Updated: The 2013 TVs will arrive in April and May and retailers are starting to clear out inventories of 2012 TVs. This means that you can save big money on the 2012 models – if you are quick. FlatpanelsHD has found some of the biggest savings on popular TVs.
The TV industry is already pushing for Ultra HD / 4K, which is the next step after Full HD. But what does it actually mean for our TVs, media boxes, movies & games? We explain why Ultra HD is important and why there is much more to it than just higher resolution.
Samsung will release new LED and plasma TVs, as well as its first Ultra HD TVs. Samsung’s OLED-TV could be released in 2013. 2013 is all about Smart TV and new smarter features but Samsung also promises improvements to picture quality.
LG has a massive line-up of TVs in 2013. The Smart TV features will be expanded to even more TVs and LG will release its first OLED and Ultra HD TVs, along with new LED and plasma TVs. Some of the new Smart TV features include Miracast and NFC.
When Smart TVs connect to the internet new possibilities arise, and soon our TVs will turn into game consoles. But the games are not installed on the TV; they are run by large data centers and streamed to the TV over the internet. Samsung and LG unveiled “Cloud gaming” solutions at the E3 game conference.
Smart TVs turn into game consoles
Smart TV manufacturers imagine new exciting possibilities with Smart TVs and one of the visions is to turn TVs into cloud game consoles. This does not require powerful processors and graphic chips; instead large data centers take care of the gaming performance and everything is streamed to the TV over the internet.
Samsung is working with Gaikai to enable cloud gaming on their Smart TVs
Instead of adding to the hardware price, the internet connection becomes the enabler. And because the Smart TV functionality is already built-in no additional costs are added over non-cloud gaming Smart TVs.
Samsung is working with Gaikai to enable cloud gaming on their Smart TVs
Samsung has teamed up with Gaikai and presented their first cloud gaming solution- and Gaikai has high expectations. They will not only focus on minor game titles but also enable users to play the most prominent game console titles found on the PlayStation and Xbox. In the pictures you can see some of the games, including the much-acclaimed Limbo.
Samsung is working with Gaikai to enable cloud gaming on their Smart TVs
Gaikai is already an established company and with Smart TV partners they hope to kick-start the cloud gaming era. Samsung and Gaikai’s cloud app will start out as a closed beta soon. When it open up to the public, users will be able to try games before they commit to the monthly. See Engadget’s video demonstration below.
LG teames up with OnLive
LG has also teamed up with Gaikai and one another cloud gaming company called OnLive. OnLive delivers a similar cloud gaming solution and OnLive will allow gamers to play for 30 minutes before buying.
LG is collaborating with both Gaikai and OnLive
OnLive will also offer users with the option to buy separate games instead of a gaming subscription package. Titles include Civilization, MLB 2012 and Batman.
The perspectives are intriguing, and the gaming industry seems to be taking the same direction as the music and movie industries.
LG is collaborating with both Gaikai and OnLive
Panasonic has also openly discussed the perspectives of cloud gaming on Smart TVs but only has a few titles available right now. Hopefully, we will see Gaikai and Onlive expand to more Smart TVs in the future.
The first Gaikai and OnLive betas will initiate in the USA within a few weeks or months. The final built will require a Samsung 2012 Smart TV (7000 or above) or one of LG’s Google TVs (not available yet). Samsung’s Gaikai app will be called SCG (Samsung Cloud Gaming).
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