It’s that time of year again! The holidays are fast approaching, and the holiday spirit is in full swing. Although we can all agree that 2020 has been a year unlike any other, the true meaning behind the season – the sense of togetherness, fun and cheer – remains as important as it’s ever been.

Like the holidays, Samsung QLED 8K brings people together, although they do so in a slightly different way. The first part of our series guided you through picking out the perfect holiday gift from Samsung’s lifestyle TV lineup. Here, we’ll show you how Samsung QLED 8K’s combination of convenient features and immersive entertainment can make celebrating the holidays that much more fun.

‘Deck the Halls’ with Ambient Mode

What better way to get in the holiday spirit than by surrounding yourself with holiday-themed art?

Samsung QLED 8K’s Ambient Mode allows you to do just that. The feature adds a fun new dimension to decorating your living space by transforming your TV’s off screen into an immersive canvas. It’s perfect for those of us who love watching cozy content around the holidays, because it offers us more opportunities to enjoy festive imagery.

Make Time for a Holiday Movie Marathon

Watching films with friends and family is such an important part of the holidays. With so many classics to choose from, you’ll want a TV that allows you to enjoy each and every one in crystal clear quality.

Available in sizes ranging from 43 all the way up to 98 inches, Samsung QLED 8K takes movie marathons to a whole new level. Immerse yourself in your favorite holiday films with bright, vivid colors and jaw-dropping detail.

Enjoy Concerts and Musicals

For many of us, the holidays just wouldn’t be the same without the music – the concerts, musicals and more – that makes this season feel so special. With so many concerts and performances going virtual this year, many of us are turning to our TVs to enjoy this important part of the holiday experience.

Samsung QLED 8K allows you to view concerts and performances at a level of quality that makes you feel like you’re there. They do so by combining impeccable visuals with powerful audio innovations like Object Tracking Sound+ and Active Voice Amplifier (AVA). The former follows movement on screen to create lifelike, three-dimensional sound, while the latter analyzes scenes in real time to optimize sound for speech, music and more.

Unwrap a More Immersive Gaming Experience

With next-generation consoles set to be among this year’s hottest gifts, those who wish to get the most out of their gaming sessions will require TVs that are capable of supporting the most immersive experience possible.

Samsung optimized its QLED 8K, inside and out, to offer gamers an edge over the competition. The TVs work seamlessly with consoles to minimize barriers to your immersion, including tearing, stuttering and lag, producing the type of smooth and crisp gameplay that takes console gaming to the next level.

Make More Memories Together

More than anything, the holidays are about spending quality time with friends and family, reflecting on memories, and forging new ones.

Samsung QLED 8K’s built-in screen-sharing features make it easy for families to relive precious moments. Sharing home movies and music couldn’t be simpler with Tap View and Multi View. Both features allow you to instantly mirror content on your smartphone’s screen to your TV’s spacious display. Once you’ve found a video you’d like to show the group, simply tap your smartphone to your TV’s side to mirror it with Tap View, or use Multi View to create a picture-in-picture window of your smartphone’s screen that you can display alongside what’s on TV.

The 2020 QLED 8K TV’s flat back design complements other interior elements well when wall-mounted

When it comes to the art of designing, it is commonly said that it is harder to take something away than it is to add something new. Samsung’s QLED 8K 2020 TVs implement a design that does away with all unnecessary elements while simultaneously offering users the best possible watching and listening experiences for total immersion.

After a lengthy process, Samsung’s designers and developers were able to come together to produce the unprecedented Infinity Screen, which makes use of 99% of the display space and comes in at a super-slim thickness of 15mm. Samsung Newsroom interviewed the product designers and mechanics engineers behind Samsung’s QLED 8K 2020 TVs to learn more about how this revolutionary design came to be.

(From left to right) Jang-ho Kim, Hyun-joong Chae, Jae-wook Yoo and Hokwon Peter Song of Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Business. Kim and Yoo are part of the product design group, while Chae and Song are part of the mechanics R&D group

Minimized Bezels, Maximized Immersion

Since its introduction to the market in 2018, Samsung’s QLED 8K TVs have constantly been applauded by the industry for their groundbreaking technologies which offer viewers the best available display resolutions powered by AI technology, HDR10+ and 100% color volume. For those who worked on producing the 2020 QLED 8K TVs, this legacy was always front of mind. In order to deliver an even more immersive viewing experience with this series of TVs, the screen’s bezel and its black matrix – that black boundary at the edge of the display – had to be minimized.

“Users should be able to focus solely on watching and listening when enjoying content on their TV,” stressed Jang-ho Kim. “To achieve this, we implemented a design that reduces the bezel count and black matrix into a near-imperceptible level. After numerous tests that involved reducing the black matrix each time by 0.1mm, we discovered the optimal values for this display, these being 0.8mm for the bezel and 0.9mm for the black matrix.”

