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Byungho Kim, Senior Professional, Suwon Community Contribution Center, Samsung Electronics, in front of his office

The husband and father of two was diagnosed legally blind in 1995, following several years of increasing vision loss. The next year, Kim underwent four months of full-time residential rehabilitation, where he acquired skills to navigate his condition. Afterwards, he came back to work and approached his managers with an idea: to open a computer technology learning center for the visually impaired.

A Digital Transformation

In his time at the rehabilitation center, Kim was introduced to a screen reader. The software allows blind people or those with low vision to access a computer using their voice. This was a significant moment for Kim, who leapt at the opportunity to use it.

“It was so exciting to get my hands on a computer,” he recalled. “I had been without print media for 3 years; no newspapers, magazines or anything at all. But suddenly I was able to listen to the news I wanted and even read books. I was delighted.”

Byungho Kim at his desk in the Suwon Community Contribution Center, where he uses a screen reader to navigate his computer

Realizing the potential impact of this technology on digital accessibility, Kim was determined to teach others how to use it. “When I thought about how other people in my situation would appreciate a screen reader, I knew I had to act,” Kim remarked. He brought his idea to Samsung.

Kim played an instrumental role in the establishment of a computer technology program for the visually impaired, providing such students access to computer education. Sukyung Lee, who was involved in the project, distinctly remembers: “It was thanks to Kim’s proposal that we have been able to achieve all that we have in this area.”

Online with Anycom

In 2002, Samsung launched Anycom, an e-learning platform designed to provide online versions of the offline courses that were already available for the visually impaired. The online courses range from basic document processing to preparation for professional certifications. More than 100 students of Anycom have gained the necessary credentials to teach others and pass on the skills they have learned.

A variety of online courses are available at the Anycom website (anycom.samsunglove.co.kr)

As the course lecturer, Kim’s role has been integral throughout, updating older materials and recording new courses as the digital world develops. Thanks to his efforts, many people with vision loss have learnt how to use their computers and the Internet from the comfort of their own homes.

Kim’s work has also proved inspirational for his daughter, Jooyoung, who herself now works as a speech therapist in a center for the disabled. When she was a young girl, she even lent her voice for the greeting message which can still be heard today whenever someone opens the main page of the Anycom website.

Kim and his daughter Jooyoung bearing the torch at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics torch relay

Accessible by Design

At home, Kim’s enthusiasm for technology has led him to take charge of many household chores. The laundry is now his sole responsibility, as he takes part in user tests for Samsung’s FlexWash washing machines, which are equipped with voice recognition.

Kim helped Samsung FlexWash developers optimize accessibility by testing the product at home and providing personal feedback

As a reviewer, Kim has taken special care to use each of the FlexWash’s features for all its cycles: “I sent the developers an email listing every possible issue I encounter. I have suggested they change certain phrases or add a sound signal here and there. I think I’ve sent them almost 30 suggestions and they’ve made use of most of them. The washer has become easier to use and more accessible.”

Kim’s advice and attention to detail have become invaluable, not only for washers but also for many other Samsung products, such as the Galaxy Core Advance smartphone, which was launched in 2014. Using these products, Kim identifies issues that might otherwise have been overlooked.

Decades of Determination and Dedication

On April 20 2018, Kim attended a special ceremony in Seoul to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. At the ceremony, he was presented with the ‘Disabled Person of the Year’ Presidential Award for his contributions to accessibility.

Kim’s continued passion to enhance access to technology was acknowledged by the Korean government, winning him a presidential award

Kim’s continuing commitment to making technology accessible shines through. “My life changed after becoming blind,” he reflected. “I began to think more about how I could help others like me. I thought about ways to develop lessons and volunteer programs and how to enable disabled people to use our products more easily. This drive has made me a better person.”

But what is it about Samsung’s laundry solutions that have captivated the industry and consumers alike? Demand for premium home appliances has increased in recent years, and Samsung’s success in this burgeoning field is due to its ability to create simple yet innovative laundry solutions, informed by consumer needs and enhanced by the power of IoT and AI. In an industry that has long been dominated by conventional solutions, Samsung’s disruptive technology redefines the laundry process as we know it.

Breakthrough Washing Performance

With convenience that doesn’t compromise performance being the top priority for consumers when choosing home appliances, Samsung has cemented its status within the market thanks to the key features of its two most advanced washers – the speed of QuickDrive and the flexibility of FlexWash. Though washing methods have significantly changed over time and improved throughout the industry, these latest laundry solutions are a testament to Samsung’s history of innovation, and rewrite the very definition of washing performance.

