△ Hyesung Ha, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics

Last month I had the opportunity to travel to Barcelona, Spain to attend Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) for the first time in two years. It reminded me that the world is returning to routines and norms. At the same time, it will be a fundamentally different world moving forward.

I can also apply these observations to Samsung’s digital signage business. In 2022 and beyond, Samsung will deliver a variety of solutions that were and still are important to businesses today, as well as new technologies designed to meet the needs of the modern world.

It’s clear that we will never fully return to what we used to think of as “normal” life. We’ve already reimagined offices, classrooms, entertainment and so much more within our daily routines. It’s my job not only to keep up with these trends, but to fundamentally reimagine the role of digital signage moving forward. That’s why Samsung is focused on redefining our most common spaces, reconnecting the world through new experiences and re-emphasizing the importance of digital signage in our daily lives.

Redefining Learning and Collaboration in a New Era

One of the largest shifts of the past few years is the role technology plays within common environments such as classrooms in schools and meeting rooms in offices. These environments saw an increasing demand for digital transformations and now new considerations are required to ensure every student and professional has the same high-quality collaboration experience regardless of whether they attend in-person, online, or in a hybrid manner. In other words, learning and collaboration spaces have been redefined with an increased emphasis on inclusivity in any scenario.

Samsung is addressing this need with the new Samsung Flip Pro. It provides students and professionals with high-quality collaboration experiences whether they are in-person or remote with enhanced usability and specialized features to meet ever-changing business and education needs. With a focus on seamless and intuitive interactions, it’s easy to set up and easy to use. The newly added intuitive control panel enhances the overall classroom or meeting room experience along with the industry’s fastest touch latency, enhanced multi touch features and the ability to simultaneously connect devices to the display wirelessly for enhanced collaboration.

Reconnecting Through New Outdoor Experiences

As consumers return to public shopping malls, sporting events and other forms of entertainment, businesses are competing now more than ever for their attention. With more outdoor activities, signage has become a bridge between consumers and brands while helping people enjoy digital art. In other words, signage reconnects consumers with the world.

LED signage also creates unforgettable experiences inside sports stadiums. Delivering the best viewing angles for fans was one of Samsung’s highest priorities. As part of these efforts, Samsung designed the largest videoboard ever created for sports, the Infinity Screen in SoFi Stadium as a part of the Hollywood Park Technology Alliance. Measuring 70,000 square feet, the incredible curved, 360-degree, dual-sided screen greets fans and provides a state-of-the-art way to experience the game.

Another trend where we see a major opportunity for growth is the electric vehicle industry. As demand for electric vehicles surges, carmakers, governments and local businesses are rushing to build more electric vehicle charging stations. This provides a new outlet to serve information and deliver promotions to electric vehicle owners, and Samsung outdoor signage is the perfect solution for this scenario. With ultra-bright picture quality and durability with certified IP56-rated protection, the outdoor signage can excel in a variety of weather conditions and environments, hence businesses can create engaging visual experiences while customers top up their batteries in charging stations.

Re-emphasize the Vision of ‘Screens Everywhere’ With Unmatchable Micro LED Technology

Micro LED technology is set to define the future of display innovation. From the luxury industry to hospitality and travel, the potential of Micro LED is endless. The Wall is Samsung’s state-of-the-art display technology, which features even more options for businesses looking to transform their spaces with next level picture quality and immersion.

Samsung is the leader in Micro LED displays, which contain smaller LEDs, and allow greater LED density, enabling brighter and more detailed color expression inside a slimmer display profile. To create our industry-leading Micro LED technology, we have focused on three key areas: Samsung developed fully integrated ultra-fine Micro LED chips; such densely populated LEDs result in stunning brightness; and we continue to secure processing know-how for ultra-fine semiconductor chips to improve mass production.

These unparalleled technologies helped Samsung’s 2022 lineup of The Wall (IWB) open up new possibilities. The micro pitch feature of the IWB delivers the most detailed picture with 0.63 pixel pitch, the slimmest ever, in addition to providing a variety of screen sizes to meet any consumer or business need. Meanwhile, The Wall All-in-One (IAB) has transformed the installation process with a pre-adjusted seam and a ‘Pre-Assembled Frame Kit’ which makes the whole process as simple as a consumer TV. The Wall All-in-One not only saves valuable time but also lowers the total cost of ownership while delivering a better viewing experience.

