal Smart TV MT93. As with the original, the device supports PC inputs over HDMI allowing it to do double duty as both a monitor and TV in rooms where space is at a premium. While the original sported a chrome/silver bezel, the new model sports an ultrathin black bezel while it also incorporates a redesigned stand.
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02/06, 8:14am
Streaming service agreement varies by region
Streaming music service Deezer has signed new agreements with LG, Toshiba, and Samsung. The deals sees both Samsung and Toshiba smart televisions in various regions receive the app for the first time, while the LG will extend it's existing agreement with Deezer to cover more markets, and onto newer products.
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01/08, 7:17am
New 4K-capable TVs have 240Hz refresh rate, Theater 3D
Vizio has shown off its lineup of HDTVs for 2013, including a number of large UHD televisions. The new premium-level XVT series, the company's first Ultra High Definition TVs, were shown alongside an enhanced line of M-Series Razor LED Smart TVs, complete with Video On Demand apps and social features.
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01/02, 10:09am
Evolution Kit to provide hardware, software upgrade for HDTVs
Samsung is set to reveal a way for owners of televisions in its 2012 range to add features from its upcoming 2013 HDTV catalog. The Evolution Kit, to be fully unveiled at CES next week, will make changes to the way existing smart televisions will work, not only in terms of software, but also by adding more hardware to the TV set.
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12/26, 7:39am
Updated interface divided into five sections, includes VOD content
Samsung has started to disclose what it will be demonstrating at CES 2013 by detailing its new Smart Hub interface. The new hub for Smart TVs has an updated initial screen design that shows a range of different accessible content divided into sections, in an attempt to make navigating the available content easier for its users.
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12/13, 1:25pm
Also releases iPhone, iPod touch versions of Instant Video
Amazon has released versions of its Cloud Player for Roku set-top boxes and Samsung Smart TVs. The update comes at the same time as apps for Amazon Instant Video became available to download in Apple's App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch, four months after it became available on the iPad.
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12/12, 6:52pm
Specifics of attack held by Malta-based security firm ReVuln
A remote exploit in some models of the Samsung Smart TV has been uncovered by researchers at security researchers-for-hire ReVuln. If unlatched, the security flaw could allow theft of social media credentials loaded into the television, remote copying of drives attached to the television, and also allow remote access of compatible video cameras and microphones attached to the television.
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07/05, 3:54pm
75-inch screen half thickness of others, 0.3-inch bezel
Samsung has put a 75-inch LCD TV up for sale in South Korea. The ES9000, previously mentioned at the Samsung CES press event in January, is a full HD Smart TV with a claimed 30-percent sharper image from the "Diamond Black" panel, with a comparatively thin build and a 0.3-inch bezel featuring a rose-gold appearance.
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04/03, 6:45pm
Users can speak into remote to control TVs
At CES in January, LG previewed its 2012 line of Smart TVs. At the time, the company promised that some time during the year, it would be integrating voice control into its smart sets. LG is now ready to commit to the feature and plans to remotely activate it as of Thursday.
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02/23, 6:10am
Leading Korean ISP KT set to charge content makers
KT, Korea’s top ISP may set a precedent for charging data-heavy content providers including Google’s YouTube and other Internet-enabled service operators including charging Apple, should it move forward with launching a rumored smart TV and back it up with content delivery services through iTunes and other apps. According to Reuters, while the company already charges heavy-end users for downloading content, they argue that services such as YouTube are ‘free riding’ on ISPs who have to foot the bill for heavy infrastructure investment.
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02/10, 7:50pm
Samsung complains, refuses to negotiate
KT, Korea's largest wire-line operator and Internet services provider, has begun limiting web access to Samsung's Smart TVs. KT took the step a day after it warned Korean TV makers that it could not give Internet-enabled TVs a "free ride" over its network. The service provider wants compensation for the alleged heavy traffic the TVs create, claiming it slows down Internet service to its other customers.
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01/03, 4:20pm
Samsung SDK with paid app support due Thursday
Samsung will soon release the Software Development Kit (SDK) 3.0 for its web-connected Smart TVs that will finally let developers make money from their products. The SDK, which is due to arrive on January 5, will support in-app advertisements and payments. It will also have the ability to read inputs from remote controls and USB-connected peripherals such as mice, keyboards, and gamepads.
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12/19, 11:45pm
Service available in North America, UK, Japan
Samsung has announced that its Smart TVs finally have been paired with support for YouTube videos in 3D. The service was first noted earlier this year at IFA, where Samsung claimed it would have exclusive access to YouTube 3D videos for a short time.
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09/07, 11:45am
Stream video from Internet or Blu-ray to any HDTV
Belkin has launched a new line of wireless home theater products. The ScreenCast AV 4 Wireless AV-to-HDTV Adapter F7D4515 allows up to four home theater devices to be connected to any HDTV. The Universal Wireless HDTV Adapter F7D4555 provides Wi-Fi video streaming to a smart TV, and the
Universal Wireless AV Adapter F7D4550 streams content to multiple devices over a wireless network.
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09/02, 9:20am
LG, Philips, Sharp develop shared app SDK
LG, Philips and Sharp have formed an alliance to develop a shared set of standards for their respective Smart TV apps. The group is using common standards such as HTML5, CE-HTML and HbbTV to introduce the first beta version of a common Software Development Kit (SDK). The aim of the project is to allow developers create a single app that run on a TV from any of the three companies.
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06/02, 10:50am
Samsung Smart View and Remote 2.0 apps go live
Samsung deepened the links between its TVs and phones Thursday with both Android and iOS apps. Smart View for Android (free, Market) now gives users two-way media sharing. Those with a Galaxy S II or a similar phone can stream cable TV, Blu-ray, or any other video source from the TV to the phone itself. They can likewise browse the set's Smart TV apps and can watch content from one source while the TV is used for another.
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