QuickDrive technology provides a full wash cycle in half the time of conventional machines^*, with all the fabric care, performance and durability users value. This unrivaled technology caters to the lifestyles of modern consumers by saving them valuable time to do more of the things they love. Its status as a leading laundry innovation was commended by this year’s CES Innovation Awards.

The FlexWash system offers the award-winning option to wash two loads of laundry at the same time, meeting the needs of consumers who require flexibility in their machine usage. Samsung’s unique dual laundry system and its unprecedented flexibility have transformed how people tackle multiple loads of laundry.

Intuitive Smart Features

Samsung washing machines with QuickDrive technology are also equipped with Q-rator^**, the company’s AI-powered intelligent laundry assistant, to further simplify the laundry process.

Q-rator provides users with intelligent and intuitive assistance through three main features: Laundry Planner enables consumers to specify a laundry finishing time; Laundry Recipe provides recommendations on the best wash cycle for a specific load; and HomeCare Wizard monitors a wash remotely for quick and responsive troubleshooting.

The difference that these ingenious features make in the washing process has been widely acknowledged by the industry. This year’s ‘Best of KBIS’ awards recognized both washers as leading in their fields, with QuickDrive receiving the ‘Smart Home Technology’ award for its best-in-class laundry innovation, and FlexWash receiving the ‘Kitchen Silver’ award for the flexibility that its multi-load and remote smartphone-control features provide.

Prudent Product Design

The innovation found in Samsung’s laundry solutions goes beyond the advanced technology built in to each washer. Both QuickDrive and FlexWash machines have been designed to provide the highest quality of performance and user experience.

At the heart of the QuickDrive offerings is the Q-Drum, consisting of a main drum as well as a back plate that rotate independently, unique in the industry. Unlike conventional washing machines, QuickDrive moves clothes dynamically around the drum in different directions.

The FlexWash washing machine’s dual washer capacity, combining a small upper washer with a bigger lower washer, enables users to run two different load types simultaneously and completely separately. This unique technology has won recognition from the Asian Conference on Ergonomics and Design for its holistic and compact design.

The two award-winning laundry solutions, QuickDrive and FlexWash, represent the fruition of Samsung’s drive to innovate while reflecting consumers’ lifestyles. Consumers, industry leaders and media around the world continue to recognize how these technologies allow people to do laundry more flexibly, so that they can achieve their highest quality wash yet – all while freeing up more time to spend on the important things in life.

^*Based on tests comparing the WW8800M with Samsung’s WW8500K model. Saves 50 percent of time during Cotton (a half load at 40℃ ) and eCotton cycles, with washing performance within ±2 percent. Reduces energy consumption by 20 percent during Cotton (half load at 40℃) and Super Speed cycles (5kg load at 40℃), based on Intertek data. The exact amount of time that QuickDrive saves users varies by region.

^**Compatible with both Android and iOS devices. A Samsung account and Wi-Fi connection are required.

For example, in the home, when a user wakes up in the morning on a rainy day, the home lights will gradually brighten, while music fit for a rainy day is selected and played in the background. A cup of coffee will be prepared as soon as the user says “coffee” while stepping into the kitchen and the refrigerator will also recommend meal ideas for the day, asking the user whether he or she would like to buy ingredients online.

In the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry, Samsung Electronics is uniquely positioned to bring this world of connected AI services to life, based on the almost half a billion connected devices the company sells every year. In fact, given the typical lifecycle of a device, there are more than a billion Samsung devices actively used around the world at any given time.

Samsung’s device portfolio also is the industry’s broadest, and includes mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and wearable devices, office devices such as PCs, signages and Samsung Flip, devices for the home such as Samsung Smart TVs, Family Hub and FlexWash and FlexDry, and much more.

At this year’s CES, Samsung highlighted its latest innovations in its vision to drive the Internet of Things (IoT) supported by AI. Samsung Smart TVs now integrated with Bixby, are able to play music and shows personalized for users, as well as show who is at the front door or what is inside the refrigerator. The Family Hub refrigerator, also integrated with AI, recognizes the voices of different family members and provides each of them with a personalized daily schedule.

