Samsung REDEFINES DIGITAL home entertainment with its Latest Range of Audio-Visual Products

-Samsung consolidates leadership in High Definition with the world’s first launch of the built-in MPEG4 AVC (H.264) HD Integrated Digital Television (IDTV) in Singapore

- Company aims to extend market share in the TV and MP3 Player markets with holistic home entertainment offering


SINGAPORE, 26 April 2007 – Samsung Electronics demonstrated its passion for enriching consumers’ lifestyles today, unveiling the world’s first Integrated Digital Television (IDTV) with a dedicated built-in MPEG4 AVC (H.264) HD decoder and DVB-T tuner and more than 40 of its latest audio-visual products at the Samsung Digital AV Roadshow 2007. Showcasing its comprehensive range of home entertainment products including cutting-edge High Definition (HD) and mobile multimedia offerings, the company aims to extend its leadership in the TV market and increase its share in the MP3 player market around the region.

“Samsung is passionate about leveraging our innovations in technology and design to enhance consumers’ lifestyles. Today, the launch of the world’s first MPEG4 AVC HD IDTV here in Singapore demonstrates our commitment to deliver a full entertainment experience with rich colours, sharp pictures, advanced features, crisp sound and audio-visual products with superior, timeless design,” said Mr Ki-Heung Yoon, Managing Director, Electronics Business Division, Samsung Asia Pte Ltd.

Samsung’s Full HD IDTV M8 LCD TV includes a built-in MPEG4 decoder and utilises the best video compression standards available in the industry. The MPEG4 decoder allows HD images to be streamed through terrestrial broadcast services and this video codec will be adopted by MediaCorp to stream free-to-air programmes in HD. With the IDTV M8’s built-in MPEG4 tuner, consumers can do away with additional wires and an external set-top box as well as navigate TV programmes from a single remote controller. The best picture quality for both analogue and HD programmes can be readily experienced as it is optimally pre-tuned.

This year, Samsung will continue to place great emphasis on the HD TV market with a new and exciting line-up that also includes the Bordeaux Plus LCD TV, Full HD M8 LCD TV and Q9 Plasma TV. Samsung recognises the great potential of HD and has taken initiatives to leverage its leadership in HD to cultivate and expand the market for its range of HD products.

“Samsung expects tremendous growth in the HD industry and we are now experiencing steady and robust adoption of HD among consumers,” said Ms Irene Ng, Director of Strategic Marketing, Electronics Business Division, Samsung Asia Pte Ltd. “HD will be a must for consumers, and Samsung is best positioned to deliver HD’s superior viewing experience, with our technological and product leadership in HD products from HDTVs to Blu-ray disc players and home entertainment systems.”

In Asia, factors driving the adoption of HD are gradually falling into place. These include government regulations, HD broadcasts, HDTV availability, recorded content such as Blu-ray discs and HD gaming. Samsung is helping to accelerate this process through its dual-pronged approach with terrestrial broadcasters and digital television content providers. Its collaboration with MediaCorp to launch the world’s first MPEG4 IDTV through undertaking joint field tests in households around Singapore will bring a whole new experience of enjoying HD terrestrial programmes. Additionally, Samsung’s strategic partnerships with Discovery Networks Asia and National Geographic Channel in the region are helping to educate consumers on HD and allowing them to fully experience HD.

Samsung led the global TV market last year in both amount and sales units for the first time since its entry into the business 34 years ago. In the region, Samsung clinched number one position for LCD TVs, registering a spectacular growth of more than 400 per cent, while its MP3 players achieved volume increase of 63 per cent. For 2007, Samsung is targeting a 70 per cent increase in sales for its TVs and a 300 per cent increase in the MP3 category.

The company is confident about reaching its MP3 player targets with its outstanding offerings that combine superior sound with sleek designs and unique lifestyle features. Apart from LCD TVs, MP3 players are another key growth engine for Samsung in the region. Samsung was the best selling brand of LCD TVs last year and was placed second by market share for the local MP3 player market in February 2007.

Samsung will continue to invest in leading manufacturing, R&D, and design facilities to further enhance its competitiveness.