In a constantly changing world, Samsung will continue to deliver breakthrough innovations to realize the vision of “Screens Everywhere” based on industry-leading Micro LED technology.

Reimagining the Role of Digital Signage

As an industry leader in the global signage market for the past 13 consecutive years,¹ we will continue to expand our sustainability efforts by creating products that can reduce carbon emissions and contribute to resource circulation.

Our digital signage solutions, including the 2022 Smart Signage, have received certified energy efficiency grades that rise to new industry standards, such as ENERGY STAR and EPEAT. Samsung also has incorporated eco-conscious packaging featuring recycled materials in all signage products since 2021 and became the first business in the industry to achieve the reducing CO2 label, certified by the Carbon Trust for its display portfolio.

In recognition of our eco-conscious efforts for our sustainability initiative, we won the ‘Sustainability Innovation of the Year’ at the AV News Awards in ISE. As we are grateful for the recognition of our efforts, we plan to make each step count while we collectively change production practices for a sustainable future.

The return to routines combined with new customer expectations and habits provides businesses with a rare opportunity to reimagine their offerings and practices. By considering a new role for digital signage moving forward, we’re helping our customers reimagine what’s possible to keep them ahead of the curve.

I’m excited for this next chapter for digital signage. At Samsung, we’re passionate about bringing game-changing innovation and value to our enterprise customers. We will continue to innovate, reimagining the role of digital signage in new and conventional spaces, all while increasing our customers’ possibilities in this new era.

¹ Samsung has been the No.1 selling digital signage brand for 13 consecutive years by Omdia. (Note: Consumer TVs, along with Commercial Lite and Hospitality TVs used for signage are excluded.)

Samsung joined the Hollywood Park Technology Alliance to continue to deliver groundbreaking display technology solutions and products — including its LED videoboard, ribbons and large format displays — across the 300-acre sports and entertainment destination. The company joined the Alliance’s roster of leading innovators including: SoFi, Google Cloud, YouTube, Verizon, Deloitte, Cisco, Square, Ticketmaster, Ross, Willow and PAM. Together, the collaboration will help advance Hollywood Park’s plans to develop the mixed-use project to exceed guest expectations.

“Joining the Hollywood Park Technology Alliance allows us to continue to contribute display innovations to the ever-evolving complex,” shares Mark Quiroz, Vice President of Marketing for Samsung’s Display Division. “Partnering with leading innovators helps us to deliver a revolutionary guest experience, made possible by the innovative alliance partners. We are ready for the long-term advancement of this incredible space and are looking forward to collaborating with our fellow technology partners.”

Samsung’s LED display portfolio has captured Los Angeles’ most striking architecture, SoFi Stadium — home to this Sunday’s Big Game — with its Infinity Screen installation in August 2020. The largest videoboard ever created in sports, Samsung’s cutting-edge visual display technology features a double-sided 70,000 square-foot 4K LED display that loops around the center of the stadium, offering an unprecedented view to all fans no matter where they’re sitting.

Positioned 122 feet above the playing field, the oval display features approximately 80 million pixels and with the largest graphics control system in the history of sports, the Infinity Screen is revolutionizing how the stadium visually connects with its viewers to enhance the fan experience like never before.

When it comes to picture quality, Samsung delivers the most advanced high dynamic range (HDR) technology. Setting the standard for stadium videoboards, Samsung has implemented the latest iteration, HDR10+, to produce a superior image quality that captures every detail of gameplay. Viewers following Sunday’s game at home can expect a truly immersive experience thanks to its dynamic tone mapping and enhanced intrinsic dynamic range. HDR10+ support will play a major role in the stadium’s upgrades over the course of the partnership.

This multi-year alliance extends across the entire Hollywood Park portfolio and has incredible applications for the development’s retail, office, residential, sports and entertainment offerings.

When complete, Hollywood Park will feature retail space totaling up to 890,000 square-foot. It will also feature up to 2,500 residences, 25 acres of public parks and open space, a hotel, and up to 5 million square feet of creative office space.

The Alliance’s collaborative effort to introduce unparalleled technology to the stadium will deliver extraordinary experiences for future events.

