Samsung had invited the press to their new headquarter in Copenhagen. They wanted to exhibit the entire 2010 line-up together with their new flat panel TVs and 3DTVs. We had a chance to play with Samsung’s new 3D LCD/LEDs and plasma-TVs as well as 2D to 3D conversion, the new Internet features, Apps, PVR recording, iPhone remote control and much more.

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Samsung 3DTV
Samsung has just started selling their first 3D LCD/LED TVs in stores and the plasma models will be available in most countries very soon. If you haven't seen 3D yet you will get a chance to do so in shops very soon. Here are FlatpanelsHD’s initial impressions.


Samsung 3DTV

We had a chance to examine 3D on Samsung's LCD/LED models and the plasma models. We also got the opportunity to see how Samsung's 2D to 3D conversion works.


Samsung plasma 7000 series, 3DTV

The 3D effect on flat panel TVs is primarily about image depth. The experience is not very different form the 3D cinemas but I still think that the active system on flat panel TVs is a better system in regards of 3D motion and 3D depth.

But what should you should expect from 3D? If you expect objects flying all around you in the room you will be disappointed. Because even though the 3D effects can escape the frame of the TV, 3D is mostly about the depth into the picture.


Samsung 3DTV

We saw some crosstalk (the left and right images overlapping creating a ghost effect) and actually more than on Panasonic's 3DTV that we have had a chance to experience several times. The crosstalk issue was not critical but rather subtle and not visible in all the scenes from the 3D demo but it was there. All in all the 3D effect was good, though.


Samsung 7000 LED-TV

The 3D glasses work from many angles but Samsung's 3D glasses react differently on LCD and plasma TVs. You can use the same Samsung 3D glasses on both technologies but with LCD-TVs the light from the TV is reduced when you tilt your head.

If you throw yourself on the couch with a 90 degree tilt angle the screen goes totally dark. This is not the case with Samsung's plasma TVs. The plasma models can be viewed from any angle.


Samsung 2D to 3D conversion

The 2D to 3D conversion was actually better than I had expected. I have seen some early 2D to 3D conversion system from for example JVC and Toshiba and these systems were not very convincing. 
Samsung ran a Transformers movie demo and I checked that it was actually a 2D conversion. In the menu you can activate the conversion anytime you want.

The conversion ensured depth into the picture but no 3D effect out of the picture. In some scenes it looked like 2D content but in other scenes the 3D effect was actually convincing.


Samsung plasma 7000 series, 3DTV

The conversion was by no means comparable to actual 3D content but I was positively surprised by the conversion. I'm not sure that I will use it for movies but for gaming I might consider it. The real 3D content is much better, however.

Samsung presents new white TVs

Samsung has announced both 3D LCD/LED TVs and plasma-TVs in 2010 and we got a chance to see both. Samsung also stresses that if you're looking for a new TV is not actually a choice between 3D and 2D.

If you're buying one of the top ranges you'll automatically get the 3D function. Also, 3D is not a very expensive technology and has no effect on the TV’s 2D performance so you don't have to fear that you get 3D on the expense of poor 2D performance.


Samsung plasma 7000 series, 3DTV

Samsung's 3DTVs are bundled with a pair of 3D glasses because of the 2D to 3D conversion. If you want more glasses you can buy additional at a price of 150 US dollars. Children size 3D glasses are also available.

Also, if you purchase a 3D Blu-Ray player from Samsung you get two pairs of 3D glasses Samsung says.

Media features
We also had an opportunity to check out Samsung's many new media features, such as the Internet function, PVR recording, iPhone remote control etc. 

On the 2010 models Samsung has improved the loading time considerably. Samsung says that you have to wait no longer than 3-4 seconds to access different menus, Apps, games and such, and based on the demonstrations this was also true. 
However, if you try to access a DLNA folder with a lot of files you had to wait a bit longer. We’ll examine this in depth when our Samsung TV reviews are online soon.


Samsung 8000 LED-TV

With the Internet function you can access services such as YouTube and Samsung has plans to include local services as well. You can also download new Apps through the Samsung App Store.

PVR recording is one of the new features, too. By connecting a USB key or external hard drive you can utilize a series of recording functions to record from the internal TV tuners. 

The connected device will have to be formatted in a special file system and paired with the TV. This means that you can’t transfer your recordings to another TV or a computer.


Samsung EPG and PVR

Samsung demonstrated how the PVR recording function interacted with the electronic program guide (EPG) and it worked really well. You can also plan future recording with the EPG and turn off the TV. When the program starts, the TV automatically starts recording from the TV tuner without turning on the actual panel.

The PVR function also supports Time Shift meaning that you can pause live TV broadcasts.

Another new cool thing in 2010 is that you’ll be able to control your Samsung TVs with other devices; for example a Samsung phone or an iPhone/iPod. You just need to connect the TV to the internet and download a small App. 


Samsung remote with Samsung phone

From here you can use the touchscreen as well as gestures on the iPhones/iPods.
More about it here: Control your Samsung Tv with iPhone / iPod


Samsung remote with Samsung phone

We saw this in action and noticed some handy functions such as the full keyboard when connecting to YouTube. It worked really well and I’m looking forward to trying this out with my own Apple devices.

Below you can see Samsung's new App Store. From here you can download Apps such as Facebook. 


Samsung Apps

Finally we took a look at the new Samsung Premium Remote. This remote comes with the high-end Samsung TV ranges but is not the same as the Premium Touch Remote that is bundled with the C9000 flagship model.


Samsung Premium Remote

The Premium Remote has no actual buttons but utilizes a touch interface. It feels exclusive and much better than Samsung’s previous remote controls.

And then let’s round of with the extremely thin C9000 model. 


Samsung  C9000

And another photo. 


Samsung  C9000

More about Samsung's 2010 line-up here: 
Samsung 2010 TV line-up - with impressions

Reviews of the new Samsung TVs are online soon. Subscribe to our Newsletter, RSS feed or twitter to receive notice when new reviews are online..