On January 4, Samsung Electronics will kick off the 2022 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with a pre-show keynote address held a day before the world’s most influential technology event is set to begin.

Taking place at 8:00 a.m. IST (9:30 p.m. EST) at the Venetian’s Palazzo Ballroom in Las Vegas, the keynote will be delivered by Jong-Hee (JH) Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of Samsung Electronics’ DX (Device eXperience) Division.

Held under the theme of ‘Together for Tomorrow’, the keynote will showcase ways that we can help build a more sustainable planet, and demonstrate customized and connected experiences that can enrich people’s lives.

A livestream of the keynote will be available at Samsung Newsroom India and Samsung.com. Until then, stay tuned to Samsung Newsroom India for more updates on the company’s plans for CES 2022.

The “Sero,” which means vertical in Korean, automatically syncs to your Galaxy phone to mirror the content you’re watching on your mobile device and matches the landscape or portrait orientation for the ultimate viewing flexibility.

On Monday, Samsung presented its Keynote, where HS Kim, President and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Division declared the company’s mission: To enable experiences with technology “to create unforgettable moments that make your lives better, that make a difference to humanity and create a better world for us all.”

This is Samsung in the “Age of Experience,” Kim said, working to accommodate diverse and evolving lifestyles while also meeting the needs of modern living spaces, smart buildings, smart cities and creating a better world for everyone. We are not looking to spend money on things… We are looking to experience life. This must drive our innovation.

Ballie is Samsung’s concept for the future of personal care. A small, rolling robot designed to be an all-around life companion that understands and supports you, your family – and can even help you keep an eye on your pets.

Samsung’s answer to customized solutions for wellness played a big part of its presentation at CES 2020 – from launching Samsung Health on all of its TVs later this year with exclusive content from leading fitness partners, to an evolved version of GEMS – an exoskeleton connected to Samsung’s augmented reality glasses. The Gait-Enhancing & Motivating System, still a future concept, integrates with a Galaxy smartphone and watch to provide and immersive workout experience that is tailored to your fitness needs.

GEMS is also an assistive device for people with disabilities, supporting them in exercise and helping them achieve new physical goals.

When the tech conference officially opened, all of Samsung’s innovations using AI, 5G and IoT were on full display.

Using sophisticated sensors, AI and robotics, Samsung showcased how a fully connected appliances can make lives simpler by becoming cooking partners in the kitchen.

A future concept of a robotic food prep assistant, Bot Chef that can help chop, stir, season and plate your favorite dishes.

A Family Hub refrigerator using Whisk for guided cooking suggestions.

And a future concept refrigerator – Planta – for growing your own garden-fresh ingredients.

And after all that help in the kitchen you’ll have more time for meditation as many of the Samsung booth ambassadors did on Day 2 of CES with Samsung Health and meditation guidance from Calm.

At the mobile computing section of Samsung’s CES 2020 booth, visitors were able to interact with the Galaxy Fold 5G and the expanding portfolio of 5G devices Samsung offers as well as the latest in mobile computing: Galaxy Chromebook, Galaxy Book Flex α and Odyssey curved QLED gaming monitors G9 and G7 for an even more immersive gaming experience.

Finally, the latest features in Samsung’s connected car of the future – Digital Cockpit 2020 — co-developed with HARMAN International, showcased how V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) technology underpinned by 5G connectivity links features inside and outside the vehicle to provide connected experiences for drivers and passengers alike.

Samsung kicked off the first CES of a brand-new decade by announcing the beginning of a new era of technology. Over the course of a riveting keynote – led by HS Kim, President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Division, Samsung Electronics – the company introduced a wide range of innovations designed specifically for this new era. With these technologies, the speakers explained, Samsung hopes to enhance our daily lives, homes and cities with more seamless and meaningful experiences – and in doing so, help create a better world for us all.

Follow along as we walk you through the biggest moments from Samsung’s unforgettable event.

Welcome to the “Age of Experience”

Addressing the tech world and consumers around the globe from the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Kim kicked off the keynote by heralding the beginning of a new age.

The Age of Experience, Kim began, is one that will “delight … redefine … and bring us closer together.” He went on to describe how consumers are increasingly prioritizing experiences over products, and “looking to buy convenience, peace of mind and enjoyment.” The Age of Experience is a product of this shift – an age in which increasingly innovative products foster seamless experiences and memorable moments. “At the center is us,” said Kim. “People. The way we interact with our world is what drives this evolution.”

“This is Samsung’s mission,” Kim continued, “to create unforgettable moments that make your lives better and make a difference for humanity.”

Introducing New Robotic Life Companions

To illustrate how Samsung is working to deliver on that mission, Kim spotlighted innovations that demonstrate “the next level of personalized interaction.”