Moving forward, Samsung will continue to remain focused on holistically integrating AI into a connected setting, such as the home or the office, in contrast to other players primarily pursuing implementation of AI on a few devices and services. In the following months, Samsung will integrate not only Samsung devices, but also IoT devices and sensors developed by external partners into the SmartThings eco-system, allowing a single SmartThings app to control everything. Furthermore, Samsung also plans to integrate AI into all its connected devices by 2020.

In the coming years, many IoT devices with AI support will generate a vast array of usage patterns and scenarios. How AI-enabled devices learn and analyze complex usage patterns and provide consumers with the most optimized options will be critical to the success of AI technology for the near future. In other words, the success of AI will boil down to how well the devices understand the users.

Therefore, Samsung’s perspective on AI is to build an eco-system that is user-centric rather than device-centric. To pursue that goal, we will start by building an AI platform under a common architecture that will not only scale quickly, but also provide the deepest understanding of usage context and behaviors, making AI more relevant and useful.

For the past decades, Samsung successfully introduced products and innovations by researching the lifestyle and behavior of global consumers. Paying respect to our heritage of user-centric product development, Samsung will begin an exciting journey open to boundless possibilities in new user experiences by integrating AI into the open IoT ecosystem it is currently developing. This journey will certainly be fascinating for us here at Samsung, but even more so for consumers, as Samsung takes major steps forward to bring consumers’ hopes and expectations to life.

Samsung Electronics today announced that it has won two KBIS 2018 awards, the new and first year category award for Smart Home Technology and Best of Kitchen Silver award, presented by the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS).

The kitchen and bath industry’s premier awards program highlights the best new kitchen and bath products that push the boundaries of design, technology and innovation. Winners are selected based on innovation, design and function.

The Samsung Front Load Washer with QuickDrive is a major step forward in laundry innovation and cuts washing time.  Equipped with faster wash time and enhanced smart capabilities, the new washer with QuickDrive technology and intelligent Q-rator laundry assistant takes the guesswork out of doing laundry from your mobile device. It has smart capabilities that simplify the washing cycle with intuitive features that provide automatic recommendations for optimal wash cycles, manage the time that a wash cycle will finish and adjust cycle settings, and monitors the washer to keep it operating at optimal performance.

The Samsung FlexWash + FlexDry are a versatile new laundry pair that provide ultimate flexibility to wash and dry multiple loads of laundry at the same time.  FlexWash + FlexDry provide an unprecedented amount of flexibility to let you do multiple cycles at the same time, so you can keep a wide variety of clothes in great condition.

This year, KBIS added new categories to recognize and honor brands at the forefront of smart home innovations which are driving the kitchen and bath innovations of tomorrow. A total of six awards were given out including Kitchen Gold and Silver, Bath Gold and Silver, Best in Show and the new Smart Home Technology award.

“We are proud to be the recipient of two KBIS awards this year, as it underscores Samsung’s dedication and commitment to bringing meaningful innovation to the home appliance industry and to consumers,” said Tom Halford, Vice President of Samsung Premium and Builder Brands. “Our combination of technology, performance and design is resonating strongly, and we are looking forward to a game-changing 2018.”

Following KBIS 2018, voting for the Best of KBIS People’s Choice award will take place online, via the KBIS Facebook page. Voting opens January 12, 2018, and show attendees can cast their vote for their favorite products. There will be three People’s Choice Winners (First, Second and Third Place).

Samsung Electronics today announced that it will showcase its advanced built-in appliances, including its widely acclaimed Samsung Chef Collection lineup that incorporates Samsung’s most intuitive smart technologies, at the 2018 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Orlando, Florida. The show, on January 9 -11, will be the first time in 7 years that Samsung is attending as an exhibitor, reaffirming its strong commitment to the US as the world’s largest premium built-in home appliances market.

Samsung will be exhibiting in booth W770, displaying its latest innovations in the appliance category to the builder and designers, and demonstrating the strong appeal of Samsung appliances in growing millennials with its advanced appliance designs and technologies.

“Attending KBIS demonstrates our continued commitment to creating innovative products in line with what people want in their home today” said Tom Halford, Vice President of Home Appliances Division at Samsung Electronics America. “Our smart, premium built-in kitchen appliances are also helping us to increase customer satisfaction and build industry leadership.”

The Samsung booth will highlight six different kitchen packages across wide range of prices, including both the black stainless-steel and standard stainless-steel packages from the Chef Collection lineup. Samsung will also highlight the increasing prevalence of the smart home trend with a Connected Living zone that features Samsung’s award-winning Family Hub refrigerator and the FlexWash and QuickDrive washing machines.