For more information on Samsung’s products and solutions, please visit news.samsung.com/us.

Enhancing Experiences With Next-Level Big Screen Technologies

Positioned 122 feet above the playing field, the 70,000 square-foot oval display features approximately 80 million pixels to enhance the in-stadium fan experience. Teams on the sidelines and fans in the crowd alike are able to watch 4K instant replays, up-close game action, game stats, interactive updates and more.

Samsung’s advanced technology is bolstered by the largest graphics control system in the history of sports. Each LED panel can be uniquely or congruently programmed with statistics, live and animated content — and its unique size and shape make it wider than the field of play.

Delivering the best viewing angles for fans was one of Samsung’s highest priorities. By using the measurements from architectural drawings of the stadium and simulating viewing angles on a test screen, Samsung designed the Infinity Screen to ensure that every seat in the stadium offers a great view of the videoboard. The display is also equipped with a state-of-the-art audio system with more than 260 individual JBL by Harman speakers embedded into its frame — equal to 1,500 home theater systems.

Immersive Entertainment for Every Fan

To offer fans and guests a consistently dynamic experience, Samsung also outfitted the stadium with other innovative solutions, including more than 2,600 large format displays, ribbon boards – long, thin LED screens mounted on the face of balconies — and audio equipment. No matter where fans are in the stadium, they won’t miss the action on or off the field.

Every large format display at SoFi Stadium utilizes HDR10+, making the picture quality life-like and full of vibrant colors, sharper contrasts and crisper details. The same can be said for any fan who watches the game directly from a Samsung TV or compatible device at home. Thanks to HDR10+ technology, viewers can also enjoy the big game from the comfort of their couch, while still feeling that they’re at the stadium itself.

Samsung is the official display, mobile and TV partner of Hollywood Park, a near 300-acre sports and entertainment destination and home to SoFi Stadium.  

The immersive experience represents the continuation of Samsung’s commitment to celebrating the ever-moving crossroads of art and technology, with the visionary mind of Michael Murphy. On Murphy’s spiral installation, that stood almost twelve feet tall in a darkened room, audiences were teleported to Gorgon City’s exclusive performance, while Cercle’s sweeping camera and cinematography flaunted the rich landscapes of the rocky Biokovo Natural Park on Croatia’s rocky southern coast – all through the all-encompassing lens of the QN900A Neo QLED state-of-the-art 8K Infinity Screens. As Gorgon City’s set unfolded on the striking and complex architectural glass walkway, Murphy’s trademark perceptual deception revealed itself to show the nearly bezel-less, Anti-glare screens, with all eleven working in unison, spiraled to manipulate the eye.

Michael Murphy said: “I’m so proud of this installation. To think this is the first time I’ve ever worked with moving images in my art, so the challenge of integrating them onto not just one, but eleven screens – well, it looks and feels amazing. Of course, Cercle’s unbelievable cinematography and the breath-taking picture quality of the Neo QLED made my job easier, not to mention the fact they’re Samsung’s slimmest ever screens, but I’m beyond excited the installation has helped me push my art to the next level. That’s why I’m so glad Samsung and I got to work together for this piece – we’re both pushing for viewers to see the world in a new light. I do it with mind-blowing perceptual tricks, Samsung with their mind-blowing screens.”

As Croatia’s vivid blues, oranges and greens swept across the true-to-life picture and the richest, nearly bezel-less color ever seen, audiences weren’t just transported to a set on the Adriatic coast, but thanks to Murphy’s transformational installation, to a different world entirely.

“At Samsung, we’ve always tried to push boundaries, and there is no greater boundary to cross than to experience a new and fresh perspective,” said Nathan Sheffield, Samsung’s Head of TV & Audio. “That’s why we wanted to work with Michael, because his work has always transcended the boundaries between art and perception. Cercle has done the same with music, cinema and culture. At Samsung we aim to show our customers how expressive, inspiring and colorful the world can be. With Michael, Cercle and the remarkable visual power of the super Neo QLED we’ve made a big step towards our goal.”

“Just wow,” said Cercle founder, Derek Barbolla. “We’ve filmed some beautiful scenes worldwide, and we knew the Skywalk video with Gorgon City would be no exception. However, none of the performances we’ve filmed have looked just so true-to-life on screen. Then, when combined with Michael Murphy’s perceptual artistry –it reaches a whole new level. It goes to show – when you entwine music, cinema, art and the world’s best TV, you can create something truly special.”