One of the most exciting products of Samsung’s human-centric approach to innovation, he explained, involves vision to create robots that act as personal life companions. “Intelligent robots that live by your side and react to your needs every day,” Kim explained. “Robots that know you, support you, and take care of you, so you can focus on what really matters.”

Say Hello to Ballie

Next, Kim invited a very special guest to the stage – the initial embodiment of Samsung’s ‘robotic companion’ vision, Ballie. After the introduction, Kim treated the crowd to a demonstration of what the clever little guy can do, which includes everything from helping users exercise and manage their smart devices, to recording and storing special moments.

Offering More Personalized Care with Samsung Health

Afterward, Kim yielded the stage to Executive Vice President and Chief Research Scientist of Samsung Research, Sebastian Seung, who introduced enhancements to Samsung Health that leverage AI to offer users more personalized care. After outlining the enhancements, which he described as “the next evolution of the wellness experience,” Seung took a moment to meditate and work on his yoga posture using the Samsung Health app on his Galaxy Watch.

Next, Seung discussed Samsung’s efforts to revolutionize digital healthcare by partnering with industry leaders like Kaiser Permanente. To offer the audience more details on the partnership, Seung welcomed the Chief Innovation Officer of Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Dr. Tadashi Ted Funahashi, who introduced one of the most exciting products of the collaboration: HeartWise, a convenient, home-based cardiac rehab program created to help patients recovering from heart surgery.

Trek the Himalayas From Home: AR Fitness with GEMS

Turning the crowd’s attention to innovations that will transform living spaces in the Age of Experience – blurring the boundaries between the physical and digital realms, and reshaping the home into “a living organism” – Federico Casalegno, Senior Vice President and Chief Design Innovation Officer of the Samsung Design Innovation Center, and Designer Chandni Dheer treated the audience to the first demonstration of Samsung’s GEMS technology. Short for ‘Gait Enhancing & Motivating System,’ GEMS pairs with AR glasses and a Galaxy smartwatch to create completely customized fitness experiences – transforming your home into your own personal workout studio.

Step Into the Smart Home of the Future

Within the smart home, the kitchen’s transformation will be especially dramatic. “Your kitchen appliances will be your cooking partners – like a personal chef, a nutritionist, and a shopping assistant, all in one,” Casalegno explained. The Family Hub refrigerator will be able to order ingredients online as it prepares “intelligent food playlists” for you, while Samsung’s new, self-contained growing station “puts garden-fresh produce on your table every night,” and Bot Chef provides an extra pair of hands in the kitchen.

Casalegno went on to describe how the living room of the new smart home is set to become “an actual community where we interact with people around the world.” Expansive, 5G-enabled displays in this next-level living room will become “windows to the world,” connecting loved ones as if they were in the same room. Users will be able to play games so realistically that it will feel like they’re “all together on the field,” while watching the game’s YouTube channel and video chatting with other players at the same time, all on a single, large display. 

“The potential to bring outside experiences into the home is literally endless,” Casalegno concluded, “and we are just beginning.” 

A Peek at the Safer, More Convenient City of the Future

Next, Emily Becher, Senior Vice President and Head of Samsung NEXT Global, laid out an inspiring vision for cities in the Age of Experience. In a smart city, she explained, smart buildings will “anticipate and adjust to your needs,” and will be designed with sustainability in mind, too, “doing much more while producing lower emissions.” Becher also outlined how Samsung is partnering with leading global real estate developers like Greystar to develop smart buildings, and highlighted an example in Seoul where residents can “call an elevator, turn out the lights, manage their package deliveries, or even find their parking spot with a simple swipe or voice command.” 

Afterward, Becher explained how the in-vehicle experience is transforming in terms of both convenience and safety. To illustrate this point, she described a driver getting stuck in traffic and their vehicle communicating with their other devices to adjust to the delay. She also discussed how these intelligent vehicles can sense “beyond the driver’s line of sight” to detect danger and minimize collisions, and how the city of the future will allow us to connect in “entirely new and valuable ways, as the digital world merges with physical space in extended reality experiences.”

Data Security: One Thing Samsung Will Never Compromise On

Before closing out the keynote, Kim took a moment to reaffirm Samsung’s commitment to a critically important issue both now and going forward: data security. “As an industry leader,” he began, “our commitment to data security will never waver.” Describing data security as fundamental in the Age of Experience, Kim reiterated Samsung’s pledge to safeguard users’ privacy by securely managing their data from the moment they provide it until its disposal.

Most importantly, he emphasized, the company is committed to “giving you control over your information. To that end, Samsung will never share your data with third parties without prior and direct consent from you, [and] we will stand by this promise no matter what.”