Samsung’s premium built-in Chef Collection on display includes many of Samsung’s most advanced technologies such as the Remote View camera incorporated into refrigerators and Virtual Flame of induction cooktops. Also on display will be the chef-inspired features in a premium suite of wall ovens, cooktops, pro ranges, dishwashers, and refrigerators including the fully integrated 42” Built-In 4-Door Flex model. All models have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities for full connected control in a smart home.

Samsung Electronics today announced that it is bringing its next generation laundry innovation to the U.S.:  the WW6850N washing machine featuring revolutionary QuickDrive technology. Responding to consumer demand for speed and cleaning performance, the 24” compact washer cleans laundry up to 35% faster for a thorough clean¹, compared to current Samsung models. The WW6850N will be on display at the upcoming International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 9-12, 2018.

With more Millennials than ever buying homes, this new cohort of digitally savvy homebuyers is demanding home appliances that incorporate meaningful, personalized technology to enhance their lives. The WW6850N with QuickDrive technology is just the latest in a line of differentiated laundry innovations, including the activewash Top Load Washer, AddWash Front Load Washer and FlexWash + FlexDry laundry pair.

“When you’ve got a pile of laundry to do, you just want to get it done as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Shane Higby, Vice President, Home Appliance Marketing, Samsung Electronics America. “The introduction of the WW6850N washing machine with QuickDrive technology underscores our commitment to providing consumers with options for tackling their laundry needs to free up time for what really matters.”

The WW6850N washer’s innovative performance starts with QuickDrive technology, which features a large main drum and a back plate that move independently. This creates a dynamic action that moves clothes in four directions – up and down, and back and forth – to quickly, gently and thoroughly remove dirt for a more powerful and intense wash cycle that takes up to 35% less time than other comparable Samsung machines¹. Additionally, at 24” wide and stackable, the WW6850N washer and its companion dryer are an ideal size for small spaces like first floor laundry rooms or closets just off the master suite, to conveniently tackle loads quickly and effectively.

The WW6850N is IoT-ready and compatible with Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem. Its Q-rator laundry assistant has smart capabilities that simplify the washing cycle with intuitive features:

• Laundry Recipe provides automatic recommendations for optimal wash cycles based on the color, fabric type, and degree of soiling inputted by the user.
• Laundry Planner allows consumers to manage the time that a wash cycle will finish, adjusting cycle settings accordingly.
• HomeCare Wizard monitors the washer to keep it operating at optimal performance and provides easy-to-follow maintenance instructions

A 2018 CES Innovations Award honoree, the WW6850N washing machine with QuickDrive technology will be available in the U.S. this year.

¹ Tested on Samsung WW6850N with WW6800K. Saves up to 35% time on Heavy Duty (hot, 6lb load) with a washing performance within ± 3%, based on internal data tested by AHAM HLW-1-2013.

The ACED, established in 2014 and held every three years, is the international organization for ergonomics and design. For this year’s conference, the organization selected four winners in the sectors of software, automotive products, household furniture and home appliances, with Samsung’s activ dualwash^TM, AddWash^TM and FlexWash^TM winning the Grand Prix award in the home appliances category.

“This recognition reflects our effort to create consumer-focused and ergonomic products derived from countless hours of behavioral research and user analyses,” said Hyunjoo Song, Vice President of the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue to make groundbreaking new technologies and innovations to better the lives of our devoted consumers.”

The three advanced laundry machines at the heart of Samsung’s ergonomic design series showcase Samsung’s relentless innovation and continued industry leadership in the home appliances space:

• activ dualwash^TM: features an upper sink for easier pre-treatment without having to bend down.
• AddWash^TM: attaches a small window on the main door, which can open widely when consumers have extra clothing, detergent or fabric softeners to add during the wash.
• FlexWash^TM: a holistic and all-in-one laundry system that offers an upper washer and a main washer on the bottom in one compact unit.

For its part, FlexWash^TM also was recognized with the Best of Best Ergonomic Design Award by the Ergonomic Society of Korea (ESK) in April. The system adds flexibility to laundry routines and saves time by enabling users to handle multiple loads of sorted clothing at once. Rather than putting the second compartment in the pedestal, Samsung installed it on top of the main drum so users can comfortably perform laundry without stretching or bending over.