Compared with the previous QLED 8K model (left), the Infinity Screen (right) has an immediately obvious lower bezel count

After many twists and turns, the ideal design was settled upon. But there were still challenges ahead when realizing this design into a product for the market. Given the number of parts that make up a screen’s black matrix, the team needed to come up with a streamlined way to include them all into the limited space allotted by the 0.9mm total area. “Considering that the average thickness of a human fingernail is between 0.6 and 0.7mm, the space we had to negotiate fitting all of the necessary components into was barely thicker than a fingernail,” said Hyun-joong Chae. “We had to raise the degree of precision implemented at the product assembly stage, which we achieved by producing specialized instruments and equipment, as well as cells that had adequately thin boundaries.”

The team provided a differentiated bezel for this unique display by changing the materials used in production. Previously, the main material for such products had been aluminum, but for this product, stainless steel was spread in the thinnest layer possible using a special method to increase its durability. “By reducing the bezel count and black matrix, the resulting screen we created occupies 99% of the front side of the product,” noted Jae-wook Yoo. “The TV’s Ambient Mode feature, which displays a user’s photographs and videos when the TV is switched off, also contributes to breaking down the boundary between the TV’s display and the space it is placed in.”

A Flat Back Design for Seamless Adhesion

As well as innovating on the front side of the device, the team also eliminated unnecessary elements from its back side. Unlike the back of a conventional display which is thin at both ends but becomes thicker towards the device’s center, the 2020 QLED 8K TV implements a flat back design that has a consistent thickness of 15mm. “When a product is wall-mounted, a differentiated back side design can cast a big shadow if there is a lot of space between the wall and the TV,” explained Yoo. “The flat back design allowed us to reduce this space and any resulting shadows considerably.”

Of course, this slimmer back side design resulted in a reduction of space wherein to fit all the TV’s parts and components. Accordingly, these components, including the output port, the processor, the circuit board, the speaker and the cover, had to be reduced in size in order to fit naturally into this reduced space. “The cover was 2.7mm in width previously, but using a special method, we managed to reduce its thickness down to 0.8mm for the 2020 QLED 8K TV,” noted Hokwon Peter Song. “In order to do so, we spent a lot of time working with external factories and other experts in various fields in order to develop this specialized method.”

A Stand That is Strong in its Simplicity

Conventional TV stands often implement designs that stand out. However, the stand for the 2020 QLED 8K TV is small and simplistic in order to place more emphasis on the screen. Moreover, understanding that every user has consoles of different styles on which to place their TVs, the team decided that a simplistic design would best suit everyone’s TV environment.

“The display stand we designed tilts the TV’s screen backwards around 3.5 degrees,” explained Kim. “We calculated this specific angle to ensure that users would be able to enjoy a fully immersive, comfortable TV experience and the angle also boast the TV’s slim design at 15mm.”

The stand, which tilts the screen back by 3.5 degrees, provides the optimum angle for user immersion

Samsung’s 2020 QLED 8K TVs have been receiving favorable reviews from across the media and industry landscape not just for their advanced screen quality and sound technologies, but also for the concerted efforts the team have put in to overcome the limits of conventional design.

“In the future, TV screens are set to grow in size and provide users with ever-better screen quality experiences,” noted Yoo. “Our job is to make sure the product design fully backs up and complements the features and performances of these future products. We will continue to work hard to create products that provide the highest quality TV-watching experiences to users.”

The TVs’ immersive displays are just as suitable for streaming heart-pumping workouts as they are for catching up on the latest binge-worthy show. And with simple controls for managing apps and connected devices, they make it that much easier to stay productive when working from home.

Read on for our tips on getting the most out of your Samsung Smart TV.

1. Enjoy Free Live TV

With Samsung TV Plus,¹ Smart TV users get instant access to over 100 channels spanning news, sports, entertainment and more – so they’ll never be at a loss when sitting down to stream.

Samsung TV Plus is 100% free, and comes pre-installed on all 2016 to 2020 Samsung Smart TVs. No downloads, additional devices, or credit cards required. With a simple internet connection, you can pick up where you left off on recently watched shows, discover new ones, and access video-on-demand services with ease.

With an ever-growing list of free channels – including CBS News, Bon Appétit, PlayersTV, and The Movie Hub in the U.S., as well as Rakuten TV’s Spotlight, Action Movies, Comedy Movies, and Drama Movies channels in Europe – Samsung TV Plus offers entertainment for every taste.

Along with this wide selection of leading channels and network favorites, there is also a wealth of free content for those interested in the arts. With a variety of concerts, tours and exhibits on offer, users can, from the comfort of their home, enjoy a high-definition concert by the Berlin Philharmonic,² or marvel at one of the Metropolitan Opera’s nightly opera streams.³

2. Work Up a Sweat

As much as we might enjoy our commute-free routines when working or studying from home, it’s still important to stay active throughout the day – even if that means turning your living room into a workout studio.

Luckily for Samsung Smart TV users, at-home workout videos catering to virtually all interests and abilities are just a few taps away.

Simply click on the exercise service of your choice, choose a workout to stream, and get started. It’s as simple as that. With the TVs’ high resolutions, you’ll never miss a step while working up a sweat. And with a variety of services available and more on the way, it’s easy to find the content you need to take your fitness routine to the next level.