Highlights of Samsung’s range of audio-visual products showcased at the Roadshow include:

HIGH DEFINITION TV

· IDTV M8 LCD TV: The IDTV M8 offers the best picture quality available in the market with its Full HD 1080p resolution and built-in MPEG4 tuner. Enjoy the best possible terrestrial broadcast picture quality with optimal MPEG4 tuning and do away with the need for a separate set-top box and remote controller. The IDTV M8 is available from May and comes in 40, 46 and 52 inch models at recommended retail prices of $7,399, $9,399 and $11,399 respectively.

· Full HD M8 LCD TV: Samsung’s premium M8 Series sets new standards in picture clarity by offering Full HD 1080p resolution. Samsung’s proprietary Super Clear Panel technology also generates excellent clarity with an outstanding dynamic contrast ratio of 15000:1. The TV also incorporates Samsung’s new Wide Color Enhancer that produces perfect colours even in bright areas. The Full HD M8 LCD TV is available in 40, 46 and 52 inch models at recommended retail prices of $6,999, $8,999 and $10,999 respectively.

· Bordeaux Plus LCD TV: A recipient of the prestigious 2007 red dot design award, the elegantly designed Bordeaux Plus Series takes a step forward from the Bordeaux LCD TV, the best-selling Samsung LCD TV for 2006. The Bordeaux Plus features subtle lines and a lacquer exterior in a choice of neoclassic black or pearl white, and boasts speakers and touch-sensitive buttons ingeniously hidden from view. The Samsung Bordeaux Plus LCD TV is available in 32, 37 and 40 inch models at recommended retail prices of $3,099, $4,099 and $4,888 respectively.

· S8 LCD TV: Samsung’s glossy black S8 LCD TV comes in a classic, elegant design, shaped by a smooth bezel with speakers mounted on the side. The TV provides advanced features with two HDMI terminals and the same high-speed response times and brightness of other top-end models. The S8 is available in 32, 37, 40 and 46 inch models at recommended retail prices of $2,599, $3,899, $4,399 and $5,999 respectively.

· Q9 Plasma TV: Samsung’s stylish and minimalist Q9 Series features Samsung’s cutting edge Ultra FilterBright technology which uses Samsung’s Super Black Panel and a specially designed Optimal Light Filter to enhance the bright-room contrast ratio to six times that of normal Plasma TVs. A winner of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2007 Innovations Award, the Q9 is available in 42 and 50 inch models at recommended retail prices of $3,699 and $7,599 respectively.

· Z57 Ultra SlimFitTM TV: Samsung’s premium Z57 has a Bordeaux-inspired classy design that is half the size of traditional CRT TVs. The 21 inch Z57 is available at a recommended retail price of $429.

· Z50 SlimFitTM TV: Get the best experience possible on a CRT TV with the Z50 SlimFitTM TV which offers 1080i/480p HD picture quality in a form factor up to 30 per cent slimmer than usual CRT TVs. The 29 inch Z50 model has a recommended retail price of $1,099.


HOME ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

· HT-TXQ120 Home Theatre System: A CES 2007 Innovations Award Honoree, Samsung’s HT-TXQ120 matches impressive performance from Samsung’s Digital Natural Sound Engine (DNSe) with equally appealing aesthetics. The system features a Full HD up-scaling capability, which brings to living rooms HD pictures from DVD sources. It also incorporates a variety of features like versatile multimedia playback and instant entertainment with USB Host Play function. The HT-TXQ120 will be available from May 2007 at a recommended retail price of $1,999.


· DVD-1080P7 HypervisionTM DVD Player: Samsung’s DVD-1080P7 incorporates HDMI Out 1080p feature that enables Full HD up-scaling for the ultimate viewing experience. The DVD-1080P7 will be introduced from May 2007 with a recommended retail price of $249.


DIGITAL STILL CAMERA


· i7 Camera: With an innovative rotating LCD touch screen to allow quick switches between the camera’s different multimedia functions, the Samsung i7 camera is the perfect travelling companion with its World Tour Guide. Users can have instant access to travel information in 30 countries stored on the camera’s 450 MB of internal memory. The i7 camera has a recommended retail price of $649.


· i70 Camera: Fashionistas will love the Samsung i70 which has faux diamonds placed around its 7.2 megapixel lens and premium patterns etched by lasers on its surface. Available in silver, black, pink and gold, the i70 is a must-have with its ability to double up as a MP3 player, digital camcorder among other functions. The i70 camera will be introduced in May 2007 with a recommended retail price of $599.

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