In addition, the transparent glass material of the top door of FlexWash^TM allows users to look inside the machine and monitor the cycle’s progress, and the ‘VRT plus (Vibration Reduction Technology plus)’ of the washing machine reduces noise and disruptive floor vibrations.

Among Samsung’s CES 2017 notable wins are 34 CES 2017 Innovation Awards, including a Best of Innovation Award in the video display category.  Samsung was also recognized with a number of media and industry awards, selected by organizations in attendance at the event out of more than 3,880 exhibitors.

“As CES celebrates its 50^th anniversary, it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come as an industry. This past year was marked with an array of unique developments in product design and engineering,” said Gregory Lee, president and CEO of Samsung Electronica North America.  “We are honored to be recognized year after year by CTA and the industry for our innovative products and developments, and remain committed to delivering products that are thoughtfully designed to work the way you live.”

Samsung’s award winning products for 2017 include:

• Samsung’s new QLED TV line-up received more than 20 notable awards including four CES Innovation Awards, Reviewed.com’s Editor’s Choice award, Ubergizmo’s Best of CES award and HD Guru’s CES Top Picks award

• Samsung’s new Lifestyle TV, which is designed to appear just like a picture would appear on a wall, collected the Best of Innovation award from CTA as well as Popular Mechanic’s Editor’s Choice award

• Samsung’s FlexWash + FlexDry were honored with two CES Innovation Awards and an array of media accolades, including the Techlicious Best of CES award, Reviewed.com’s Editor’s Choice award, The Verge’s Best of CES award and a TWICE Picks award

• Samsung’s Chromebook Plus and Pro garnered wins from Digital Trends Top Tech of CES awards, Wired’s Best of CES awards, BGR’s Best Laptops of CES awards, LAPTOP / Tom’s Guide Best of CES awards, Gear Patrol’s Best Products from CES awards and 9to5Google’s Best of CES picks

“Despite some challenges, we’ve made big strides in 2016, gaining market share in TVs, home appliances, wearables and smartphones,” said Tim Baxter, President and Chief Operating Officer of Samsung Electronics America. “By listening to our consumers and building on our heritage of innovation, we are delivering on our vision of the future – one that is powered by connected and elegantly-designed products and services that put consumers firmly at the center.”

Samsung QLED, the Next Innovation in TV

Featuring incredible advancements in the development of Quantum dot technology, Samsung unveiled the 75-inch Q8C QLED TV, which adds new metal material to nano-sized semiconductor quantum dots to deliver the perfect mix of light and color currently available in display technology. The result is a stunning large-screen QLED TV, with an incredibly accurate and precise picture that can be viewed from any angle or in any environment.

Samsung QLED TV takes Quantum dot technology to new heights with advanced light efficiency and stability, as well as a wider color spectrum than ever before. The new QLED TV also features truly deep black levels, perfect 100% color volume when measured with DCI perfect match, and HDR optimal brightness of 1,500 – 2,000 nits. Samsung QLED TV’s new panel design also reduces reflection so consumers can see every bold detail with unbelievable levels of contrast. Finally, QLED delivers this level of performance regardless of where one is sitting, with consistent color and picture quality from any viewing angle.

New design elements introduced by Samsung enhance the QLED TV experience even further.

The practically invisible optical cable helps to solve the issue of unsightly cords and clutter that can be found in the home with a sleek, single cord system. Additional accessories include the optional “No-Gap Wall Mount,” which makes mounting a TV flush against the wall simpler and faster than ever before. Finally, for those who desire a variety of stylish options when displaying their TV, Samsung introduced two new optional elegant TV stands – Gravity and Studio – that appeal to the consumer who prefers an un-mounted TV.

In addition to the new TVs, Samsung also detailed plans to deliver a more unified experience for customers using various services and devices. Last year’s hit Samsung One Remote has been enhanced to support even more devices and offer voice control capabilities across more Smart TV features. And Samsung SmartView app – available on Android and iOS – allow users to get their personalized SmartHub experience right on their phone, as well as notifications of new content even when the user’s TV is off.

New to the Smart TV experience in 2017 is the Samsung Sports service. The Sports Service ensures that sports fans will never miss a moment, with customizable content and alerts based on a user’s team preferences, powered by real-time partnerships with the biggest content players in sports today.