Samsung’s new Samsung Health service offers a simple solution to satisfy Smart TV users’ fitness needs. Set to launch at the end of May in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Korea, with more markets on the horizon, Samsung Health combines free fitness content from world-class partners including the popular meditation app, Calm, as well as obé Fitness, Fitplan, Echelon, barre3 and Jillian Michaels. Compatible with 2018-2019 Samsung Smart TVs, the apps make it easy for users to workout at home.⁴

With Samsung Health, users will also enjoy access to the service’s wide-ranging content catalog completely free for one year after the service’s launch.

3. Work More Comfortably From Home

In addition to offering a range of options to help keep users active and entertained at home, Samsung Smart TVs make it that much easier to stay productive when it’s time to get to work.

In 2019, Samsung introduced its exclusive Remote Access feature. Available on the company’s latest Smart TVs, it allows users to remotely access and manage their personal computer(s) through their TV, regardless of their PC’s location.⁵

Remote Access also offers a wide variety of cloud-based documentation services that can make it easier for students to continue studying at home. They can even use a web browser to view online courses and live lectures on their TV’s spacious screen, so they won’t miss a single note or detail.

Remote Access also comes equipped with Wi-Fi Direct, which facilitates seamless screen sharing between TVs and PCs, mobile phones and tablets. This versatile feature opens the door for users to enjoy a wide range of content on their TV’s larger screen.

4. Find Some Peace and Quiet

Even the most media-savvy among us occasionally find ourselves needing to take a break from staring at screens to enjoy some peace and quiet instead. Thankfully, Samsung TVs’ Ambient Mode can help us do just that.

Ambient Mode enables Smart TVs to foster a relaxing environment by displaying works of art, family photos and other calming content when turned off. For those times when you’d like to completely tune out, you can program Ambient Mode to match the wallpaper or background of the space behind your TV, so your screen will blend seamlessly into its surroundings.

Transforming your TV into your own personal photo gallery has never been easier thanks to Tap View. Available on Samsung’s latest TVs, Tap View lets you mirror photos and other media to your TV’s screen with a simple tap of your smartphone. And with QLED displays’ revolutionary image technology, you can rest assured that your favorite snaps will be showcased in the full, high-res quality they deserve.

We’ve only just scratched the surface of what Samsung’s Smart TVs can do. Click here to learn more about the lineup’s latest updates and innovations.

¹ Samsung TV Plus is available in select regions including the U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Korea, and Thailand. Service availability may vary by region. TV Plus is available on 2016-2020 Smart TVs in the U.S., Europe and Thailand. In Canada, the service is available on 2017-2020 Smart TVs. In Korea, the service is available on 2013-2020 Smart TVs.

² Service is compatible with 2016–2020 Samsung Smart TVs.

³ Instead of downloading the app, users can choose to access the service via their Smart TV’s web browser.

⁴ Service availability and content partners may vary by country. Samsung Health will be launching on 2020 Samsung Smart TVs in the near future. Users with 2018–2019 models will be able to access the apps mentioned above via their Smart TV’s Apps section.

⁵ Available on 2019 and newer Smart TV models. Both the TV and PC must be connected to a network.

An epitome of luxury, The Wall brings a new level of immersive viewing and ensures consumers can experience never seen before picture quality in the comfort of their homes, with 0.8mm pixel pitch technology. It has been designed for those who constantly seek exceptional luxury experiences. Now every video, movie, or sporting event can be made larger than life with Samsung The Wall.

The ground-breaking large-format modular LED display is ideal for even the brightest areas of luxury spaces. With a depth less than 30mm, the slim, bezel-less infinity design along with customizable deco frames allows the display to blend seamlessly into its surroundings, ensuring no disruption to the desired ambience.

The Wall delivers a revolutionary viewing experience with true black, true color and Samsung’s AI picture enhancement, high brightness, and high contrast in any luxury home, corporate or high-end retail environment.

“Luxury is about offering a customized experience. With The Wall, we set out to create a product unlike anything else — matching the lifestyle and taste of those looking for the most exclusive and premium visual experiences in their personal and professional spaces. We are excited about this next step in our roadmap to the future of display technology, and the remarkable viewing experience it offers to consumers,” said Puneet Sethi, Vice President, Consumer Electronics Enterprise Business, Samsung India.

Behind the Greatness of MicroLED Display Technology

Based on research into the lifestyles of consumers and their preferences, The Wall goes beyond just image quality and provides a personalized user experience.

Whether viewing a classic movie, an anticipated sporting event or the latest console game, AI up-scaling, Quantum HDR technology, peak brightness of 2,000 nits and 120Hz video rate provide a rich and superior visual experience that is second-to-none.

Thanks to the 100,000-hour lifetime of its self-light emitting diodes, The Wall is designed to never turn off, but to change into a digital canvas best matching the owner`s interior needs and personal mood. When the screen is not used, the Ambient Mode can display a variety of curated art from paintings, photographs and video art to customizable pictures with digital frames – that best suit the homeowner’s tastes.

The Wall comes equipped with Quantum Processor Flex enabled with the AI picture quality engine. This delivers optimized picture quality scene-by-scene, regardless of the original source resolution. Quantum Processor Flex is a machine learning based picture quality engine that analyzes millions of image data to automatically calibrate the original low resolution image according to the display. It can be connected to any OS through a physical HDMI input, thus, providing ease of usage to the customers.