Matt Robson-Scott of Gorgon City said: “It’s been an honor to work with the Samsung and Cercle team. It was such an amazing experience shooting in a such an epic location and we feel like it suits the track perfectly. We were blown away by the way they work and hope everyone loves the video as much as we do”.

Samsung’s new, flagship QN900A Neo QLED television, like the immersive experience, delivers a mesmerizing viewing experience with true-to-life picture, rich color and anti-glare technology in the comfort of your home. For superpowered visual technology, only available with the Neo QLED 8K TV, you can truly experience new perspectives.

Relive the exclusive performance and Experience New Perspectives first-hand at https://www.samsung.com/uk/explore/experiences/new-perspectives-neo-qled/.

With QLED’s expansive viewing angle, precision resolution, remarkable detail and innovative, lifelike sound, immerse yourself in your favorite sporting events and feel like you’re right back there among the sights and sounds of the stadium.

Considering that you can reasonably expect most TVs to last anywhere from 5 to 10 years, when you shop for your next TV, you’ll want to be sure that you’ll be happy with your purchase for the long haul. Today’s consumers want a bigger, more immersive picture. Which may explain why this year experts predict that sales of 75-inch and larger TVs will increase by 17 percent, and sales of 8K TVs will increase by 110 percent in the global TV market.¹

Not only has Samsung worked hard to develop bigger and bigger screens, the company has also been focused on enhancing its TVs’ design to provide the best possible viewing experiences. “Samsung’s QLED 8K 2020 TVs allow users to focus solely on watching and listening for total immersion,” explained product designer Seungho Lee. “With these innovative screens, we reduced bezel sizes so as to make use of 99% of the display space and break down the boundaries of TV displays for optimized viewing.”

Take a look at the images below to learn more about the QLED 8K 2020 range and Samsung’s big-screen TV design journey.

¹ Market research firm OMDIA has predicted that shipments of 75-inch and larger TVs will reach 4.92 million units in 2020 – a 17% increase over last year (4.21 million). Sales of 8K TVs are predicted to increase from 119,000 units in 2019 to 250,000 units in 2020.

The 2020 QLED 8K lineup provides consumers with an unprecedented viewing experience and unparalleled smart home integration. It leverages the power of enhanced AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology to improve audio, video and smart capabilities. Plus, it offers a range of smart features powered by Tizen, making it easier than ever for consumers to use voice commands and access new features like Tap View, Digital Butler and Samsung Health.

The ultimate expression of these different innovation is the new, flagship Q950TS QLED 8K TV, which is the first TV in the industry to feature surround sound audio, true-to-life 8K resolution and a stunning, ultra-thin form factor.

“8K resolution has the potential to transform our industry. Screens over 75” are the fastest growing segment in the market, and that segment is where 8K resolution matters the most,” said Joe Stinziano, Head of Consumer Electronics Business at Samsung Electronics America. “Our 2020 8K lineup demonstrates the power of this potential. Its unprecedented immersive capabilities and unparalleled smart features empower consumers to pursue their passions more simply and more comprehensively than ever before.”

Reinventing TV Design

The Q950 practically eliminates the bezel around the display to create a screen-to-body ratio of nearly 99 percent, the largest in the market. When watching from about ten or fifteen feet away, consumers experience a stunning Infinity Screen effect where the bezels seem to disappear. The result is an even more immersive viewing experience that eliminates the boundaries between the TV and its surroundings.

In addition, the Q950 is only 15 millimeters thin across the entire display. In combination with a completely flat black panel, the Q950 can lay flush against the wall or create a striking silhouette when placed on a media stand.

Redefining Picture Quality

The 2020 QLED 8K lineup reflects Samsung’s commitment to leading the industry in the implementation, adoption, and playback of 8K resolutions. Every model in the lineup will meet the requirements of the 8K Association’s Certified Test Specifications as well as the CTA 8K Ultra HD Display Definition.

At the same time, the QLED 8K lineup is among the first in the industry to support the playback of native 8K content. In 2020, consumers will be able to enjoy and stream AV1 codec videos filmed in 8K on QLED 8K TVs. All Samsung TVs in the 2020 8K line will ship with this capability built-in.