Creating a Better Place for All

Kim followed up that pledge by reaffirming another commitment that has guided Samsung’s innovation for years – a commitment to using technology to do good. “We have always believed that the benefits of technology must be available to all,” said Kim, describing innovations like Relúmĭno, which was created to help the visually impaired see more clearly, GEMS, which helps the elderly and disabled move more comfortably, and IGNIS firefighters save lives and stay safe while doing so, as products of this commitment.

Kim also underscored a key pillar of Samsung’s CSR vision, “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People,” by announcing the expansion of the Samsung Innovation Campus. Building on the success of the many educational programs that the company has run over the last decade, the Samsung Innovation Campus offers young people training on the latest AI, IoT and cloud technologies.

Describing the campus as “core to our CSR vision,” Kim proudly revealed that the program has reached 20,000 students in 13 countries since its launch in 2019, and will double in size this year. By equipping future generations with the skills they’ll need to meet tomorrow’s demands, Samsung hopes to empower young people to achieve more and create a better world.

The Age of Experience will transform how we care for ourselves and our family, how we can customize our homes to meet our individual needs, and how we can build safer, more sustainable intelligent cities. By showcasing its latest advances in intelligent robotics, AI, 5G and edge computing, Samsung offered a glimpse into the not-so-distant future in which these technologies will come together to offer richer, more adaptive experiences for consumers.

“In the Age of Experience, we need to re-think the space we have to accommodate our diverse and evolving lifestyles,” said H.S. Kim, President and CEO of Consumer Electronics Division, Samsung Electronics. “What makes Samsung’s approach unique is the fact that we have a very clear philosophy built around human-centered innovation. We build and create to solve problems and enhance people’s lives.”

The Next Level of Personal Care

At the core of Samsung’s human-centered vision is personalized care, enhancing the health and well-being of consumers by satisfying their individual needs. During his opening remarks, H.S. Kim unveiled Samsung’s vision of robots as ‘life companions,’ and introduced Ballie, a small, rolling robot that understands you, supports you, and reacts to your needs to be actively helpful around the house.

Sebastian Seung, Executive Vice President and Chief Research Scientist at Samsung Electronics elaborated on Ballie, explaining that its On-Device AI capabilities enable it to be a fitness assistant and a mobile interface that seeks solutions for people’s changing needs. It does all this while maintaining stringent data protection and privacy standards.

“We believe AI is the future of personalized care,” stated Dr. Seung. “We see on-device AI as central to truly personalized experiences. On-device AI puts you in control of your information and protects your privacy, while still delivering the power of personalization.”

Samsung is also showcasing advanced and personalized health solutions. For example, the company has collaborated with Kaiser Permanente to develop a home-based, virtual cardiac rehabilitation solution that pairs a Samsung smartwatch with a smartphone via Bluetooth. Samsung’s HeartWise application sends reminders to the patient to exercise, collects activity data, and continuously displays the patient’s heart rate during workouts. This data is automatically uploaded via the smartphone to the patient’s chart so that clinicians, case managers and physical therapists can track the patient’s progress and engage with them accordingly.

The program enables users to partake in cardiac rehabilitation at home without taking time out of their everyday lives to travel to a hospital or medical clinic. The positive results of the home-based cardiac rehabilitation program were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) Catalyst last year. Going forward, Samsung will continue to develop human-centric healthcare solutions that cater to the unique needs of the individuals who rely on them.

A Home Tailored to You

Samsung also offered a peek into the future home. Federico Casalegno, Chief Design Innovation Officer of Samsung Design Innovation Center, stated that the home will offer unique, immersive experiences with cutting-edge innovations like AI, sensors and data analysis: “As a living organism, the intelligent home will be a deeply personal space, tailoring experiences for each of us, according to our personal needs.”

Dr. Casalegno highlighted how spatial boundaries of the physical and digital worlds are dissolving, transforming living spaces into bespoke experience-spaces, like an art gallery, yoga studio or other forms of imaginable space. Such blurring of the two realms, according to Dr. Casalegno, is what will transform the home in the next decade.

He led the first-ever immersive demonstration involving Samsung’s GEMS (Gait Enhancing & Motivating System) technology. The demonstration showed how consumers can use AR glasses to work out with a virtual personal trainer, climb a mountain or walk underwater, from the comfort of their living room, while GEMS aggregated and analyzed results to give personalized action recommendations.

Samsung also showed how a room can be transformed with a screen like its MicroLED display, a convergence of software, AI, IoT and hardware. “A screen is not a product – it’s your window to the world, allowing you to instantly connect to your loved ones and friends as if they are in the same room,” said Dr. Casalegno, emphasizing that smart rooms can provide boundless experiences. “People can see and experience almost everything in the world and even the unknown world through the screen.”