The Wall also comes in a Professional version that is geared toward high-end businesses and retail spaces, and, like The Wall Luxury, is completely customizable.

Comprehensive Product Line-Up

The Wall Luxury

The Wall Luxury is tailor made for home cinema and gaming with Ambient & Entertainment Mode and has all the relevant smart TV features. It comes with a display controller. The Wall exemplifies how consumers can customize their television sizes and shapes to suit their needs. The screen can adapt to serve different purposes, such as creating a wall-size display for multiple spaces.

The Wall Pro

The Wall Pro is geared towards high-end businesses and retail spaces, and, like The Wall Luxury, it is completely customizable. The stylish design of The Wall will modernize any corporate lobby, museum, art gallery or luxury retail space. The Wall Pro is highly reliable and efficient. The display controller, supplied with The Wall Pro, has all relevant business features that are required by an enterprise.

Price and Availability

The price of Samsung’s The Wall will range from INR 3.5 crore to INR 12 crore (exclusive of taxes) for 146-inch, 219-inch and 292-inch variants and will be available in India from December 5, 2019.

The Wall Luxury will be exclusively available at Samsung Executive Briefing Centre in Gurgaon. Private viewings are available upon reservation from 5 December 2019.

Learn More about The Wall:
https://displaysolutions.samsung.com/the-wall

Mr. HC Hong, President and CEO, Samsung SouthWest Asia with Author/Designer/Actor, Twinkle Khanna at the launch of Samsung QLED 8K TV at DLF Emporio, New Delhi

A must-have for all luxury homes, Samsung QLED 8K TV comes with Real 8K Resolution, 8K AI Upscaling, Quantum Processor 8K, and Quantum HDR – all created to provide a stunning 8K experience.

Samsung QLED 8K TVs, which will be available in four sizes – 98-inch (247 cm), 82-inch (207 cm), 75-inch (189 cm) and 65-inch (163 cm) – come with 33 million pixels, four times the resolution of 4K UHD TVs and 16 times that of a Full HD TV, allowing consumers to immerse themselves into the display. These 33 million pixels provide sharper resolution giving a feeling of realness and presence with exceptionally true-to-life picture quality.

Samsung’s proprietary 8K AI Upscaling technology based on machine learning upscales picture and sound quality to 8K regardless of the original source quality or format. Whether a user is watching content through a streaming service, set-top box, HDMI, USB or even mobile mirroring, the Quantum Processor 8K recognizes and up-scales the content to appear in 8K quality.

Samsung QLED 8K breaks new ground for ultra-premium TVs and home entertainment, delivering beautiful design that is supported with the most advanced picture quality in its portfolio. The enhanced offering challenges the normal conventions and redefines how consumers should watch content on their TVs.

“At Samsung, we’ve worked tirelessly over the years to move the industry forward when it comes to premium picture quality, and the introduction of our QLED 8K line up with 8K AI Upscaling is an integral component as we look to the future of displays. We are thrilled to introduce new QLED 8K TVs that will change the dynamics of ultra-premium televisions and are confident that our consumers will experience nothing short of brilliance in colour, clarity and sound,” said Raju Pullan, Senior Vice President, Consumer Electronics Online Business, Samsung India.

8K AI Upscaling: Transform any Content into 8K

Samsung has revolutionized the visual display industry with the introduction of the QLED 8K, complete with 8K AI Upscaling.

Samsung’s powerful Quantum Processor 8K that uses AI machine learning enables the television to transform all pictures into 8K. It lets consumers enjoy just about any movie or TV show on any channel in 8K resolution regardless of native resolution or method of transmission.

Samsung QLED 8K TVs utilize the Quantum Processor 8K that optimizes audio and video to the specific content on the screen. It creates an even more detailed sound experience by tailoring the audio settings to the specific layout of the room.

Additionally, Samsung’s new 2019 QLED range also feature their own proprietary Quantum Processor 4K. No matter the resolution of the source content, the Quantum Processor 4K can use AI upscaling to deliver improved brightness, picture quality and sound optimized for each scene.

Bixby on TV: More Convenience and Control over the TV

Samsung’s 2019 QLED TV lineup allows users to take voice control one step further with the new Bixby feature along with other voice assistants like Google Assistant to access content through voice commands. The Far Field Voice Capability feature on the One Remote Control enables consumers to use voice commands to control their TV from across the room.

In an industry first, Samsung will take the user experience to the next level by offering iTunes Movies and TV Shows and Apple AirPlay 2 support on the 2019 Smart TV models. Samsung customers will be able to access their existing iTunes library and browse the iTunes Store. With AirPlay 2 support, they will be able to effortlessly play videos, photos, music, podcasts and more from Apple devices directly to Samsung Smart TVs, including QLED and QLED 8K TVs, as well as other Samsung 4K UHD and HD models.