And, Samsung is working with partners like YouTube to create pathways for streaming native 8K content.

In addition to building out the 8K ecosystem across the industry, the QLED 8K lineup helps consumers to experience the power of 8K resolution even when they are watching lower resolution content. Based on powerful Samsung semiconductor technology, the Q950’s next-generation Quantum Processor 8K features improved AI upscaling capabilities that use machine learning to analyze and identify the characteristics of individual pixels. It then restores different elements of the image to create a pristine 8K picture, regardless of the content source.

The Q950 also leverages the power of AI to ensure that nothing distracts viewers from their content. While traditional TV sensors can only adjust screen brightness based on the ambient light within the room, Adaptive Picture accounts for the distribution of light within the particular scene, ensuring that the TV can maintain a clear picture in bright rooms while still maintaining contrast.

Another common issue for consumers streaming content is the speed of their internet connection. AI ScaleNet ensures a smooth streaming connection by optimizing the available network bandwidth. It compresses content as it leaves the content provider and then restores it after it reaches the TV to effectively cut in half the bandwidth needed for consumers to stream content. Samsung Electronics is continuing to work with Amazon on this feature, utilizing AI ScaleNet from standard definition to 4K in Prime Video.

Reinvigorating Sound Performance

Since audio as important as video when it comes to an immersive streaming experience, the Q950 delivers some of the best TV audio on the market. It features speakers on every side of the display, as well as sub-woofers in the back. When combined with Object Tracking Sound+, which uses AI-based software to match the movement of audio sound with the movement of objects on the screen, the Q950 can deliver crisp and clear 5.1 channel surround-sound.

The Q950 can also adjust the volume of dialogue in response to common sounds like a blender or vacuum cleaner. Active Voice Amplifier (AVA) helps the 40% of U.S. consumers who say that these sounds tend to distract them while they’re watching TV by detecting the these noises and automatically enhancing voice clarity.

Finally, the Q950 is uniquely capable of using its built-in speakers as an additional audio channel when connected to a 2020 Q Series soundbar like the Q800, a 2020 CES Best of Innovation honoree. Q-Symphony pairs the audio from both devices together to create a dynamic and multi-dimensional soundscape.

Reinventing the Viewing Experience

Consumers today have access to—and are consuming—more streaming content than ever before. That’s why the 2020 QLED 8K TV line offers unique features that help consumers to better enjoy their content and interact with their different devices.

In 2020, Bixby, the Samsung’s AI assistant, is getting even smarter. Consumers can use their TV to change the mood of a room. For example, if they tell Bixby to create a calm atmosphere, the TV will then display a relaxing backdrop on the screen. In addition, Samsung will offer multiple voice assistant options in order to provide consumers a choice by integrating Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant into Samsung’s 2020 QLED 8K line. Now users will enjoy easier access to the content they love, with expanded smart home and TV control capabilities.

The Q950 features a new and improved Universal Guide that uses AI-based algorithms to analyze the type of content that consumers watch, as well as the services and TV channels that they tend to use, to offer recommendations uniquely customized to their specific habits and tastes.

Through Samsung TV Plus, Samsung’s free smart TV video service, consumers can easily access new content, even if they have cut the cord. With just an internet connection, consumers can instantly access news, sports, entertainment, and more—with new options joining all the time. There are currently nearly 100 channels on Samsung TV Plus, including CBSN (CBS’s 24/7 live digital news channel), Yahoo Finance, Lively Place (from A&E Networks), Bon Appétit, VEVO, Outside TV+, and much more.

Reimagining Connected Living

The 2020 QLED 8K lineup accounts for the evolving ways in which consumers use screens today through innovative new features that integrate into modern lifestyles.

Because four out of every five people do not get enough regular exercise, Samsung has developed a fitness and wellness solution designed to fit around consumers’ hectic schedules. The Q950 can serve as the central hub for fitness and mindfulness within the home through the launch of Samsung Health on TV. Through Samsung Health on the Q950, consumers will be able to see their activities, track their progress, and pursue shared fitness goals with the entire family. Plus, they will have access to free and exclusive content from leading partners, including Calm, Fitplan, Jillian Michaels, Echelon, obé fitness, and barre3 and more.