Samsung also discussed the evolution of the modern culinary journey where appliances become cooking partners – a personal chef, nutritionist, and shopping assistant rolled into one. Intelligent and innovative technology can customize the entire food experience for consumers—from thoughtful recipe suggestions and meal planning tailored to personal preferences and what’s on-hand, to seamless grocery shopping, delivery and cooking. The company also highlighted a growing station for garden produce at home, and Bot Chef, a robotic food preparation assistant.

Safer and More Sustainable Urban Life in Smart Cities

Pointing to increasing global urbanization, Samsung outlined its smart cities vision, where intelligent systems enabled by smart devices, platforms and data,will make city life much safer and easier. Emily Becher, Senior Vice President and Head of Samsung NEXT Global, said, “We have the tools and the knowledge to create intelligent systems that make living in the city more engaging, safe, and efficient – so that our children, and their children after that can love living in their cities as much as so many of us do today.” She added, “Smart cities that utilize AI, IoT and 5G will transform how we interact with the surrounding environment in ways that maximize convenience and enjoyment”.

With IoT technology expanding its reach beyond the home to all types of buildings, Samsung’s core vision lies in saving energy, cutting down emissions and helping to achieve sustainability as populations grow.

Smart buildings will also make life more connected and convenient. For example, smart building residents will be able to call elevators, turn lights off, manage deliveries or check for parking spots with a simple swipe or voice command. Intelligent appliances installed in smart buildings will request repairs and address problems before residents even notice the issue.

In realizing the goal of creating a smart city with smart buildings, Samsung emphasized the importance of open collaboration. The company is working towards building partnerships with builders and property managers like Greystar Real Estate Partners, a leading U.S.-based global real estate developer, with which it will devise smart building solutions. “With smart buildings, the residents’ experience will get smarter, more efficient, more effective, so they utilize less energy,” said Bob Faith, Chairman and CEO of Greystar. “Samsung has the ability to bring all the technologies together and that convergence of the technologies in one place is really critical.”

Samsung also demonstrated how the combination of 5G, edge computing and AI will transform the urban transportation experience. Becher shared the company’s vision to lead the new era of vehicles, with 5G technology enabling Vehicle-to-Everything communication, which will seamlessly connect cars to the rest of the city.

Becher added that smart cities combined with 5G will be able to provide experiences unimaginable a few years ago to communities. She noted, “Faster and easier digital connection with each other will strengthen our sense of community and create entirely new forms of interaction.”

Building A Better Place for All

Concluding his 2020 CES keynote address, H.S. Kim stressed that the company is focused on using technology to create a better place for all. He highlighted three key areas of importance for the company going forward: security and privacy, technology for good, and citizenship.

Kim made clear that as an industry leader, the company’s commitment to data security and personal privacy will not waver, and that the protection of security and privacy will be a top priority as technology advances. He stated that the most important thing is putting people in control over their information, “Samsung will never share your data with third parties without prior and direct consent from you.”

He further emphasized that Samsung Knox, the company’s defense-grade security platform, will continue to expand to protect a growing array of Samsung’s devices—from mobile and TVs to home appliances and more. “We will further ensure transparent data management and transfer by advancing our data protection efforts with on-device AI, edge computing, and blockchain technology.”

Samsung also showcased how it is innovating for good, with technologies like Relúmĭno, which can help the visually-impaired see; IGNIS, a tool that helps firefighters make their jobs safer; and GEMS that helps the elderly and disabled to move.

Samsung also underscored a key pillar of its CSR vision, “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People,” by announcing the expansion of the Samsung Innovation Campus program in 2020. Leveraging the success of the many educational programs from the last decade, Samsung Innovation Campus provides the next generation with training on the latest AI, IoT, and cloud technologies. Samsung said the campus has educated more than 20,000 students from 13 countries since its launch in 2019 and will double in size this year.

By providing education for future generations, Samsung is furthering its philosophy that technology’s purpose is to solve social problems and empower people to achieve more to make a better world.

For more information about the details disclosed at CES 2020, including photos and videos, please visit news.samsung.com. Samsung’s CES booth #15006 is on Level 1 of Central Hall in the Las Vegas Convention Center and will be open from January 7 10:00 a,m. till January 10 4:00 p.m, 2020.

HDR10+ is an enhanced version of HDR10 that leverages dynamic metadata to maximize the black level and peak brightness of every scene and frame on displays. The result is an image that more closely represents the original creative intent of directors. The HDR10+ Technologies Certification and Logo program makes it easy for consumers to find devices, content and services that deliver this high quality HDR viewing experience.

