Samsung has a solution: A device called the inTouch that puts WiFi connectivity, web browsing, 720p videos, a 3MP camera and a (limited) selection of apps onto your existing HDTV.
“While internet connected HDTVs are now common, not every household gets to experience this fun and interactive feature, especially if they have an HDTV purchased just a few years ago,” said Mike Palazzolo, vice president sales and marketing, consumer video monitoring and security products, Samsung Techwin America.
“With the inTouch camera system, Samsung is now bridging the gap between this experience and those consumers who own HDTVs without networking capability.”
The inTouch runs a slimmed-down version of Android 2.3 and includes apps such as Skype, YouTube and Google News and Weather while a web browser provides access to web-based content. A compact QWERTY keyboard is included with the inTouch to facilitate email writing, instant messaging and web browsing on the big screen.
In 2010 Logitech attempted to entice consumers with a US$300 (RM930) HDTV-to-Smart TV set top box (without a built-in camera) called the Logitech Revue with Google TV. After dismal sales the company reduced the price of its Revue to US$99. In November 2011 the chairman and acting chief executive Guerrino De Luca revealed that the device was “a big mistake” and said consumers were not ready for Google TV.
Rival South Korean TV maker LG is planning to convince existing TV owners to upgrade. Its brand new 3D Smart TV features an amazingly thin 1mm bezel, more than 1,200 apps and immersive 3D viewing. LG’s 2012 line-up of Cinema 3D Smart TVs with Cinema Screen Design will be on display at CES.
The Samsung inTouch will be available in March 2012 for US$199.99 and on show at CES. — AFP/Relaxnews