In addition, more consumers are using their mobile devices while watching content on their TVs, even though it can be difficult to see everything happening on both devices. Multi-View ensures that these consumers won’t miss a thing on either screen by projecting the screen of the consumer’s mobile device onto the TV alongside a separate window for their TV content. With 14 different layouts, users can customize their viewing experience, from side-by-side viewing to picture-in-picture viewing along with several other options.

To create an even more streamlined experience for consumers, the Q950 also offers novel ways of mirroring your mobile device and controlling your home devices. Tap View empowers consumers to mirror their phone screens to the TV just by touching the two devices together. And with Digital Butler, consumer can control more devices than ever before by using infrared technology to detect and control non-IoT devices within the home.

In the results of its comprehensive evaluation of the Galaxy Note8’s Infinity Display, DisplayMate Technologies, the leading evaluator of video screens, stated that Samsung’s latest flagship device is “the most innovative and high performance smartphone display that we have ever lab tested.”

Acquiring an all-time high grade of “Excellent A+,” the Galaxy Note8 exceeded the display performance of the Galaxy S8 and previous Galaxy Note device in the main assessment categories including brightness, outdoor visibility and color gamut, once again raising the standard for smartphone displays.

“The display on the Galaxy Note8 has not only major improvements in the OLED display hardware, but also many new and enhanced display features and display functions,” DisplayMate reported. Read on to learn about which were most praised by the industry’s leading screen authority.

Brighter and Less Reflective

The Infinity Display of the Galaxy Note8 boasts a record high peak brightness of 1,240 nits* – a 22 percent increase from the Galaxy S8 – and a screen reflectance level of 4.6 percent, one of the lowest that DisplayMate has ever measured for a smartphone. Combined high brightness and low screen reflectance levels equate to a display that is easily readable, even under relatively high ambient lighting, such as bright sunlight.

Higher Resolution

As a result of its larger display size and larger aspect ratio of 18.5:9, the Galaxy Note8 is the first Note smartphone to realize 3K QHD+ (2960×1440 pixels) resolution. The display has Diamond Pixels and sub-pixel rendering with 521 pixels per inch (ppi), providing significantly higher image sharpness than can be resolved with normal 20/20 vision at the typical viewing distance of 10 inches or more, so the display appears perfectly sharp.

Enhanced Entertainment Capabilities

The Galaxy Note8 is certified by the UHD Alliance for MOBILE HDR PREMIUM, which allows it to play the same 4K High Dynamic Range content produced for 4K UHD Premium TVs.

To do so, the Galaxy Note8 has the required Digital Cinema DCI-P3 wide color gamut, perfect blacks and an infinite contrast ratio, as well as a peak brightness level of more than 1,000 nits which is needed for High Dynamic Range. Furthermore, its built-in video processor allows it to provide an expanded dynamic range for standard video content that produces an HDR-like effect.

The native color gamut of the Galaxy Note8, meanwhile, is even larger than that of the Galaxy S8 – 112 percent of DCI-P3 and 141 percent of sRGB. In other words, users can enjoy movies and games in the colors that the content producers intended.

Design Innovation

The DisplayMate evaluation had many positive points to add about the design of the bezel-less Infinity Display of the Galaxy Note8, which fills almost the entire front face of the phone from edge-to-edge.

The report noted that its 6.3-inch display is 20 percent larger in screen area than the Galaxy S8 and 14 percent larger than previous Galaxy Note displays, despite the fact that the size of the phone itself did not increase.

The dual-curved screen OLED display is manufactured on a flexible plastic substrate so that it can bend around corners on both sides of the phone to not only minimize bezels, but also provide two curved Edge screen displays that can be viewed and controlled from both the front or the sides.

The display’s expanded screen space, along with its new 18.5:9 aspect ratio, explained DisplayMate, enhances the utility of the device, making it easier for users to multitask, watch video content and check notifications. Furthermore, the adoption of a new Night Mode with a blue light filter allows users to adjust and reduce the amount of blue light from the display for better night viewing and improved sleep.

The Galaxy Note8 will be available in stores beginning September 15.

* With Automatic Brightness On, the Galaxy Note8 peak brightness reaches 1,240 nits.