Ambient Mode: Turn the TV into a Piece of Art

Ambient Mode is a unique feature that enables users to apply an interactive background to the virtually bezel-less TV frame, blending it into the living room wall, while displaying information such as weather conditions and time, when it is not in use. It can also display artistic content like photos and works of art. With the QLED 8K TVs, the TV will double up as an interactive wall feature that blends in with the interiors.

One Invisible Connection and One Connect Box: Less distractions, More Enjoyment

Building on the Ambient Mode’s ability to blend in with home interiors, the TV can be hung on the wall with a No Gap Wall-Mount, intelligently embedded on the back of the TV so that it blends in seamlessly.

The One Invisible Connection and One Connect Box on Samsung’s QLED TV range do away with unsightly wires dangling from the TV. Barely visible against a blank wall, the One Invisible Connection is a single translucent cable that powers a full-sized 8K display, while connecting various external devices to the TV through a media receiver called the One Connect Box. The One Connect Box also works with the One Remote Control, a single remote that lets the viewers control all connected devices without additional connectors or complicated setups.

The QLED 8K TVs also feature a slate of new functions that enable consumers to get the most from their TV, while maintaining the highest quality in picture and sound. For example, the TV recognizes and analyzes a number of connected entertainment devices like audio devices connected via optical cable with the One Remote Control, then automatically switches the TV’s image source and audio output for an optimized viewing experience. Smart enhancements, such as SmartThings, further simplify the connected living experience.

A More Comprehensive Lineup

Samsung’s QLED lineup offers sixteen models in a range of sizes to suit the needs of every home and every lifestyle. The 2019 QLED 8K lineup is available in four sizes ranging from 65 inch (163 cm), 75 inch (189 cm), 82 inch (207 cm) and 98 inch (247 cm). The 2019 QLED lineup offers twelve televisions from 43 inches (108 cm) to 82 inches (207 cm) across four series.

Price and Availability

Samsung’s new range of QLED 8K TVs will be priced at INR 10,99,900 and INR 16,99,900 for 75-inch (189 cm), and 82-inch (207 cm)  variants respectively. The 98-inch (247 cm) variant of the QLED 8K TV, priced at INR 59,99,900, will only be made to order. The price of the 65-inch (163 cm), which will be available in July, will be announced shortly.

Apart from the QLED 8K range, Samsung’s new 2019 QLED TV line-up, priced at INR 3,99,900 for 65-inch (163 cm) Q90 model, INR 2,09,900 (55 inch/138 cm) to INR 6,49,900 (75 inch/189 cm) for Q80 models, INR 1,69,900 (55 inch/138 cm) to INR 2,79,900 (65 inch/163 cm) for Q70 models and INR 94,900 (43 inch/108 cm) to INR 7,49,900 (82 inch/207 cm) for Q60 models, will be available from June 2019.

QLED 8K and QLED models will be available at all Samsung Smart Plazas, leading consumer electronic stores and across online platforms, include Samsung’s official online store Samsung Shop.

With the cricket season underway, Samsung has also launched an unbeatable consumer offer around the Cricket World Cup to add to the unmatched viewing experience on the QLED TVs. This World Cup, consumers will be able to enjoy a host of offers on Samsung TVs such as Amazon Echo Plus with the premium QLED TV range, Amazon Echo Dot with the 4K UHD TV range, attractive finance options like zero down payment, 10-year no screen burn-in warranty on QLED TVs and two-year warranty on panels. This will also be accompanied with up to 15% cashback.

Available now, a new Ambient Mode is designed to enhance consumers’ daily lives and provide them with unique experiences in viewing content beyond what the TV screen shows when turned on.

“We are proud to offer the Ambient Mode, which not only adds new value to the TV screen when it is turned off, but also brings new lifestyle benefits to our customers, moving beyond conventional TVs,” said Jongsuk Choo, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We plan to expand content for Ambient Mode by collaborating with young, talented artists over the next several years to give our customers more meaningful ways to enjoy their QLED TVs.”

As part of the initial rollout of a new Ambient Mode, Samsung has collaborated with talented artists to help consumers make their homes a warmer and a more comfortable environment. Recognized for her abstract oil paintings, Tali Lennox, a model and artist who is influential in the fashion industry, joined forces with Samsung for Ambient Mode. Netherlands-based Scholten & Baijings also created a collection of various home artworks that feature porcelain and fabric products in elegant colors and patterns.

As TVs get bigger, their design has become ever more important. According to a Samsung Electronics survey of US consumers last year, almost eight out of ten (77%) of the respondents who plan to purchase premium TVs over $2,000 answered that they consider ‘design’ to be important.

Continuing its design innovation for TVs since the launch of the Bordeaux TV in 2006, Samsung has once again created something beautiful in the QLED TV. The QLED TV is a work of art that naturally melts into a living space. Of its features, Ambient Mode, which turns the “off” screen into a new display, and the Invisible Connection, which combines power and data lines into one, best accentuate the TV’s beauty and its harmony with the surrounding environment.

1. ‘Ambient Mode’, the Revival of the Black Screen

TVs are turned on for only five hours a day on average, yet they occupy a large space on the wall in the living room. This means TVs hang on the wall just as a black screen for more than 19 hours every day. With a TV turned off, it is easier to see dust or fingerprints on the screen – especially when the screen is large.