With VIZIO now adding support for HDR10+ technology to their UHD TV lineup, reach of HDR10+ expands notably. “VIZIO is committed to delivering the best entertainment experience to the consumer, regardless of the format,” said Bill Baxter, Chief Technology Officer, VIZIO. “Adding HDR10+ capability to the roster of HDR signals we already support means our customers will have the best viewing experience possible when they play HDR content on their VIZIO SmartCast TV.”

GooglePlay Movies & TV, a major UHD OTT distributor, will support HDR10+ for their UHD titles. Consumers will be able to enjoy a superior UHD experience with content from major Studios in 2020. The HDR10+ UHD Blu-ray slate continues to grow with titles available in HDR10+ such as, “X-Men:Dark Phoenix” from 20th Century Fox, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw” from Universal, and “IT: Chapter Two” from Warner Bros.. HDR10+ content mastering is currently supported by major post production companies like Deluxe, Giant Interactive and Pixelogic.

In addition, OnePlus, OPPO, Realme and Xiaomi have also announced support of HDR10+ on their mobile devices. Consumers are able to enjoy their favorite shows and movies in HDR10+ as well as capture HDR10+ content with camera then share through YouTube. Viewers are also able to enjoy HDR10+ video across a range of compatible mobile devices and TVs.

Support of HDR10+ also includes AV Receivers to enhance the home theater viewing environment from brands such as Onkyo and Pioneer. “We welcome that the HDR10+ feature is expanded to support AV Receiver.” said Kenji Miyagi, President of Onkyo & Pioneer. “We plan to support HDR10+ on our future products, which we believe helps consumers enjoy a premium experience.”

The HDR10+ Logo and Certification program has expanded support for even more next generation technologies. Announced at IFA, 8K display certification is now available for HDR10+, which brings the technology to even greater display resolutions and includes high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1. In addition, the HDR10+ specification has added DisplayPort connectivity.

Finally, The Alliance for Open Media has published an Implementation Note for HDR10+ support with the AV1 encoding standard. Demonstrations of 8K AV1 HDR10+ content are available at Samsung booth 15006 at CES 2020.

Companies can learn more about the HDR10+ license and logo program, including whitepaper, final specifications and adopter agreements at http://www.hdr10plus.org.

About HDR10+ Technologies, LLC

HDR10+ Technologies, LLC is the company founded by Twentieth Century Fox HDR10+, LLC, Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd and providing the license of its HDR10+ specifications to source provider, display manufacturer, SoC vendor, content company and tool vendor. To learn more about the HDR10+ Technologies, LLC, please visit: www.hdr10plus.org/

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film. TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions as well as all third party distribution partners on DVD, Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, Digital and VOD (video-on-demand). Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets and digital stores throughout the world.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, and B2B businesses. The company, which celebrated its 100^th anniversary in 2018, has expanded globally and now operates 582 subsidiaries and 87 associated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 8.003 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2019. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers. To learn more about Panasonic: http://www.panasonic.com/global.

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, Obe Fitness, and Barre 3 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.

Samsung Newsroom highlighted several of the company’s award-winning innovations when the winners were first announced in November of last year. While that article largely spotlighted winners from within the mobile category, here, we shift our focus to award-winning innovations from across Samsung’s wide-ranging product ecosystem.

Read on to learn more about this year’s honorees in the display, home appliance and memory categories.

Samsung’s CES^® 2020 Innovation Award-winning display and soundbar technologies include QLED 8K TVs’ new Q-Symphony sound feature and the lifestyle TV “The Sero” (both of which snagged Best of Innovation honors), as well as the Q950TS QLED 8K TV, and the company’s latest gaming monitors, the Odyssey G9 and G7.

• Q-Symphony – Samsung’s revolutionary Q-Symphony feature harnesses the power of 2020 QLED 8K TVs and the HQ-Q800T soundbar – combining the former’s built-in speakers with the latter’s impressive audio capabilities – to deliver a truly immersive and powerful sound experience.

• The Sero – Samsung’s versatile lifestyle TV, The Sero, not only provides users with a conventional horizontal TV-viewing experience, but can also be flipped 90 degrees to allow them to enjoy content created in vertical formats.

• Q950TS – Samsung’s 85-inch Q950TS QLED 8K TV is packed with enhancements, including a groundbreaking design and next-level picture, screen and audio technologies. Standout features include the TV’s new Infinity Screen and true-to-life 8K resolution, as well as its innovative AI Quantum Processor 8K and Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) technology.

