Samsung appeals to the connected couch potato – CES 2016

Photo contribution by Chloe Nordquist & content contribution by Ryan Loebe
At the CES 2016 Samsung press conference, Tim Baxter, President and CEO of Samsung America rolled out products that will appeal to the couch potato within. From its Smart TV to the connected Family Hub refrigerator that will do everything but cook the food, the new products aim to further connect users and devices in order to manage daily tasks and improve the at-home entertainment experience.

Samsung CES press conference
Samsung CES press conference

Consumers are moving towards the Smart TVs and managing everything on screen from their social media to their thermostat with a few clicks. The company said they sold 20 million Smart TV units and have 600 premium partners. Their users consumed 20 billion hours of entertainment. The new Smart TVs have the ability to recognize all external components attached, such as a game console, and can manage each one from a single remote and internal menu.
The company announced Smart Things, an expanded USB adaptor and platform that enables users of 2016 SUHD TVs to control over 200 compatible devices around ones’ home. Samsung is giving this device to purchasers of any 2016 SUHD TV free of charge.
Samsung CES press conference
Samsung CES press conference

 
The company also revealed their new SUHD Quantum Dot Display* TV with a bezeless design in five sizes ranging from 49” to 88”. Raising the bar with picture quality, the TV comes with their Ultra black technology that reduces reflection and glare and provides a higher level of contrast and brightness; all 2016 TVs have been UltraHD certified. The company also teased an 8K curved HDTV to showcase during CES.
Before you get up from the couch for a snack or remind the kids about their chores, grab your smartphone. The new Family Hub refrigerator has a 21.5” front panel touchscreen where users can communicate with the family through digital notes, post photos and calendar reminders, engage TV mirroring, and more through the product app. If you don’t know what food is inside your fridge, there’s an internal camera that takes a picture of your food everytime you close the door and can be accessed through the app on-the-go or from the couch. The company announced a partnership with Mastercard to integrate an on-demand grocery shopping feature into the platform. The product will be available in Spring 2016.
Samsung CES press conference
Samsung CES press conference

When it’s time to do the laundry, those that prefer front loading washers probably deal with the struggle of starting the washer only to find that a few pieces of clothing didn’t make it in — but now you can add it! Samsung rolled out the AddWash, a feature that lets users add clothes after the drum started filling with water. The product is expected to launch Spring 2016.
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* Quantum Dot Display is an advanced optial technology that expands color that creates brighter images, without distortion and without the brightness status.