This year, Samsung Electronics unveiled Ambient Mode for the QLED TV, turning an empty screen into a display that depicts images and information. Ambient Mode is unique and unparalleled as it literally allows the TV to blend seamlessly into the room.

“See the Sun in the Morning and Hear the Raindrops – All via TV”

Ambient Mode also increases the QLED TV’s operation efficiency significantly with energy-saving functions that turn off the screen if users are not nearby. The SmartThings app detects mobile signals (Bluetooth Low Energy) and passes on the information to the TV. With an auto-dimming sensor, the TV’s brightness and color can be adjusted according to the viewing environment. In the dark, Ambient Mode is automatically turned off to prevent unnecessary power consumption.

In addition, the QLED TV’s inorganic quantum dot technology is free from burn-in, letting users appreciate Ambient Mode as much as they want without seeing afterimages, even after a static picture has remained on screen for an extended length of time. Samsung Electronics is the only company in the industry that offers a 10-year burn-in warranty.

2. Invisible Connection, Integrating TV Cables into One

As the number of TV peripherals increases, messy cables are exposed around the TV – and are often hidden inside the wall for aesthetic reasons. To gracefully harmonize the device into its surroundings, Samsung devised the One Visible Cable for its QLED TVs. Following the introduction of ‘Invisible Connection’ which combines complex connection lines into a single cable last year, Samsung unveiled the first-of-its-kind innovation by merging power lines into one line.

“The First TV to Integrate Power and Data”

With high-speed SerDes and optical communication technology, the Invisible Connection transmits audiovisual signals and data as well as power. Often, transmitting sensitive data at high speeds through an optical cable with a power line is likely to cause interference and noise. This, however, can be reduced by Samsung’s error compensation technology.

Made of inconspicuous transparent materials, the Invisible Connection is the perfect solution to tidy up the area around the TV and eliminate visual distractions. The cable offered is 5 meters in length, but if needed, the line can be extended up to 15 meters with separate purchase of a longer One Visible Cable. Thanks to the cable’s color and material easily blending in with the wall, users can now truly appreciate minimalism in interior design in their living rooms.

Accentuating safety as a key aspect of the Invisible Connection led Samsung Electronics to develop a new piece of technology. The over-current protection circuit cuts off power automatically as soon as users unplug or disconnect the cable. Samsung successfully stabilized high-voltage transmission and was approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global safety testing and certification company.

“Ambient Mode makes the invisible visible, and the Invisible Connection makes the visible invisible. Despite the two features’ roles being seemingly different, they both share the same purpose: to maximize spatial value and alter the lifestyles of consumers,” said Taeyoung Huh, Vice President of Samsung Electronics. “Samsung’s QLED TV and its technologies remains at the heart of creating a better-than-ever TV experience for all of our users.”

* Product specifications may vary depending on models and locations.

Piyush Kunnapallil, General Manager, Consumer Electronics Business, Samsung India and actress Hansika Motwani launching the 2018 Television range in Chennai

Samsung has introduced game-changing products in the Indian market across segments. The brand has always been ahead of the curve with first-to-market innovations such as LED TV, Smart TV, Curved TV, Curved UHD TV and now QLED TV and The Frame.

“Consumers in India are upsizing and are moving to bigger and better televisions. We intend to fuel this trend by increasing our UHD line-up by 60% and launching new products with innovative features such as Ambient Mode and superior sound quality,” said Mr. Rajeev Bhutani, Senior Vice President, Consumer Electronics Business, Samsung India.

“We conducted extensive consumer research and found that consumers need more than just a TV for their living room. The Ambient Mode in Samsung QLED TV allows it to seamlessly blend with your home interiors. We also identified that sound is a major point of concern for Indian TV consumers, hence we developed the Concert series, designed to deliver unmatched sound. Similarly, the UHD series brings in a host of innovations and unparalleled features,” he added.

QLED TV

In the 2018 QLED TV, Samsung is introducing Ambient Mode. With the Ambient Mode, you can convert QLED TV into a canvas that expresses your moods and can also act as a window to the world. The TV can mimic the pattern on the wall behind the TV to create an astonishing visual effect in which the TV blends seamlessly into the wall. Also, the TV will automatically show you the weather to reflect whether it is sunny or rainy or snowy. Moreover, you can personalize the background with your own photos or from a selection of stunning artworks. It’s very easy to access the Ambient Mode by simply pressing the hotkey on QLED TV remote.

The 2018 QLED also comes with one invisible connection whereby through a single, hardly visible cable you can transmit data as well as power. Using this robust, high speed, and future proof cable, you can put the TV wherever you want to and all connected devices can be stacked away far from the TV.

With intelligent display comes an intelligent way to control your TV. In the QLED TV, you can do away with buttons and interact smartly through the S VOICE. With S VOICE you are only one voice command away from controlling your QLED TV. For example, if I ask – How‘s the weather? – the TV will display the weather data on the screen.