Rounding out this year’s new Smart TV portfolio of offerings, Samsung has extended its popular global service, TV PLUS, to the U.S. market. A new entertainment app exclusively available on Samsung Smart TVs, TV PLUS conveniently brings high quality content into a single app on your TV for the most premium viewing experience. Paired with Samsung Checkout, TV Plus is the fastest way to connect with the entertainment consumers love, right out of the box. In addition, Samsung has also partnered with FandangoNow in the U.S. to bring instant access to rent or buy more than 40,000 movies and shows, including new releases in 4K HDR.

Additionally, Samsung announced their newest lifestyle TV innovation. The new Lifestyle TV offers a sleek, stunning design that was curated with an artful approach. This new TV was designed to appear just like a picture would appear on a wall, outfitted with an invisible cable that allows it to hang anywhere in the home, and blend seamlessly into any living space without those unsightly cables or wires. The Lifestyle TV was awarded a “2017 Best of Innovation Award” at CES 2017 and will be launched later this year.

Samsung showcased its 2017 lineup of home audio visual products, including the new Soundbar Sound+ which features a built-in sub-woofer, H7 Wireless Audio and the latest UHD Blu-ray Player. The products reflect a comprehensive suite of premium features with an eye toward heightened integration, as well as a premium, simplistic design that complements the user experience across multiple devices. Finally, the new Soundbar and H7 feature the rich and detailed sound of UHQ 32bit, which upscales from any source that provides 8-24bit sound.

Unprecedented Flexibility in the Home

Samsung unveiled a truly differentiated line of home appliances to give consumers more flexibility and choice in how they cook, clean and connect.

Bringing more flexibility into the laundry room, Samsung introduced FlexWash + FlexDry to meet the needs of today’s busy families. FlexWash is equipped with a 5.0 cu. ft. capacity front load washer, the largest in its class¹, to handle normal or bulky loads. It adds another cubic foot of capacity in a separate compartment on top for washing smaller loads separately from the main load. Both washers can run separately or simultaneously with different settings.

Meanwhile, FlexDry has the ability to tackle large laundry loads while gently drying a few delicate items at the same time at the top of the dryer. Suitable for items like athletic wear or a silk scarf, the unique Delicate Rack zone adjusts the heat automatically depending on the type of fabric being dried.

Signaling the company’s commitment to investing in categories in which its expertise and innovation can enrich and empower the lives of consumers, Samsung also introduced its line of new smart built-in appliances. This includes a new combination wall oven microwave, upgraded dishwasher, and matching line of premium refrigerators.

During the press conference, Samsung also announced Family Hub 2.0, the next generation of its award-winning refrigerator. Building upon Family Hub 1.0, which was introduced to wide acclaim last year, Family Hub 2.0 expands from four to 10 refrigerator models, so consumers can choose the refrigerator that best matches their household needs. It also features enhanced usability with intuitive app integration and new app partners to help families stay connected, manage food, and access more entertainment features on the refrigerator’s 21.5” LED touchscreen. For added convenience, Samsung’s advanced voice technology has also been integrated across many of Family Hub 2.0’s apps.

Fueling Passions with New Mobile Devices and Computers

This year at CES, Samsung introduced the next generation of mobile computing, with a range of new premium PCs that reflect the company’s commitment to design, craftsmanship, and choice. They include the Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro, a 15-inch Notebook 9 with a discrete GPU, and Samsung’s first-ever gaming laptop, the Notebook Odyssey.

The Samsung Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro are premium convertible laptops designed for Google Play, and can run millions of apps from the Google Play Store. The new Chromebooks feature a sleek yet durable metal body, and also go from notebook to tablet in a single snap. Thanks to Quad HD screen, the Samsung Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro perform equally well as both tablet and laptop, and are also the very first Chromebooks to come with an embedded digitizer pen. The Chromebook Plus will be available with an ARM CPU, and for those looking for even stronger performance, the Chromebook Pro will be powered by an Intel core M3 CPU.

Samsung’s new 15-inch Notebook 9, which will be available in the U.S. this year, is built for maximum performance and exceptional mobility. Powered by the 7^th-generation Intel Kaby Lake processor, it also features a discrete GPU to tackle even the most hardware intensive tasks, from photo and video editing, to running programs on multiple monitors.

Lastly, Samsung’s first-ever gaming laptop, the Samsung Notebook Odyssey, offers a mobile experience that rivals a desktop rig for power, speed and comfort while still being light enough to carry in a backpack. The laptop will be available in 15 and 17-inch screen sizes. The 15-inch Odyssey is powered by Intel’s 7^th-generation Core i7 processor, with up to 32 GB of 2400 Mhz DDR4 RAM, up to 256 GB SSD and HDD dual storage, and an NVIDIA GTX 1050 graphics card. More details on the17-inch Notebook Odyssey will be unveiled later this Spring.