• G9 – A CES^® 2020 Innovation Awards honoree in the Computer Peripherals and Accessories category, the Odyssey G9 features Samsung’s all-new Infinity Core Lighting on its rear. The eye-catching lighting adds a futuristic glow to the gaming monitor’s already-striking white exterior, further setting it apart from other devices on the market.

• G7 – An honoree in the Gaming category, the 32- or 27-inch Odyssey G7 offers users a gaming experience unlike any they’ve seen before, thanks to a first-of-its-kind combination of a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, QHD (Quad High Definition) and a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Winning entries in the Home Appliance category include the latest version of Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator, as well as the company’s new Cube Refrigerator Series.

• Family Hub – The latest edition of Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator features personalized, AI-driven enhancements that help users get the most out of their kitchen. These enhancements enable families to plan meals, share video content and manage their smart home – all from their kitchen.

• 4D-Flex BESPOKE – Samsung’s 4D-Flex BESPOKE refrigerator establishes a completely new category of customized home appliances. From materials to colors and even fridge and freezer functions, users can customize a wide range of the refrigerator’s features to make this innovative product their own.

• Cube Refrigerator Series – Available in a versatile range of colors, including Wine, Beer and Beauty, Samsung’s Cube Refrigerator Series features three new compact models whose stackable design and innovative low-noise cooling technology make them suitable for any room – from the kitchen to the bedroom.

• Portable Slim Double Induction – Samsung’s Portable Slim Double Induction is an innovative cooking solution designed for those who live in smaller households. It features two versatile induction burners that themselves feature nine different power levels to suit any culinary need – not just in the kitchen, but in other rooms as well.

• Samsung Shoe Care System – The Samsung Shoe Care System is a trailblazing innovation in home shoe care that offers users an all-in-one shoe care solution, enabling them to deodorize, dehumidify and dry shoes with a single convenient device.

• WA8500V Front Load Washer – Samsung’s latest front load washer not only offers users a laundry experience that is both personalized and powerful – thanks to its large capacity and wide range of wash cycle options, including Super Speed – it also offers advanced Wi-Fi connectivity and smart voice controls for ultimate usability.

Samsung’s memory solutions were also honored with a number of awards. This year’s winners include the Samsung Portable SSD T7 Touch, an external storage drive featuring significantly enhanced speed and security; the Samsung SSD 980 PRO, a consumer SSD solution that’s optimized for high-end PCs; and the PM1733 30.72TB PCle Gen4 NVMe SSD, the industry’s fastest and largest capacity storage drive, developed for next-generation datacenters and enterprise server systems.

Many of the innovative products covered in this article are currently on display at this year’s CES, alongside a wide range of products from across Samsung’s mobile ecosystem. These include the category-defining Galaxy Fold – recognized for its innovative materials and technologies – and the Galaxy Note10/Note10+ – the latest power devices in Samsung’s Note series, designed to help users do more of what they love. The Galaxy Note10+ 5G received its CES^® 2020 Best of Innovation award based on the sheer power it offers users with its best-in-class specs, features and network speeds. Similarly, as Samsung’s first 5G flagship phone, the Galaxy S10 5G has been recognized for offering users fast network connectivity, advanced features and high performance. Furthermore, the Galaxy A50 has been acknowledged for bringing users advanced hardware and premium features at a lower price point.

“Consumers use screens every day to work from home, exercise from home, and even shop from home. As our lifestyles continue to evolve, the TV screen is evolving with them to provide consumers access to their favorite content and real-time information whenever and wherever they want it,” said Jong-hee Han, President of Visual Displays at Samsung Electronics. “As part of our vision of ‘Screens Everywhere,’ we’re thrilled to deliver a more vivid and connected at-home viewing experience by incorporating AI-enabled features and 8K technology into our displays.”

MicroLED Pioneering the Home Entertainment Market

Samsung introduced the home-ready, modular MicroLED, which combines next-generation screen technology with unprecented customization capabilities. Consumers are now able to personally experience how Samsung’s design and innovation engineering teams have reimagined the TV.

With 75 -,88-, 93- and 110-inch display sizes, MicroLED models are suited for a variety of homes and lifestyles. The new 88- and 150-inch MicroLED models introduce ultra-slim infinity designs, virtually removing all four sides of the bezels for a finish that blends right into any wall. And consumers can also connect multiple MicroLED panels together to create new combinations and adapt their TV for their specific space.

MicroLED displays offer best-in-class picture quality. They deliver greater depth, better resolution, and higher clarity as well as a peak brightness of 5,000 nits. They also leverage upscaling abilities based on deep learning to deliver the highest-quality content, regardless of the source. The result is that these MicroLED displays provide an unparalleled sense of immersion for the at-home viewing experience.