The QLED TV also comes with the Smart Things app that can connect TV to other IoT enabled devices for syncing and sharing content, sending notifications and, mirroring screen and sound. Moreover, it offers the amazing picture quality through 100% Colour Volume and HDR10+ functionality which brings out hidden details. Fusing a slim, sleek and premium metal body with a nearly bezel-less display, QLED TVs set the tone for exceptional sophistication.

There will be 8 QLED TV models in 2018 ranging from 55-inch to 75-inch, covering flat as well as curved variants. The QLED TV range will start from INR 2,45,000.

UHD TV

Samsung’s UHD TVs are characterised by excellent picture quality and elegant design in Slim Matte body. Powered by superior High Dynamic Range, Samsung UHD TVs provide striking brightness, deep contrast, exceptional details and vividly accurate colours. Moreover, its Dynamic Crystal Color technology is optimized for high resolution viewing to deliver crystal clear tones across an expanded colour spectrum.

The UHD variants also come with One Remote Control, Smart Hub and Smart Convergence for you to pair your Smartphone with TV or vice-versa or TV with Bluetooth speaker that lets you enjoy 2-Way audio streaming.

With these new products the UHD line-up will increase from 10 models to 16 models. Entry level UHD will start from 7100 series followed by 7470, 8000 and finally The Frame. The UHD TV range will start from INR 64,900.

Concert Series

As a part of ‘Make for India’ Innovations, Samsung unveiled the Concert Series, in two distinct variations, Smart Concert and Joy Concert.

Sound quality is a very important buying factor for a TV purchaser. Consumers are looking for loud volume and cinematic sound capability so that they can enjoy movies, music and sports on their TVs. The 2018 Concert Series has been designed to address this Indian need for sound with a new sound technology that combines both hardware and software improvements to deliver powerful cinematic surround audio experience.

Unlike regular TVs, the Concert series will come not with 2 but 4 speakers – two at the top and two at the bottom. Each channel delivers 10W sound output to pack a cumulative punch of 40W surround sound experience.

Smart Concert Series also comes with Bluetooth capability which allows users to pair their smartphones or speakers to the TV and also has a customisable advanced user interface.  The Smart Hub feature in the Smart Concert variant allows users to access Live TV and browse content across a host of apps such as Jio Cinema, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Big Flix and many more.

The Smart concert and Joy concert are available in 32”, 43” and 49” sizes, and will starts from INR 27,500.

Feel The Game Offer

In view of the FIFA World Cup starting in June, Samsung has launched “Feel the Game” offer for customers looking to upgrade to large screen and premium TVs. With the 2018 QLED TVs, consumers will get Free Galaxy S9 along with 10-Yr No Screen Burn In Warranty. Also, gifts such as Free Soundbar or Speaker will be applicable on purchase of other select TVs. The offer will run across India till July 15.

Researchers, who had previously focused only on how to improve functions of the TV when it is on, began to think outside the box. The black screen of the TV when turned off is an eyesore to many. Some users even hide their TV sets in a cabinet. These observations prompted TV developers to act.

Concentrating their attention on the TV screen, they eventually came up with the inspired idea of making the screen “transparent” when not in use. Users can choose to use this transparent screen to display pictures, news or weather forecasts, or make it seamlessly blend with the background. Creators from Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Division explain how they developed “Ambient Mode” below.

Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Division who planned, designed, and developed Ambient Mode. (from left) Dongheon Shin, Yoojin Choi, Suwon Shin, Hana Kim, Soohong Kim

The TV is Gone! The TV Screen Blends in with the Background

At the First Look 2018 New York, held on March 7 (local time) at the American Stock Exchange, the SmartThings app was used to take a picture of the wall in front of which a QLED TV was positioned, and then the TV disappeared. It was now in Ambient Mode, one of the features of 2018 QLED TVs. When this simple but innovative feature was revealed for the first time in the world, the audience burst into applause.

This innovative change was born through observing customers continuously. “My team researched lots of customers’ behaviors. Many users did not want to see the black screen in their living rooms when the TV was off. That’s when we came up with this idea.” said Yoojin Choi, a UX designer at Samsung Electronics. The division developed an algorism that generates patterns after analyzing the background.

This is not the only thing they learned through consumer research. According to Samsung Electronics’ survey, about 70 to 80 percent of households had bright wall colors without complicated patterns. They therefore added various plain background options so that customers could just choose one of them, fine-tune the color and brightness, and enjoy Ambient Mode.

Ambient Mode combines varied content on the transparent screen. In order to make the home more comfortable, developers built around the concept of nature. At six o’clock in the morning when the sun rises and lightens the house, the white luminance display level increases. When indirect lighting, such as a fluorescent lamp, is turned on, yellow has the highest luminance value. Birds sing at noon and crickets chirp in the evening. It is perfection down to the smallest detail.

Hana Kim from the Product Strategy Team said, “Ambient Mode, which has become part of the house, will show you useful information in the busy morning or in the evening when you are home from work. It doesn’t require any user interference. Ambient Mode does it on its own.”

Only 10 out of 900 Sketches Survived… An Endless Struggle for Agreement

The process of creating an unprecedented experience, including content moving as if it were alive, was a series of twists and turns. In addition to developing technology that could read and respond sensitively to every situation, the engineers had to figure out what customers have in common. “A still picture would not work. We had to make it seem alive and in harmony with its surroundings. Over the past year, I made more than 900 sketches. Only 10 of them survived. It was such a difficult a mission,” said Choi.