Usability has also been enhanced with a built-in shortcut to maximize performance. At the push of a button, supercharge the Odyssey’s processor, graphics, and memory to realize the absolute best gaming experience.

For more information on this press release including photos, videos and relevant Samsung Newsroom articles, please visit news.samsung.com/global. Samsung’s CES booth #15006 is on Level 1 of the Central Hall in the Las Vegas Convention Center, and will be open from January 5-8, 2017. To learn more about CES 2017, please visit www.ces.tech.

¹ Based on product dimensions.

Samsung Electronics today introduces its revolutionary FlexWash + FlexDry laundry system, set to be unveiled at CES 2017 in Las Vegas. This versatile laundry pair was designed to offer two washers and two dryers in one system, giving consumers more choices to do laundry the way they want, in all types of situations. Incorporating a range of core Samsung laundry technologies, FlexWash + FlexDry provides the most advanced, flexible laundry solution to meet the needs of busy modern families.

Within the two machines, each distinct laundry compartment includes unique features to tackle wash day needs. The FlexWash front-loader is equipped with five cubic feet of capacity — the largest in its class¹ — to handle normal or bulky loads. Meanwhile, the FlexWash top-loader adds another cubic foot of capacity and is built to wash smaller loads separately from the main load. To power through big laundry loads, users can operate both washers at the same time with different settings.

To dry fabrics, FlexDry has the ability to tackle large laundry loads with the added flexibility to dry a few delicate items at the same time. Users can lay clothes flat in the unique Delicate Rack zone at the top of the dryer and gently dry delicates with a controlled, heated air flow. The special zone adjusts the heat between room temperature and 95 degrees Fahrenheit automatically depending on the type of fabric being dried. The main dryer compartment also uses Samsung’s MultiSteam technology to freshen and disinfect clothes while reducing odors and wrinkles.

“Everyone has different clothes and different ways of caring for them,” said Seo Byung-Sam, President of Home Appliances at Samsung Electronics. “Finally, FlexWash + FlexDry is a laundry system that fits any need, all at once. We are striving to give consumers the freedom and flexibility to adjust the laundry process for the way they live, not the other way around.”

According to Samsung research on U.S. consumer laundry habits, 87% of U.S. consumers surveyed sort their laundry into lights and darks, different fabric types, and degrees of dirtiness, while 70% of consumers surveyed run two or more back-to-back washes. The new FlexWash + FlexDry laundry approach was developed to transform the marketplace as consumers discover a more efficient, more effective way to sort on the fly and tackle the laundry process. The ability to operate all four compartments separately and simultaneously addresses strong consumer demand to wash clothes faster while still keeping items separate.

The new FlexWash washer uses three core Samsung laundry technologies: SuperSpeed^TM, PowerFoam^TM, and Vibration Reduction Technology (VRT). SuperSpeed shortens wash cycles to as little as 30 minutes from the usual 60 minutes, while PowerFoam technology uses an innovative mixture of water, air and detergent to deep clean event the bulkiest items with the power of foam. VRT is engineered to minimize vibration and keep the noise level down.

For ease of use, the FlexWash washer does not require two separate water lines, eliminating the need to hire a professional to install. Additionally, easy-to-reach top-load areas on each washer and dryer unit allow consumers to more comfortably load or unload laundry. And transparent glass on the top-load compartments makes it simple to check on laundry cycles at a glance.

Finally, FlexWash + FlexDry are IoT-enabled, backed by smart features that will allow users to control the FlexWash + FlexDry machines with their smartphones², using the Samsung Smart Home app. They will be able to start, stop, and monitor every cycle for both machines.

FlexWash + FlexDry are both CES Innovation Award honorees in 2017, continuing a string of wins for innovations including activewash^TM in 2015 and AddWash^TM in 2016.

For more information, please visit Samsung’s CES booth #15006, on Level 1 of the Central Hall in the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 5-8, 2017.

¹Based on product dimensions.

²The Samsung Smart Home app supports Android OS 4.0 (ICS) or later which is optimized for Samsung smartphones (Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series). This app also supports iOS 7 or later for iPhone models. Smart Home App available in App Store and Play Store.