8K QLED Lineup Expands With Strengthened AI Quantum Processor 8K and Design

Samsung’s flagship Q950TS QLED 8K TV is the industry’s first 8K TV to combine a striking, ultra-thin form factor, premium 8K picture quality, and impressive surround-sound audio. Plus, the Q950TS introduces the ‘Infinity Screen,’ which produces a screen-to-body ratio of 99 percent to create an unprecedented viewing experience.

With stunning 8K resolution, the Q950TS delivers the best LCD picture quality on the market. Equipped with the AI Quantum Processor 8K, it has built-in 8K AI upscaling and deep-learning capabilities that can automatically upscale non-8K content to pristine and true-to-life 8K resolution. With a feature called Adaptive Picture, it can also optimize the screen to both ambient conditions and individual images. And the AI Quantum Processor – the powerhouse behind the flagship display – is also helping to power Samsung’s open smart home platform, Tizen, enabling users to experience everything from enhanced picture quality to heightened usability to other connected home functions.

Further supporting the picture quality and design enhancements of the QLED 8K lineup, the 8K ecosystem continues to expand to provide seamless playback for 8K content from providers like YouTube. The adoption of AV1 codec allows for better compression rates, and enables the support of HDR10+ technology, image dimensionality, brightness optimization, and contrast ratio.

And building off of the picture quality amplification are the QLED 8K’s premium sound features – Q-Symphony, Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+), and Active Voice Amplifier. These features maximize immersive sound by delivering dimensional and dynamic audio that corresponds with large screen viewing experiences. And when paired with the CTA “Best of Innovation”-winning HQ-Q800T soundbar, the TV’s speakers sync with the soundbar to serve as an additional audio channel and create a more dynamic soundscape.

Lifestyle TV “The Sero” Expands Display Possibilities Across the Global Market

Samsung is also growing its portfolio of Lifestyle TVs with an expanded rollout of The Sero. The Sero, which means “vertical” in Korean, has the ability to pivot between horizontal and vertical orientations – just like a smartphone or tablet. Following its initial rollout in South Korea last year, Samsung is set to expand The Sero’s availability to several global markets in 2020 .

The Sero’s display orientation technology connects seamlessly with users’ mobile devices to smoothly and naturally display content in traditional horizontal formats, as well as vertical formats designed for mobile consumption. Consumers can expect to enjoy a variety of content – including social media, YouTube and other personal videos – in whatever display orientation mirrors their mobile device.

Geared toward millennial and Gen Z consumers, The Sero features a modern design that stands out in any space, and features a range of different display features for when it is not in use. A CTA “Best of Innovation” winner at CES, The Sero combines the cutting-edge functions of Samsung’s top-level displays while providing a new approach to home entertainment technology that meets the needs and habits of the growing mobile viewing audience.

“Consumers today expect TVs that can fully integrate into their individual lifestyles and Samsung is redefining the role of the screen creating delivering new digital services and creating new designs to enhance your life” said Grace Dolan, Vice President of Marketing Communication at Samsung Electronics America.

For more information on Samsung’s 2020 TV lineups, please visit https://www.samsung.com.

2020 marks the first year that the start-ups accepted to participate in C-Lab outside will be featured at CES. Leveraging the success of the C-Lab Inside initiative, C-Lab Outside has been expanding Samsung’s support for new ventures to start ups and innovations outside of the Samsung network since 2018. The program provides financial support, business collaboration and chances to participate in global exhibitions for new entities with the goal of energizing the start-up ecosystem and creating more IT and technology-driven jobs.

The number of homes populated by just one person is expected to skyrocket in the near-future, with more than 120 million new single-person households expected to be added globally between 2016 and 2030. This demographic will be created by young singles prioritizing their careers over relationships, as well as by the expanding widowed and divorced elderly group, which is especially significant in developed countries. From these shifting demographics emerge pressing concerns regarding loneliness, isolation and a host of other social problems. Thus, team Circulus has introduced its household pet robot ‘pibo’ to try and help address this issue. Asked about the meaning of their team name, team Circulus related that “Circulus is Latin for circle. The word also contains “us”, which stands for “let us help each other.”

Pibo balances people’s emotions via communication. It is versatile, offering basic conversation, guidance services including news and weather information, and a voice search function. The humanoid robot analyzes the user’s facial expressions and dialogue in order to best interact with them, delivering conversation, well-known sayings, turning on music or starting to dance depending on how the user is perceived to be feeling. Unlike a smart speaker, pibo doesn’t wait for you to speak up first, and will often initiate conversation when you walk past. Users can also share memories with pibo, using it to share memories, photos and voice diary entries. What’s more, users can update their pet robot with new features by downloading them from the robot application store. pibo can be customized specifically for you as you make use of its advanced capabilities and tailor its functions to your preferences.