There were many technical hurdles. Soohong Kim, a hardware developer at Samsung Electronics recalled the days struggling to satisfy both engineers and designers. “Sometimes function and design do not go hand in hand. The sensor had to be placed in front for fine readings of the TV’s surroundings, but it didn’t look very good. Eventually, I put the sensor in the “Samsung” logo at the bottom of the screen. It is not visible to the naked eye.”

How to reach a consensus among planners, developers and designers was another hurdle to overcome. Since they were going where no one had gone before, endless meetings and discussions between departments became routine. “We were all greedy because we were taking the first step in a new field,” said Donghun Shin, a UX designer at Samsung Electronics. “We spent a lot of time in development and also made a lot of changes. We combined all the creative things together. It was a bumpy road, but we ended the journey satisfied.”

Ambient Mode Connects with Users, Complementing Lifestyles

Conventional TVs consume electricity while not in use. However, in Ambient Mode, 2018 QLED TVs detect when users are not around or when the lights are off using Bluetooth Low Energy and turn themselves off. The key is connectivity between the TV and the user. This function reduces energy consumption and extends the life of the TVs.

They look forward to seeing how Ambient Mode changes in the future. Hana Kim (pictured above) said, “There are various devices such as smartphones and tablets, but the TV has its own unique value in that it has a big screen for content sharing. Ambient Mode can encourage the media market to craft a range of content.”

“The Ambient Mode created an opportunity for the TV to be a warm and welcoming hub at the center of the living room,” said Yoojin Choi. “We will develop it so that families can communicate more and share a pleasant atmosphere in their living space.”

“Now the market is seeing the thinnest and largest TVs ever. We need new values to open a new market and I think Ambient Mode is the answer. 2018 QLED TVs with Ambient Mode bring the family together in the living room to have quality time. We don’t know where the end of the journey is, but one sure thing is that we will not stop here. We’re already wondering what the next innovation will be.”

With Ambient Mode, the creators realized what was only a wild imagination to someone else. And the team will continue their endeavor in bringing the unimaginable to reality.

During the keynote presentation, Samsung Electronics President of Visual Display Jong-hee Han and other Samsung executives explained how the 2018 flagship TV line offers an unmatched home entertainment experience, meant to remove barriers to setting up and displaying the TV and streamlining access to content in a way that enables consumers to spend more time doing the things they love.

“With our 2018 TV lineup, we are changing the definition of visual display to Intelligent Displays,” said President Jonghee Han. “Designed for total immersion and to enhance the daily lives of consumers everywhere, all while being incredibly easy to use, the new QLED TV lineup provides users with the best viewing experience.”

President Han was joined on stage by executive partners from The New York Times, who discussed some of the new consumer benefits of the 2018 QLED TV lineup. In announcing a new partnership with Samsung, Mark Thompson, President and Chief Executive Officer of The New York Times Company, said, “QLED TV’s Ambient Mode is an exciting new way for viewers to experience The Times’s unrivaled, deeply reported and visual journalism.”

The First Look New York event featured an exhibition for guests to experience the 2018 product line and its features hands-on through a series of zones and displays. The exhibition included:

• The large-screen zone, which showcased the stunning picture quality of Samsung’s new line-up with enhanced color and contrast for a variety of situations, such as gaming and watching movies or sports. Samsung also displayed its acclaimed 146” The Wall, Micro LED technology-based modular screen, to be commercialized for home use.

• The movie zone featured Samsung’s multi-dimensional N950 soundbar with Dolby Atmos®, slated to become available later this year. The soundbar demonstrates how vibrant, powerful surround sound can enhance the home entertainment experience.

• The Ambient Mode zone showcased how the QLED TV redefines what it means to be “off” with new technology that transforms the TV into a beautifully functional screen which provides a multitude of information including news, weather and traffic, and which can also play music or completely blend into the wall behind it.

• The new 5-meter (included with QLED TV purchase) and 15-meter (available as an option) One Invisible Connection, with power cord and data cables merged into one durable cord – an industry first – enabling users to place the TV where they want, how they want, without a tangled mess of cords.

• Samsung’s 2018 Smart TV set-up is simple and can be done on the consumer’s most used device – their mobile phone, via the SmartThings app. Demonstrations also illustrated how consumers can use their voices to control their entertainment and viewing with the introduction of Bixby on Samsung’s TVs.

*SmartThings is available on iOS and Android-powered devices.

** Bixby service ability may vary by country or carrier. Voice Command recognizes English (U.S.), Mandarin Chinese and Korean. Not all accents, dialects and expressions are recognized. The list of features that can be controlled by voice commands via Bixby will continue to expand. Mobile functionality compatible with Samsung Galaxy 8 series or higher with Bixby function. Samsung Account log-in and data network (wifi or internet connection) required to fully operate Bixby features.

***The product line, details and availability vary depending on the region.

****One Invisible Connection applies to Q7 and higher models except Q8F. One Remote Control applies to NU7400 and higher models.