Samsung LED HDTV brings 3D viewing to the home

MANILA, Philippines - Just when more Filipinos are getting their first LCD TVs — thanks to relatively lower prices and more brands to choose from — top TV manufacturers are readying what could be our next crave technology: 3D LED HDTV.

Samsung Electronics took the effort to put one of these future TV sets in my living room for a couple of weeks so I could, to borrow Samsung’s marketing slogan, “turn on tomorrow” today.

I hardly turned it off after that. The 40-inch Samsung LED C7000 HDTV easily eclipsed my own LCD TV in terms of size and features. Immediately I tested the unit’s 3D features. Samsung supplied two types of 3D glasses — one charges using a USB connector on the TV, the other runs on wristwatch batteries. Both delivered a truly immersive 3D viewing experience that was only possible previously in 3D cinemas like iMAX. Now, watching 3D content in the comfort of your own home is a reality. It’s a new dimension in TV, Samsung says. I agree.

Of course, there is still short supply of 3D content and I managed to watch only demo materials and one full Blu-ray 3D movie — Monsters vs Aliens. The LED C7000 HDTV, however, can tweak regular 2D programs so they can be viewed in 3D, too, at a push of a button. Using the TV’s remote to turn on the 3D feature I was able to watch local evening network news and my favorite cable programs in high-definition 3D.

Aside from four HDMI and two USB ports, Samsung’s LED TVs also have built-in Ethernet connection and wireless-ready capabilities to let consumers enjoy Internet TV and even Skype. The C7000 has the upgraded Internet@TV feature that includes Samsung Apps that provide an expanded, easy-to-navigate selection of content and applications from online providers.

The Samsung LED C7000 is only the first in the 2010 LED TV line-up with higher models, C8000 and C9000, also scheduled to be released later this year. Samsung’s premium LED TVs include the company’s proprietary built-in 3D processor and emitter that is optimized for and enables compatibility with multiple 3D standards, notably half and full HD resolution formats as well as the Blu-ray Disc Association-approved Blu-ray 3D standard. In addition, Samsung’s 3D system delivers images using a full color spectrum for an immersive viewing experience.

All three models also boast supreme picture quality by using a Samsung-developed technology that merges the advantages of LED edge lighting with the control of Samsung’s own dimming technology. This technology, together with Samsung’s high-efficiency LED light source and proprietary picture enhancement engine with video processor, ensures superior picture quality with vibrant colors, deep blacks and better contrast ratios.

The build and design of the C7000 itself is aesthetically modern with a narrow bezel that frames Samsung’s Crystal Design. The LED C8000, on the other hand, features a brushed metal color frame with transparent crystal silhouette.

But in the hierarchy of crave technology for LED TV, the upcoming LED C9000 should be on top. It will be Samsung’s slimmest and fully integrated LED TV model with a premium touch-screen remote control and built-in tuner and 3D technology that promises to deliver an even higher standard in home theater connectivity and picture quality with a depth of less than 0.3 inches.

Being able to watch 3D TV at home is definitely a new form of luxury. And it costs a lot of money. The 40-inch C7000 is priced at P169,900, while the 46-inch model costs P199,900. At these price points, it’s clear that they are not for everybody yet, but they are for those who love TV and can afford to pay their way into a 3D world without leaving home.