“We’d like to introduce pibo to the world at CES 2020,” said a member of Circulus, “As the US, Europe and Japan are all experiencing an uptick in one-person households, pibo can be a great friend to those who are alone.”

Generally, if you want a personalized exercise plan, you must first undergo a medical examination. However, going to the hospital to put on a mask and run on a treadmill represents a daunting task to many. FITT is a PHR (Personal Health Record) healthcare data platform that was created to positively influence people’s health via easy-to-use exercise evaluation software. When asked about the meaning of their team name, team FITT explained that “Our team name is an abbreviation of the four major elements of exercise planning: Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type.”

FITT starts out by measuring your maximum oxygen intake while you complete a 2.4km running exercise through the FITT app. This test allows the program to produce four one-page reports containing professional-level data regarding the user’s body and physical condition, as well as a fitness program that is tailor-made for them. Within the program FITT issues a customized cardiorespiratory exercise plan, recommending how far users should run, how fast and for how long, as well as a customized posture and muscle strength exercise plan. Once users complete the fitness test, FITT can even predict diseases that the user might be susceptible to, including high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, stroke, heart attacks and cardiovascular disease, among others. If the system identifies that a user is at risk for one or more of these conditions, it will recommend further preventative activities for them. FITT is currently being provided as a web service in select fitness centers, but will be made widely available once the FITT app launches in March of 2020.

“Exercise works best when it is customized for the individual and done in a controlled environment,” a member of team FITT commented, “I hope our ‘exercise evaluations’ help users find out which kind of exercise routine is the best fit for them.”

These days, people use a lot of different devices, with a broad range of different features. In light of this, Suk-jung Kim of Vtouch says he feels that “new ways to interact with devices should be emerging as well.” The conventional input methods these days include either using a touchscreen or interacting with a cursor, but these methods can be prohibitive for users with limited mobility or children who cannot always reach up high enough to interact with devices. Asked about the meaning of their team name, team Vtouch reported that “It means ‘virtual touch’, which communicates the fact that our solution can bring about a ‘touch’ input without the need for physical contact.”

Vtouch’s concept focuses on the fact that whenever you point at an object, your eyes, finger and the object you are pointing at are aligned. The technology enables a non-contact touch input by using computer vision and deep-learning technologies to analyze the movement of the eyes and finger through a camera. Vtouch allows for more sanitary use of devices by removing the physical touch element, and allows for precise, next-generation gesture controls with an error margin of just 5 degrees. As the intuitive technology only requires a camera and processor to work, it can be implemented in a wide range of sectors including automotive, IoT (smart home) and digital signage.

“At first, Vtouch was too expensive to mass produce,” a member of the Vtouch team relates, “However, with the help of various researchers and developers we have been able to bring the price down to where it is now cheaper than most touch panels. We are hoping to implement our solution in multiple environments soon in order to provide a convenient, inclusive experience for users.”

We are living in the era of video-first, and video calls are great for allowing you to talk to loved ones face-to-face without actually being in the same place. However, video calls aren’t appropriate for all situations. If someone video calls you in a quiet place like the library or the subway, or if you want to talk about something private, video calls are less than ideal. Thus, the Smoothy team set out to create a video call app that would address these inconveniences. By incorporating text elements into the video calling interface, while also allowing people to incorporate large groups into their video calls, Smoothy has attracted more than 850,000 users already. Commenting on their team name, the members of team Smoothy related that “Our name implies the smooth combination of video, voice and text during video calls. It also means togetherness while expressing yourself, wherever you are.”

When you answer a call on Smoothy, the call is initially launched in silent mode, meaning that you can answer a video call, anytime, anywhere. Smoothy allows for large group video calls as well, enabling up to eight people to participate in a video call at once. From there, you can either talk normally, or chat with real-time texting, with your texts appearing in the call window as you type. Although we are living in the world of video, most people still communicate through text messages, and the world of texting is brought to life when you can see your friend’s reaction in real-time right before your eyes. Smoothy even allows you to quickly and conveniently capture video clips and send them to friends, enabling whole conversations to unfold through snippets of video. Unlike other video call apps, Smoothy enables you to decorate yourself with features such as AR Emoji, allowing for more fun video chats. When you are in a video chat with more than two people, Smoothy even allows you to visualize your reactions with next-level features such as a lightning effect and a function that allows you to cause other participants’ displays to shake.

“Firstly, we would like to provide a video call app that is fun to use,” reported a member of team Smoothy, “And secondly, we want to deliver an app that enables a wide range of effects and interaction styles.”